Have a Howly Jowly Christmas

Wind....In elementary school I remember my Laura Ingalls Wilder books describing the incessant, howling winds across the prairies. Prairie wives would get "wind crazy" from it. My mother also used to describe the winds in Farmington, New Mexico and the constant sand that would accumulate on windowsills. I have come to see that it is not the intensity of the wind as much as the consistency of it that makes me a little...well... wind crazy. December has proven to be an adjustment for this northern hemisphere gal. With the children out of school, we took a trip downtown to check out the David Jones windows (much like a Saks Fifth Avenue) and see the 4-story Christmas tree decorated with over 2,500 Swarovski crystal ornaments at the QVB (the Queen Victoria Building). With the kids in their shorts and flipflops and I in my sundress, we traversed around the CBD (Central Business District) listening to the Christmas carols and enjoying all the decorations. I knew I was in the southern hemisphere when I heard Bing sing "White Christmas" as I applied another layer of suncream to the children's noses.

The "Northies" have arrived this week. These are the consistent, warm northerly winds (remember that north winds bring air from the equator...the southies bring wind from Antarctica) that last for days. The wind is so consistent and fierce, that our gate has been blown off its hinges for the second time since we moved here. You should hear the windows rattle in our 80 year old house. The winds and the moon's close proximity made for some amazing tides and surf at Manly Beach this Sunday. It was a surfer's heaven. The good thing about the wind is the pesky summer flies have been laying low...not weather for flying. The wind has also made the water so choppy that the ferries pitch and roll as they cross the harbor.

On a sad note, the owner of our coffee stand down at the ferry wharf passed away two weeks ago. Unbeknownst to us, she suffered from cancer. She went to work on Friday and passed away on the following Monday. She was a beautiful french lady. She had modeled and acted in Paris. She emigrated to Australia and settled in Cremorne, NSW. She started this very humble coffee stand. She would bring in homemade muffins and french breakfast breads and fire up her beautiful coffee machine every morning by 6:00AM. While the children were in school, I would take my walk down to the point and join the five or six ladies who would sit at the small tables. If it was a slow day, she would sit and visit with us. She loved Americans. "Zee Americans liberated France...we do not forget." Her grandfather worked for the underground and later for DeGaul. She was a lovely woman and her coffee was strong, black and served in small juice glasses. She also collected hundreds of signatures (mine included) to obtain permission from the council to open a restaurant at the wharf. Alas, Cremorne will have to do without her french cooking...pity. The young man who is now running the stand wants to name it "Sophie's Place". I can't think of a tribute she would love more. http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/restaurants/6-of-the-best-sydney-coffee-carts.aspx

Merry Christmas (hopefully not as howly or jowly as ours) and a restful New Year.

Things I love this week:

1. "Merry Christmas" : this phrase is thrown about easily and without pc guilt. Good on them!
2. Aussie entertaining: We had dinner with a lovely Aussie family and it was such a relaxing and laid-back experience.... it helped that he was a wine connisuer.
3. Open-air markets: Such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. All the artistic talent without gallery snootiness. BigDogDaddy is the king of markets. He can find the wheat among the chaff.

Things I don't love this week:

1. Hot, howling winds that rattle your windows, fences and your nerves.
2. Parking: Affects decisions about how and where to travel
3. Fighting crowds in the CBD. I was holding Ponygirl's hand as we stepped onto the subway train. A woman ran between our hands, breaking my grip on Ponygirl, as we were stepping on. She did it to grab a seat. Ponygirl could have been left on the platform. Once the door closed, Mamabear just about started throwing elbows... I did ask the rude woman if she was comfortable in her seat. "After all, your comfort is more important than a nine-year old human child!!!"

T-Bone or TV?

As big as this world is, somethings are universal. No matter how good your list, you will always leave the supermarket and realize all the things you forgot. There is never a good day to get a cold and the end of each school year finds you careening down a hill of busy-ness. I am currently holding on with my fingernails. I spent 5 hours in the school workroom assembling poetry books. I have had experience with a binding machine, so I was chained to that thing for 4 of the 5 hours. God bless the wonderful lady who ran out for coffee about two hours into it. Then, I keep getting more assignments..."Mom, I need two dozen chocolate chip cookies on Thursday." "Mom, I need $6.00 for the end-of-surf education party." "Mom, I need to be at the schoool on Monday at 6:00 for the caroling service." "Mom, I need to be at speech day at 8:00AM on Wednesday." "Mom, am I going to bring treats for my class for my birthday on Friday?" "Mom, did you get the bags for my birthday party?" "Mom, can you give friend X and friend Y a ride to my birthday party...their moms need to work...they'll be calling you...." Next Wednesday is the last day of school. It takes place at the convention center. Speech Day (as they call it) is a day full of music (Ponygirl's choir and Surferdude's orchestra) and speeches. They both need to be there at 8:00AM and we will need to rely on public transport to get there. I have also been given the heads up....get your coffee before you get to the convention center. The one little coffee kiosk is always overwhelmed. One lady told me she waited over an hour for her latte. I would be climbing the walls by that point. So....armed with that knowledge, chocolate chips and a full tank of petrol...I will enjoy my high speed plummet down the hill. Wheeeee!!!!

Our weekend was eventful. We headed to the Blue Mountains to the village of Blackheath (just a 2 hour drive) for a weekend away. After checking into our Eco-cabin (more on that experience later), we explored Katoomba and rode the world's steepest train (54 degree angle), took a gondola ride over waterfalls and enjoyed a leisurely walk amongst the eucalyptus trees. The biggest attraction, however, was the weather. While eating lunch, sleet and hail rained down...then sunshine. As we left the railway, snow was falling...then sunshine.... It was only the second time in history that it had snowed in the Blue Mountains in November. Don't forget ... it is summer here. It was -2 degrees celsius at one point.

We had a fabulous time at dinner. It was a complete accident. Two places we tried to book for dinner were hosting weddings (those poor brides...snow and sleet). We ended up at The Fairmont golf course restaurant in Leura. Surferdude ordered a t-bone steak as big as his head. On the bar t.v. behind him, the RugbyLeague World Cup was starting and Surferdude kept trying to leave the scintillating conversation with his parents and sister to watch New Zealand shellac Australia. BigDogDaddy put it perfectly "You can have your T-bone or TV, Surferdude...Not both." That phrase has been oft-repeated since. The finale of the dinner was fried ice cream. You should have seen my brood sitting there with big goblets of fried ice cream with caramel sauce...priceless!

For the next part of the story, a quick vocabulary lesson is needed. An eco-lodge or cabin is an interesting phenomenon. These structures are designed to make as little "economic impact" as possible. This translates into low lighting, funky showers, liquid shampoo and soap dispensers, water heated with propane, and, sometimes, toilet "pits" which don't use any water at all. They are usually located in beautiful locations and allow for all of us to stay in a place with a kitchen. So, as we headed back to our cabin, we were full and happy. Once in our cabin, we realized that our only source of heat was WOOD BURNING wrought iron stove. All of our previous stays in eco lodges/cabins had all had a reverse-cycle airconditioner. Mr. Eagle scout BigDogDaddy soon had a wonderful fire chugging along and if you sat three feet in front of it, you could thaw out nicely. Unfortunately, the two bedrooms were a long way from the stove. So, after extinguishing the fire, the four of us climbed into our beds fully clothed fo sleep in a -2 degree (celsius) night. To make the night more exciting, gale force winds kept blowing so fiercly that gum tree boughs made loud thunking sounds on the metal cabin roof. Needless to say, we were all a little cranky by sun-up. It was so cold, that when you cracked open the lukewarm muffins we brought for breakfast, steam poured out of them...now that is cold!!!

Oh well, at least we got a new family mantra "T-bone or TV".

Here's wishing everyone in the USA a most Happy Thanksgiving. We will be celebrating ours with many other Americans in Sydney with dinner at the swank American Club. I will still be making pies though...gobble gobble!!!!


Things I like this week:
1. Australian coffee---I've needed some this week...liters of it!
2. My current book - The Guernsey Literary&Potato Peel Pie Society-Ann Shaffer
3. The US election being over

Things I don't like this week:
1. Clothesdryers that need the water emptied from them
2. Washing machines that need to be hand drained and then refilled
3. Eco cabins: they may be green, but they won't see our green (as in dollars) again

A Moment of Silence

There I was, standing in Priceline Pharmacy at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Suddenly, the muzak playing in the store was silent except for a lone bugle recording. Everyone, customers and staff, stood silently in a minute of silence to commemorate Remembrance Day. Florists sold poppies on the sidewalks for us to wear in our lapels . It was a wonderfully moving time. Australians still remember Gallipoli and teach about it every year in school. No country lost a higher ratio of soldiers in WWI (when you look at the total population) than Australia. Under John Howard, Aussie soldiers were our allies in Afghanistan & Iraq. Their devotion to Remembrance Day is something to be admired.

Surferdude and Ponygirl were remembering our last Veteran's Day in the USA. They made computer-generated thank-you cards and handed them out at Pat's Coffee Shop in Mooresville, NC. http://www.welcomehomeveteran.org/ This coffee shop is run by a veteran for veterans and has been for years. Ponygirl and Surferdude met some amazing people that day including an eighty-plus year old woman who served as a Marine MP during WWII. A tall young man walked in a few minutes later with two little children, ordered coffee, chocolate milk and donuts. He had just returned from Iraq. He was a Lt. Colonel who, among other things, provided reconnaisance directives for the Navy fliers in their bombing runs. Having an uncle who was a Navy aviator, Ponygirl and Surferdude had lots of questions. He was so moved by the kid's cards, that he promised that his children, when they were older, would continue the tradition when he went to Veteran celebrations. We checked out the thick Veteran's Book in Pat's, looked at the heaps of memorobilia, but mostly listened and enjoyed being in the company of so many self-sacrificing people. The most amazing moment was the conversation had with Richard, the current owner of Pat's Coffee Shop. He was a Vietnam Vet with an unbelievable story to tell. Richard called over a medium-build, mild looking man who was introduced to us as a Vietnam helicopter pilot. He put his arm around the man and said "This man was a complete stranger when he walked into Pat's. After a few months of reliving the old days, I realized that I had a connection with him. This man who flew into a terrible fire fight and recovered a company of soldiers killed in the battle. The location was so remote, that he knew the recovery teams would never find these men. One of the men he recovered was my brother. He brought my brother out of Vietnam. My mother has this man to thank everytime she goes up yonder to the VA cemetary to visit my brother's grave. Most people would have left him on that field...but not this man." Surferdude, Ponygirl and their mother were speechless. That is what Remembrance/Veteran's Day is about.

If you live around Mooresville, stop in for a cup of coffee and donut and thank those in there for their service. If you have older kids, bring them in and browse through the book. If you are in a pharmacy or grocery store on November 11th, stop and be still at 11:00AM. Buy poppies...anything! All of us who live in freedom anywhere in the world are so blessed that people like those at Gallipoli or in Pat's Coffee Shop chose to answer the call when the world needed them. It is the very least we can all do!!

5 Ways an Oz Halloween Is Different from the USA

1. Pumpkins: Pumpkin season has past here....average price per pumpkin is $25.00.

2. Weather: It is hot...low '90's today.

3. Candy: Such a healthy country! Ponygirl & Surferdude went to a Halloween party tonight. They came home full from the BBQ sausages and soda...but they had a total of 4 pieces of candy.

4. Costumes: Costumes were very hard to find. There were mostly paper masks, capes, devil horns, etc.. Therefore, costumes are mainly street clothes with some of the above additions. One pre-teen exemplifies what I am talking about...He was walking around Manly with a plastic shopping bag covered with yellow sticky notes all over his clothes, shoes and face. He was a sticky note dispenser I guess...

5. Trick-or-treating: Houses are tucked away anywhere they can build them on the Sydney shores. Around here, 1 in 10 houses put out pumpkins. Neighbors don't get together in the "cul de sac" and walk around to each others houses. Trick-or-treating is also done before dark. This probably due to the busy roads. It wouldn't be safe in the dark.

Halloween is seen as a northern hemisphere holiday. The pagan Irish celebration welcomed the arrival of Fall/Harvest. Since Australia is entering Summer, it doesn't make much sense. Perhaps the biggest reason Halloween is a dud holiday...Australia is very secular. The whole tradition of All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day has no resonance here. One cool thing is that I took the kid's annual Halloween picture on Manly Beach. How many can say they have had their Halloween picture with the Tasman Sea in the background...hmmm?

Things I like this week:

1. Coffee cafes: "Let's meet for a coffee." This has to be one of the best sentences ever uttered. They are busy all morning long. Imagine sitting outside on a beautiful Aussie day, sipping a nonfat latte with a friend. Heaven!

2. Australian nectarines, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries... If fruit isn't dripping down our chins, our family isn't happy.

Things I don't like this week:

1. The American Election: Ponygirl and Surferdude are not experts on our political system...so why do their classmates and teachers ask their opinions about our upcoming election? If they have a question ask me, not them. Better yet, if you can't vote in our election---Don't ask!!!

2. Parking: difficult, expensive and usually parallel

Happy Trick or Treating!!!!

Aussie Slang

Here's a vocabulary list we have been compiling...there will be a test....(just kidding)

Travel vocabulary:

• Sealed vs. Unsealed road - paved vs. unpaved (Not much difference in rural Australia)
• Overtaking lane - highway passing lanes


• Togs - clothes


• Beanie - hat a.k.a ski or stocking cap


• Jumper - sweater


• Singlet/Chesties - tank tops . . . especially for men


• Billy's - wood-burning camp stoves


• Torch - flashlight
• Car Park - Parking lot
• Petrol - gasoline ie: fill up with petrol at the petrol station

Sporting vocabulary:

• Footy - rugby or Aussie rules football (Used interchangeably causing much confusion)


• Excursion - hike


• Carnival - track or swim meet


• Swimmies - bathing suits


• Trackies - track suit


• Sunnies - sunglasses


• Rashies - swimming rash guards/shirts


• Thongs - flip flops


• "Slip, Slop, Slap" - Sun protection slogan...slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat. Everyone says this...
  
• Boardies - long swim trunks for boys/men
• Aqua class - (prounounced like back) water aerobics class
• Sun cream - sunscreen

School vocabulary:

• Biro - ballpoint pen


• Rubber - eraser (Imagine Ponygirl asking me for one of these for the first time....)


• Morning/Afternoon Tea - morning and/or afternoon snack...tea isn't involved. Usually occurs around 10:00AM and 4:00 PM
• A cut lunch - what we would call a packed or sack lunch ,
• School run - the process of dropping off and picking up children from school
• Creche- (Pronounced /craysh/) the child care area at church, the gym, etc. Don't call it the nursery...that is what they call a the section of the barn that is used for chicks, lambs, calves, etc.
  

Conversational vocabulary:

• "Good on 'ya" - Good job.


• "See ya latah" - said in lieu of "Goodbye"


• "How ya going?" - What's up? How are you?


• "Have a go..." - Give it a try
• "... I reckon." - Used at the end of a sentence. Used like we do "I guess."
• "Make a booking"- make a reservation. You cannot walk into a restaurant at dinner without a booking. It can be completely empty and they won't seat you. I've been told that restaurants order their food from their suppliers based on their bookings.
• "G'day!" - yes they really say it and it always makes me smile :0)
• "No worries" - don't worry about it....or it's said to placate Americans when they seem too uptight for Aussie interaction
• "Hoover it up" - clean it up, vacuum it up, pick it up
• "Table" - in Aussie speak, this means talk about it now, put it on the table. In the USA, it means to put something off until later.
• "Sort It"- figure it out. "We will sort it."
• "Dodgy" - 1. a bit off, not fresh. "That meat looks dodgy." 2. untrustworthy, not truthful "That answer was a bit dodgy." (I love this one and use it often.)

Food/shopping vocabulary:

• Woolies: Woolworth's grocery store
• Capsicum - bell peppers


• Full cream, cream custard, clotted cream, heavy full cream - they are all next to each other in the supermarket . . . .no clue what the difference is


• Shops - as in "Pop up to the shops"...stores


• Stiffening - starch . . . as in the kind you use in shirts


• Biscuits - cookies


• Latte - (rhymes with flat-tay) espresso coffee with milk added...frothy


• Short or Long white - espresso coffee with non-frothed milk. Served in clear juice glasses vs. a mug/cup


• Chips - french fries


• Kebabs - (rhymes with crabs)thinly sliced lamb wrapped in pita breads and pressed flat and grilled. Sort of a gyro sandwich


• Rockmelon - canteloupe
• Veg - (pronounced /vej/) vegetables
• Wheelie bin - garbage cans left outside for collection...ie. "Have you seen my wheelie bin? I think you might have taken mine be mistake...notice the dent I put into with my car..."
• Esky- a cooler

O.K. Ready for some typical sentences I hear everyday? Remember, the vocabulary list above is there to help you.

MORNING...

"Everyone into the car, it's time for the school run."

"Hold on, I need my jumper, biros, some rubbers, my swimmies and my trackies."

"Well hurry, I need to stop by the petrol station."

"Did you not have your latte today, Mom?, Sheesh!"

"No worries, I found all of them!"

LATER THAT MORNING...AT WOOLIES.

"G'day, you need something?"

"Yes, I need some half and half for a recipe. With all these cream choices, I am confused."

"Good on ya madam. I can tell by your accent that you are American. Whose ya votin' for..."

"The half and half problem, please..."

"Well, we don't see anything like that, I reckon."

"I will just use whole milk, then."

"Right you go miss, see ya latah"

LATER THAT DAY....

"Mom, why do all their pizzas have pineapple or capsicum on them. I'd like something else for tea."

"Not now buddy, I am overtaking this car that decided it had to park right there next to the curb."

"Why don't they go down to the carpark?"

"I don't know, Surferdude. AAAK! I barely avoided that pedestrian. Now look, that wheelie bin has blown over into the street."

"No worries, Mom!!!"

GRRRRR!!!!

So now, when you come to visit us you can fit right in by using the local lingo.

Too right!!!!!

Things I like this week:

1. Beautiful warm days at the beach...this is what I signed up for!

2. Having my vacuumer back (see previous blog posting)

3. Delicious Aussie fruit and veg.

Things I don't like this week:

1. Shopping carts that roll sideways at the grocery stores...they ALL do it!

2. Laid back Aussies who cross the street wherever they want . . . they ALL do it! (Why even bother to paint crosswalk lines, I wonder?)

3. Too warm to wear my Uggs...what a shame they don't make flip flops...sorry, thongs.

Tazzy!!!

Sometimes, my knowledge of plate techtonics gets put aside and I imagine God forming each continent like a kindergartener plays with clay. I imagine him, every now and then, sitting back and saying "Now I outdid myself with that one...." That is how I feel about Tasmania. This little corner of the world has so many beautiful places, that I must say...He outdid himself.

Surferdude joined his Australian Scout troop in Tasmania as they set out to backpack the Tasman Coastal Trail. The trip is an eight-day excursion. He is still there and will not be back until Sunday night. Term 4 begins on Monday morning...so it should be interesting trying to get him back into tie and sport coat.

The remaining family, Big DogDaddy, Ponygirl and myself, explored the Hobart area. We shopped in the Salamanca markets, drove up snowy Mt. Wellington, took a three hour powerboat tour around Bruny Island, and explored Port Arthur with its history and Tasmanian devils. One exciting highlight was when we sat on the intersection of the Tasman Sea and the Southern Ocean. Antarctica was a mere two-thousand miles straight ahead. Bruny Island is an amazing place with salmon farms, sheep and an American-owned cherry orchard. Every single orchard was covered with screens to keep out the birds and the Tasmanians were laughing about how the American uses helicopters to hover over the orchards and blow off the excess rain from the fruit. Every single cherry is then sent to the US for sale. He must be doing something right...he had a huge farm! So, if you see any Tasmanian/Bruny Island cherries, you know where they come from.

Port Arthur was, basically, Australia's Alcatraz. If you re-offended or were too contrary in the Australian prison camps, you were sent to Port Arthur prison. Once again, the land was gorgeous. It's remoteness eliminated the need for much security. Like Alcatraz, unless you were a good swimmer, you were stuck. (We all know what happens when you swim willynilly in the Aussie oceans...you are never seen again....not any part of you .....ever.) The prison was self-supportive. All the convicts worked the kitchens, laundries, and hauled timber. Your job was determined by your behavior. They also required that everyone attend church together (guard and prisoner alike). Punishment was severe...either lashes with a cat-o-nine tails or solitary confinement. Some were rehabilitated, most were not.

Near Port Arthur, we stopped at a Tasmanian Devil rescue center. A horrendous, contagious facial cancer has been wiping out the tasmanian devil population. The only help for these animals is to remove healthy devils from the wild and put them in conservations centers. They will be kept out of the wild and, basically, live in these zoos for the rest of their lives. They are fascinating creatures and Ponygirl LOVED seeing them all piled up asleep.

Tasmanians are also friendly and kind people. They are considered, by mainland Australians, to be the "rednecks" of the country. Well, you know how that doesn't bother us at all. Living in North Carolina, we know rednecks. Every time we were in contact with them, especially in large groups, I never had anything but a great time and always felt safe and secure. Where else but a Toby Keith concert, could you leave your purse on the ground and dance for hours without a worry of it being taken??? If Tasmanians are "rednecks", then I know why we loved it!!!!

I hope you all get a chance to visit the Australian "Emerald Isle".


Things I like this week:

1. Bruny Island Fudge
2. Two-week school holidays... long enough but not too long.
3. Outdoor markets

Things I don't like this week:

1. Airline rules for no reason (You can only have 10 kilos per carry-on. I had 13. I put 3 kilos worth of stuff in Ponygirl's bag...how have I reduced the amount of weight being carried on the plane? Didn't I just redistribute it?)

2. My vacuumer being on vacation. I need Surferdude to come home. It's getting dusty.

3. My arthritic right foot and the two-days of ice-ing needed after trips. Boo!

Requiem for a Leader

Our family said goodbye to a wonderful brother, friend and uncle this week. In his thirty-three years, this young man demonstrated his passion for life by aiming for the sky in all that he did. He was an amazingly intelligent, brave, athletic and loving man. We will all miss him greatly. Ponygirl's poem illustrates how, as long as there is love, we all live on long after our mortal life is over. He led his soccer team in high school. He led young adults to Jesus Christ through Young Life. He led men in service to his country through the Navy. He was also a supreme example of how a man should love his family, his country and his God.

(A poem written by an 8-year old niece for her beloved uncle)

He Stands Beside Me

He had a hard time but now it's all over.

I felt he was perfect and he took some wrong roads in life.

But he is home now in heaven and I know now.

He stands beside me even though he's not here right now.

He's always in my heart but he still stands beside me.

He was very intelligent especially in the Navy.

He's always with me even when I'm lonely.

He's still with me and everyone in this big old family.

He stands beside me even though he's not here right now.

He's always in my heart but he still stands beside me.

I know he's at home now.

Even though it's up in the sky.

He's still with me.

He stands beside me even though he's not here right now...

Yeah, he still stands beside me.

The above was written by Ponygirl in the LAX airport as our family waited to board our Qantas flight for the last leg of our journey back to Sydney. As she bent over her journal, we could all tell that she was doing something special. She says she has a tune in her head, so she will talk to her music teacher about putting it to music.

We are all safely back in Sydney. We will move forward and enjoy our time here. We were encouraged to move here by the young man spoken about above. This was his favorite port when he served in the Navy. If there was one place he could live outside of the US, he said, Sydney would be it. Saturday we all head off to Tasmania for a short respite. Surferdude will stay on for an 8-day trek with the Australian Scouts. We will keep our brother, friend and uncle in our hearts as we explore and grow on this journey together.

Thanks for all you did for so many. We love you.

Green & Yellow Jack!!!

In one of my favorite movies, Jezebel, Bette Davis returns to New Orleans from her Louisiana plantation to see the doors of many of the fine homes painted with a big yellow X. This signalled that this house had been hit with the dreaded "Yellow Jack" or yellow fever. Everyone, therefore, was warned that they should stay clear of that house. I don't think there would be enough paint in the whole city of Sydney to mark all the doors of those who were suffering from this terrible virus that swept through the city. High fever, congestion that immediately moves from head to chest and extreme fatigue are the symptoms that mark this particularly heinous bug. I have dubbed it the "Green and yellow-jack" in honor of the green and gold Australian Olympic uniforms. Over the past three weeks, all four of us have been hit and Ponygirl actually had to go on inhaled and liquid steroids to battle her asthmatic symptoms. I see every Mom out there cringing at the thought of an 8-year old on steroids. They're so much fun at that age to begin with....not to mention on the crazy-insano medicine. The poor chemist I went to with my FIVE prescriptions, lamented that he was almost out of amoxicillin because of all the rush of prescriptions. Most of BigDogDaddy's office was out with the "green and yellow-jack" as well. It's been bad news.

Kids bounce back quickly, though. Surferdude and Ponygirl just returned from a school ski trip to Thredbo ski slopes near Jindabyne, NSW. They spent all day Saturday in beginner ski school and got to practice on Sunday. They both had a terrific time. BigDogDaddy and myself were not invited on the trip ("It's a Redland's bonding activity") so we headed west to the Blue Mountains. We stayed in a great little B&B. Because I was still getting over the green and yellow-jack, both of us took a 3-hour nap, had a great dinner, and then went back to bed for another sleep. Sunday, we emerged and went sight seeing. The Blue Mountains really are lovely. The Three Sisters rock formations were lovely and driving home through the apple orchards was just what we needed.

I am going to go make some more green chai tea to loosen up the gunk in my chest, so I will sign off now. One good thing about hot, summer days in the American South....it's too hot for germs to live!!!!

Things I do like this week:
1. Sleep
2. My Jane Austin anthology: I just finished Persuasion. The green&yellow-jack has allowed me to catch up on my reading.
3. Fluffy, fleecy sweats..the whole family's apparel of choice.

Things I don't like this week:
1. Two hours in the waiting room to see a pediatrician.
2. My nose...it's been useless for breathing lately.
3. The absence of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups...they don't sell them here...Kit Kat's yes....pbcups no. BigDogDaddy and the kid's love them.

Getting in the Swim of Things...

Well, I'm sitting here watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games. For once, Australians don't have to watch the competitions at crazy insano times. Because the games are in China, there is only a two-hour time difference. In my opinion, they need to curtail the goose-stepping soldiers . . . reminds me of another controversial Olympic venue....Berlin! I feel like I've seen some of this before...oh yeah...Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. A great big "Good on ya!!!" to the Aussie tv presenters...they don't talk very much.

Tomorrow should be fun. The qualifying heats for swimming begin. Swimming is HUGE here. The swimmers are on every magazine cover. Michael Phelps will have his work cut out for him in the IM. They have some Aussie swimmers that lost by a fingernail's length at the World Championships. The Aussie's still talk about the Australian men's relay team defeating the US relay team at the last Olympics.

I'm also thinking about the lovely woman I met when I got my haircut. She had the appointment after me. Her fiancee is on the men's rowing team and she was getting her long hair cut to her shoulders before she made the trip to Beijing with him. She said the place she was staying only had an allotted amount of electricity, so hot showers and hairdryers were going to be luxuries. She said your electricity just shuts off and leaves you in the dark. They told her to pack flashlights!!! Ain't Communism grand!!! Her fiancee was on "recovery" now, so she was actually getting to see quite a lot of him. Apparently they train like crazy people and then take two weeks of "recovery" time to rest. Since he is on the water every day by 4:00AM, rest must sound good. As I look at the tv, she is there somewhere minus about eight inches of blonde hair.

Well, tomorrow is rugby and riding day, so I will sign off for today.

Go USA!!!! (and Aussie crew)

Things I like this week...

1. Water aerobics. My instructor was in a car accident & was told that he wouldn't walk again...now, two years later, he is teaching my class. When he says to not quit, you don't!

2. Fireworks over Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can see them from the kid's balcony. They were just popping a few minutes ago.

3. The ability to download and stream my favorite radio shows.

Things I don't like this week ....

1. Early rugby games

2. Small containers of everything. I never realized how being able to buy 24 rolls of paper towels and such really is a convenience. I think I should be able to buy more than 6 at a time...it would make for less trips to the stor and therefore less carbon emissions!!!!

3. Parallel parking everywhere...enough said.

Getting Into The Swing

Well...I did it. I have found a dry cleaner that uses starch on BDD's shirts, found a good doctor, figured out how to park in the parking garage at the grocery store and found someone to cut my hair. I can live here now. After seven weeks of trial and error, some of the basic needs are getting easier. I am keeping the windshield wiper count down to single digits and I made it all the way to my hair appointment the other day (17 miles) without getting honked at ONCE...Yea!!! I've gotten into the swing that "Left turns are easy. Right turns use signals." The only time I mess up is in parking lots. It must be the absence of lines.

Surferdude is in Bathurst today. He left from his school at 7:30AM and will return tomorrow around 6:00PM. Bathurst, NSW is one of the sites of the Australian gold rush. They will be panning for gold, hiking, touring mines, etc..

Ponygirl is enjoying her horseback riding lessons. One funny thing about that is the fact that she cannot use her very pricey Troxel riding helmet because it is not on the "Approved" list made by the Australian government. I went to the tack shop and was told that the approved helmets were against the wall...minimum price $250.00. After looking at Ponygirl's helmet and then the approved ones, the shop clerk said..."I don't see a difference." So....Ponygirl is going to wear one of the extra ones at the riding stable. I will not buy a new helmet. My argument that I would never let my daughter wear an unsafe helmet didn't seem to sway the stable. Long live government regulation!!!

Surferdude also will have a great opportunity in October. To celebrate 100 years of Australian Scouting, his troop (which is the oldest one in Australia) will be traveling to Tasmania for a week in October to campout, hike and visit Hobart. Big Dog Daddy may be accompanying him if he can take a week off. If they both go...Ponygirl and I will head to the beach and enjoy the early Aussie summer. No camping for us...just nailpolish and pools. Girl's Road Trip!!!!

More rugby and horses on Saturday. Then, next week will be filled with music. Ponygirl will be singing with the school choir and Surferdude will be playing percussion with the orchestra.
Thursday is the celebration of 15 years of marriage. Next Sunday...we will be at Bondi for the famous City to Surf race. Big Dog Daddy's company will have a "house" for entertaining purposes. Sand, surfers, and convenient cold beverages...I feel like a native.

"See ya latah"

Things I like this week:

1. Ugg boots - still heaven

2. SCEGGS Redlands School

3. North Sydney Pool - Beautiful. It's outdoors, it's open to the public, it's heated and it looks out over the Sydney Harbor Bridge. All the great Aussie swimmers have trained here and now I have swum in it too. The karma still didn't help my breast stroke. http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/2148-about-the-olympic-pool.asp

Things I don't like this week:

1. Aussie riding helmet regulations-Would you put an unsafe helmet on your kid's head? I mean...would you???

2. The absence of ANY Swiffer products-how does the world live without them?

3. Being cold!!!!!

Where The Streets Have No Name

The Brisket on the Barby family made an important discovery this weekend....In Australia, you have to know where you are going before you get anywhere. This may sound confusing, but this is the land of streets that don't have names and major highways that just end abruptly with nothing but a roundabout. (Major highways...like the Pacific Highway....along the Pacific Ocean.... It goes around the WHOLE continent) We all headed out for a 3-day holiday to Port Stephens in New South Wales. The drive is a 2 1/2 hours...if you know where you are going. We were lucky enough to make it in 4 hours. It is only due to Big Dog Daddy's sense of direction and my knowledge that we should take any route that said "Nelson Bay" that we got there at all. Google maps is helpful only when the streets they list have the names actually posted on them. Anyway, we made it to Port Stephens and explored this pretty corner of the world. (We really did explore...we kept getting lost because the streeets were so poorly marked. Our sand dune driver said "Oh yeah...ya gotta know where ya goin' in this town. The streets won't hep ya.")

Port Stephens is a collection of bays and coves. Nelson and Anna Bay were the areas we visited. Nelson Bay was heavily fortified during WWII to protect the steel works in nearby Newcastle, NSW. General MacArthur also had training grounds built in Nelson Bay to practice for the invasion of Japan. The terrain and plant-life are similar. He also had a military hospital constructed for injured GI's. The hospital is still there....the trenches are gone since they were sand and the parade ground is now the town rugby oval.

Anna Bay is home to the Stockton Sand Dunes...the largest moving land mass in the southern hemisphere. It was fun to watch SurferDude and PonyGirl surfing on sandboards down the dunes. It was also hilarious to watch them have to climb the dune back up to the top. SurferDude reminded me of Peter O'Toole as he exits the desert on his way to Akaba. Sand really really sticks to sunscreen!!!

Another highlight of the trip was seeing the whales as they migrate to the Great Barrier Reef from Antarctica. The day was beautiful and the skipper of our boat kept us entertained. There was also free "Tea and Bikkies" to keep everyone well caffeinated. Caffeine, not petrol, is the primary energy source in this country. Perfect for me!!!!

We will definitely go again ...we have to .... we know how to get there.

The children start Term 3 tomorrow. The next break will be the last week of September. Surferdude will resume his rugby and will also start Australian Scouts. PonyGirl will begin her horseback riding lessons and start singing in the school choir. That's about all the driving OperaDiva is willing to do on a regular basis. My next assignment is to find a babysitter that we can afford. August 7th is our 15th wedding anniversary. We would like to go out for the evening at least.....wish me luck!!!!

Things I like this week:

1. The audiobook of Portugese Irregular Verbs by Alexanader McCall Smith - it's read by Hugh Laurie and he makes an otherwise average book absolutely terriffic!!!

2. Ugg boots - heaven

3. Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum - she is the ultimate "straight man" in the world of Trenton crazies

Things I don't like:

1. Streets that aren't marked and the maps that don't seem to mind

2. Australian drivers who take your picture on the freeway because you aren't going fast enough (we were already5km over the limit) and they want to pass you. I guess honking incessantly just isn't enough for some. Do they report you to Big Brother????? I'm looking forward to the letter we get from this one...Do Aussie's have the right to confront their accusers like we do in the USA? Well, we're foreigners here...we don't speed. Stay tuned.

3. The Pacific Highway (They call it Hwy 1--sometimes, sometimes not, sometimes, sometimes not)

Watching a Slow Motion Train Wreck

Just a quick note today. We are celebrating the 4th of July tonight with some other Americans, so I will have to keep it short.

I feel as if I am watching a slow motion train wreck. Australia has just agreed to kill the meager growth this country is showing in the midst of this economic slowdown and lower the standard of living for all these good, hardworking people. Today, the Rudd government announced that it is going to start initiatives to work on "greenhouse gases" that they feel the population of Australia produce. Each person/family will be given a carbon-emissions limit. Some of the results will be....penalties for not switching to solar or wind power, an added $85.00-$100.00 per airline ticket for "carbon credits", gps systems that report to the state how much driving an individual does----and then sending a bill to their house if they exceed what the state-almighty says is the limit. I have attached the article below. Notice how the environmental minister says "If we don't do something the result COULD BE......". Too bad the Rudd govt. wasn't in place during the last ice age a millenia ago....maybe the ice flows could have been delayed by 20minutes or so....maybe a herd of mastedons could have survived. I can't wait to see some twenty year old environmentalist kid have to pay an extra $100.00 a month for going over his cellphone limit. (Attach a solar panel to it pal.) Like I said I see the wreck coming...coming to my country as well. Shouldn't such radical changes be delayed until we can come up with something better than .... "well, just in case" or "maybe this will happen" or "it could be.....".

Happy 4th of July everyone....drive anywhere you want, crank up the air conditioning and spray some hairspray just for me!!!

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23967822-2,00.html

Keeping the Windshield Wiper Count Low

I'm sure you are puzzled by this week's blog heading. Has the Opera Goddess (that can be my handle) finally lost it? Actually, keeping the wiper count low is really, really important. When you are driving on the left side of the road .... Your turn signal is not on the left anymore, but on the right. Push the signal lever up to turn left, down to turn right. That means that the windshield wiper lever is on the left.....now do you understand? You are navigating a roundabout thinking "Left, left, left...signal, enter" when all of a sudden your !!!!#&%#!!! windshield wipers are furiously thunking a perfectly dry windshield. You've forgotten that the turn signal needs to be operated by your RIGHT HAND!!! Honestly!!!

Last Friday, Big Dog Daddy brought home a Holden station wagon in shiny black. Because our fence is not yet fixed, it isn't as shiny because we cannot park it in our garage (it opens along the warped fence). Still, it is great to be able to explore on the weekends. We traveled to North Head (on the coast of Manly) and West Head (on the coast of the Ku-Ring-ai National Park) and beheld spectacular scenery. The weather has been spectacular. Of course, warmish-glorious weather would occur as soon as our heating system was fixed. We have hardly needed to use it. Oh well, I'll take glorious weather anytime.

On an uplifting note, we just received word from our dear friends in Charlotte that their adorable 6 month-old daughter has acheived one of many milestones on her long path. She was born with a severely cleft palate and her latham device, which widened her palate each day when her parents turned a tiny "key", has reached the end. The key won't turn anymore. It was a painful process for both baby and parents and we are saying great prayers of thanks for her improvement. I read a profile of Cindy McCain in the Sunday paper here (I know, why they are covering her here in Sydney is anyone's guess.) and she is a spokesperson for the Operation Smile that helps children with cleft palates all over the world. The McCain's adopted daughter had a cleft palate. Both Operation Smile and the Smile Train have helped out our dear friends so much. When I took SurferDude to the doctor for his sore throat, the doctor and I got to talking. She was saying how long any kind of special procedures take in Australia. (gotta love national health) I had mentioned doing a sleep study for SurferDude, since he had been sleepwalking again. She said it was best to just wait until we returned to the States. I then asked her about fixing clefts. She shook her head and said that area of medicine lacked doctors and many families had to wait years or travel to other countries for timely help. (Now I know why these organizations raise money for children to travel to the USA for surgery.) The older you try to fix the cleft, the more painful. Anyway, I am so thankful for the wonderful doctor that is helping our little love. We truly do have the greatest health care in the world.

Finally, a big shout out to my amazing sister for her unofficial role as "blogmaster". All the cool improvements to my blog are because of her. She has her own great blog http://www.bookmoot.blogspot.com/ if you want some great insight on children/young adult literature.

Things I love this week:
1. Emmy Lou Harris' new CD - Dolly Parton sings "backup" on one track....gotta love it.
2. Lamb kebabs (pronounced kehbaybs)
3. The 4th of July in winter
4. Aussie white semillon grape - makes a great wine

Things I don't love this week:
1. Babysitter for an 11 and 8 year old = $25.00/hr
2. Not being able to justify swanky adult party if I have to pay above amount for babysitting
3. Turn signal being located on the right

Keep smiling!!!

I Want to Play Rugby Too!!!

Well, after watching Surferedude play rugby this Saturday..... I want to play rugby too. Our sweet little human dollhouse has been falling apart over the past two weeks. Thus, I have become an expert dealing with Aussie tradesmen. It has been made clear to me that because of the circumstances by which western settlement occurred in Australia (aka the convict heritage), all of us blokes on the island are equal in all ways. Therefore, your average tradesman will behave as any other businessman.... make personal calls, eat lunch, take smoke breaks .... just as any free-willed CEO. No worries with this philosophy, except when you are waiting at home with no hot water, or heat, or you are watching carpenter ants eat the dry rotted fence. The plumbing has been fixed, the fence and heat, however, have not. Needless to say, I have been a bit snarky lately and have neglected my blog. I look forward, especially to the heat being fixed tomorrow...it is chilly, chilly here. It's been around 8degrees celsius with breezes off the bay...
Anyway, watchig Surferdude plow into other kids, wrap them up and push them down made me really jealous. I've wanted to tackle someone to the ground all week!!!!!

Enough of the Ugly American...Ponygirl has been busy with her third grade studies. Her teacher says she has fit right into the flow of things and isn't having any trouble with her maths or literacy subjects. She is even enjoying French. Last weekend, she picked out a baby pink, Maria Sharapova tennis racquet and is working on a killer forehand. Surferdude is living in boy-world. He meets me after "ruggah" practice covered in mud and all scratched up. Boy heaven.

Big Dog Daddy surprised me with a laptop. I am still having trouble with email. I can receive messages but I cannot send them. We are still working on it. The school holiday is beginning next week. We will explore horseback riding and scouts at that time....more later. Saturday, we get to see some Gilbert and Sullivan....HMS Pinafore. Yeahhh!!

Things to love this week...

Blue skies
Coffee stands
Public transport
Laid-back Aussie attitude

Things to drive me crazy this week ...
Laid-back Aussie attitude

Love to all.

Walking It Off

Well, now I know how Australians stay so slim while all the time eating french pastry and drinking lattes (there is a coffee stand about every six feet) . . . they walk everywhere. Today, I have already been to downtown Sydney to pick up some shirts for Surferdude, gone to the grocery and am now at the library. After this, I am heading down to Mosman Sailing Club to see about sailing lessons....I have already walked at least 5 miles or so. That is one good thing about not having a car, I have to take the buses everywhere and walk to my destination.

Not having a car may be a challenge this Saturday. Surferdude has been practicing with the 11/12 year-old rugby team. All of his school chums are on it. So, the coach suggested he come to the game this weekend and warm up with the team, then he can sit with the team and watch so he picks up the rules. Only problem is, the fields are further north and will take two buses and a 1/2 kilometer walk (45 minutes total) to get there....by 8:00 AM. I know there isn't any other time in his life when Surferdude will get to play rugby (thank goodness-says Mom), so if the school doesn't use a bus for the team, I guess Sat. morning will start early.

Good thing there is a coffee stand every six-feet isn't it?

Kangaroos and Wallabies

G'day everyone. I have my newly printed library card and I can access my blog through the Mosman Library. A wonderful time was had by all in Kangaroo Island. I even practiced my driving. Staying on the other side of the road and turning (left turns are easy, right turns are hard) wasn't the problem. The problem is getting a feel for where your car is on the road. I tended to get the left wheels on the shoulder quite a bit. Anyway. . . Ponygirl and Surferdude had wallabies and kangaroos eating "roo-food" out of their hands. We all got to pet the koalas that were, literally, hanging out of the trees. There aren't any predators (dingos or foxes) on Kangaroo Island or any rabbits to eat the vegetation, so all the animals flourish. The kangaroos are dark brown and some are as big a bears! We flew into Adelaide and traveled over to K.I. by ferry. It was a perfect spot for a 3 day weekend.

Flying in Australia....

Flying in Australia is a wonderful experience. Security takes about 15 seconds. Logic is attempted and not everyone is treated as a potential criminal. We caught an earlier flight for Adelaide on Friday night in 10 minutes. Impossible thought in the USA. Parents and loved ones can actually escort their charges to the gate here as well. Service on the flight was great as well. The meal they served was Lamb Curry with Rice. Surferdude LOVES lamb, but the spicy curry was a bit much...Ponygirl...Forget it. So, the flight attendant warmed up some extra dinner rolls and brought them to the children...out of the blue...without being asked.

Motel vs. Hotel

In Australia, the "M" vs the "H" is very, very important when finding accomodation in Australia. We stayed at a motel near the Adelaide airport and basically had the same amenities as sleepaway camp. Let's just say we used the bathroom as little as possible. On the other hand, the lodge/hotel at Kangaroo Island had all the basics you would expect in a family hotel...the price of each accomodation? basically the same. Good lessons learned.

Tomorrow, I am going to a play with some of the moms from the school. One Accenture wife has been particularly kind and generous to me. She has been introducing me around and giving useful advice. The play is in the city. It should be lots of fun.

I will keep you posted!!!

It's Been an Long, Long Time....



Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Big Dog Daddy has the only computer and takes it with him everyday to work. Since he doesn't get home until after 8:00PM, I am not able to conjure up the strength to write a witty blog entry.



Much has transpired since last we met...



The moving boxes from America arrived...now we have blankets, hangers, coats and fuzzy sweatshirts!!! This makes for much warmer breakfasts and much deeper sleep. The kids are also grateful for the hangers...it's much easier for them to hang up clothes than fold them. Big Dog Daddy's golfclubs are in quarantine due to that dangerous "American Dirt" that might contaminate the Australian dirt. Funny. They are so worried about Yankee golfclubs when creepy crawlies like the Funnel Web Spider are native to Sydney and are ranked as the deadliest spider in all the world...Dirt doesn't knock you down dead!!!!



The two younguns had their interview at the Redlands school on Tuesday. The school is so fantastic that Surferdude and Ponygirl wanted to start right then. They will begin next Tuesday and go through the end of the month, at which point they get a three week break. So, we were off to the uniform shop to buy the following:


Ponygirl:
1 Blazer; 1 wool checkered skirt (gently used); 2 collared shirts; 1 poly/cotton navy "jumper" (pullover sweater);1 school backpack, 1 music bag;1 recorder,1 library bag; 1 athletics outfit (golf shirt and knit shorts), grey tights; 2 pr. knee socks; 1 Redlands sun hat (can't play outside without one); "stationery supplies" (notebooks, graph paper; music paper) and house (yes, like Harry Potter) pins for blazer. Total: $600.00 - I kid you not.


Surferdude:
1 Blazer, 2 wool grey slacks, 2 blue collared shirts, 2 striped school ties, 1 navy jumper; 1 athletics bag,1 school backpack, 1 music bag;1 recorder,1 library bag; 1 athletics outfit; 1 sun hat; cool geometry tool kit, stationey supplies and house pins. Total:$700.00



I see now why poor Ron Weasley always had used robes. You can imagine the zombie-like way I exited the store...What if I was too lazy to wash & iron and actually got enough uniforms for every day of the week....??? The kids had a ball getting all decked out. One note: Apparently it is very important to have a separate bag for all activities. This is an English habit I have been told. I was happy to have them smash everything into one backpack, but they can't participate without the proper bag. Public school children have them too.



Went to Manly beach today and we will be going to see an Australian Rules Football game tomorrow. Should be entertaining.



Big Dog Daddy has arranged a three-day getaway to Kangaroo Island for the Queen's Birthday holiday in two weeks. Long live Elizabeth Regina!!! We will fly to Adelaide that Friday, tour Kangaroo Island Saturday and Sunday and head back to Sydney on Monday. I will keep you posted.



One last observation. EVERYONE here asks me about the Presidential Race in the United States. It is absolutely hilarious. They know more about Obama and Hilary than most Americans do. I am not exaggerating. A sweet-faced, truly ancient lady on the bus the other day said to me "So, are you going to support Hilary or Obama?" I had to say,"Well, I won't be supporting either but a lot of Americans do." She laughed and replied "Oh...a rebel are ye!!!" I smiled back "So I've been told." Surferdude swallowed his tongue..... Now that I think about it, I do feel a bit like Luke Skywalker versus the Empire...I guess being a conservative is being rebellious. If I felt like inciting a riot I could even say that I think George W. is a courageous president and bring up examples of how much Lincoln was hated...better not. I don't want my Visa revoked.


May the force be strong with you too...

Ta Ta

New Beginnings....

Well ... it was a long couple of flights. Ponygirl, ever looking out for her comfort, stuffed the Continental Airlines pillow and blanket into her backpack. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why her backpack had become so huge as it was slid onto the conveyor belt at LAX. Then there was the security drill where loud sirens blared and we all had to step back from the xray machines and all activity stopped for about 3 minutes. After a long-delayed flight from Houston, this was just what my 11-year old anxious kid needed to top off his day. Boy, I feel so much more secure....

The Quantas flight was outstanding. We landed at 6:00 AM and were almost put on the Aussie watch list due to Ponygirl stashing the eaten apple core and banana peel from her breakfast in her backpack. FOOOD!!!!UNAUTHORIZED!!!!UNDECLARED!!!! I will be in charge of her backpack in future.

Our house is lovely. It is period Federation and has beautiful tiled fireplaces...we can't figure out how to turn them on, mind you, but they look lovely. The wooden floors are polished and we have pull switches to turn on the chandelier lights. Every door has its own key, so we have about 10 keys. Surferdude enjoys unlocking all the doors. We have vacuumed, scrubbed and mopped, so all is well in our human doll house. It has been cold, so we have been living mornings and evenings upstairs, as only the second floor has heat. We can't wait for our moving boxes to arrive with all of our blankets and coats and heavy sweatshirts. But, as our new neighbors say ...No worries.

Before I go, here are a few highlights from our first week in OZ...

1. McDonald's hamburgers have never tasted better than when eaten on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

2. Sydneysiders are quite polite to an American family hauling trash bins, stepstools and laundry baskets needed for the house onto city buses. They don't laugh out loud.

3. Children voluntarily head to bed at 5:30PM three nights in a row after a long trip to Sydney.

4. Energy-conscious (bordering on obsessed) Australian refrigerators will set off an alarm when left slightly ajar...causing the adults in the house to run around looking for the source and just waiting for the constables to show up on the doorstep.

5. Seeing the light in your children's eyes as they head across Sydney Harbor for the first time on a beautiful clear day.... worth every flight-induced crick in the neck.

Ta for now...

How to have it all with only 4 "D" size moving containers full of stuff:

1. Remember....you can buy things there....they take Mastercard.

2. Location, Location, Location!

3. Have good adventure companions!

G'day and G'bye!!!