Suddenly springtime.Cockatoo
Nice view!!!!
Yes, folks, snow.
I was freeeezing.
Neon glow.
A Dam. Very chilly.
29 September 2009
Pictures of the bush, as promised.
Here are some lovely pictures of the country. Enjoy the seasonal changes!
Suddenly springtime.
Yes, folks, snow.
I was freeeezing.
Neon glow.
A Dam. Very chilly.
Suddenly springtime.Yes, folks, snow.
I was freeeezing.
Neon glow.
A Dam. Very chilly.
28 September 2009
Shout out to the love of my life.
Completely unrelated to Australia, but today would be my little bear's 12th birthday. I miss her terribly. :(
My little Sidney
How could anyone NOT love that adorable face?
My little Sidney
How could anyone NOT love that adorable face?26 September 2009
Kookaburra sits in the old gumtreeeee. Merry merry king of the bush is heeee. Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, kookaburra gay your life must be.
To country, to country to see me a 'roo. Home again, home again only saw...snow?
Really, Australia? Snow!?! Drought, what drought? This time (unlike most previous statements) I have proof! Weeell, I don't currently have proof, as it's on someone else's camera, but there is proof nonetheless. Had it not been ridiculously cold out, I would have made snow people of you all, my followers (there was that much of it!).
Let's start at the beginning....
Friday: 6pm
I feed my host a delicious dinner of microwaved soup. To be fair, it was delicious soup and I haven't yet mastered the gas-lit stove (it's just a house explosion waiting to happen with me on board). After the yumminess, we set off for the bush (40 min or so away). It's dark and rainy and foggy, so I can't see much, but he tells me we are headed for that ominous glow at the top of a distant mountain.
7pm-ish:
We are now the ominous glow on the mountain. Rainy. Freezing. Foggy. It's takes a lot of persuading to get me out of the delightfully warm car. I am finally coaxed out to a fantastic view of the valley and Melbourne CBD. So fantastic (sorry, no camera. shoot.). No matter, more beautiful vistas tomorrow.
7:30pm-ish:
Arrive at the home of my host, James, in the bush. Meet the parents time. Wonderful people! Absolutely nicest people ever (except, my mommy and daddy, of course.- what? it'll be Christmas soon, I need to start sucking up).
Mr H. was fantastically sarcastic, just like my fantastically and usually overly sarcastic dad (Miss you, Dad!). Mrs. H was such a sweet and crafty creature (just like you, mumsy! Miss you, too!!). She wanted to borrow my mittens so she could copy the pattern and knit herself a pair! How cute is that!? (BTW, thanks, Liz. They are yours. hahaha)
8pm:
Planet Earth time...which brings me to my first ever experience with Seventh Day Adventists, which my lovely hosts are. All I had ever heard about them is the vegetarianism (yay, them! I fit in already!) and that because of their aforementioned diet, they have one of the longest lifespans (or possibly the longest). Amazing and truly wonderful people!
*Explanation of what Planet Earth has to do with religion. They consider Saturday to be the Sabbath, so they don't watch TV (except for religious stuff and documentaries) on Friday night and Saturday. Fascinating!*
10pm:
Bed time. Lovely host was nice enough to give me the bed with the electric blanket. Booyah! Ahhhh, so warm. Slept like a baby. First time in OZ that I haven't had to sleep with 18 layers of socks and sweaters. That's progress.
7:30am-ish:
Roll out of bed and into the kitchen. "You just woke up, didn't you. You have that ' I just woke up' look on your face." haha. Thanks, Mr. H.
8am:
Eat yummy homemade Muesli (thanks, Mrs. H!), banana, and yogurt mixture. Good job, James. You adventies know me so well already! I love vegetarians.
8:30am:
Mr. H shows me pictures he took of the most beautiful and exotic birds I have ever seen. Parrots, Gallahs, Kookaburras (song above), Cockatoos...Best part? They were all from the trees outside his house. That's it, I'm moving here. So long, America, the bush is my home now!
9am:
Roll out of the house for a tour of the country. First stop- Seventh Day Adventist church. I don't know what I expected, but it looked like the inside of any Mormon chapel. So there you go, the secret is out. They are in cahoots.
10am:
Drive through the mountains and valley starts. It's absolutely breathtaking. Long winding roads through beautiful forests of giant gumtrees and other exotic sorts of flora and fauna. Stunning vistas of the valley below. Fog rolling through the trees. Rivers that roll over exotic ferns. The occasional ray of sunshine breaking through the fog. Stunning.
2pm:
After a treacherous climb and descent through the foggy then snowy then sunny then foggy mountains ( I felt like I was in one of those sped-up season videos), sadly, done. Back to the H's for lunch, more Planet Earth, and me gazing at the parrots that are feeding in the neighbor's yard. Lots of gazing at this.
4pm:
Home to the 'burbs to find that the people whose house I'm living in have finally arrived home. Haven't met them officially yet (they were knocked out from the plane journey, I assume). I will keep you posted on this.
Currently there is an insane hailstorm outside of my window. This country is very schizophrenic about it's weather. 'Is it winter, is it summer? Should we send down ten or twenty inches of rain, today? Hmm, twenty should suffice.'
Pictures of the bush coming soon!
P.S. Never did see a 'roo. :( story of my life.
Really, Australia? Snow!?! Drought, what drought? This time (unlike most previous statements) I have proof! Weeell, I don't currently have proof, as it's on someone else's camera, but there is proof nonetheless. Had it not been ridiculously cold out, I would have made snow people of you all, my followers (there was that much of it!).
Let's start at the beginning....
Friday: 6pm
I feed my host a delicious dinner of microwaved soup. To be fair, it was delicious soup and I haven't yet mastered the gas-lit stove (it's just a house explosion waiting to happen with me on board). After the yumminess, we set off for the bush (40 min or so away). It's dark and rainy and foggy, so I can't see much, but he tells me we are headed for that ominous glow at the top of a distant mountain.
7pm-ish:
We are now the ominous glow on the mountain. Rainy. Freezing. Foggy. It's takes a lot of persuading to get me out of the delightfully warm car. I am finally coaxed out to a fantastic view of the valley and Melbourne CBD. So fantastic (sorry, no camera. shoot.). No matter, more beautiful vistas tomorrow.
7:30pm-ish:
Arrive at the home of my host, James, in the bush. Meet the parents time. Wonderful people! Absolutely nicest people ever (except, my mommy and daddy, of course.- what? it'll be Christmas soon, I need to start sucking up).
Mr H. was fantastically sarcastic, just like my fantastically and usually overly sarcastic dad (Miss you, Dad!). Mrs. H was such a sweet and crafty creature (just like you, mumsy! Miss you, too!!). She wanted to borrow my mittens so she could copy the pattern and knit herself a pair! How cute is that!? (BTW, thanks, Liz. They are yours. hahaha)
8pm:
Planet Earth time...which brings me to my first ever experience with Seventh Day Adventists, which my lovely hosts are. All I had ever heard about them is the vegetarianism (yay, them! I fit in already!) and that because of their aforementioned diet, they have one of the longest lifespans (or possibly the longest). Amazing and truly wonderful people!
*Explanation of what Planet Earth has to do with religion. They consider Saturday to be the Sabbath, so they don't watch TV (except for religious stuff and documentaries) on Friday night and Saturday. Fascinating!*
10pm:
Bed time. Lovely host was nice enough to give me the bed with the electric blanket. Booyah! Ahhhh, so warm. Slept like a baby. First time in OZ that I haven't had to sleep with 18 layers of socks and sweaters. That's progress.
7:30am-ish:
Roll out of bed and into the kitchen. "You just woke up, didn't you. You have that ' I just woke up' look on your face." haha. Thanks, Mr. H.
8am:
Eat yummy homemade Muesli (thanks, Mrs. H!), banana, and yogurt mixture. Good job, James. You adventies know me so well already! I love vegetarians.
8:30am:
Mr. H shows me pictures he took of the most beautiful and exotic birds I have ever seen. Parrots, Gallahs, Kookaburras (song above), Cockatoos...Best part? They were all from the trees outside his house. That's it, I'm moving here. So long, America, the bush is my home now!
9am:
Roll out of the house for a tour of the country. First stop- Seventh Day Adventist church. I don't know what I expected, but it looked like the inside of any Mormon chapel. So there you go, the secret is out. They are in cahoots.
10am:
Drive through the mountains and valley starts. It's absolutely breathtaking. Long winding roads through beautiful forests of giant gumtrees and other exotic sorts of flora and fauna. Stunning vistas of the valley below. Fog rolling through the trees. Rivers that roll over exotic ferns. The occasional ray of sunshine breaking through the fog. Stunning.
2pm:
After a treacherous climb and descent through the foggy then snowy then sunny then foggy mountains ( I felt like I was in one of those sped-up season videos), sadly, done. Back to the H's for lunch, more Planet Earth, and me gazing at the parrots that are feeding in the neighbor's yard. Lots of gazing at this.
4pm:
Home to the 'burbs to find that the people whose house I'm living in have finally arrived home. Haven't met them officially yet (they were knocked out from the plane journey, I assume). I will keep you posted on this.
Currently there is an insane hailstorm outside of my window. This country is very schizophrenic about it's weather. 'Is it winter, is it summer? Should we send down ten or twenty inches of rain, today? Hmm, twenty should suffice.'
Pictures of the bush coming soon!
P.S. Never did see a 'roo. :( story of my life.
23 September 2009
Really, Australia? #2
So we've covered the Really, Australia? spider incident. This one involves stamps- 30 of them, to be specific.
Apparently the self-adhesive stamp hasn't really caught on here.
I just licked 30 (count it 3-0-) stamps for you chumps back home.
Apparently the self-adhesive stamp hasn't really caught on here.
I just licked 30 (count it 3-0-) stamps for you chumps back home.
Rocked up to Parly
Back to Parly today for a quick tour and a computer training sess...ZZZzzzz....Yes, I'm even boring myself with that one.
True, learning about computer research certainly won't be the highlight of my internship, but it was entirely necessary. BONUS- I did take some pictures for all five of you. Hooray!
Before I get to the pictures, I am going to make you listen to the rest of my day. Scrolling down is not an option. I'll know who did it and you won't get any lollies.* side note: A Parly staffer has forbidden me from henceforth (or at least til 20 Dec) using the word 'candy.' I am only allowed to refer to them as lollies or sweets.* Either way, you won't get yours.
So I rocked up (way more fun, right?) to Parly just before 10 for a public tour and a meeting with the most job-loving librarian I have ever met. The tour was...helpful? I saw everything that he showed us last week, but he did give some interesting background info and let us take pics.
Did you know that the chandeliers in the lower chambers are from Scotland? Hm, me either. And during the 'festive' season, they throw some shrimp on the barbie out back near the Chook house for the MPs and staffers. Please someone invite me! And the upper house carpets are red because red represents royalty and the lower house carpets are green because green is for commoners. I'm not even green because I'm just a lowly intern.
After the group tour, my tour guide chatted me up (seriously. old people LOVE me.) about a trip to America he took back in '00. Started in LA (not impressed), then SD (loved it!), then Vegas (pathetic), then the Grand Canyon (big?), then back to LA.
*Insert story that I already posted on Sam's FB: Someone (god knows who!?!?) told him to take the bus to some flea market outside of LA. He got a bit anxious when some thugs with their gangsta bandanas rolled up- but they didn't mess with him because he was a foreigner.*
After the tour guide showed me the post office (uh, yeah, that's what I was thinking, too), I headed up to the library for my reeeeeally in depth tour of the computer research system (I won't bore you with this). Although incredibly helpful, I am the in-out-done sort of girl, not the let's-see-just-how-many-articles-on-mental-health-that-we-can-find-over-and-over-and-over-again-til-you-want-to-poke-your-eyeballs-out sort of girl.
After recovering from the training session, I had to catch the bus back to work (sad, I know). And that, folks, is basically where the story ends. Except for some nut job old lady on the bus screaming at the driver that he was the "most rude and unhelpful bus driver she has ever met." Poor bus driver. Dealing with old people is tough. I know, I have parents. ;) Just kidding Mom and Dad! Love you guys!
Stay tuned for my post this weekend! School party thing with Chris's Commerce Guild buddies(I'm referring to it as this- don't remember what they call themselves) and hopefully going to the 'bush' this weekend!
Though for all I know the world is coming to an end....orange skies in Sydney? It's not sand, it's doooooomsday.
The view from the back of Parly. That's the chook house on your left.
The Harry Potter Dungeon (otherwise known as Member of Parly office space)
That's me! Well, sort of.
Loving the color scheme.
Perhaps they'll loan this to me for Halloween?
Aw, the Library.
Home.
Lower house. I like to watch from above.
Upper house. The roped off chair is for Queenie.
The great hall (at least that's what I'm calling it).
Her majesty.
Shoe tying bench?
Parly entrance hall.
I work here (sort of).
True, learning about computer research certainly won't be the highlight of my internship, but it was entirely necessary. BONUS- I did take some pictures for all five of you. Hooray!
Before I get to the pictures, I am going to make you listen to the rest of my day. Scrolling down is not an option. I'll know who did it and you won't get any lollies.* side note: A Parly staffer has forbidden me from henceforth (or at least til 20 Dec) using the word 'candy.' I am only allowed to refer to them as lollies or sweets.* Either way, you won't get yours.
So I rocked up (way more fun, right?) to Parly just before 10 for a public tour and a meeting with the most job-loving librarian I have ever met. The tour was...helpful? I saw everything that he showed us last week, but he did give some interesting background info and let us take pics.
Did you know that the chandeliers in the lower chambers are from Scotland? Hm, me either. And during the 'festive' season, they throw some shrimp on the barbie out back near the Chook house for the MPs and staffers. Please someone invite me! And the upper house carpets are red because red represents royalty and the lower house carpets are green because green is for commoners. I'm not even green because I'm just a lowly intern.
After the group tour, my tour guide chatted me up (seriously. old people LOVE me.) about a trip to America he took back in '00. Started in LA (not impressed), then SD (loved it!), then Vegas (pathetic), then the Grand Canyon (big?), then back to LA.
*Insert story that I already posted on Sam's FB: Someone (god knows who!?!?) told him to take the bus to some flea market outside of LA. He got a bit anxious when some thugs with their gangsta bandanas rolled up- but they didn't mess with him because he was a foreigner.*
After the tour guide showed me the post office (uh, yeah, that's what I was thinking, too), I headed up to the library for my reeeeeally in depth tour of the computer research system (I won't bore you with this). Although incredibly helpful, I am the in-out-done sort of girl, not the let's-see-just-how-many-articles-on-mental-health-that-we-can-find-over-and-over-and-over-again-til-you-want-to-poke-your-eyeballs-out sort of girl.
After recovering from the training session, I had to catch the bus back to work (sad, I know). And that, folks, is basically where the story ends. Except for some nut job old lady on the bus screaming at the driver that he was the "most rude and unhelpful bus driver she has ever met." Poor bus driver. Dealing with old people is tough. I know, I have parents. ;) Just kidding Mom and Dad! Love you guys!
Stay tuned for my post this weekend! School party thing with Chris's Commerce Guild buddies(I'm referring to it as this- don't remember what they call themselves) and hopefully going to the 'bush' this weekend!
Though for all I know the world is coming to an end....orange skies in Sydney? It's not sand, it's doooooomsday.
The view from the back of Parly. That's the chook house on your left.
The Harry Potter Dungeon (otherwise known as Member of Parly office space)
That's me! Well, sort of.
Loving the color scheme.
Perhaps they'll loan this to me for Halloween?
Aw, the Library.
Home.
Lower house. I like to watch from above.
Upper house. The roped off chair is for Queenie.
The great hall (at least that's what I'm calling it).
Her majesty.
Shoe tying bench?
Parly entrance hall.
I work here (sort of).
I feel classy when I rock up to this place.
Well, there you go. I hope it was worth the wait.
20 September 2009
My new introduction- "This is Stephanie. She's afraid of spiders."
Other things of note. How this came up in conversation, I haven't the foggiest.
1. Australians do NOT and never have used the term 'Criiickee'.
2. Australians didn't like Steve Irwin half as much as Americans.
1. Australians do NOT and never have used the term 'Criiickee'.
2. Australians didn't like Steve Irwin half as much as Americans.
Parliament of Victoria (as if my previous post wasn't long enough)
I'm back!
I've just remembered that I completely forgot to blog about Parliament! I unfortunately realized this when I looked down at the ridiculous grin on my Parliament ID picture. What began as quite a nice smile turned abnormally ecstatic-looking as my boss said, "Smile bigger!" (one must always obey the boss, even when it makes you look like an idiot in a picture that the whole world...or at least the security guards... will see and immediately laugh at. And probably talk about long after I'm gone) Anyway, on Thursday my boss took me to Parliament (sorry, no pictures here--explanation below) during their Sitting week. No pictures are allowed while they're sitting, which isn't to say that they're allowed while they are standing either. Sitting is what they say when they're in session. Pictures should follow next week, as my boss has agreed to let me go back for a tour of the enormous building while they are out of session.
The building itself is fantastically old and enormous and very very easy to lose yourself in (which I did quite a lot). Since my boss had to be in meetings, she told me to just wander around and that the best way to learn the building was to get lost in it...great advice. I was petrified the entire time that I would accidentally wind up in the Premier's office or something ridiculous like that. So, to be safe, I didn't open any doors. Because it's an old building, most of the Members offices are in what I consider to be the dungeon. It's a bit Harry Potter-esque and aside from the poor lighting, I loved it! I was able to watch their sessions from above, which was fun. The Members all talk out of turn and exchange witty jabs at each other- I loved it! It was like a rowdy football game with the opposition on either side.
The Utah interns for my boss are quite notorious. The moment I spoke the Parliament building staff would say, "Ahh, you're another one of Chris's Utah recruits, aren't you?" Why yes, Bill, I am. There is a delightful old man, whose job is to open the door of the chambers for the Members, that struck up a conversation with me (old people LOVE me...maybe it's glasses that I stole off that old lady's corpse, right Jon?). He was so friendly and will probably remember me fondly for years and years (memory like an elephant, that one). He was from Melbourne at had for a short period been a mormon, so he recalled ridiculous places like Hurricane (even pronounced this one like a Utahn...which is to say incorrectly), Richmond, Bountiful, Logan, etc....places I hadn't even heard of or couldn't locate on a map.
He remembered one particular missionary back in the 70's who he was convinced was batting for the other team. He never did find out for sure because apparently the kid was ill and was sent home to Logan early, only to die shortly thereafter from a brain tumor! What a story. I assume that this man and I will have many chats in the coming months. I like when people talk to me.
And then there is the Library. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Think Beauty and the Beast amazing. Spiral staircases, cozy leather armchairs, books from floor to ceiling. If books about Politics turned me on, I would be in heaven. Sadly, this is not the case. Though I do still adore that place nonetheless.
Oh, yeah, best part. Parliament has color-coordinated carpeting for the upper and lower houses! Haha. And color-coordinated bells. And these bells, dependent upon how long they ring, mean something completely different! I just thought there was some sort of fire every hour or so....
Okay, so that is that. I could rack my brain for more memories about Parliament...and as I wrote that one popped into my head! The toilets. Oh, yes, the toilets. They are quite luxurious! The water is always flushed with a blue cleaning liquid, and even when nobody has pooped, a little machine on the wall releases a little puff of fragrance. Hahahaha. Love it. I could LIVE in that bathroom.
Now that really is all. Pictures of Parliament on Wednesday.
Here are the few and far between pictures from Saturday. Savour them (because you probably won't get more for a while....)!
My bedroom. Isn't it splendid...?... As if I would need that bloody fan in the corner. It's f-ing FREEZING here.
My wall of love and happiness.
I forgot about this! Hahaha. A rally against-get this, Scientologists! Now this IS happiness. I wish I could remember what their hilarious signs said.
Queen Victoria Market! Huge and wonderful. They sell dog beds there. DOG beds. And gluten free food-woohoo! Strange and fabulous. Sorry no pics of the actual market. I'm also self-conscious about being that annoying and dorky tourist who takes way too many photos about things that most people consider to be non-picture worthy.
Oh, p.s. currently someone...or something... is singing opera (if you could call it that because they are terrible) outside my window. I happen to live next to a gas station, but I suspect it is actually my very weird and awkwardly nosy neighbor who stared, acually STARED at me as I walked away from the house. I think she thought she was hidden from sight behind that bush...she wasn't.
I've just remembered that I completely forgot to blog about Parliament! I unfortunately realized this when I looked down at the ridiculous grin on my Parliament ID picture. What began as quite a nice smile turned abnormally ecstatic-looking as my boss said, "Smile bigger!" (one must always obey the boss, even when it makes you look like an idiot in a picture that the whole world...or at least the security guards... will see and immediately laugh at. And probably talk about long after I'm gone) Anyway, on Thursday my boss took me to Parliament (sorry, no pictures here--explanation below) during their Sitting week. No pictures are allowed while they're sitting, which isn't to say that they're allowed while they are standing either. Sitting is what they say when they're in session. Pictures should follow next week, as my boss has agreed to let me go back for a tour of the enormous building while they are out of session.
The building itself is fantastically old and enormous and very very easy to lose yourself in (which I did quite a lot). Since my boss had to be in meetings, she told me to just wander around and that the best way to learn the building was to get lost in it...great advice. I was petrified the entire time that I would accidentally wind up in the Premier's office or something ridiculous like that. So, to be safe, I didn't open any doors. Because it's an old building, most of the Members offices are in what I consider to be the dungeon. It's a bit Harry Potter-esque and aside from the poor lighting, I loved it! I was able to watch their sessions from above, which was fun. The Members all talk out of turn and exchange witty jabs at each other- I loved it! It was like a rowdy football game with the opposition on either side.
The Utah interns for my boss are quite notorious. The moment I spoke the Parliament building staff would say, "Ahh, you're another one of Chris's Utah recruits, aren't you?" Why yes, Bill, I am. There is a delightful old man, whose job is to open the door of the chambers for the Members, that struck up a conversation with me (old people LOVE me...maybe it's glasses that I stole off that old lady's corpse, right Jon?). He was so friendly and will probably remember me fondly for years and years (memory like an elephant, that one). He was from Melbourne at had for a short period been a mormon, so he recalled ridiculous places like Hurricane (even pronounced this one like a Utahn...which is to say incorrectly), Richmond, Bountiful, Logan, etc....places I hadn't even heard of or couldn't locate on a map.
He remembered one particular missionary back in the 70's who he was convinced was batting for the other team. He never did find out for sure because apparently the kid was ill and was sent home to Logan early, only to die shortly thereafter from a brain tumor! What a story. I assume that this man and I will have many chats in the coming months. I like when people talk to me.
And then there is the Library. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Think Beauty and the Beast amazing. Spiral staircases, cozy leather armchairs, books from floor to ceiling. If books about Politics turned me on, I would be in heaven. Sadly, this is not the case. Though I do still adore that place nonetheless.
Oh, yeah, best part. Parliament has color-coordinated carpeting for the upper and lower houses! Haha. And color-coordinated bells. And these bells, dependent upon how long they ring, mean something completely different! I just thought there was some sort of fire every hour or so....
Okay, so that is that. I could rack my brain for more memories about Parliament...and as I wrote that one popped into my head! The toilets. Oh, yes, the toilets. They are quite luxurious! The water is always flushed with a blue cleaning liquid, and even when nobody has pooped, a little machine on the wall releases a little puff of fragrance. Hahahaha. Love it. I could LIVE in that bathroom.
Now that really is all. Pictures of Parliament on Wednesday.
Here are the few and far between pictures from Saturday. Savour them (because you probably won't get more for a while....)!
My bedroom. Isn't it splendid...?... As if I would need that bloody fan in the corner. It's f-ing FREEZING here.
My wall of love and happiness.
I forgot about this! Hahaha. A rally against-get this, Scientologists! Now this IS happiness. I wish I could remember what their hilarious signs said.
Queen Victoria Market! Huge and wonderful. They sell dog beds there. DOG beds. And gluten free food-woohoo! Strange and fabulous. Sorry no pics of the actual market. I'm also self-conscious about being that annoying and dorky tourist who takes way too many photos about things that most people consider to be non-picture worthy.
Oh, p.s. currently someone...or something... is singing opera (if you could call it that because they are terrible) outside my window. I happen to live next to a gas station, but I suspect it is actually my very weird and awkwardly nosy neighbor who stared, acually STARED at me as I walked away from the house. I think she thought she was hidden from sight behind that bush...she wasn't.
Melbourne, dwindling funds, and this weird lump of milk at the bottom of my tea.
Let me begin by saying I am currently using this blog as a means of procrastination. In that regard, I am being entirely successful.
On Saturday morning-weeeell, early afternoonish because I didn't set my alarm for once- I finally hopped on a bus bound for the lights and glamour of Melbourne. I kid you not, this city is glamorous. I, of course, can't prove this because I am really crap at remembering to take photos (don't get too disappointed yet, I have taken a few). When I finally arrived in the city, I immediately found myself in a giant shopping center (huh. Imagine that. ME in a shopping center.). After perusing around for a bit and realizing for the umpteenth time that I seriously can NOT afford anything I could perhaps want to buy, I wandered out to see the sights.
Since I'm one of those people that is self-conscious about walking around with a giant map that says "Spot the tourist" (my green sneakers did not give me away, by the way), I just decided to wander come what may. Well, what may-ed was the more-impressive-in-person Federation Square (sorry, no picture here, you'll have to google it or wait for my postcards.), the beautiful Yarra River, Queen Victoria market (favorite! bought myself a pear), quaint little streets with boutique shops and cafes, and the most fantastic Christmas shop I have ever been in (sorry, mom, you missed out). Ever the planner, I had checked the weather report before I left and saw that it was going to rain, so I was prepared with my obnoxiously neon green umbrella when the afternoon downpours started (I am beginning to see a trend here, which I don't like).
I wasn't able to stay very late (which let's be honest, wasn't such a bad thing. Ones' feet get quite tired after walking all day!) because I was set to have dinner with Chris from work, you know the one, and a group of her friends at an Afghan restaurant- first time for everything-! At the restaurant- which was very tasty, but at which I didn't branch out...I got the Afghan version of the Indian dish with cauliflower curry that I always get (Sam can vouch for this)- I met Chris's friends Lauren, Sarah, and James. They were all so lovely and nice...to me. It seemed to be gang-up-on-James night (though I suspect it always is), which wasn't sad but actually highly entertaining. He was a good sport about it. James, a country boy (think Crocodile Dundee here...haha, only joking) has agreed to show me some sights in the country, which I have been dying to see (perhaps dying isn't the correct word to use here considering the fact that there will probably be exponentially more spiders and snakes there than in my nice suburban townhouse. Ugh). I would love a picnic in the country, but I'd be afraid to sit down for fear of something attacking me at it's own leisure. There is also potential for the very stylish Lauren to show me some of the better places to shop in and around Melbourne. I certainly won't turn down that opportunity for any amount of spiders (okay, that bit is actually a giant lie).
After an outrageously expensive meal (to me, of course, I'm sure they're all used to it) and some after-dinner tea and such (I feel so Austral...British? They started it, after all) we headed for the cars. Much to my dismay it was shockingly cold outside! Chris said, "Oh what, this? This isn't cold at all." I no longer trust her opinion on matters such as the weather...or the spider to human ratio... or their ability to eat me alive. All things considered, a very enjoyable day!
Ah, Sunday. Sunday sunday sunday. I had every intention of going back into the city today, but I didn't feel that great when I woke up (I felt a bit flu-ish on the bus back yesterday, as well), so I decided to hop back into my now warm bed (thanks to the massive fleece blanket I purchased) and call it a day. Well, a morning actually. When I finally crawled out of bed after an extended nap and a few chapters of In a Sunburned Country (one of the greatest books ever-a must read!) I threw on some clothes and mosied on down to the grocery store. After a delicious dinner of Moroccan tomato soup (who'd have thought, right?) and cheese on toast I wandered upstairs to do some blogging, which is clearly where you find me now.
Ah, yes! I've forgotten something. I'm realizing that my newly purchased milk has no intention of mixing with my tea, so it has created this strange lumpy force at the bottom of the mug. I've given up re-stirring it and succumbed to the last quarter of my tea being 10 parts milk 1 part tea. Yum.
All for now. Unless anyone is interested in hearing about how I reorganized my desk. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Guess not then. Ta ta for now!
On Saturday morning-weeeell, early afternoonish because I didn't set my alarm for once- I finally hopped on a bus bound for the lights and glamour of Melbourne. I kid you not, this city is glamorous. I, of course, can't prove this because I am really crap at remembering to take photos (don't get too disappointed yet, I have taken a few). When I finally arrived in the city, I immediately found myself in a giant shopping center (huh. Imagine that. ME in a shopping center.). After perusing around for a bit and realizing for the umpteenth time that I seriously can NOT afford anything I could perhaps want to buy, I wandered out to see the sights.
Since I'm one of those people that is self-conscious about walking around with a giant map that says "Spot the tourist" (my green sneakers did not give me away, by the way), I just decided to wander come what may. Well, what may-ed was the more-impressive-in-person Federation Square (sorry, no picture here, you'll have to google it or wait for my postcards.), the beautiful Yarra River, Queen Victoria market (favorite! bought myself a pear), quaint little streets with boutique shops and cafes, and the most fantastic Christmas shop I have ever been in (sorry, mom, you missed out). Ever the planner, I had checked the weather report before I left and saw that it was going to rain, so I was prepared with my obnoxiously neon green umbrella when the afternoon downpours started (I am beginning to see a trend here, which I don't like).
I wasn't able to stay very late (which let's be honest, wasn't such a bad thing. Ones' feet get quite tired after walking all day!) because I was set to have dinner with Chris from work, you know the one, and a group of her friends at an Afghan restaurant- first time for everything-! At the restaurant- which was very tasty, but at which I didn't branch out...I got the Afghan version of the Indian dish with cauliflower curry that I always get (Sam can vouch for this)- I met Chris's friends Lauren, Sarah, and James. They were all so lovely and nice...to me. It seemed to be gang-up-on-James night (though I suspect it always is), which wasn't sad but actually highly entertaining. He was a good sport about it. James, a country boy (think Crocodile Dundee here...haha, only joking) has agreed to show me some sights in the country, which I have been dying to see (perhaps dying isn't the correct word to use here considering the fact that there will probably be exponentially more spiders and snakes there than in my nice suburban townhouse. Ugh). I would love a picnic in the country, but I'd be afraid to sit down for fear of something attacking me at it's own leisure. There is also potential for the very stylish Lauren to show me some of the better places to shop in and around Melbourne. I certainly won't turn down that opportunity for any amount of spiders (okay, that bit is actually a giant lie).
After an outrageously expensive meal (to me, of course, I'm sure they're all used to it) and some after-dinner tea and such (I feel so Austral...British? They started it, after all) we headed for the cars. Much to my dismay it was shockingly cold outside! Chris said, "Oh what, this? This isn't cold at all." I no longer trust her opinion on matters such as the weather...or the spider to human ratio... or their ability to eat me alive. All things considered, a very enjoyable day!
Ah, Sunday. Sunday sunday sunday. I had every intention of going back into the city today, but I didn't feel that great when I woke up (I felt a bit flu-ish on the bus back yesterday, as well), so I decided to hop back into my now warm bed (thanks to the massive fleece blanket I purchased) and call it a day. Well, a morning actually. When I finally crawled out of bed after an extended nap and a few chapters of In a Sunburned Country (one of the greatest books ever-a must read!) I threw on some clothes and mosied on down to the grocery store. After a delicious dinner of Moroccan tomato soup (who'd have thought, right?) and cheese on toast I wandered upstairs to do some blogging, which is clearly where you find me now.
Ah, yes! I've forgotten something. I'm realizing that my newly purchased milk has no intention of mixing with my tea, so it has created this strange lumpy force at the bottom of the mug. I've given up re-stirring it and succumbed to the last quarter of my tea being 10 parts milk 1 part tea. Yum.
All for now. Unless anyone is interested in hearing about how I reorganized my desk. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Guess not then. Ta ta for now!
14 September 2009
Things I can and can't do.
My coworkers emphasized the following today:
Australians DO NOT celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving (apparently this isn't always understood) or start listening to Christmas music in early November (I imagine this has something to do with the lack of snow to bring holiday cheer).
Therefore, I am NOT allowed to start playing Christmas music on my pandora until about Christmas Eve.
They will allow me to bake Halloween themed treats, but they will not allow me to spend all day cutting out paper pumpkins and posting them all over the office.
I am also allowed to decorate the Christmas tree.
These are things they have decided upon previously and I suspect nothing will change this.
Maybe Heat Miser will let it snow in Melbourne and then they will change their minds and believe in Santa again? Just a thought.
*He's mister heat blister, he's mister sun do-do-do-do. He's mister green Christmas, he's mister hundred-and-oooooone. Friends call me Heat Miser, whatever I touch do-do-do-do starts to melt in my clutch do-do-do-do, IIIII'm too much. Do-do-do-do-doooo-do do-do-do-do-doooo-do*
The above is banned in the office.
Australians DO NOT celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving (apparently this isn't always understood) or start listening to Christmas music in early November (I imagine this has something to do with the lack of snow to bring holiday cheer).
Therefore, I am NOT allowed to start playing Christmas music on my pandora until about Christmas Eve.
They will allow me to bake Halloween themed treats, but they will not allow me to spend all day cutting out paper pumpkins and posting them all over the office.
I am also allowed to decorate the Christmas tree.
These are things they have decided upon previously and I suspect nothing will change this.
Maybe Heat Miser will let it snow in Melbourne and then they will change their minds and believe in Santa again? Just a thought.
*He's mister heat blister, he's mister sun do-do-do-do. He's mister green Christmas, he's mister hundred-and-oooooone. Friends call me Heat Miser, whatever I touch do-do-do-do starts to melt in my clutch do-do-do-do, IIIII'm too much. Do-do-do-do-doooo-do do-do-do-do-doooo-do*
The above is banned in the office.
Greetings from Down Under
Hello All!
As I write this, you are all fast asleep in your American beds. As I'm sure you've all surmised, I've made to Australia safe and sound.
Much to my dismay, my plane didn't crashland onto an uncharted, but largely inhabited, island somewhere between LA and Sydney where time and space experiments are conducted and polar bears run rampant. I did, however, lose 10 September 2009. I will never know such a day....
To make things easier, I will categorize my first few days.
Flight:
14 hours, which actually wasn't so bad (except when I had to watch an Eddie Murphy movie-yikes). I am quite good at sleeping on planes, as I am able to curl up into a little ball. I was lucky enough to get an isle seat, so I didn't have to lean on anyone. I also purposely didn't drink a lot of water because I always have to pee a lot (what?! you all already know this about me) and those airplane bathrooms are pretty much MRSA heaven -among other horrible things- (especially after 14 hours of airplane food...). Yuck.
*Funny insert* I wore my no-traction-having plastic turquoise flip flops, you know the ones, and when I took them off for take-off, one slid back 5 rows and I couldn't find it for half the flight. Awkward.
Airport:
Those customs jerks confiscated my baby carrots and my unpopped popcorn. Sure, I anticipated this, but I did still shed some tears as they threw it in the garbage. I contemplated jumping the divider and going for it, but getting arrested in a foreign country isn't really my thing. A lovely lady from work, Linda, picked me up and gave me my first semi-tour of Melbourne (FYI- people here pronounce it 'Melbin').One day I will get used to this....
The 'Burbs:
I live in a place called Donvale and work in Doncaster, both of which are lovely! They remind me of an LA suburb sans palm trees with English looking houses. At some point I will add pictures to this post and show you.
On Saturday, Chris (from work), took me to lunch by the Yarra river. The weather was very pleasant and the scenery was fantastic.
Housing:
I live in a very nice townhouse with my own bedroom. I have a slightly nice view from my window. It's mostly house, but I can also see sunrise-ish and the storm clouds rolling in. The sky seems so much bigger down here (maybe it's that large hole in the ozone...). The people who live here are still on honeymoon, so it's just me (which is kind of lonely and sometimes scary). Speaking of scary....
Things that may kill me:
So, surprise surprise, less than 10 hours in the country and I have a run in with a very large and scary looking spider that probably wanted to eat me. There I was, taking a harmless shower (sans my glasses which help me see) and in the corner of the ceiling I see this black spot. I didn't need to see it clearly to know what it was. After I got out I attempted to throw things at it to get it down so I could smoosh it (I'm making myself sound much less terrified that I actually was). After my first attempt, which just pissed it off, I repeatedly threw a towel at it (as I write this, I am getting all paranoid and jittery). I finally knocked it down, but onto the towels, so I had to lift them up to try and find it. So scary! I finally did -thank goodness it wasn't a runner!- and hit it a few times with my shoe. When it was thoroughly smashed, I put it in the toilet. -However, Chris later told me not to pick them up with tissue because they can still kill you. Fantastic. Thank you everyone, mostly Peter, for prompting this experience by not knocking on wood.
Grocery store:
Aside from it being ridiculously expensive, I love it! They have so many fun and tasty looking products! Yes yes, I'm doing the gluten free thing, but I'm thinking I will suffer the....side effects... at least a few times to get a chance at trying some of this stuff! So yummy. I will also bring tons of it home for you all to try. Let's just hope the customs people in the US aren't jonesing for some sweets (Mom, you get what I'm refering to).
Melbourne:
The weather this Sunday was pretty crummy, so I didn't head into the city this weekend, but I can see the skyline from bits of Doncaster and it is absolutely beautiful! I will make another attempt this weekend. I will also start planning my trips to other places in Australia and New Zealand and such. If anyone wants to contribute some money to the cause, feel free! :)
Doncaster Shoppingtown:
OMG. Wow. Quite possibly the most wonderful place I have ever been to. Sure, I can't afford a thing there, but it was still excellent. It was so big, I didn't even know where to start! This was my Sunday afternoon activity. I think it was a day well spent, and I'm sure that many a day will be spent there.
Work:
I had my first day of work today. The first day jitters didn't last long. The people I work for are funny and nice and great to work with. Plus they have fun accents. I am very much looking forward to the next 4 months.
Lame internet:
I am definitely getting screwed over on this one. I attempted to access a trailer for a new movie on my msn-america link and guess what- I can't watch in Australia yet! What is that about!? I'm American! Give me my movie trailer! As if that didn't suck enough, I don't even get the bonus of being able to watch Doctor Who episodes on BBC like I thought I might. Blast! *side note- Liz, I found one of those fan books on David Tennant. Merry Christmas, you little weirdo. Now you can stop googling pictures of him.*
Right now:
As my southern hemisphere bedtime is fast approaching, I should wrap up this post.
Love you and miss you all! Postcards will be arriving soon (like maybe, two months?)!
Cheers! (I'm in Australia now, so I can say this)
As I write this, you are all fast asleep in your American beds. As I'm sure you've all surmised, I've made to Australia safe and sound.
Much to my dismay, my plane didn't crashland onto an uncharted, but largely inhabited, island somewhere between LA and Sydney where time and space experiments are conducted and polar bears run rampant. I did, however, lose 10 September 2009. I will never know such a day....
To make things easier, I will categorize my first few days.
Flight:
14 hours, which actually wasn't so bad (except when I had to watch an Eddie Murphy movie-yikes). I am quite good at sleeping on planes, as I am able to curl up into a little ball. I was lucky enough to get an isle seat, so I didn't have to lean on anyone. I also purposely didn't drink a lot of water because I always have to pee a lot (what?! you all already know this about me) and those airplane bathrooms are pretty much MRSA heaven -among other horrible things- (especially after 14 hours of airplane food...). Yuck.
*Funny insert* I wore my no-traction-having plastic turquoise flip flops, you know the ones, and when I took them off for take-off, one slid back 5 rows and I couldn't find it for half the flight. Awkward.
Airport:
Those customs jerks confiscated my baby carrots and my unpopped popcorn. Sure, I anticipated this, but I did still shed some tears as they threw it in the garbage. I contemplated jumping the divider and going for it, but getting arrested in a foreign country isn't really my thing. A lovely lady from work, Linda, picked me up and gave me my first semi-tour of Melbourne (FYI- people here pronounce it 'Melbin').One day I will get used to this....
The 'Burbs:
I live in a place called Donvale and work in Doncaster, both of which are lovely! They remind me of an LA suburb sans palm trees with English looking houses. At some point I will add pictures to this post and show you.
On Saturday, Chris (from work), took me to lunch by the Yarra river. The weather was very pleasant and the scenery was fantastic.
Housing:
I live in a very nice townhouse with my own bedroom. I have a slightly nice view from my window. It's mostly house, but I can also see sunrise-ish and the storm clouds rolling in. The sky seems so much bigger down here (maybe it's that large hole in the ozone...). The people who live here are still on honeymoon, so it's just me (which is kind of lonely and sometimes scary). Speaking of scary....
Things that may kill me:
So, surprise surprise, less than 10 hours in the country and I have a run in with a very large and scary looking spider that probably wanted to eat me. There I was, taking a harmless shower (sans my glasses which help me see) and in the corner of the ceiling I see this black spot. I didn't need to see it clearly to know what it was. After I got out I attempted to throw things at it to get it down so I could smoosh it (I'm making myself sound much less terrified that I actually was). After my first attempt, which just pissed it off, I repeatedly threw a towel at it (as I write this, I am getting all paranoid and jittery). I finally knocked it down, but onto the towels, so I had to lift them up to try and find it. So scary! I finally did -thank goodness it wasn't a runner!- and hit it a few times with my shoe. When it was thoroughly smashed, I put it in the toilet. -However, Chris later told me not to pick them up with tissue because they can still kill you. Fantastic. Thank you everyone, mostly Peter, for prompting this experience by not knocking on wood.
Grocery store:
Aside from it being ridiculously expensive, I love it! They have so many fun and tasty looking products! Yes yes, I'm doing the gluten free thing, but I'm thinking I will suffer the....side effects... at least a few times to get a chance at trying some of this stuff! So yummy. I will also bring tons of it home for you all to try. Let's just hope the customs people in the US aren't jonesing for some sweets (Mom, you get what I'm refering to).
Melbourne:
The weather this Sunday was pretty crummy, so I didn't head into the city this weekend, but I can see the skyline from bits of Doncaster and it is absolutely beautiful! I will make another attempt this weekend. I will also start planning my trips to other places in Australia and New Zealand and such. If anyone wants to contribute some money to the cause, feel free! :)
Doncaster Shoppingtown:
OMG. Wow. Quite possibly the most wonderful place I have ever been to. Sure, I can't afford a thing there, but it was still excellent. It was so big, I didn't even know where to start! This was my Sunday afternoon activity. I think it was a day well spent, and I'm sure that many a day will be spent there.
Work:
I had my first day of work today. The first day jitters didn't last long. The people I work for are funny and nice and great to work with. Plus they have fun accents. I am very much looking forward to the next 4 months.
Lame internet:
I am definitely getting screwed over on this one. I attempted to access a trailer for a new movie on my msn-america link and guess what- I can't watch in Australia yet! What is that about!? I'm American! Give me my movie trailer! As if that didn't suck enough, I don't even get the bonus of being able to watch Doctor Who episodes on BBC like I thought I might. Blast! *side note- Liz, I found one of those fan books on David Tennant. Merry Christmas, you little weirdo. Now you can stop googling pictures of him.*
Right now:
As my southern hemisphere bedtime is fast approaching, I should wrap up this post.
Love you and miss you all! Postcards will be arriving soon (like maybe, two months?)!
Cheers! (I'm in Australia now, so I can say this)
08 September 2009
Goodbye Home
Back from Yellowstone and finally ready for the big move. I've managed to get most of my belongings into one very large bag, chock-full of vitamins and shoes (basic essentials).
Leaving tomorrow afternoon. Pics of my home away from home will follow shortly.
For now, please enjoy the following pics of my (sometimes lovely) family, Yellowstone, my Goodbye Halloween party, and the things I will miss.
They aren't very good at posing for the camera.
Thanks for the Halloween party, Mom!
Family at Mammoth.
Buffalo!
I love Yellowstone.
Mom and Dad at the Falls.
Pete and Dad at Lake Yellowstone (favorite place on earth)
Dad on the beach.
We love it.
The rare full family photo.
Leaving tomorrow afternoon. Pics of my home away from home will follow shortly.
For now, please enjoy the following pics of my (sometimes lovely) family, Yellowstone, my Goodbye Halloween party, and the things I will miss.
They aren't very good at posing for the camera.
Thanks for the Halloween party, Mom!
Family at Mammoth.
Buffalo!
I love Yellowstone.
Mom and Dad at the Falls.
Pete and Dad at Lake Yellowstone (favorite place on earth)
Dad on the beach.
We love it.
The rare full family photo.
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