Alone Time

So many of you know that Leah went home to the States on Saturday for a friends wedding.  I wasn't really feeling apprehensive about staying home by myself, but I must admit to some pangs of loneliness soon after dropping her off at the airport.  Initially I was a little bitter about her being able to go home while I stay here and work, but I got over it pretty quickly.  I do wish I could have come home for the wedding though.  I'm going to miss seeing a lot of great friends. I'm sure Leah will party hard enough for both of us.

Andrew and Melissa had me over for Sunday roast last night and Thomas, Andrew and I played a couple of games of Jenga, so I have had some company, and I'm certainly well fed.

I'm going to try and make the most of the time alone this week, but I still have to work. Oh well, I only have thirty or so years of working left.  I've been contemplating a get away for the weekend, but I'm not sure at this point.  It's kind of hard to motivate myself for something like that without Leah around.  I mean who am I supposed to take pictures of?

Just a Reminder...

To myself, that I really have seen some interesting things:

In Bed

It's a girl

We went to see an exhibition of Ron Mueck's works at the Gallery of Modern Art last weekend.  Pretty damn well worth the $12 admission price.

Don't Ask Questions

On the bus today on my way to uni... I sat down. As I looked up I noticed an older bloke sitting across the aisle from me. I did a double take, this can't be real. Oh, yes it was. The bloke was sporting tinted speedo swimming googles as if they were real live sunglasses. Come again!? I proceeded to stare in amazement as he kept adjusting the rubber strap that was clearly irritating his very dry frizz-pop hair do. Side note: a "Man-dal" with a sock was the shoe of choice, like it wouldn't be.

Here's a photo of the reenactment that I made Todd do when he got home:

Photos for a Wednesday

And there she is, our little red car.  Isn't it adorable?  Well ok it's a tiny little pod of a car but it suits our need quite well thank you.  This is a Hyundai Getz 5 door hatch and is close to the cheapest car to own and operate in Australia.  We love it.  The kids wanted to get in the picture with us.  Don't we look just like a proper family?

I just had to post this one of Zoe with a pear that we got at the markets this weekend.  Look at the size of that thing!  I actually ate it for lunch today and just that filled me up.  That was the largest pear I've ever seen. 

Zoe was busy pretending that she was a puppy and I think was a little confused by me asking her to hold the pear. Oh well. And, Thomas holding the pear. Aren't his freckles adorable?

Nectar of the Gods!

Yeah, Tell me that picture isn't worth a thousand words.

Thanks Melissa, you're the greatest!

Woot!  Today I woke up and the cold is almost gone.  Now I only have a wracking cough once in a while and I'm getting better by the minute.  So thanks for all the well wishes, they really helped.  (is that sarcastic enough?)

Today was pretty busy at work and I barely had a chance to get up from my desk.  Just as I was meant to leave and catch the train I answered one last phone call that took a little too long to solve and I missed my train.  That is one annoyance with taking public transport all the time.  You are on their schedule weather you like it or not.

Let's see, what to write about... how about another candy bar review?

 Feast your eyes on this my friends.  I don't know if this has made its way to the US but if it has go and get one now.  This is quite possibly one of the greatest candy bars ever invented.  You all know the traditional KitKat.  This takes it over the top.

The first thing about it is it's big.  It resembles a section of an original KitKat but it's a lot thicker. I took a knife to cut it in half so you could get a good look at the inside.

You may not be able to tell from this photo but the top of it is filled with gooey caramel like that in a and is a lot like eating a KitKat with a Caramello bar on top.  It's out of this world good.  This one had been in the fridge before so was a little hard, but this thing delivers.  I highly recommend  one if you get the chance.

Shout at ya tomorrow.

Clever Post Title

Don't you love it when a sore throat morphs into a really stuffy head and runny nose?  Well I certainly don't. This is shaping up to be the longest week.  I stopped by the super market on my way home tonight and got myself some fancy tissues with aloe in them so my nose doesn't look like Rudolph's and a box of Sudafed. In a word I'm still pathetic.

Leah has a babysitting gig on Wednesdays so the agreement is she takes the car.  I have been driving to work for the last week in the interest of getting to know my way around a bit better.  I have to say though, I think I prefer the commute to work on the train to the car.  I'm barely awake in the morning anyway and sitting on the train allows me to space out for a while.  I really can't do that in a car. On the other hand, coming home on the train is kind of annoying.  Getting to work I pass the three busiest stops and by ten minutes in the train is almost empty. But on the way home it gets more and more crowded until I practically have to fight my way off at my stop.  It is nice to have a choice though.  

I've mentioned before that we are watching "Master Chef Australia"  It's pretty much like "Top Chef".  I don't know if I've mentioned our love-hate relationship with it.  Of course I'd be obsessed with a cooking show, that sort of thing has always been right up my alley.  But the judges are such pretentious snobs I can hardly stand them.  This teaser clip is all you probably need to see to understand why.  (btw, the guy with the cravat is a GIANT)

I guess that's all I know tonight, back tomorrow.  I'm going to pour a cuppa and watch Juno on the tube tonight.  Enjoy your hump day.

edit:  Last night after "Master Chef" we watched a show called "Bondi Rescue"  its a show about the life guards at Bondi Beach in Sydney.  We sometimes watch if nothing else is on and boy were we glad we did last night.  The following clip is from last nights show and the really funny bit starts at about 3:40 into it.  The clip is not safe for work but I think it's pretty safe for Moms, we about fell off the couch laughing.   Sometimes the differences between what you can show on TV here and what you could get away with in the states can be shocking.  Enjoy.

Call a Waaaaaambulance

Still feeling shithouse thanks for asking.  I didn't get much sleep last night and muddled through my day with a sore throat.  I wont be staying up late tonight.  My boss gave me some throat syrup that ends in "caine" and makes all pain (and feeling for that matter) go away.(thanks Jay!)  So hopefully I'll get some z's tonight.  (btw, in Australia it's pronounced zed not zee)

I swear I had a ton of funny things to write about today but they are eluding me at the moment.  I'm really tired and worn down.  Or as Leah so bluntly puts it "You've got a man-cold."  She just doesn't have any sympathy for me when I'm dying. The only comfort I get around here is my Earl Grey with honey and lemon.  (just kidding Leah, geez) I'm not kidding about the Earl Grey though.  It's my new favorite comfort drink.

Ok I can't deal with trying to think up things to type any longer tonight.  I'm going to hit the sack and hopefully get some rest.  Wish me luck.

International Sessions

I feel pretty crappy today. Actually I've felt pretty "shithouse" since Thursday or so.  I have a wicked sore throat and I'm tired and weak.  I went to a Doctor today because I thought for sure I had strep throat.  He told me to get plenty of rest and took my $35.  Harden the fuck up Toddy. (btw that link is pretty much not safe for work because of thousands of F bombs)

Most Australians have health care paid for by the government.  They seem totally happy with the arrangement.  I was explaining to someone at work that one of our friends had a baby at a midwifery and they couldn't get their brains around it.  Kev told me that he had once called an ambulance for a rash.  I think he was exaggerating but you get the point.  Medical bills are not a burden that Australians are saddled with.  Sure they pay a lot of taxes but they never have to worry about the bank taking their house because of an accident at work or a chronic illness. Marinate on that for a minute.

I on the other hand have to pay $35 for a "Doctor" to take a two second peek at my throat and tell me to get rest and plenty of fluids.  he told me to go home and rest, so I went back to work.  Damn today kinda sucked.

Ok, it wasn't all that bad.  In fact I made a huge step today and got myself an Australian driver's license.  Yep, I'm all legal now baby.  In fact if you stole my wallet you'd think I was an Aussie.  I just had a little pang putting the Colorado license in a drawer.

Australia's biggest loser has been replaced on the TV these days with "Master Chef" but the nights are pretty much the same.  We're watching "Knocked Up" at the moment and I'd forgotten how funny it was.  I'm knocking back a cuppa with lemon and honey trying to will my throat better.

Leah just said I should put some pictures of the car on the blog.  I'll try and remember to take some photos soon and get them up here.  In fact I'm overdue for photos in general.

Quick shout out to all of you that Skyped from Luke's B'day party in the D.  That was the most fun I've had in a long time.  Leah and I really miss you guys and it was great to see so many of you at once.  Leah was totally jealous that she wasn't home.  International "Sorry for Partying!"

Mother's Day

Just a quickie today to say Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers who read our blog. Especially our own, whom neither of us got to talk to ours on the day,  but we hope they had a great one none the less.

We miss you both and wish we were there to shower you with love.