...oh and to Chris too! Can't be forgetting about him. I don't know if you've heard, but we're kind of a big deal. Or at least we think so. And as our two year anniversary rapidly approaches (March 17th), it's time to decide how we should celebrate. Two years might not be impressive stats to many, but in our situation I would have to disagree. For one, Chris is my first boyfriend. I know, I know...how cutesy high school musical of me. Two? This marks the longest relationship engaged by either of us so that's an achievement in and of itself. Three: Yes. I'm gonna play the crazy long distance/international couple card. How many duos do you know consisting of a Texan and a Londoner who met in Scotland and currently reside in Australia? See? I told you. Bid deal.
Now that you're convinced of our awesomeness (not that it took much convincing) I'm going to let you in on how we've determined to commemorate the last two years of adventures, trials, distance, laughter, surprises, and, of course, love. No, not with some tawdry jewelry, or an expensive meal. We my friends are travelers, so travel we must. We've just booked back to back tours to conclude our great Aussie tour, and I couldn't be more excited. Here's the plan:
March 10th-last day of work
March 11th-Fly to Alice Springs (that's the biggest city in the center of Australia...that elusive red outback)
March 12th- Embark on a 3 day/2 night Rock tour complete with a trip to Uluru (also known as Ayer's Rock; it's that big random red rock in the middle of nowhere that for some reason is super famous. That's what we're going to find out)
March 14th-The rock tour wraps up and we spend a night recovering back in Alice Springs
March 15th-Fly from Alice Springs (Northern Territory) to Adelaide (South Australia) known as the city of cathedrals. We'll spend the day exploring and getting ready for...
March 16th-Hello tour numero dos! Our scenic escapade to The Grampians and along the Great Ocean Road begins. The biggest highlight? The 12 Apostles Rock Formations-random rocks sticking out of the ocean. They do like their rocks here, no?
March 18th-Arrive back in Melbourne, exhausted but content in our whirlwind coverage of middle Australia.
Following our trip, we have a mere two days to pack up, say our goodbyes, and brace ourselves for the climate change. Sunday March 21st we are London bound my friends! Oh the life of a Texas nomad....
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Gotta Love a Sweet Summer Saturday
That's right. I'm afraid I must rub it in. I'm basking in the sumptuous summer sun while you poor Northern Hemispherites (yes that's the official term) are dealing with the winter crazy hitting an all time high this year. And do you know what really puts the cherry on my summer Saturday sundae? A day off. So TGIS* my friends.
I started my low key day off right; I resisted the sleep in temptation. Well not so much resisted as my internal alarm clock woke me up at 8am, and try as I might I could not get back to sleep. I'm going to go ahead and chalk this up as another pro in the maturity column of my life. My continuously running maturity pros/cons list is kind of like that 'you know you're getting older when...' deal. For example the other day someone asked me how old I was, and I had to think about it, I mean really think about it. What happened to the good old days when I would answer without a milisecond of hesitation 'fixin to be 15 thank you very much.' I not only knew my age, but qualified it reflex style. But don't worry too much about my pro column being all that full. I managed to round it out with a big old con in the form of demolishing the entire contents of a bottle of red wine last night whilst watching some bad TV. How did mature Shivonne rationalize this decision? The antioxidants of course. Hello pro. Yep. I'm all about the balance.
I decided to make good use of my early rising by taking my lovely new camera for a playdate along the waterfront before the heat set in. In true day off fashion, I quickly braided my hair, pulled on leggings and a gray tshirt, threw on a cap and even slapped on some suncreen for good measure. Luckily Williamstown stays pretty sleepy on Saturday mornings before 10am, so my only company consisted of seagulls and the occasional jogger snidely running by. Don't you just hate that self congratulatory look of someone who wakes up early on the weekend, puts on fancy running clothes, and proceeds to run 10 miles? Smug bastards. Smug, incredibly fit, tanned bastards. Okay. Maybe they are on to something, but I'll never admit it to their face. That'll show 'em!
Forty minutes and hundreds of shots later (good thing I invested in the biggest memory card I could find), I turned my tear strewn eyes out of the blinding morning light and blustery summer wind feeling assured that I had captured multiple shots of every building in detail staring at me from Melbourne's skyline across the bay. In my post photo yet temporarily sight hindered glow, I neglected to mind my footing and promptly spun cartoon style into a magnificent fall. Sprawled on the dewy grass surrounded by my belongings, I thanked my lucky stars only the seagulls witnessed the latest proof of my increasingly rapid inclination towards clumsiness. I swear I heard them cackle though...cheeky little gits.
So now I'm enjoying the free internet and air conditioning provided by the Hobson Bay Library System. I think I'll spend the rest of my day reading and maybe sneak in a little nap. The only downside of of lazy summer days off is that they never seem to last as long as I'd like.
*Thank goodness it's Saturday. and Summer. It goes both ways. I don't. TMI? OK. Enough with the acronyms already!
I started my low key day off right; I resisted the sleep in temptation. Well not so much resisted as my internal alarm clock woke me up at 8am, and try as I might I could not get back to sleep. I'm going to go ahead and chalk this up as another pro in the maturity column of my life. My continuously running maturity pros/cons list is kind of like that 'you know you're getting older when...' deal. For example the other day someone asked me how old I was, and I had to think about it, I mean really think about it. What happened to the good old days when I would answer without a milisecond of hesitation 'fixin to be 15 thank you very much.' I not only knew my age, but qualified it reflex style. But don't worry too much about my pro column being all that full. I managed to round it out with a big old con in the form of demolishing the entire contents of a bottle of red wine last night whilst watching some bad TV. How did mature Shivonne rationalize this decision? The antioxidants of course. Hello pro. Yep. I'm all about the balance.
I decided to make good use of my early rising by taking my lovely new camera for a playdate along the waterfront before the heat set in. In true day off fashion, I quickly braided my hair, pulled on leggings and a gray tshirt, threw on a cap and even slapped on some suncreen for good measure. Luckily Williamstown stays pretty sleepy on Saturday mornings before 10am, so my only company consisted of seagulls and the occasional jogger snidely running by. Don't you just hate that self congratulatory look of someone who wakes up early on the weekend, puts on fancy running clothes, and proceeds to run 10 miles? Smug bastards. Smug, incredibly fit, tanned bastards. Okay. Maybe they are on to something, but I'll never admit it to their face. That'll show 'em!
Forty minutes and hundreds of shots later (good thing I invested in the biggest memory card I could find), I turned my tear strewn eyes out of the blinding morning light and blustery summer wind feeling assured that I had captured multiple shots of every building in detail staring at me from Melbourne's skyline across the bay. In my post photo yet temporarily sight hindered glow, I neglected to mind my footing and promptly spun cartoon style into a magnificent fall. Sprawled on the dewy grass surrounded by my belongings, I thanked my lucky stars only the seagulls witnessed the latest proof of my increasingly rapid inclination towards clumsiness. I swear I heard them cackle though...cheeky little gits.
So now I'm enjoying the free internet and air conditioning provided by the Hobson Bay Library System. I think I'll spend the rest of my day reading and maybe sneak in a little nap. The only downside of of lazy summer days off is that they never seem to last as long as I'd like.
*Thank goodness it's Saturday. and Summer. It goes both ways. I don't. TMI? OK. Enough with the acronyms already!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Like a Moth to a Flame
Now I realize that the lovely Laura just posted a blog with a similar title, but as you will soon find out my interpretation is slightly more-how shall I put it? Literal. Yes that's it. Very literal indeed.
Recently Chris has had some schedule changes at his job resulting in more days shifts than he previously worked. Noting all his positive attributes no doubt, management decided to move him from evenings to daytime since less people work during the day, so they need stronger employees to take such shifts. I'm very proud of him. He's only been working there about six months, and he's already considered senior staff. However I digress. The big benefit of this recent change is that our schedules are now much more compatible, and those rare elusive nights we get to spend together have become, thankfully, much less rare. It was on such a night that our story unfolds.
Relaxing one evening in my bedroom, I'm lying on my bed reading a book as Chris continues his ever dominance of world power via his adored computer game Total War. It's a warm summer night, so the window is pushed open to let whatever breeze is to be found into the room. Unfortunately a gigantic moth decides to breeze right in as well. Chris suddenly pushes his laptop to the side and frantically jumps to his feet, 'Oh my gosh! Baby look at the SIZE of that moth!' I glance up from my latest literary obsession-The Blind Side (on a side note this book is excellent, especially if you like football. My parents gave it to Chris for Christmas, and the movie version starring Sandra Bullock looks great too)- and quickly dismiss it's presence. Turning back to my reading I reply, 'Don't worry about it. It will find it's way out soon enough.' But Chris isn't having it. 'How can I kill it?' he asks roaming the room for potential weapons with his eyes. A few seconds later I look up and see him holding an aerosol deodorant can and begin to say that I doubt that will do the trick, but the words never leave my lips as I realize what's in his other hand-a lighter. 'Um, that's not a good idea.' I say half heartedly as I go back to my reading. Surely he won't be that stupid. I hear the woosh of spray emitting from the can. Not even looking up, 'I really think that's a bad idea.' Then the click of the lighter. My eyes pop up. 'Chris don't.' The torch finds expelled gas and ignites into the air. I have to admit, it's pretty cool. Like when you're a little kid and learn how to use matches for the first time. Chris exclaims 'I almost got him!' I sit enthralled, frozen for a few seconds, and a few seconds is all it takes. Chris gives the lighter another flick as he shoots the spray into the direction of the moth. Into the direction of the paper Chinese lampshade thingy covering the light bulb hanging from the ceiling. As the paper lantern ignites my mind starts to race-oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. The fire is going to ignite the electric wires and spread through the house and we're all going to die in the explosion. Our landlord is going to KILL us! In the thirty longest seconds of my life, Chris runs around screaming 'What do I do?!?! What do I do!?!' as I sit still frozen on the bed. Thankfully God had our stupid backs covered, and the flame extinguished itself after consuming the paper lantern. Sitting in my bed, with wisps of shriveled moth wings and ashen paper floating down around me I think, Damn. That moth must of really had it coming.
Recently Chris has had some schedule changes at his job resulting in more days shifts than he previously worked. Noting all his positive attributes no doubt, management decided to move him from evenings to daytime since less people work during the day, so they need stronger employees to take such shifts. I'm very proud of him. He's only been working there about six months, and he's already considered senior staff. However I digress. The big benefit of this recent change is that our schedules are now much more compatible, and those rare elusive nights we get to spend together have become, thankfully, much less rare. It was on such a night that our story unfolds.
Relaxing one evening in my bedroom, I'm lying on my bed reading a book as Chris continues his ever dominance of world power via his adored computer game Total War. It's a warm summer night, so the window is pushed open to let whatever breeze is to be found into the room. Unfortunately a gigantic moth decides to breeze right in as well. Chris suddenly pushes his laptop to the side and frantically jumps to his feet, 'Oh my gosh! Baby look at the SIZE of that moth!' I glance up from my latest literary obsession-The Blind Side (on a side note this book is excellent, especially if you like football. My parents gave it to Chris for Christmas, and the movie version starring Sandra Bullock looks great too)- and quickly dismiss it's presence. Turning back to my reading I reply, 'Don't worry about it. It will find it's way out soon enough.' But Chris isn't having it. 'How can I kill it?' he asks roaming the room for potential weapons with his eyes. A few seconds later I look up and see him holding an aerosol deodorant can and begin to say that I doubt that will do the trick, but the words never leave my lips as I realize what's in his other hand-a lighter. 'Um, that's not a good idea.' I say half heartedly as I go back to my reading. Surely he won't be that stupid. I hear the woosh of spray emitting from the can. Not even looking up, 'I really think that's a bad idea.' Then the click of the lighter. My eyes pop up. 'Chris don't.' The torch finds expelled gas and ignites into the air. I have to admit, it's pretty cool. Like when you're a little kid and learn how to use matches for the first time. Chris exclaims 'I almost got him!' I sit enthralled, frozen for a few seconds, and a few seconds is all it takes. Chris gives the lighter another flick as he shoots the spray into the direction of the moth. Into the direction of the paper Chinese lampshade thingy covering the light bulb hanging from the ceiling. As the paper lantern ignites my mind starts to race-oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. The fire is going to ignite the electric wires and spread through the house and we're all going to die in the explosion. Our landlord is going to KILL us! In the thirty longest seconds of my life, Chris runs around screaming 'What do I do?!?! What do I do!?!' as I sit still frozen on the bed. Thankfully God had our stupid backs covered, and the flame extinguished itself after consuming the paper lantern. Sitting in my bed, with wisps of shriveled moth wings and ashen paper floating down around me I think, Damn. That moth must of really had it coming.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Quick Update
And I mean really quick.
I'm sitting in the little Williamstown public library using the free internet for the first time in over a week but for very good reasons. I've just finished my first full week back at work since we reopened after the renovations and I put in a solid 50 hours. 50 hours! That's crazy talk right! The kind of working week some fancy pants lawyer wouldn't think was a big deal but let me tell you after 5 weeks off I am DRAINED. My feet hurt. My knees hurt. I'm exhausted. But it's worth every minute. After my work sabatical and multi international ticket purchases my savings are as drained as I am. Good news though...I get TWO days off this week and only have 43 hours to cover.
Oh no. My terminal time is rapidly depleting (on my computer that is. I'm not terminal. Apparently my relating skills are low when exhausted and short on time) so I'm going to take the last two minutes before I'm kicked off to say....I don't have to become an illegal alien! Yay! Long story short I freaked my self out about my immigration office appointment for nothing. I walked in, didn't even have to show all my supporting evidence, and was granted an extension right away. Whew! Well I really have to go but hope to put in a longer update soon! love you all!
I'm sitting in the little Williamstown public library using the free internet for the first time in over a week but for very good reasons. I've just finished my first full week back at work since we reopened after the renovations and I put in a solid 50 hours. 50 hours! That's crazy talk right! The kind of working week some fancy pants lawyer wouldn't think was a big deal but let me tell you after 5 weeks off I am DRAINED. My feet hurt. My knees hurt. I'm exhausted. But it's worth every minute. After my work sabatical and multi international ticket purchases my savings are as drained as I am. Good news though...I get TWO days off this week and only have 43 hours to cover.
Oh no. My terminal time is rapidly depleting (on my computer that is. I'm not terminal. Apparently my relating skills are low when exhausted and short on time) so I'm going to take the last two minutes before I'm kicked off to say....I don't have to become an illegal alien! Yay! Long story short I freaked my self out about my immigration office appointment for nothing. I walked in, didn't even have to show all my supporting evidence, and was granted an extension right away. Whew! Well I really have to go but hope to put in a longer update soon! love you all!
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