A Cunning Plan

2012-01-09T12:13:00.002+11:00

FIRST I WAS LIKE....

Then I LOLed

Bemused Darwin is bemused

6 humans, 3 dogs on a 12ft raft floating down the Verde River, AZ. Great arvo. Towards the end we let the dogs off so they could run on the bank and have the best swim eva.

2011-12-26T05:19:00.002+11:00

YAY CHRISTMAS

Thanks Amanda for live Tweeting Christmas Day. Made me happy and homesick.
The videos are wonderful and I cry every time.

Thanks Rob for getting me the CDC's Zombie shirt. Mucho awesome.

About to drive him to the airport. He is off the CA for 2 days. To visit his Grandma and a whirlwind visit to the cabin in Volcano. Me and the beasties will hang aboot here.

2011-12-18T14:29:00.005+11:00

Santa Skully wishes a wonderful Christmas and new year and beyond

My birthday passed and was good. 39 and still kicking. Went to dinner,with Rob, Mike and Laura, it was their 17th wedding anniversary the same day so was fitting to celebrate together. The night was bitterly cold...bitterly I tell you, god damn cold. Food, drink and company all above par so who minds the freezing the nads off, if I had them they would be frozen.

Presents from my wonderful sisters. 'Have you Tribble spayed or neutered' t shirt. Giant Koala, dog toy Playpus- which Darwin loves! Thank you all.
Darwin loves the Platyus, for the most emo neurotic dog. When you come home she grabs it wiggles and teases through out the house, you have to play to try and grab it, when you do you throw it, she fetches back twice then gets bored. The wiggly excitement is worth it.

Crossfit is doing well, though I have lasped a bit since the nutritional challenge ended. Getting stronger though. Back squatting 115lb this month, last month I could only do 105lb. Doesn't sound like much but I'm happy.

Finished my classes, pretty sure I got an A in Cultural Anthropology. We had 4 exams, I don't know the result of the last one but on the other 3 I got 96, 100 and 102. I was worried that she just marked easy but people almost failed so ..yes I understand all the world's cultures now, totally! and I must say it kinda makes me sad how horrible we are to each other across the board. Monkeys with shoes.
Ceramics 1 was so much fun I'm taking it again next semester along with Spanish. Want to do Pysical Anthro as well...time and work wise two classes works so I think I'll take that one in the 'Fall' as we call it in these parts.

My coil pot- the tall one which totally became something else that planned ( having 6 inches cut off cause it got too weak to support itself almost made me cry) and my wheel bowls. Technique is not a natural thing to me so that's why I'm taking the same class.

Rob's birthday was a couple of days ago. On Monday I was in my last Ceramics class and a couple of friends mentioned baking cakes for birthdays....omg baking! cakes! ya know it never occurred to me to bake a birthday cake for Rob. I don't bake much, except for a roasty now and then...mmm roasty. So then I got all excited and went to the local crafty do all shoppe Michaels, that shop has so much stuff. In the event of a zombie invasion and Super Walmart was out of my reach then Michaels with its wreaths, scrapbooking and hard core bead section is my next choice to fashion a gnarly zmobie smiting weapon from. Its cake decorating section alone is enough to give the brainz eating dead a pause. I was there for quite some time pacing back and forth trying to work out what the hell I needed to decorate a cupcake with. In the end I chose some coloured sheets that you can cut out made from stuff that is 'edible', pens with 'edible' ink that you can draw on icing with, 'edible' gel icing and' inedible' candles.
The chocolate cupcakes were from a box, which handily gives you high altitude baking tips, more water and add some flour. The icing was coco, milk and icing sugar for the choocy ones and lemon juice with icing sugar for the non choccy icing, all eyeballed and well tasted. I have not had so much sugar in such a small time frame in months... I got a slight buzz, but I had to keep checking the lemon juice was just right.

Rob turned 42 so in the spirit of the day the theme was non-debatable.
(next year 43 pfft means nothing, no cupcakes for youuu)

I spent a happy afternoon decorating, looking up Vogon poetry and what the two versions of Marvin looked like.

Christmas is nigh, and despite what the Fox fundies want the rest of America (the world is not important) that us atheists love the Christmas, there is no war, get over yourselves really...its embarrassing. This song makes me crazy homesick and Tim Minchin pretty much mirrors my thoughts except he does it in clever song form.

This is Roo who so proudly brought this yellow 'pastry' thing home. She was all proud to present it us like we wanted the disgusting thing. It had holes on the bottom where the contrail mind control ickor is pumped in. For an being who will happily eat shit, she seems most discerning.

2011-11-07T02:07:00.005+11:00

CHALLENGED

Happy November....where did the last few months go.
Lets see we carved pumpkins and went Steampunk equse for Halloween, had foster pups, went to LA for a awesome concert 'The National' at the Hollywood Bowl. It's been a pretty good time all round.

Steampunk ish.....

These are our current set of fosters. They are boxer mixed with toad. There are 13 in the litter, all but one is tan, and it looks like a little Rottweiler. They were handed in to the Humane Society, who promptly called us as we have better facilities to deal with them. They are all in foster for the next few weeks.

The toadlings

We got 6 inches of snow the other night, and it's thinking about snowing right now. All very pretty but probably will be gone in a week unless we get another storm.

I've been going to a Crossfit gym (they are everywhere) since the start of the year. It was on and off for the first half though. I got sick, went to Australia, got sick again, so I only have been regular about going since August, and now I'm there 3-4 times a week. I'm really enjoying it. It's totally different from normal gyms, which really helps the motivation. It's expensive but you basically have a personal trainer each session. When I was sick, a couple of the trainers emailed and texted me asking if I was ok as they hadn't seen me for a bit, which was really nice and makes you feel like part of a heavily buffed community. Every day there is a workout which everyone does, scaled for weight and ability. You learn proper weightlifting techniques, gymnastics and how to move correctly and safely. Grunting and dropping weights are encouraged. You learn how to drop weights in a safe way so not to break yourself or anyway else.
When I'm at work I feel pretty strong, can lug around dogs and food without much effort, when I'm at Crossfit not so much. It's not a race or a competition with the others, but still you compare yourself whether you should or not. It's silly cause a lot of the women have been doing this for yonks and are freaking amazing, and so little old me is not even in the same category...one day though.
For the last two months they ran a nutritional challenge. (the rules are here if ya interested) It was $100 buy in with a chance to win your money back and some prizes. All food was logged and you got the most points with the paleo/zone combo. I got enough points to get $75 back, lost a few kilos and didn't miss the grains. Both the zone and paleo diets are pretty sensible for the most part, I don't buy into the whole paleo thing of absolutely no grain, rice, pasta and cereals....I don't think they are the scourge of civilization, and like anything in moderation they are fine. Just to see I didn't eat them for two months, except for rice once and some bread...damn Rob and his baguette making weekends.
Considering how much we used rice and pasta for our dinners, cutting them out wasn't that hard and I have to say I didn't miss or crave them. I will start eating them again, but probably not as much as before. Big thanks to Rob, as usual was wonderful, helped me zone my meat and veges and didn't tempt me (much) with point losing noms.
The other part of it was doing two workouts at the beginning and end and see the improvement.
One was 'Cindy' which is 'as many rounds as possible' (amrap) in 20 minutes of 5 pullups, 10 pushups, 15 squats. I can't do pullups yet so I did jumping pull ups and pushups on my knees.
The first time I did 13 rounds, 5 pullups and 8 pushups to fail. My noodley arms could not do another pushup to save myself. I did it again on Thursday and did 18 rounds, and as tired as I was I could have done more. Sometimes it's hard to see any progression, but that showed me that I have gotten stronger and fitter which is the whole point, it's nice to see.
Crossfit Total is three weightlifting movements- back squats, shoulder press and deadlift. You have three attempts increasing the weight each time and you record the highest poundage for each lift and that's your total. I just did it this morning and increased my weight on each. 105lb on back squats, 59lb on shoulder press and 182lbs on the deadlift making my total 346. Again trying not to look at the woman next to me deadlifting 250lb....I'll get there.

All in all it's a good thing and I do feel better overall.

White Horse slab box, pre fired and cracked.

It hasn't been all grunties.
I've been doing a Cultural Anthropology and Ceramics class at Coconino Community Collage. Both are really interesting and making stuff out of clay is always fun. We started out with pinch pots, a slab box and a coil pot and now learning the basics of the wheel. Also mucking about with different glazes is pretty cool and you never quite know how it will turn out. I'm thinking of re doing the class next semester to get better at the basics. My slab box I carved the White Horse of Uffington on it. It cracked in the kiln so we patched it up and I'm hoping it will hold. I can always make another.

Raku glazed pinch pots

2011-09-11T10:48:00.003+10:00

YOU KNOW...JUST STUFF

Had the cutest little foster pup a couple of weeks ago. Matilda the blue.

I have a huge soft spot for cattle dogs, so she was twice as adorable. Not tempted at all. We only had her for a week cause we went floating down the San Juan River for 4 days.

It was all a bit pleasant and fun. It was from Bluff to Mexican Hat, Utah, about an 4 hour drive from home. Only 27 river miles so we had plently of time to kick back. It also had one of the easiest shuttles ever. Only 20 minutes each way so nobody had to drive for hours back and forth to leave cars at put in and pull out spots. 6 adults and 4 kids drifted along. The water was running about 800cfs, which meant it was very shallow and I don't think there was anywhere that was above waist deep. We didn't have to drag boats though so that was good. In July it was running at 8000cfs, which would be a whole different beast to run. There are 3 rapids class 2-3, I hooned through in a kayak only ping ponging off rocks a couple of times. I was nervous at first then wanted more once I was through and realised how much fun it was.

The are some awesome petroglyphs, pictoglyphs sherds and pueblo buildings dotted along the banks. We visited River House which was beautiful. It was built and inhabited around 900-1200 and you can still see the paintings on the walls.

It was a year ago we did the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, this was a tiny taste of that. I could totally be a river rat, there is something very serene and joyful about floating along and living on the banks. Water fights and rapids definitely add to the fun.

I'm doing two classes at Coconino College. Ceramics 1 and Intro to Cultural Anthropology, so far good fun. Ceramics is great. We are making pinch pots which we will play around with glazes, and eventually progress to the wheel. Our first project was to make two pots then join them together and make something else which was alive (now dead). I was going to a capsicum or something, but on the river trip I found a complete fossil of a mollusc, a perfect little bivalve. It was alive right, just a few million years ago. So I have pottered a shell....It's kinda cute so far.

Rob is in CA, near Sacramento for his cousin's wedding today and to see his Grandma, then driving down with his Dad to visit his other Grandparents in Santa Barbra. They just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. (She is 105, he is 95).
He was going to drive back tomorrow night, but then I found out that The National is playing at the Hollywood Bowl tomorrow night. I'm a bit of a new fan, Kate got me into them on our NZ roadtrip. So tomorrow I'm driving to LA, about 7 hours, meeting Rob, going to the concert with him, Alyssa and Jesec and driving back Monday. It will be good to see A & J and they have a bed we can crash on. A slightly silly but otherwise perfect plan.

2011-08-15T10:47:00.002+10:00

NOW WORTH 2000 WORDS

A couple of months a ago I got a message on Flickr. I was asked by some random person if they could they use one of my photos that they liked and paint it. I said go for it.

Rob and Drizabone foster pup.

Today I got a link to her painting. It's very cute.

2011-07-31T07:48:00.002+10:00

MY WORK WEEK
or why I like my job parte the second

Supai, the village at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, home to the Havasupai tribe and an amazing little oasis in the desert. According to Wiki it is the most remote community in the lower 48. The only way in or out is a 8 mile hike, horse or helicopter.

The gang at Navajo Falls

Two vets, 3 techs and one Executive Director (he hiked out the next day) went down there to do a spay/neuter/vaccine clinic over 2 days.
We were planning to hike in Monday morning and have the chopper take all our gear. Taylor, one of the vets had her flight back from New York delayed so instead of flying back Sunday night, she didn't get into Phoenix till Monday morning. Had to drive back, pick me up and hightail it and try and catch the last helicopter to the village. The others went early with most of the gear. We got there at 3pm and had to wait an hour before we got on. They had to airlift a golfcart, sodas and food first.

Customer

We finally got there, found our little house, put on our swimmers and hiked to 2 miles to Navajo Falls and found the others chilling by the water. The falls are amazing, it's hard to imagine they are down there. It's a sublime spot. Swimming in waterfalls after work is pretty special.

Navajo Falls

We got a grant and donations to hand out on this trip. We were going to charge a minimal fee for surgery and vaccines and they also got dog and cat food, leashes, bowls plus some human stuff like sunscreen.
We got sent up in the community hall all ready to go, and no one turned up. Not one. Frustrating...just a tad.

Surgery, Supai style

The dogs hanging around the chopper pad and town square are some of the friendliest, calm content animals I've seen. They look well fed and get to mooch around all day. It's a pretty good life for most of them I think. Many tourists come through everyday so they get pats and food.
We asked the animal control guys who owned them, he deemed them strays so we neutered 4 hang abouts that day. Taylor was running door to door trying to drum up business and still no luck. We even lowered our prices to free. All a bit disheartening. Care factor zero. There is a law coming in that all animals have to be fixed or they will get a fine, still even that didn't seem to have an impact. We did clean out some nasty abscesses on a couple of horses.

Me at Mooney Falls

We attracted a mob of kids who were pretty cute and unholy terrors all at once. I got them organized to clean cages and bribed them with the donations to bring us animals the next day.
After that we went down to a closer little waterfall and swam out the annoyance.

Relax after work

The next day went much better, we did 21 dogs and cats. Mostly it was the kids bringing in dogs. Here, small 8 year old child sign this surgery consent form.
We cycled through yelling and barring the kids from coming back in, to telling them to go get more animals, to praising them for cleaning cages, then back to yelling. It was actually pretty funny all round.

I would definitely go back given the opportunity. Just don't know how to make the people care about the animals, maybe the new law will help. Or recruit the kids earlier.

Flying out

2011-07-25T03:26:00.002+10:00

WHY I LIKE MY JOB

Say Hi to Kauri, my new foster pup. She was found collapsed on the side of the road out near Chinle, by a man who lives in Flag but works out that way. It gets 90+F/30+C out there and who knows how hot it is on the black top. He brought her home, fed and bathed her and next day, Wednesday, came to us. She was very weak and the poster child for 'dog tired'.
Her temp was 106F, that temp and above for any length of time is heat stroke and can cause internal organ damage. We cooled her down and gave her fluids. She was eating ok, but just had no energy at all. We were not even sure she could see at first, her eyes would not track and you had to shove the food bowl under her nose. I took her home the second night and still was pretty unresponsive. It's Sunday today, and she greeted us this morning with puppy wiggles and chasing our feet around the kitchen.
There was a puppy in there after all.

She gets all feersum and barks at the big dogs and ferrets. At the start even Darwin must have known she was sick cause even she was being gentle, now it's the normal growling if the pup looks at her sideways. I'm taking that as a sign she must be on the road to recovery.

She still isn't out of the woods. She may have Distemper or damage that has not manifested yet. If something does happen, least she would have had a few good days, which is way better than dying alone on the road.
It's only one little life, but it makes my day to help it.

And now- a ferret in a jumper.

2011-06-27T03:25:00.002+10:00

Me and Watson

BACK IN THE GROOVE...MOSTLY

Things have settled back to the normal American way of life after the awesome trip back home. Having moments of home sickness, wish everything was closer. I love living here in Flagstaff but damnit why can't I have It all moved just outside Sydney. The snow would be closer for you Sydney skibums. We can't imagine living in the burbs again, so when/if we do move back it's going to be tough to decide on somewhere we want to settle.
Enjoying the summer, warm days cool nights. Feels like Christmas.

Fishing

Went camping a few weekends ago. Down to our little secret spot on the Verde River. It's an hour drive to Camp Verde then another 1/2 hour or so down a pretty rough dirt road which you need a pretty good 4WD. Which is good in a way cause it keep most people away.

Playing in the rapids...dogs concerned

We have been there least 6 times now and apart from a few boaters floating by we have the place to ourselves. It's a 20 minute walk from the trailhead to the river.

Sunning

It's down a hot dry riverbed, and the dogs are always hopping from shade to sparse shade waiting for us. Once they catch a whiff of the river its a race then a wet wiggly return to encourage us to catch up.
Spent the days swimming, reading, fishing and just lolling about.
Good times, and hopefully can get back down there again soon.

Spot the dog

Yesterday was my work's annual event "Pets In The Pines", us and other animal rescue groups get together raise money, awareness and hopefully adopt out a few critters. Its a fun day and lots of people and their pets.

Adopt me, please

We run a vaccine clinic, which was nice and steady all day. I worked there but still got time to check out the other booths. We adopted out 9 dogs and hopefully people will come back to the shelter to adopt if they couldn't do it that day.

Vaccines at the mobile

Watson and new Mum

Watson, my bottle baby foster has been adopted by a work friend, which is awesome as I can see him lots. Had to have his right front leg amputated, as it was not getting better. Three legged dogs can have great lives. He will be a big dog, which may put more stress on his other legs, but it should be all good as long as his weight is managed. He is so cute and everyone loves him. His brother Sherlock was adopted out to a farm, so I hope he is happy and healthy.
I do like happy foster pup endings ;)

Waiting for home

2011-05-31T02:42:00.003+10:00

AOTEAROA

Why had I never been before? Bizarre. So close and cheap from Sydney.
Rob spent a month backpacking around before we met (16 years ago!) and told me how great it was. When we traveled we either did stuff in Oz or went further afield.

Driveway Wizzard, near Leigh

Kate, Snowpea and me spent a week cruising the North Island having a wonderful time. I'm so glad we did it. Thank you fabulous traveling companions.
Everywhere was so god damn pretty and green. I'm sure there are ugly bits but we didn't see them.

Our first 2 nights were spent just outside of Auckland at a wonderful little B&B, the Lone Kauri Lodge. I totally recommend it, great hosts, beautiful views and very close to stunning beaches.

View from Lone Kauri Lodge

The first day was beach walking on Karekare and Piha beaches. Silky soft black sand, rugged looming rocky islands and hardly any people.

The Watchman, Karekare Beach

There is a couple of huge old Kauri trees covered in barnacles washed up high on the beach. We wondered how long they were floating around to accumulate them before being washed up.

Barnacle Tree

The Watcher, Lion Rock, Piha beach

We headed north away from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean to Leigh. Goat Island Marine Reserve is there, but sadly there was a storm system lurking which made it all choppy so the glass bottom boat wasn't going out. We still had a lovely morning poking around in rock pools. I'd love to go back and do some snorkling or diving in the area.
From there we headed back down towards Auckland, stopping at the Matakana farmer's markets, a couple of vineyards and a picnic on Snells beach. All very idyllic.

Goat Island Marine Reserve, Leigh

Sunday was a live day at Howick Historical Village, costumes, restored houses, arts, crafts and Queen Victoria. Moral failings all round. It was very cute and a interesting slice of Auckland history, not that much different from Australia's really. Bunch of poms trying to eke out an existence in a foreign land.

Tahuhu, Goat Island, Leigh

After Howick we did the 3 hour drive to Rotorua, and ended up staying 3 nights. We decided not to spend all our time driving and just do stuff. It meant we missed out on some cool places- Hobbiton, Lake Taupo, glowworms, but we did great fun things and there is always next time.
It rained on and off, but we always just got the sun long enough to do our thing before it came back. It was sunny long enough for our hour long horse trek, and our Xtreme luging before it hammered back down.

Horsey Grrls, Rotorua

After the horsey ride we went to Waikite Thermal springs, about 1/2 hour from Rotorua and spent 3 hours soaking. We had the place almost to our selves and it was bliss. The water bubbling from the springs is 98Celcius, they have to cool it down to 37-40C before it can be used in the pools. The creek running below the pools was steaming. Very cool or hot or something.

Well earned soak, Waikite Thermal springs

We checked out the museum, which used to be the bath house where you went to take "the cure" in bubbling mud and sulfur. Te Puia a Maori cultural center and geyser park. Rainbow Springs wildlife park, where we did the behind the scenes Kiwi hatchery. They are such funny, awesome looking critters. Because of the feral cats, ferrets and dogs, they only have a 5% survival rate in the wild, so the eggs are taken, hatched and then released into safe wild areas. The female lays an egg almost as big as her and it takes the chick 4-7 days to completely hatch, so they are very vulnerable.

Idyllic

Kate's ipad was very useful. Everywhere we stayed had free wifi so we could find places to stay and things to do very easily.
Such a wonderful stress free holiday. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
More photos here

2011-05-25T09:50:00.003+10:00

Meat pie in the Blue Mtns

HOME TO HOME

Well that went fast. 5 weeks. 4 in Australia, 1 in New Zealand.
It felt like we had been gone for a week not 3 years. Conversations were resumed, old jokes retold and a general feeling of comfort and being home.

The Lemmings and Casa Celli

The biggest change were all the rugrats, all sentient and stuff, either in school or close to it.
Festival was awesome. Great way to see many people in one spot. The hordes of children were a delight and we the Lemming's celebrated our 20 years as a household. I think I've been a Lemming for about 18 years, it's been a very big, important part of my life.

Nw World Party- 20th Lemming Anniversary

We revisited old haunts, ate favourite foods and mostly remembered to drive on the left.

Snowpea, Rob and Hal- Mudgee

It is nice to be back in Flagstaff, snorgle with the dogs, catch up with the family, but I'll be ready to go back in a week or so. Pesky big planet and non teleportation technology.
It's weird and a little sad to think it will probably be years till I see some of the friends and family again.

Me and Dad

2011-04-06T13:39:00.002+10:00

SPEEDY TIME VORTEX

Where does it go?!
Only 9 days till we fly out to Australia, feels like we have been planning this for years...which is mostly true. Almost ready, trying to get the phones organised so we can actually contact people.
Very excited but I think I have said that a few times. Hopefully will have the chance to catch up with everyone.
Looking forward to Rowany, lots of folks to catch up with there. Even have a vague costume for the Lemming feast. If anyone wants chilis or anything else let me know and I'll try and pack it in.

The not so little foster pups are going great. We lost the female after 2 days but at that age it's lucky we kept any of them alive. They are about 5 weeks old and have gone from blind grubs and running, eating, pooping brats.
We named them Sherlock and Watson after watching the new BBC version set in modern day London. There is only three 1 1/2 hr long episodes so far. It's pretty good, and Sherlock is played by an actor with the best of British names Benedict Cumberbatch, he is kinda kooky looking too.

I'm half way writing an essay for my class on European Neolithic tombs, and have decided I want grave goods. Why did we stop burying awesome stuff with our dead? Just think of all those poor people in tatters mooching around, while a smirking King Tut ponces around on his horse, fondling his slaves and not sharing the ambrosia. Bastard.
Least give me a packet of Mint Slices and the discs for WOW.

2011-03-07T04:53:00.002+11:00

SO, THIS IS WHAT 3AM FEEDS FEEL LIKE

We have 3 new foster pups. They were found in a box on the side of the road, out near Kayenta,Az.
They are tiny, black and amazingly wiggly when awake. We are guessing they are less than a week old as their eyes and ears are still shut. This means they require bottlefeeding every few hours. So far I have avoided the whole feeding neonate thing. Getting up in the middle of the night never really appealed. But these guys didn't really have any other options and I wanted to give them a chance.
So far so good. Rob did the first 3am shift and I did the 6am. We swapped last night. If they survive they first week or so we can lengthen the times between feeds.
One of the boys has a broken, infected paw, hoping the antibiotics and time can heal it.

There is 2 boys and 1 girl. I haven't named them yet. I am leaning towards Gilgamesh, Nebuchadnezzar and Ishtar, but I have the feeling that that may not fly with work so well.
They can be their secret names.

It's hard to take an in focus photo of them. They are all black with no eyes ( some white on their chest and toes) and when awake, really really wiggly.

2011-02-27T11:40:00.002+11:00

DOWNTON ABBEY

Not much happens, but the non happening is quite compelling.

2011-02-20T03:24:00.002+11:00

DOUBLE WHAMMY

It's snowing again, after 7 weeks of clear skies. Expecting 10-18inchs in the next couple of days. That's winter in the high desert for ya.

I got my results back from my tummy bug. It seems I have a bug called Blastoystis hominis.
Usually you don't treat it, but because I have symptoms the Doc thought it best to put me on Metronidazole, which it the exact same drug with give the critters at work when then get an oggly tummy.
According to Wiki-" Blastocystis hominis has a widespread geographic distribution and is found at a rate of 5-10% in most developed countries, and a rate of up to 50% in less developed areas. High rates of infection are also found in individuals in developed countries who work with animals."

Here is was blaming the Colorado River for my plight, when it probably is due to the butt sniffing beasts I live and work with.
Apart from that we are both super lurgied. Rob got ill on Monday, I thought I dodged it until Thursday it hit me and I can barely move. The worst flu like attack we both have had in years. I would say I'm a weak as a kitten, but if you have ever tried to hold one of the little buggers while taking a temp or drawing blood, you will know that tinyness is most deceptive.

I drove through the snow to work today and they promptly sent me home, its slushy and slippery out there. Will need to venture forth at some point, I'm almost out of tea bags. Will have to start rationing my Cups of Brown Joy, and that's just not cricket.

In more interesting news, we have booked our flights home YAY!!!
Rob is staying just over 3 weeks (pesky work wants him back) and I'm staying 5 weeks. After 3 years I may as well make it worth the while. Hoping to do a week in NZ with Kate and co, it's less than $300 return and a weeks roadtrip sounds like fun. North Island or South Island, any suggestions?

Had my first exam the other week. It was just 50 multiple choice and 3 written questions for extra credit. I got 52/53...woohoo. The highest in the class. Oh yeah, I rock the Neolithic!

Oh yeah. Republicans, I hate you and all you stand for.

2011-02-07T05:44:00.002+11:00

I AM CAVE CHICK, HEAR ME ROAR

Hope all you Sydneyites are cooling down. Seems like everywhere is getting hammered by nasty weather of some sort. It's been real dry here, no real snow since New Years. I hope we get some more before winter's end. There are still patches around but its mostly gone. Last week we had a cold snap, even during the days it was well below freezing and windy. It hurt to go outside. Probably the coldest days I've had here. I'd rather a blizzard.

Getting over a fairly unpleasant tummy bug this week. Ugh.
Ever since I got back from the river trip my tummy have been more fractious and prone to sulk. I wonder if I ingested something I shouldn't have. It flares up from time to time and this week it got bad enough to go see a doctor. We will see if the samples show anything. Living on tea, toast, rice and bananas. (not Paleo at all)

My class at NAU is going well. I'm just doing one at the moment for sheer interest sake. It's a Archaeology course called 'Lost Tribes and Buried Cities'. We are still in the Epipaleolithic but are moving on to more of the rise and fall of various civilizations. The Professor's main interest is Mayan caves in Belieze. He takes students there every summer to learn about hands on archaeology. Interested...very. Get to go...doubt it.
I will miss quite a few classes because we will be back in Australia mid April. I'm very excited to be coming home but kinda bummed to be missing the classes. Oh well, that's the timing and I'm not changing it for anything.
I can still do the quizzes on line. I have to email the head honcho of Anthropology and ask if I can take the final online.
I'm keen to do more classes next semester. Maybe that will mean going to part time work, I don't know yet.

I've started doing CrossFit, which is this exercise system which I'm finding way more interesting and challenging than a normal gym. Its more expensive but you basically have a personal trainer with you at all times. The classes have a Work Out of the Day (WOD), its the same for everyone but you scale it to your strengths. I had to go to 12 classes before hand before I could even start the WODs. Basically you have to learn proper weight lifting techniques so you won't hurt yourself. Everyone is really cool and supportive. Cheering you on to finish and fist bumps all round. The Flagstaff one posts photos and times everyday so you can keep a record. The SWAT WOD was fun, got to shoot (airsoft gun) at a target after running around alike a crazy thing for 13 min (that was my time). I hit 9 out of 10 targets with my heart thumping out of my chest.
Still can't climb a rope yet but I'm working on it.
They are all keen on the Paleo diet. It has some great concepts but the whole idea of the romantic caveman swanning around gnawing on berries and Mammoths doesn't really sit well. Try and cut out processed foods and eat more fresh stuff makes a lot of sense. I'm trying.
Still need, need I say, sugar in my tea and the odd bowl of rice and pasta. I'm such a bad cave chick.

The chap-hop/ steampunk hip hop songs that Lou posted over at ForBattle have been in my head for daaaaays. I don't even like hip hop that much. I bought Prof Elemental album 'Indifference Engine' and its pretty cute. He likes his Blunderbluss and Orangutans.

To try and get it out of my head, I've been listening to Len's 'Recitation'

2011-01-04T09:50:00.002+11:00

MISSED A WHITE CHRISTMAS BUT THE NEW YEAR CAME THROUGH ....

A grand Christmas was had by all.
A whole passel of Rob's rello's on his Mum's side converged on Taos, New Mexico for a family catch up and showering the kids with loot.
It's about a 7 hour drive from here, we left town about 4pm, after Rob got off work and hit the road.

Yay, for geeky nieces and awesome aunts

The dogs travel well, and at least now pet friendly hotels are becoming more popular.
Taos is a nice little place, smaller than Santa Fe but with the same flat roofed mud pueblo architecture. Lots of art galleries, south western goodies and a very nommy Mocha.
The days were quite warm with no snow on the ground.

Releasing the Sky Lantern. No fire restrictions here. Taos.

We were very well fed by Andy and Janie, who has a great house outside of Taos overlooking the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains.

Christmas Day walkies.

On Boxing Day we went snowboarding. Taos Ski Valley is a lot bigger and varied than AZ Snowbowl. I had fun doing my thing while the uber boarders went off looking for more steep bits to throw themselves down.

Boarding at Taos

It was also Sallie (Rob's Mum) birthday and her sisters had arranged a hot spring soak and dinner at Ojo Caleinte. So after we left the snowy slopes we drove down, put on our swimmers for a nice hot soak at the natural springs, followed by dinner. It was tough let me tell you.

Christmas Chilli, Taos

While wandering around Taos, we found a shop selling old manuscripts, map, drawings etc. We spent a long time in there looking at all the cool old (expensive) stuff and talking to the owner. We bought a piece. A 1914 First Edition print of a Kay Nielsen from the fairy tale "East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon". There were several and it was hard to pick which one to buy. His drawings are exquisite.

No sooner had he whistled....

We finally chose the bird caller, and I put it onto the framers today.

We drove back to Flagstaff on Monday.
By Thursday we had 3 feet of snow and all roads in and out of Flagstaff were shut for a time.
New Years Eve, we braved the freezing freezeness to watch the 10pm Pine Cone drop then hurried back inside.
We have had record lows the last few nights getting well below -20 celcius. Thank the gods for central heating.

My fav dog picture. Roo, getting the smackdown on Darwin (for once). They love the snow.

2010-12-15T15:05:00.004+11:00

We were upper right, near the flash. Picture from Notes From The Road

I Did Not Come To Caesar's Palace To Fool You

Not that I expected anything less from Len, but Saturday's night concert was beautiful. Less than a 4hour drive to Vegas to see him. Easy drive, listening to Good Omens to help you chuckle to time away.
I was blown away 2 years ago when we saw him in Phoenix so I knew it was going to be great.

He was in great voice, spry, witty and humble. You can tell the great love and respect that the whole band has for each other.
He sung on his knees a fair bit, which even for me as a non praying type does add a certain weight to the performance. I guess hanging out in a Buddhist Monastery does great thing for your flexibility.

You know the banter and patter are the same every night but it seems like he is saying it for the first time and just to you.

I took some video knowing it was going to suck but wanted to try it anyway. I wanted to get the bit in Hallelujah where is says the place he is playing in. I though he would say Las Vegas but no....

My first and probably only bootleg.

2010-11-26T05:37:00.003+11:00

THIS WEEK'S THINGS

Thanksgiving today. nomnom.
It is a bright sunny day and the ground is covered with a few inches of sparkly white snow. We are having dinner at Rob's folk's place. He is making the mash taters and I have been asked to my super nommy lemon sabayon. A few berries on top and I get to lick the bowl.

Hope everyone at home has a great Turkey Day as well.

With the few inches of snow that has fallen in the last week I got to try out my new snow Ugg boots. They were a early birthday pressie from my in laws. They are fully lined with sheep skin and kept my toes toasty. I never knew Ugg made lace up boots. They are made in China (i guess Uggs are not Aussie anymore) and I hope the last along time. They were not cheap.
A friend at work was wearing the slip on kind and I was telling her about the bogan stereotype that Aussies have with wearing Uggs in public.

Rob and I love to play games, as most of you know. We were in the little toy store down town a few months ago looking at some game when some guy comes up and asks us if we are local and enjoy gaming. He told as about the games night and now we are regulars.
Each Monday night we go to the Wine Loft and play games with a really nice bunch of people.
All these cool new games that we get to play with.

Chris, who kinda runs it lent us a 2 player games called Horus Heresy. Its set in the Warhammer 40k universe, and pits The Emperor against his traitorous cloned son, Horus. I played Horus, so I got various Nurglings and deamons. I pretty much owned the whole ground and kinda forgot/ignored the whole ship section. Rob in his last ditch effort beamed The Emperor and his cronies up to the ship and kicked my butt. So the tactic is, get Horus off the ship asap. It was fun and if we play it again The Emperor may not be so smug.

I'm going to do a couple of classes at NAU next year. I'm doing the non degree stream so I can only take 6 credits. I want to do something Biology related and get my brain back into gear. I'm kinda excited. I need to give proof of immunization...gah no idea where they are.

The family is planning on all meeting in Taos, New Mexico for Christmas this year. I managed to wrangle the days off so it looks like we are going too. Rob's aunt lives there, so it will be a nice catch up. The plan is to have at least one day of skiing/snowboarding while we are there. The hotel allows dog so we will bring the beasts and hope they aren't too annoying.

I'm kinda hooked on MI5/Spooks at the moment. I have watched the first few series then jumped to the 7th when I found out that Richard Armitage as Lucas North had joined the show. I'm almost finished the 9th season and the 10th will be shown next year. They do the intensity so well. I'm always on the edge on my seat. The characters seem real, and since they have no problem killing them off you never know how long they have left. I love Harry Pierce, he is such a bad arse and still tries to maintain some sort of humanity. If they kill off RA I will be very put out.

Only 17 days till Leonard Cohen....yays!

Well enough random blathering, that Sabayon ain't gunna make itself.

2010-11-12T03:30:00.002+11:00

LOVE GIVING MYSELF BIRTHDAY PRESSIES

Leonard Cohen in Las Vegas on 11th Dec. Perfect.
In between mine and Rob's birthdays.

We were wondering what to get each other.

2010-11-01T10:32:00.002+11:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I wanted to Steampunk for Halloween but didn't do anything about it until 3 hours before we were to go out. So it was all a bit halfarsed but a good time was had by all.

2010-10-12T02:10:00.002+11:00

WATER ON THE BRAIN

Now where were we...ahh yes, still in paradise by the moonlit night.

We had a lay over day and did a monster long hike up to the source of Thunder River. Most of it was along the river except the bit I went the kinda wrong way and had to backtrack to find the group. Slight dramas but we all coped.

The last mile is 1000ft of vertical. That was hot, long and tough but the end was more than worth the pain. Thunder River literally thunders out of the side of the canyon in a large waterfall. Must be a huge underground cavern up there. We recovered, ate some lunch and the way back was much easier and quicker.

Not the most restful of layovers but well worth the trip.

Dories at Deer Creek

We got to wash the sand off at Deer creek.

Elves Chasm leaping

and wallowing

Boat jam at Havasu

hike up the milky blue river

Mark, who has a great camera and huge zoom took some great shots especially of us going through the rapids.
Lava Falls Rapids is the biggest one on the river. We all went up to scout. I was in Grady's boat with Karen. Grady was psyched, took a quick look then motored back down the path to do it, while half our group was still coming up. He was pretty revved up and a tad nervous so I think he just wanted it done.
Man was it fun! The beginning was perfect, but we hit the huge hole at the bottom slightly sideways. We were a whisker off flipping the boat. Karen highsided and I think I did my bit to keep the raft shiney side up aswell. It all happened so fast and the main thing I remember is looking up as a huge wave came crashing down on us. Can we it again...please!
I almost wanted to flip out just for the experience of it all.....maybe next time.

Grady, Karen and me hitting the hole in Lava
Pic by Marc

Myk, Rob and Laura was next. I managed to find a good spot to watch them. The top half was great but he went into that hole sideways. We saw the bottom of the raft flip up and luckily come back down empty of people but right side up. The all managed to get back to the raft and beach it with us. Myk's head and oar, just before they were engulfed
Pic by Marc

Everyone else had a perfect run, though Mark's boat got caught in a weird eddy near a big rock and could not get out of it for a while. Water does strange things.
The adrenalin was running pretty high, everyone was happy and many more " No shit there we were...." stories were born.

That is the last big rapid before the end but we had a few more smaller fun ones to cheer through.
The last day I kayaked the last 8 miles to the pull out at Diamond Creek. I'm really glad I did cause even though the little rapids I went through were still way bigger than anything I had done before so I was pretty happy I didn't swamp myself.

Kayak me

It was such a wonderful, amazing experience and I will bore people to death rhapsodising about the whole thing.

Serenity

2010-09-25T11:38:00.004+10:00

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Only 15 years in the making. Who knew I had such a long term plan in the wings? Fooled you all didn't I! Muahahahhahaaaaaaaa

The first time I linked eyes with the American, which I carefully chose by a precise set of data points and phrenology, which set the wheels in motion for that fateful dance practice meeting.
I knew this was the diabolical way to forge ahead. If I couldn't become President of the Free World (yet), then dammit I could become Governor of some podonk state. Minions and lots of them will be mine, soon as I register to vote and create my power block.

All done bar the shouting

Even the viral hints and suggestions which I spread throughout the intertubes and public toilets, had the desired effect of the ceremony being at the place of my choosing. They came like flies to honey. Sometimes it's too too easy.

One day all this will be mine

Having the first ever citizenship ceremony in a National Park was my idea too. Have to keep the lesser mortals happy, at least for a time.

It worked. Even I was moved by the view and atmosphere. Next time though I will choose snappier tunes to warble along with. All a bit ponderous. See that's why I need minions to work out the small stuff.

I said the Oath of Allegiance and become one.
You have to say it out loud by law, or it doesn't count. Even got a groovy piece of paper.

The American..(not me the other one) can't be so smug now with his dual citizenship and two passports...Always lords it over me...always.
No more!

Minions

2010-09-20T10:25:00.004+10:00

MUDDY WATERS

Pour the left over morning's coffee into a plastic bottle. Be generous with the Kahula and Bailys. Hand to Myk, who is even more generous with the Vodka. Hook to boat, wait till well chilled and frothy. Swig and share.
Brunch!

So the tough life continued. With only one low point.
We stopped for a hike at Silver Grotto. This hike involved some climbing and scrambling. Well it would have if Bri didn't try and run down a rock slope and break her ankle at the start.
Bri is pretty fearless and impulsive. Sadly this time it bit her hard.

Moments before Bri broke herself

We had a SPOT device which when you hit the button it sends a distress signal to the company. They don't know the nature of the problem but only to send a chopper and a paramedic. That was turned on and getting Bri back to the raft was the main task. She was on a rock pool above the ground. They had to lower her down the rock slide into a pool of water, swim her out and put her on a table stretcher. We had to go about 2 miles to a camp that had a big enough clear space for the chopper to land. Lucky we had no big rapids to go through.
The big orange cloth cross was placed as a marker, then we spend a while bringing buckets of water to wet down the sand so less of it would be thrown up on landing.
We kept an eye out for any passing aircraft and they were mirror signaled. If the planes see the flashes they should radio in a distress signal was seen. Just a extra precaution as we didn't even know if the SPOT was working.
So we waited and had lunch. Bri was in good spirits, but her foot was a mess and it must have hurt like a bastard.
It took less than 3 hours fro the chopper to arrive. They landed, morphined Bri up and took her away.
The SPOT mostly worked. They think because of the high canyon walls the GPS told them we were in Brazil!

Waiting for the chopper. Dave mirror signaling aircraft

Lucky, our trip was registered and they knew where we were and when we started out, so they started downstream and flew up knowing we would be somewhere in that area. The pilot was pretty happy because he got to fly below the rim looking for us. I don't think they are allowed to do that normally.
The rescue chopper is included in the fees we paid, which is nice to know cause I'd hate to think how much it would cost.
Yay for Helicopters!

Evac chopper

So a slightly subdued group carried on. We stopped at Redwall Cavern for some frizbee, a chillax and debrief.

Redwall Cavern...other rafts beached there.

Everyone is so capable. You knew that we had each other's backs and well trusted.
That little voice that pops up when you are considering something vaguely risky was louder in all of us after that.

Nankoweap Granaries

Did a great if steep hike up to Nankoweap Granaries. They were built about 1000 years ago high above the river and used for storage of food stuffs, whether from other people or rodents. Little rooms built into the cliff overhangs with a amazing view. Beautiful!
View from Nankoweap Granaries

Us at Nankoweap Granaries

The water was bluely/green till we got to the confluence. The muddy Little Colorado River meets the Colorado. From then on it was the same colour as our brunch.

Kiss the cactus

Day 7 saw us exchange passengers at Phantom Ranch. 5 (Bri would have been the 6th) left camp extra early to get to Phantom Ranch so they could hike the 8 miles up to the rim in the cool and shade.
We got there later as we had to wait for the other 6 to hike in. Mike and Laura came down for the last 9 days. I'm so glad I could invite them, and I think they were just a tad chuffed.

Wyatt, Laura and Stacy.

The next day we hit 3 of the bigger rapids. Badger, Crystal and Hermit. As I said before I'm so glad I hit the upper half cause those rapids were fun. Hanging on to the bow line, standing and crouching, watching the tsunami crash over the boats getting thoroughly drenched and wanting to do it all again.

Myk, Coz and Rob power through Granite Rapid...woooo

Chip had a oar pop out on the bracket while going through Crystal. Mike grabbed it thinking it was the spare, and Chip was desperately trying to get it back off him. Pretty funny.
Mike wrote and song about it. Chip ended up with a pretty good black eye out of it where the oar hit him.

Grady and Karen own Crystal Rapid

I brought 4 books because I was worried about not having anything to read. I finished one that I'd started before and just started another one. Barely read the whole trip. There was chatting, chilling, listening, playing Testicles and all terrain boccie. I'm glad they were there but didn't need them.

Best seat in the house

I have so much more to write.
It's true. Pictures are worth 1000 words.

2010-09-10T08:38:00.006+10:00

SURFING THE EDDY LINE

Well. What can I say about spending 16 days in of the most beautiful places on the planet.
'BLOODY FREAKIN AWESOME' comes to mind a lot.
I'll do my best to bather on about the many many highlights, the one lowlight and the calm in between.

Mark and Julie, who had the permit had waited 15 years to get it. That how long it can take to get a private trip. And you can only do one trip per year as an individual.
The ages ranged from 30 to 57 on the upper and 37 to 72 on the lower.

The gang first day....note how clean shaven we all are

We all met at a hotel carpark in Flagstaff for the shuttle. Most of the people were strangers and didn't seem too scary on first impressions. Ceiba the company we went with are amazing. All the food for each day was packed in its own large ammo can with the meats and dairy in ice packed coolers. They had boat maps with what box goes where to make it easy to find when needed.
We ate so well, my god. So much tasty tasty food. We were in groups of 4 which cycled through cooking, cleaning, groover and rest.

First nights dinner- salmon steaks and salad. Yummo

We packed up and they drove us to Lees Ferry, just over 2 hrs north. Its named after John Lee, a Mormon who hung out with Joseph Smith. He ran the ferry till he had to flee and was eventually executed for the Mountain Meadow massacre. Lots of history in that area.

Trying not to eddy out

At Lees ferry we unpacked, blew up the 5 rafts and packed them up. So much stuff. Including 55 cases of beer. I was amazed we could fit it all in. It was hot then rained pretty hard in the afternoon which cooled us all off. The water at that point was so cold I could only stand in it for about 20 seconds before it made my feet hurt. It warms up about a degree every 30 miles so after 226 miles it was at least tolerable at the end. The one good thing about it is that it kept the beer in the drag bags perfectly chilled.
That night we ate dinner at Marble Canyon and slept in the campground by the boats.

Life is good

Next day the ranger inspected our ID's. Told us all about the Hanta virus carrying mice, rattlesnake and scorpions that love to lurk about campsites. Everyone has to wee in the river and poop in a ammo can to take back out. You get very quickly used to weeing in front of people. The groover, as the ammo can toilet is known is set up each night somewhere semi private with a good view of the river. If the paddle is next to the hand wash station, then you know its free to use.

So finally after we signed the waver not to sue the Park Service if we died or got carried off by Hanta Virus mice we set off.

16 people, 5 rafts, 1 kayak (2 kayaks on the lower half) and 226 miles ahead of us.

Scouting Badger Rapid while Luke kayaks through

The first night we set up our tent....i think we all had visions of urine soaked tails of Hanta virus mice and their scorpions comrades running across our faces as we slept. After that night we only set the tent up once more on the 4th night because it was raining. Sleeping under the stars and the full moon was perfect. I have a few bug bites on my face but nothing too bad.

Luke waiting for all us slow poke rafters to get ready

90% of the Colorado River is flat water, with a bunch of hair raising rapids to keep us awake.

Cooling off at Upper North Canyon hike

I learnt a lot about what crazy stuff water can do. You can be cruising quite nicely on the current without having to row at all, and then somehow you get sucked into a eddy off the side and the bloody water is flowing up river taking you with it, and its a bastard to row out of. Some of the stuff that happens in rapids is even more bizarre. There is one rapid toward the end Upset (i think) where there is a huge boat eating hole to the right which you really want to avoid. Watching the other boats approach it, it seems inevitable that they will be sucked into this thick frothing, churning maelstrom. When suddenly the raft stops moving right in front of it and slowly slides away to the left. When we did it, we were almost at a dead stop and I was reaching over the front and almost could touch the vortex. I have no idea what makes the water work that way and it still boggles me.

Myk and Rob power through Badger Rapid

So we spend our days chillin through the flat water, drinking beer, taking turns at rowing and watching the amazing scenery go by.
No one moment, not one second did I have the thought of 'I'm bored' or 'I'm done, ready to go home'. I was so content and happy that the real world didn't really get a look in the entire time.

The guide book tells all

I'm really glad and really lucky that I did the whole trip and not just half. I admit I was a little nervous about the whole rapid thing. I haven't had very much experience so I really did not know what to expect. The upper half has a few big scoutable rapids. I think the first few I clung on and really didn't enjoy it that much.

The things you are forced to drink on the river, least it was cold

After a few days I got used to what the water can do and how the boats react. Plus all the boatmen were highly skilled and you totally trust them. The girls boats was fun. Katie and her girlfriends put me at ease over the whole rapid thing plus they had the best cocktails. Katie is a great boatperson. What she may lack in brute strenght she more than makes up for it with a whole lot of finesse and skill.

This rafting life

By the end of the upper half I was standing up holding the bowline whooping and hollering with the best of them.
This meant that I was comfortable enough that the really big rapids on the lower half were a complete hoot and I want to go back and do them again.
Leaning across the front is also a useful way to help the boat punch through the waves and can stop it from flipping if you can highside at the right time.
Even if you do fall out the consequences are fairly mild. Tossed and turned and cold till they drag you back in.
One trip and I'm talking like a pro ;)

Peace out

Next post- A chopper evac, an exchange of passengers, a monster hike, waterfalls and watching Rob being launched

2010-09-08T11:43:00.002+10:00

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

Home, showered and waiting for pizza. Tired and very happy.
16 days of rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I ran out of words by day two. I think 'awesome' was stated about 7594684-06 times.
I'm slowly putting photos on Flickr and will write more when I get used to living inside and having a flush toilet.

2010-08-21T09:40:00.002+10:00

BIG DADDY REGRETS MY INCONVENIENCE

I would have been a rool American today if it wasn't for unforeseen circumstances...dang it!

Got the letter, last Wednesday, telling me to get my butt to Phoenix on the 20th, which was a lot sooner than I expected but was pretty happy about it. I had to do some swapping of days at work and Rob even wrangled the day off to come with me. Then I got the letter informing me it was off, 3 days before it was supposed to be on. Sad face.
Oh wells. It will happen eventually.

The timing was going to be perfect too.
On Sunday we leave for 17 days rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. What a way to celebrate!
I don't think this slight set back will mar the trip one iota. By day 3 I won't even know what date it is, let alone what civilization is up to.
We are just a little bit excited. Rob is grinning like a grinning thing.
I have mostly packed all my needs into a dry bag. Want to take the minimum of stuff but the right stuff. No shops down there to restock. The days will be hot and the nights warm. The water is freezing. So quick drying loose clothes that protect you from the sun but won't overheat you.
Spare sunnies and hats, cause I know I'll end up in the water at some point. Some of those rapids look pretty crazzzzy.
Books, games, ipod, goon, vegemite, camera and the will to mess about in boats. We gots it.

It is a private trip and pretty much everything is being taken care of by Cieba. We are paying for The Whole Shebang they supply the shuttle, boats, gear and food. The menus all look pretty yummy. This will not be a trail mix and 2 minute noodle fare.
There will 16 of us. 6 will hike out after 7 days at Phantom Ranch and 6 will hike in for the last 9. (including Mike and Laura)

Doesn't look thaaaaat scary...right huh!?!

I hope the election is going well. We got to postal vote at least.

2010-08-05T11:48:00.002+10:00

ALWAYS INTERESTING..

Rob wrote that heart breaking post on For Battle about our poor fosters who died of distemper. We lost two from the same litter...our first losses.
Poor Rob, it hit him hard....
It's funny in a non funny way, but I knew Bats would be put down as she was getting worse not better. It made me want to cry. Once she was dead, as horrible as it was....I was kinda ok with it. I took her to work and put her in the freezer and accepted it.
Till I read Rob's post and then cried like a big sook.
I had done quite a few euthanasias of dogs and cats. My shelter only does it for severe medical or behavioural reasons, never for space, so It does make it easier. (We also do public animals...gawd just looking at the owners makes me blubb)
We always give them a last meal of Maccas, or cheese and crackers or whatever nommy stuff we have, let people say good bye and try not to sniffle as they lick our face.
The trust and love they give you can be just too much sometimes.

So in other work news....

After the crazy Shultz Fire, which we had to evacuate for 4 days. Which I think was a big factor in the distemper spread. We did have a room just for clinic animals but, there was more mingling than there should have been and I think it bit us bad.
Now we have the Monsoons... that great summer thunder storms that come out of no where. Its been a great year and a sucky year for rain. We need rain. But due to the fires, the properties that surrounds work are now flooding due to the excess runoff from the burnt mountains. We have have alot of rain....which is great except....
We thought maybe we would be evacuated again, but so far I think we will be fine. We are taking in owned animals from evacutees and we did move them out the Fort Tuthill last weekend, just in case. They are back at the shelter now. Many houses are under mud so I'm not sure how long we will have them...oh yeah and now they all have kennel cough..blahh.

There seems to be a positive changing of the guard at work....I probably shouldn't say too much in case they are watching, they are always watching.
I think everyone at work is a little bit in love, so all I can say is ' big K...don't break our hearts'

We still have Narvarre, ( I named him from Lady Hawk) the only surviour from a litter of 5. The PCR test came back positive for distemper...damn. It means he has it but is not sick but can still shed the virus and pass it on...damn. So he is staying with us for a while longer. Such a awesome pup, he is great with us but not good with strangers, so he really needs more social interaction.
We don't want or need three dogs....though with this one, it will be a tad harder to give back. But no, we will once he stops shedding manky virus.

My song of the week

2010-07-19T14:26:00.003+10:00

T-shirt or Bumper Sticker "I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
	Stephen F Roberts

2010-07-15T11:57:00.002+10:00

THE QUESTIONS.....

Sorry AJ, I meant to post them but I was running late could not remember for the life of me one of the questions. I dug out my booklet and had to read through them all to remind me.

The 6 I got were-

32: Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
45: What are the two major political parties in the United States?
46: What is the political party of the President now?
62: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
64: There were 13 original states. Name three.
93: Name one state that borders Mexico?

First correct answer, first lick of my new passport.

If ya want to see all the questions go here and download the PDF

2010-07-12T03:31:00.003+10:00

ONE STEP CLOSER

Friday was my citizenship test and interview. I left home at 5:30 am to be in Phoenix by 8am. Its a pretty easy drive till you hit the big smoke then the traffic builds up.
So I get there go through the metal detectors and screening and let them know I'm here. Hang out playing 'Angry Birds' on my iPod till I'm called up. Only waited 20 minutes or so, the room was only 1/4 full of other people negotiating US Immigration.

First thing I had to do was stand with my right hand raised and swear to tell the truth and stuff.
Then to the test. They randomly choose 10 questions from a pool of 100. You have to get 6 correct.
I was ready.
She only asked me 6 then stopped. Dang It I wanted them all. I was ready!

Then I sat there while she read through my file, tapped on the computer and asked me a few questions now and then.
I did have to answer whether I am a commie or terrorist, committed a crime which I had not been caught for yet (does speeding to get to the interview on time count?) and would I be willing to take up arms in defense of the USA....bring on the zombie apocalypse and I'm there.

In the letter they told me to bring our marriage certificate and Rob's birth certificate, which I did. Turns out they already have that but what they really wanted was more proof that we are not a sham. Copies of joint bank statements, taxes, insurance...etc.
Which I could have brought with me if I knew.
So I have to post all that in and then they will yay or nay my application and I'll get a date for the ceremony.

I asked what happens if you can't make the date. She said you have 2 chances to go, after that you have to reapply.
Wanna bet the first date will be somewhere between August 23rd and Sept 7th?
Rob and I are spending 16 days on the Colorado River rafting through the Grand Canyon. It is going to be awesome with a capital amazing. Days messing about in boats interspersed with moments of sheer terror...yee haaaaa.
I've been ~~freaking~~ psyching myself with videos like this

2010-07-05T02:53:00.002+10:00

FLAG WAVING ABUNGO

I've never been a flag waver. I love home and my adopted home but excessive hands on hearts makes me feel a tad uncomfortable.
Yesterday I made up from a life time of passive patriotism and had a blast.

A couple of years ago after watching my first 4th July parade wend its way through Flagstaff, after a couple of beers Mike, Rob and I had one of those ideas that sound funny but rarely get followed through.
March as the AussieYank alliance of Flagstaff, and do it as a pub crawl.
Last year we all were busy, and the plan did pass my mind earlier this week, but didn't really consider it.

Friday night Mike rings as asks if we want to crash the parade.
Sure! What could possibly go wrong?
So with little planning or preparation we did so.

We grabbed a Koala, a flag, a Drizabone, a Ipod with Roy and HG, and printed out flags and a heart.
Mike and family met us there with the Little Red Wagon Of InterNation Harmony and Beer, a banner he knocked up and a plan to get us past the marshalls.
Laura marches with the Peace Core, so infiltrated and trailed in behind them. Once we got into the main stretch we backed up and unfurled our banner. It was pretty funny. We got a few 'oi oi ois' from the crowd and walking past the radio presenter got a long silence between the group in front and behind us.
We only did about half the route before ducking into the first pub for a beer, we then got back into the parade for 1/2 a block to the next pub, where we stayed and watched the rest from the balcony.

We were respectful and the flags were about the same size. Didn't want to annoy anyone as a lot of people take this very seriously, and it was never meant to mock. (much ;)

I think we did well to further the peace and love between the Aussies and the Seppos.

2010-07-03T14:51:00.002+10:00

SECRET PLAN...SHHHHH

3 Aussies plan to infiltrate and march via pub crawl the 4th July parade on the morrow.
I have a stuffed Koala.
Others may rise to our cause.

2010-07-01T12:11:00.003+10:00

THE WHITE HORSE OF UFFINGTON
NOW IN BLACK

After years and years of thinking about it, all it took was for me to win a $50 voucher from Burly Fish Tattoo studio in a raffle at Pets In The Pines.
Which was a great success. Being evacuated the week before didn't even slow us down, and for the animals it was just another moving day.

Three days later I have new ink.

There are some images that just stick with you. The White Horse of Uffington is one of those for me.
There was a BBC show I remember from the 80's which in its opening credits had overhead images of the Horse. I think it was a bit of "Five Go Mad In Dorset" with a hint of "Cat Weasel" thrown in.

I've done a some googling but nothing that i recognise is coming up. If anyone remembers I'd love to know what it was called.

I have stood in its head. We got there near on dark. Ran through a sheep paddock, slipping in the mud to see it before it night. Love to go back and spend more time there.
It was first made 3000 years ago and has been maintained ever since.

Better than a flaming skull....or anything else from this site.
It's like a train wreck.

2010-06-22T13:26:00.002+10:00

MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES....

Came back from a wonderful weekend camping up on the peaks to the news that on Saturday, Coconino Humane Society (the local pound) had to evacuate all 60 odd animals to my work because of a fire that was closing in. When I was lolling about under the stars everyone at work was flat out trying to accommodate all the extra beasties into the shelter.
I got a call from my boss Sunday arvo, just inquiring whether I was home yet or not. I was, cleaning out the Drawer of Everything, so how many lumps of recycled alfoil, Aussie 20cent pieces and non working pens do you need anyhow?

View from our balcony. Smoke plume behind Mt Eldon.

She then asked whether I could come out to the Fairgrounds to help out as another fire had started and our place was being evacuated! Santa Vaca!
This new Schultz fire has now burnt 10'000+ acres and basically the area we were camping and hiking in. Eeekk. Yes, we put out our campfires.

Weatherford Trail Saturday, mostly burnt Sunday

So over 160 animals, ours and Coconino's were all moved to the buildings where they house the livestock during the County Fair.
Plus we are the shelter that houses all the pets from the people who have to leave their houses because of the fire.
So they all had to come there aswell.
Who evacuates the evacuators?
Its Wednesday night now, and we may be able to go back either tomorrow or Friday. There are staff there 24 hours, one to keep an eye on things and to take in any evacuated public pets.
I have been working the day shifts on the clinic side, lucky there is not any really sick animals because we would not be able to give them the proper care. I am the lead Vet Tech, so I'm the go to gal for any health related issues, which I mostly say 'Let me go get a vet...' if there is one on site, if not its 'well bring it over and we will isolate it till the vets turn up'
In a way its been mostly pleasent. The days have been fair and working outside is pretty nice. Everyone is wonderful and working hard and long to keep this all going. The sheer amount of donations (no nooo more blankets please) and there is a solid group of volunteers who come 3 times a days to help clean, feed and walk the dogs. The cats are just chilling in the pigeon and fancy chook coops.
The Salvos feed us every day and between that and just people dropping off supplies we have enough tucker to withstand any damn fire that's thrown at us.

Coconino Humane were able to move their critters back, so its just us, a few strays and the public.

We have managed to move a a good number out into foster until this is over. I have three little tykes (from a litter of 5), who were the most non socialized, scared feral pups I have ever seen when they came in a week ago. Now they won't leave me alone...little buggers.

The other 'interesting' part to all this is that on Sunday is our huge 'Pets In The Pines' adoptathon at Wheeler Park downtown. This week was to be preparing for that. Last year between us and the other rescue groups there was over 50 adoptions and the vaccine clinic was non stop. So Sunday is going to be other challenge, that I know we will rise to. For sure!
Then collapse in a exhausted heap.
We have had awesome publicity from this so there is always good from sheer bloody madness.

The Az Daily Sun has all the reports and photos.

2010-06-13T14:03:00.002+10:00

BATTLE FOR THE BRAIN CELL

Heidi and Rorschach duking it out. The play like this for ages. Unfortunately I didn't get the bit where Rorschach power leaps for Heidi's throat, hangs on and then runs off with a mouth full of fur.
Cracks me up.

2010-06-11T14:43:00.006+10:00

QUIET, ALMOST TOO QUIET

Hal is home, back to the Mother Land and back to the Mother. I hope he is dealing with the transition, he seemed to deal with the American lifestyle pretty well. He did not do so well in school, not because he is dumb but because he was silly, and did not hand his homework in on time. That was partly our fault but really it rests on him....we could only help so much. But over all for life experience I think It was a plus.
He is a great person and will become a wonderful adult. He is very good, compassionate and loving with us, the younger ones and animals, which I think is a pretty good sign. Unless you are Dexter and can fake it real well.

We had to get him to LA to fly out, so he and I took and few days to there. The Last Hurrah!
Thursday afternoon we boogied over to Las Vegas. Its about half way and weird enough for a visit.

There is another slightly quicker and waaaay more boring route, which I took back home.

We stopped for a look at Hoover Dam. The honking huge bridge, that will bypass driving across the dam and make the trip even quicker now meets in the middle. Its a definite engineering feat.

The got to Vegas and checked into Excalibur. Ice cream castle in the middle of the desert. I booked tickets to The Tournment Of Kings, dinner and show. Heh, it was about as cheessy and silly as you can imagine. Lots of cute knights romping around on horses, jousting, shouting, sword waving, stunt falls off horse back and the big baddy Dragon guy had a flamethrower glove. Awesome fun! We got a whole game hen for dinner.
After the excitement of the show we wandered up and down the strip. I've been there a few times now but still the sparkly lights sparkle me. But by god my feets hurt by the end of it. Wearing slip on jogger thingys that the dogs have eaten the inner soles out of. Not the best plan for long pavement walks. Was even too tired to go and put $5 through the pokies.

Next day we drove to LA, only got a little lost but still got to La Brea Tar Pits in plently of time to check out the bubbling pools of tar and the stricken Mammoth family.

The sheer amount of bones they are still finding is staggering. The wall of Dire Wolf skulls is still the winner.

We stayed with friends and due to their awesome directions I didn't get lost to their house.
Spent the evening eating pizza and playing the Wii. Bought tickets for Magic Mountain....Alyssa just had to mention it had the most Xtreme rollercoasters of any of the theme parks.
'Ohh great ugh' I thought 'but must be the cool old aunt and suck up my ooogglyness over the thought of rollercoasters'
I went to bed early leaving Hal and Jesec killing zombies in Left For Dead2.
Magic Mountain on a Saturday...crazy. Looong lines for some of the rides.
You know what. I learn something new about myself. I like rollercoasters. After the first eyes shut, gibbering in terror experience, all the other ones were a spine tingling hoot. Even kept my eyes open.
There was one 'The Ninja' that always had short lines and we liked so we went on that one 3 times. 'Tatsu' I really liked, Hal not so much because they tilt you till you are face down and whizz you around. 17 stories high and 62mph. The video brings it all back...cool.

Anyways much fun was had and we even made it to the airport in time. They let me through customs as an escort to a minor so I saw him onto the plane with a little sniff.

Next day I drove 7 hours home through the most desolate of nothing (and that includes the towns) back to Rob, the peaks and to the cool.

2010-06-01T09:39:00.002+10:00

POWDER, PATCH, BALL

Home after a weekend of camping, swanning around in skirts, making rabbit stew and shooting flintlocks 1750's style.
Good, good fun.
This weekend was the Buckskinners Rendezvous in Williams, about 1 hour from home.
It was a small event and everyone was friendly and helpful.
We have friends -Bill and Jan- who have done much SCA but are more into the mountain man, French Indian War, American frontier reenactment these days. Their 15 year son Teeg was there and he and Hal got on really well and ran around being cute little frontiersmen together.

No son of mine is going to be a 18th century bootblack

They have the full camp, a spare tent and some clothes for us.
A couple of weeks ago we ordered some clothes from Jas Townsend, a store that supplies clothes and wares from the period 1750 to 1840's. I got two skirts, a bodice and chemise. Rob got a shirt, long socks and garters. We also ordered breeches but they weren't ready so he will have them for next time.

Walk softly and carry a big stick

We finally got to fire the Flintlock. Finally.
Rob and I shared it and it fires real nice like. Hal had his own for the weekend. One of Bill's son's spares.

Lock of the Flintlock

We did a walkabout target shoot. Metal targets set up in the woods. I hit 5 out of 12, Rob got 6 and Hal got 1. There were some close misses. Pretty good for our first time.
I actually tied scores with the other women so I was pretty happy with it all.

I hit this....I rock!!

Loading it is fun but I can't imagine doing it quickly or correctly under any kind of pressure or stress.
Powder, patch, ball....that's the mantra.
Don't do it in the wrong order and don't leave the ramrod down the barrel.

Coz go boom

Hal looked so cute in his outfit and was really good in listening and following orders about gun safety and procedure.

Hal and Bill

He picked it quickly and after a few shots I stopped watching him so intently.

On target

One of the shoots was a bunch of small pouches hanging by string. You had to shoot the string to get the pouch and a potential prize. If you shot the bag itself you were disqualified.
What did I do on my very first shot!? Put a neat hole straight through a bag.
Oh wells...I was chuffed I hit that small a target.
So I went back to camp and helped cook a very very nommy Rabbit stew for dinner.

Cleaning the gunne is a fairly time consuming process. Many, many cleaning patches down the barrel to remove all the residue gun powder. But it's part of the whole experience and its not too much of a hardship sitting by the fire and chatting away as you do it.

Cleaning with boiling water

Sunday afternoon they had the awards. Everyone had to bring a blanket prize and the various winners got to choose. Hal got to choose because he was a visitor and a good sport. One of the more experienced women (who is a crack shot) won a real percussion pistol but gave it up. She was impressed and wanted to encourage more women shooters. So me and a couple of the other women got to pick a card. Highest wins. Two of us tied so we drew again and I got the highest card. So now I am a proud owner of a $300 (ish) gun. Woot!.

The gun that I won...My precious

We are keen to go to more events. It's like the SCA but with more boom.

1750 family

2010-05-13T02:05:00.002+10:00

ANOTHER AWESOME, SOME MAY SAY CUNNING PLAN FROM THE MIND OF COZ

Hal is leaving us in early June to travel home. Our grand experience will be over, at least until the next one comes over.
My first idea was to fly to LA a couple of days early and have some adventures before putting him the plane.
A couple of years ago there was grand plans to have direct flights from Flag to LA everyday and they were cheap too. Rob and I took advantage of it when we popped down to see Nick Cave at the Hollywood Bowl. So cool.
I guess it didn't make money cause now the flights are crap. The most direct flight leaves in the afternoon and the rest go through Phoenix with 6 hr lay overs.
It was mentioned I could drive but its 7 hrs and that would take up a whole day.
I was pondering our plight while walking the dogs when it struck me, like a hand from above guiding me to the One True Place.
Las Vegas baby.
So is this awesome or what?!
Hal and I leave Thursday and drive the 4ish hrs to Vegas, pausing to check out Hoover Dam and arrive in time to check in to The Excalibur and go to the Tournyment of Kings Dinner and Show.
People allergic to horses enter at your own risk.
If anyone wants any gewgaws..?

Vegas is wierd, I know that may come as a surprise but its true. One of the many many ways it flaunts this is the prices of rooms. Thursday night we get a room for $25. On Friday and Saturday it goes up to over $100. Never go to Vegas on the weekend is the moral..ha.. of the story.
Promise Kate, I won't let him get married by or to Elvis or gamble his kidneys on the Craps Table.

Next day drive the 5ish hours to LA.
The plan there is to check out La Brea Tar Pits. Who can pass by the pools of skeleton filled tar and walls of Dire Wolf skulls. Rob and I liked it so we are fairly sure Hal will to.
Saturday will be either Disney Land or Universal Studios or something of that ilk. His flight isn't till 10pm so we want something fun but exhausting so he will sleep on the plane home.

I will then drive back on Sunday. Was kinda hoping Rob could fly down Friday night and we could drive back together but I understand it does fall into the 'pain in the arse' category so I'll stock up on music and audiobooks and hoon back. I've done it before so its not really a big problem.

And now a bedtime story.....but its not helping me sleep..

2010-05-08T14:12:00.004+10:00

WE ARE ALL WINNERS ON THE DAY

Last weekend we went to the Grand Canyon. Its still bloody Grand in case you were wondering if it lost any of its Kaibab shista shine. Still there.

Hal hadn't been yet. The One Place to take him was This Place.
I mentioned it at work we were going the next day. A few had never been and the few that had been went "ehh kinda cool but i would bother going again and really not that interesting.." and other sad noises of that ilk.

I have been there a lot and it always makes me fall in love.
A big part of it is taking new visitors, i get all puffed up and proud showing it off. Its less than 2hrs from home and its freaking awesome!
I can kinda understand (sorta) that once you are on the rim then that's it. You came, you looked, you photographed, you carried on. But there is so much more.

Its Spring. Sunny for weeks. Walking the dogs on the mesa, they had smaller and diminishing patches of snow to wallow in. Roo loves the snow wallow.
All snow is gone now and green is budding.
Then it snows...out of the blue...and all the poor little buds get snap frozen.
We were worried that the fog and snow could sock the canyon in and there would be no visibility.

It turned out to be one of the best days I have spent there.
The light and shadow was amazing. It would be sunny, then snowy, then the fog would roll through, then the sun would break out, rinse and repeat.

We had a good long walk along the rim and a chilly edged picnic, with resident Raven looking for noms.

Hal seemed impressed, and by god he better be, or in the best Tradition of Ripping Yarns 'there would be a damn good thrashing'

Listened to "Good Omens" on the Ipod there and back ( just about to meet the devil dog when we got home).

This weekend just gone Hal played 3 games of U19's Rugby Union. Mike and a few other Landsharks - the men's rugger team up here, started it this year. We kinda coerced Hal into playing. He went along with it to humor us at first but now wants to keep playing when he gets home.

Sorry AJ...your deprogramming sessions may meet with actual resistance.

He has been having fun and he is uber Line Out boy so that makes him feel pretty good.
Teams from Phoenix and Las Vegas came up the hill to play.

Go Mighty CobraFists.

They won 1 game out of 3, and held their own pretty well.
Most of the players are pretty new at this. Rubgy not being a normal American sport. The lads all played well and were good sports.
I managed to leave work early just so I could see him play. It was fun, cheering and yelling. I have no idea of the rules but I did my fair share of egging on.
Next weekend they are going to Albuquerque for a tournyment. I have to work :( but Rob and everyone else is going.

Now it turns out its probably good I'm staying at home...I guess.
I brought 3 tiny pups home to foster today. They are asleep next to me on the lounge. They came from the bottom of the Grand Canyon from the Havasupai. About 5 weeks old and we named them 'Firefly', 'Kaylee' and 'River Tam' (photos incoming soon).

3 weeks till the kiddo goes back to the Mother Land. May even miss him a tad.

2010-05-03T03:13:00.002+10:00

Off to the Grand Canyon
Picnic packed
It's snowing
In May
This is how we roll

2010-04-18T11:13:00.004+10:00

ALL THE LIFE'S A PROM

I know I should be updating loco parentis status more often, if only to quell the far away mater's worries. But if anything bad happened well this would be the first place I would post it, so no new is good news right?!

Everything is going swimmingly.
A couple of weekends ago the family and friends did a days boating down the Verde and camped. Laura and Sallie ran shuttle, took the dogs and set up camp so all we had to do was muck aboot in boats and meet them. It meant hauling the Duckies up a hill a mile to the cars at the end but was worth it.

We left with 3 one person Duckies and a 6 person raft which Rob was the mighty salty captain. I took a Duckie down about half way then swapped with Hal. The river is running highish, lots of snowmelt. The rapids were not the problem, the strainer trees caused only a slight, and I say slight, no really slight not deadly at all, concern in a few places.
There was one place which was full of trees and took a sharp bend. I was in the raft with Rob, another adult and the rest of the kids, all we could do was duck down so we wouldn't get knocked off and ride it through. We got through then noticed a water pistol and my shoes floating past (my fault I didn't tie them in), which meant the boat Hal was in was not in a good place. We beached the raft and Rob went running back up the bank. It turned out that Hal got wrapped around a tree with a ton of water pushing him onto it. His foot got caught under the paddle and he couldn't move. Mike was in a Duckie behind us all so he was right there to help and it was all good. I was sitting on the bank with the raft, not knowing what was happening upstream having a little ' so this what real parents must feel all the freaking arse time...gahhh'
All good...breathe.

We finally got the the camping place, dried off and had a wonderful dinner, campfire and song.
The kids had a wonderful time, mudding up, making spears, arrowheads and generally going all Lord Of The Flies.

So good times, and normal life just potters on.

Adjusting to having Hal here has not been hard. He is a really good, sweet person. There is a large streak of naivety (if thats the word) in him that is really nice.
I don't have much to do with real teenagers, and tv shows always seem to show me the annoying ones so I don't have an accurate base line. He is respectful, gentle and easygoing, I hope that's a normal thing but I have no idea. Lots of mocking in our household and when he says dumb stuff we call him on it.

We have 3 foster puppies. He loves them. He is great on poop duty (disgusted but great) and always calls me over to look at a extra cute thing they are doing.

We were both in tears of laughter last weekend over the ferrets. One was climbing the stairs, he startled it and it rolled all the way back down. Ferrets freaking out on stairs is the funniest thing ever. Then we spent a fair bit of time, very humanely* making them freak out on stairs..
*no ferrets were harmed for our amusement.

We watched Monty Python's Meaning Of Life the other night...so very funny but I had forgotten about the whole teacher sex ed class....I was cool as a cool aunt can be. But I figured, If ya gunna learn about sex, Monty Python may the be the best or possibly the very, very worse role model....i'm in my lallallala it will all turn out for the best way mode.... so a good model methinks. And he does explain it rather well.
Nothing wrong about knowing about the clitoris and its fantastic uses.

He has gone to the prom....
when I was a kid in Australia the American prom was a weirdly magical Queen, cheerleader, corsage, dance, jock, manly, corvette coming of age American experience. Everyone did it right?!
Then I met Rob.
He never went to his prom.
Forever known as 'The Failed American'

He has 4 classes a day and it seems they are a bit age mixed up...something about credits needed ehh i don't know. Anyways the Outdoor Adventure class (archery, frizbee and cookouts..sound tough) there are some seniors- 18year old and graduating soon. They are the group that went camping over Spring break and all survived. So Hal asked Melissa who is 18 to her Prom. She said yes. ( if she said no i was hoping it wasn't going tooooo be soul crushing)
Now we all think but have not said to him ( because its awesome and should not to be made into something big, unusual and scary) that a 15 year old taking flowers (his choice and arrangement, i got up that morning and there he is organising the colours, i gave him some ribbon) to school to ask her to prom is so ballsy that even now Rob's and my 15 yr old self is blushing at the thought.
There was no angst with him, no sweats, not scared of peer mocking. Its wonderful but still wow, taking roses to school without fear other kids crap flung at you....that's great.

We went last week and ordered the Tux, ended up with the tails and bow tie. He is adorable. The guy at I Do I Do....- Flags best rental and lingere shoppe. I kinda mentioned tails and the guy was all over it. Telling Hal that not many people wear them but they look great and you will stand out because of it. We got it, he seemed happy with the whole look.

We have Rob's great grandfathers top hat. Its at least 70 years old and in amazing condition.
He was picked up by Troy (a grad) to go to dinner first....damn no date.

He has a curfew and and strict aunt and uncle rules
Two Rules- uno- Don't break the hat
dos- Don't get anyone pregnant
tres- be home by 1ish

2010-03-21T15:17:00.003+11:00

Hhaha *snort* bet I'm the first and only blogger to combine a dumb six packed movie and thier post number....
I'm always first on the interweb.

Things I want to blog about ...but really this may be it if I don't get with it.

One- need to write up New Mexico roadtrip....dances with immigration (freaking again) and the odd wolf (not as often done as it would seem cool to do, despite the potential face eating)
Photos incoming if nothing else.

Two- Hal, my 15 year old nephew surviving the American School Experience.
School starts at 7:50am and gets out at 2:30pm. Hal walks home, walks the dogs and plays WOW till we get home. I drive him most days cause i'm working to, but he can walk with no problem. Walking distance was the sole reason we chose the school.
Went camping with some random kids over Spring break. He came back great...bit ooggly in the tummy (always boil the water) but with a great experience and stories. He had campfire smoke hair....I love that smell.
Lucky he tolerates a high degree of Aunt hugging.
To be fair he hugs me most days when I get home from work, so any positive hugs are awesome hugs.

Three- Rob and I surviving the great American School Experience. First time we have ever have any real responsibility for anyone else. So far so good. Lucky he can feed himself.

Forth and most important- My new iPod touch 64gb. Love it. The End.

2010-03-10T12:27:00.008+11:00

EVEN MORE GRAND ADVENTURES....

We all got back from Mexico without too many hiccups, apart from the minor one where the computer ate Kate's electronic visa and she had to go redo it while we waited at the check in desk.
Maybe a coyote land crossing was still on the books after all.

We spent a week hanging around Flag doing the easy yet awesome day trips, then 4 days road tripping. It would have been 5 days but we were snowed in and I really didn't want to drive on the Highway of Snowy Doom and Semi Trailers till it cleared up. Though being snowed in is a kind of adventure in its self. Kate and Duncan went into town and I went sledding with the kids.

Did the usual showing off. Becoming a well trodden path, but one I never tire of.
I love living somewhere that is so interesting and diverse.

Sedona, red rocks, stunning vistas but what everyone loves is the woo. The Ye Olde UFO Shoppe was closed and reopening at a later date at a different solar system, but Crystal Magic will never die. We are not shy about expressing our opinions about "Who Built The Moon" "Learn To Shapeshift" and "Spirit Orbs, Digital Cameras and the Higher Plane" and I'm glad the kids seems to have a healthy skepticism and inherited a well developed mocking gene. We were quiet and mostly unnoticed in the shop lest we bring down the wrath of Ar'kithra Spirit Lord of the 288742 dimension and the Local Taco Shoppe. You don't want a smiteful Jalapeno on ya arse.
We had lunch at the Red Planet Diner...the only appeal and the only reason we went there was the kitchy alien theme. It was kinda cute but wouldn't really go for the food. It was diner food...nothing wrong with it per se. Though Kate did disobey the Prime Directive "Food bigger than ones head, usually turns out to be the carnivorous Snargtulfu from Beta 4 moulting from its Taco Salad instar". You can only point out page 27 of the handbook so many times....

Noooo its bigger than your head...back away

After our spaaaace lunch we went down the Camp Verde to Montezuma Castle. It has nothing to do with Montezuma, just the fact that the Spanish had no clue. It is a small site but a impressive 3 storey structure built into a cave high in the cliff face. Not for more the vertiginous pueblo dwellers.
There are sites dotted all along the Verde and Beaver rivers. It would have been a fairly nice place to eke out a living

Montezuma Castle

Another site we went to, which was new to me was Homolovi out near Winslow. Due to state budget cuts it was closing 2 days after we were there. The shop was having a sale so Kate stocked up on beautiful Kachina dolls and I got a couple of nice pieces. All the goods were made by the local Hopi, and the woman at the visitors center knew all the artists and could tell us about them and the history of the area. The site had been badly looted, and now its closed it probably will be again. Such a shame

Homolovi landscape. Looking at shards.

There was pottery shards everywhere, and we all had fun picking them up and marveling and the brush strokes and detail on some of them

Painted shards from history, Homolovi

My most favourite of pueblo ruins in this area is Wupatki. High desert, red and perfect blue. Volcanic cinder cones and the snowy San Fransisco peaks in the background.

Crazy blow hole hair, Wupatki

The blowhole was a' blowing. It was the biggest hit of the day with the kids.

Blow hole fun, Wupatki

It this day and age you think everything worth finding of archaeological coolness would be found or blown up by Indiana. But just least year some people were hiking up behind Wupatki when they found two large perfect pots buried in the cinders. They had them at the visitors center, and they are beautiful. What a find! How wonderful would that be.

Snowpea at Wukoki, Wupatki

We took the kids snowboarding. Their travel insurance didn't cover snow sports so they were under strict instructions not to break anything. Hal and Snowpea had never been before, James and Sam are awesome skiers but not much boarding experience. They all took a lesson, I did a few runs and the parentals chilled in the lodge.

Gnarly boardin' Grrls

After the lesson we met for lunch then spent the afternoon on the bunny hill having fun.
Hal got a bit discouraged but with another lesson I think he would be fine. Snowpea had a ball and was doing pretty good. She was so happy with herself. They all should be proud of themselves at trying and learning something new.
They all looked so cute in the snow gear.
Snowpea went again with Laura and the kids just before they left. She took another lesson and came home totally stoked at her gnarly skillz.

Snowboarding lesson. AZ Snowbowl.

Next post our roadtrip.

I miss them. There is so much more to see and it felt so comfortable and warm having them here.
Hal is here for 3 months attending high school on a exchange. He is doing well and is off camping for Spring Break. He is being awesome Kate, so rest easy. Playing more WOW than he probably should but its all good.
So far being Loco Parentis isn't too scary. Being responsible for a 15 year boy...hope I'm doing it right. Least he can dress himself.

2010-03-07T13:23:00.014+11:00

COZ "LOSES" HER PASSPORT
and gains the lifetime title "El Duffer Grande"

One thing I learnt from the whole episode is don't lose your passport in Mexico because the Embassy in Mexico City trooly, rooly suckth to such a degree I get weepy flashbacks thinking about it.
I send them and the Minister for Foreign Affairs a email about it. They probably won't care.
But god it was horrible.

After we came back from Muyil and Tulum I decided I had lost my passport and my US greencard.
I looked, we looked, I cried and felt like throwing up for the better part of 2 days. I thought maybe I had lost it out of my pocket while scrambling around Muyil. The next day Mike and I drove back down to the ruins, offered a reward to the couple of ruin guards and retraced my steps. Even to the place where I wee'd in the jungle. No luck.

If it was me and Rob traveling alone would have been not so bad, but I felt awful because I was with my family and was wrecking the holiday. Everyone was wonderful, and Snowpea was happy to snorkle in the pool for hours while we spent alot of time on the phone and internet.

At first I called the US consulate in Cancun, hoping the vague hope that because there are so many yanks in the area that they may have a office there that deals with lost stuff. But no, even US citizens have to go to Mexico City if they lose their stuff. All I needed to was to get back over the border, lost Aussie passport be damned. I could work all that out later.
Second I rang the Australian Embassy in Mexico City. I explained my plight and mentioned that I was a Aussie citizen and a US resident. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that she heard the US bit and blanked the rest when she gave me this advice. Which was " We don't do passports here you have to go to Los Angles to get one"....i was confused and sad so I said ehhh thanks and hung up. 3 seconds later I did the head wobble and WTF!?/!!
How do I get to the US without a passport?
Inquiring minds. Mmmm Pay off a coyote and ride in a airless truck for 74297410 hrs is the other way, so I've heard.

Thirdish I called the US Embassy about the greencard. One guy who sounded very sure of his information told me I could walk across a land border to the US with just my Arizona drivers license. I confirmed this with him a couple of times because I knew in the past it was true but in the last year or so they started to require US citizens a passport to go to Mexico.
It turns out that it is bollocks, you can't just walk across these days. Which I knew but I wanted to believe the embassy guy as a easy way back in.
I had a vague plan of flying to either Nogales or Tijuana and trying it because it came from the Embassy (they should know the laws right?) but I knew it couldn't be right. Good thing we didn't try.

Kate decided to come with me, which was wonderful but I didn't want her to feel she had too. Duncan and Mike were (mostly) happy to take care of two kids and bring them back to the US if we could get notarised documents that they could leave the country with non relatives.(Duncan is a main care giver but not in the maze like paper work way.)

Fourish I called the Aussie Consulate in LA. They were much more helpful, but couldn't help me. Wrong country. They said that yes of course that the embassy at Mexico City can issue emergency travel documents...what else are they there for? They were baffled at the stupid advice I got but were limited in what they could do.

I emailed Rob about the whole thing and he found much more useful info than i did.

He emailed and talked to Hugh about my problem.
Hugh Austin, who is a border dude at the US Embassy deserves much praise, awesome US embassy guy, needs a medal of dealing with sad Aussies on his day off.
I rang Hugh in Mexico City about my greencard. He was great, even though the Monday was a holiday and the embassy was closed he was going to be there. All I to was to ask the guards and he would come and escort me to the offices and give me a temp greencard. Easy.
This week is my writing compliments or complaints ....more compliments, except the the Aussie Embassy in Mexico City. Booooooo

Fifthly or are we up to tenthly by now? I called the Aust. Embassy in Mexico City to get them to start organising my emergency documents. Ha
A man answered, didn't understand me and handed me to the most unhelpful, useless person on the planet. I explained my plight as calmly and as slowly as possible to her. The longest sentence she uttered to me was " no no passports here" other than that it was all no no no. I asked her several times each in increasing pitch and voice wobble to transfer me to a manager or just to anyone else but it was all "no". In the end I called her completely useless and hung up. I was just a tad upset.
In my generous moments I think that everyone was on siesta and the cleaning crew were having a bit of fun, because how could the first contact for potentially distressed citizens be so appalling?

It was all organised. Kate and I were going to fly to Mexico City, do the Embassies, though the Aussie one was still an unknown. Pop into the awesome National Museum of Anthropology ( i went twice 5 years ago and loved it) and fly home. Truth be told we were kind of excited. Bit of an adventure into the vague unknown. But in the long run it was much better that I found the bloody thing.

I was about to call and cancel my flight and rebook it. I was looking for the bit of paper with the flight details on it when I found it. My god. How dumb did I feel.
Every one was happy, Mike nearly beat me to death with a pillow and we went cenote snorkling in celebration.

All this phone calls and worrying made us miss the Mayan ruins Coba plus just relaxing...sorry, so sorry.

We went to Chichen Izta on our last day. It's very impressive. When we were there 5 years ago you could climb El Castillo and walk through other plazas and temples. Its all roped off now.

A few years ago someone fell and died from the top. That and just basic preservation led them to restrict access. I'm glad I got full access back then. I totally understand why but it would have been fun to climb it with the family.

Still it is an amazing place. Parts of it has not been restored so you walk through the junglely bits and there are huge mounds of rock covered in vines the vague shape of a temple pyramid.
I love the serpent's and the glyphs and the skulls and the jaguars eating human hearts.

2010-02-22T09:35:00.005+11:00

FAMILY REUNION MAYAN STYLE

(no sacrifices were harmed)

I'm way behind so I'm going to start at the beginning. Kate and Co arrive in the US. Mike and I left our respective families and drove down to Phoenix and meet them at the airport. My tummy was all aflutter in anticipation and excitement. After 2 years Hal is taller than me, Sophie is as cute as ever and Kate and Duncan are just wonderful. Many hugs and happiness all round.
It's like we were never apart, funny and familar.

We flew to Cancun on Monday morning. Two easy flights and got there mid afternoon.

Stood in line at customs for 2 fracking hours...the longest wait I have ever had in all my travels. Lucky we maintained good cheer and eventually walked out to the darkening humid skies of Mexico.Shopping in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

I booked a 7 seater van and somehow we ended up with a 12 seater for the same price, which was pretty nice. Lots of room and no one was squished.
Drove down towards Playa Del Carmen looking for the 'Ocean Maya' sign.

Swim up bar, Ocean Maya resort. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

The whole coast line is a succession of resorts, each vying for the worlds biggest entry gate.
When I went to Mexico the first time with Rob's family we stayed in a all inclusive resort down near Tulum called 'Freedom Paradise', it was one of the smaller more basic places, but totally adequate and fun.

We got a awesome deal on the trip and the reviews at Trip Advisor were mixed so we really didn't know what we would get.The gang at Muyil, Mexico

Mike and I were expecting something fairly low key, but Ocean Maya was a step or two up from that. Huge front foyer with massive Mayan glyphs and fountains. We got VIPed without asking or paying, not sure why but hey it got us better rooms and top shelf booze.
We had Iguanas and Coatis outside our front door. We all wanted a Coati to take home.

Coati

The main nom options is a huge all you can eat and drink buffet. The kids went wild. The food was good and fresh and neverending. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Mike's uber Spanish skills helped alot all throughout the trip. We could have gotten by without it but it did make things easier.
The kids picked some words up and started using them quite naturally, which was very cute to see. They still say 'Hola' 'Si'.
The first day was a rest day and we spent it hanging out. Though a word of advice. Buy sunscreen at the resort even though it costs $20. We all got sunburnt and paid for it for the rest of the trip.
Snowpea spent most of her free time in the pool with my snorkle and ordering strawberry Daquari's sin alcohol from the swim up bar.
The beach was nice( the Carribean sea was warmer than the pool) , we used the kayaks and Mike took the kids out on the Catamaran.

Kate amongst the ruins. Muyil, Mexico

The second day we headed south to a little Mayan ruin called Muyil, we were the only people there and got to climb the temples and explore the jungle.

Temple kids. Muyil, Mexico

One of the main reasons we came to Mexico was to see the history of the place. Its very evocative to walk through the jungle and see a grey stone structure hidden in the undergrowth. After Muyil and pirate tacos for lunch, we went to the ruins at Tulum.

Tulum, Mexico

We got there late so it was a whirlwind trip. It is a stunning area. They built the town on the coast and the views are spectacular.

Ruins with a view, and Snowpea. Tulum, Mexico

It was then I decided that I had lost my passport and green card.
That saga is for another day.

2010-02-04T14:55:00.002+11:00

AND NOW A NEW CAR....

The snow storm that walloped us has come and gone. Some say 3rd biggest storm in Flags recorded history, some say 2nd...snow and memory is a fickle thing.
No snow since then but still a lot on the ground. We will get more before the seasons out. I'm hoping so. I want the Kate and co to experience it and I want to go snowboarding.

Last chapter left me on the side of the highway in a sadly non moving vehicle.
Snow happened.
Axis and Allies, WOW, D&D online, real life sledding and your general lolling about.
Snow happened.
Mum in law lent us her car to get to work and buy food (love her lots).
On Saturday we went to the car place, the place that sells cars. We bought one, a new one, a shiny grown up one.
Its a Jeep Compass....yeah I know, I had never heard of one before either.

Ours is white.
It is a 2009 model with 40 miles on the odometer. The ticket price was $21k but they took $5500 off it cause they wanted to move it. We were looking at the 2010 Subaru Forester which started at $23k. For 8k less, I can live without power windows and central locking and it has enough room for the dogs and camping gear. I will never admit it in public but I will miss heated seats. When we bought the 2000 Subaru Outback in 2007, I thought heated seats was a complete wank, but as the freezing mornings progressed I grew to love them, far more than is socially accepted. It also has a great warranty thingy so if we break down we shouldn't have to cry so much.

Two more days till Kate and family arrive, and 3 more till we are off to Mexico...kinda happy.

Ohh and I built a snow Dalek....

2010-01-23T04:08:00.003+11:00

SNOW DAYZ

Flagstaff has mostly shut down in the last few days due to the snow. Schools, shops, transport all came to a grinding fluffy halt.

Flagstaff from behind our house

The Uni is closed so Rob has had the last 2 days off and so have I . The animals at my work still need taken care of but with minimum amount of people. We don't have a car, so couldn't go anywhere even if we wanted to (haven't heard from the mechanics, assuming they are closed as well). We have enough supplies for a while, last night we did a crockpot roast and veges...nommy. As long as we don't lose power we will be fine. House with no central heating or the internet in a snow storm...brrrrr and arrggghhhhh.

Snowshoeing

The weather always had an some kind of effect on most peoples day to day life. Usually it can be ignored or adapted to without too much change in routine. Its been very interesing to see how this storm has impacted us all. Is easy to forget that nature is a mother...
I'm not getting paid for these days off as is many, many people here, but am lucky that I'm not living paycheque to paycheque and am not stressed about the rent. Its only a few days but the impact will ripple through the town.
This morning's paper reports that the roof of Bookmans (plus other stores) collapsed last night....nooooo. Now where am I going to get my shlock serial killer fix and mocha while walking my dogs? We love that place, were in there last week with Chris and the pooches.
But seriously its not good and I really hope they all have good insurance and can save the stock.

Bedroom view of the backporch, we are not getting out that way

Cabin fever has not set in yet. Rob and I are still civil but I might hide the scissors just in case plus I'm planning on kicking his butt in Axis and Allies later today.

The backyard, the fences are not very high.

2010-01-21T11:52:00.006+11:00

THREE YEARS AND NOT MAD YET

Happy Three Year Anniversary to us living in the USA. (not counting the first 24 years of Rob's life, but he didn't know any better)
We have survived pretty well. Living in the USA has been a lot of fun and a grand experience. Three years...really?! Time is a kooky thing.
I can now start the citizen process, which involves much paperwork, money and me learning about stuff so I can pass the test. But its totally worth it, I'll be a dual citizen so back and forth will be even easier. If I leave the US for more than a year in one block, I can lose my Green card and would have to go through the entire process again, which would be aarrrrggghhhhhhhh.

Two of the three snow storms have hit us and the biggest one is hovering over our house. It is supposed to get pretty heavy over the next couple days. WeatherUnderground is my new internet obsession, I check it more often than I oggle People of Walmart....and thats saying something.
Yesterday it was sunny for a while before the next wave rolled in so the dogs and I had a good tromp.
I made this little vid...its very silly and next time I need to think about what to say first and stop blinking so much..I blame the snowy glare.

Work was closed today and tomorrow because of the snow. I went in to check on the beasties and left mid afternoon. Less than a mile from work on the Hwy, the car died. Lucky there was enough shoulder to move onto out of the traffic.
This is what a wrote on Facebook -

'Car breaking down driving home from work suckth so much I have ran out of swearwords.
Upside- Happened before the blizzard, nice Hwy patrolman did not tazer me, the tow truck was quick, Semi's didn't hit me, taxi home was warm, won't have to shovel the car out tomorrow and I bought a wireless mouse. There is always a upside.'

I wouldn't be so annoyed about it, but this the the second time in 6 months it has broken down and in the same way. Anyone want a slightly used Subaru Outback? doesn't smell like skunk anymore..much.

A ex work mate of Rob's turned up for a whirlwind visit last weekend. Chris was in CA for work and popped over to see us. I had to work but he and Rob did the Grand Canyon/Wupatki loop. Our favourite way to show the tourists how beautiful this area is in one easy day.
It never fails to impress and we never get bored of showing it off.
Its funny how Aussies have accents now.

Two weeks till Kate and Co turn up. I've been practicing my Espanol for when we are in Mexico, which I know I probably even won't try out just from sheer flusteredness. I can count to 1000 which will help with prices of things and I am pretty good at 'No hablo Espanol' and 'dos cervesa por favor'

I think Margaritas on the beach will be the winner on the day.

2010-01-16T08:50:00.003+11:00

EXCUSE FOR NEW BOOTS


My snow boots are falling apart and thanks to certain dogs who chewed
the tops so they don't cinch closed anymore.
Ankle freeze, not so much fun.
I need new boots and it seems I need them before Monday. Shopping time.


Emergency Operations Center (EOC) participants received a weather
briefing from the local National Weather Service today, January 16 at
1000 hours.  Three (3) winter storms will be moving through the
Flagstaff area during this time.  While earlier storms are more
predicable, the last storm is less predictable due to it being a full
7 days out in the forecast period.
 
1.First Storm:
 
Arriving Monday evening and lasting until mid-day Tuesday.   Snow
levels as follows:
 
 7000 feet: 6 – 10 inches
6000 – 7000 feet: 2 – 6 inches

 
Some wind will accompany this storm with gusts possible up to 35-45 mph.
 
2.Second Storm:
 
Arriving Late Tuesday night and lasting until mid-day Wednesday.  Snow
levels as follows:
 
 6500 feet: 8 – 12 inches
5500 – 6500 feet:  4 – 10 inches

 
Some wind will accompany this storm with gusts possible up to 35-45 mph.
 
3.Third Storm:
 
This will be the moistest and the longest duration of any previously
listed storms.  Arriving Wednesday night (around midnight) and lasting
until Friday.  Snow levels as follows:
 
Unable to predict exact or probably snow levels & amounts, however
this storm will contain lots of moisture.  This storm will start off
warm and very moist.  There will be widespread modest precipitation
and rainfall could occur on top of the previous snowfall resulting in
the potential for flooding.  Rainfall in the Flagstaff & Williams area
could be 2 – 4 inches.  Freezing will follow at the 5000 – 6000 foot
level and rain will turn to snow.
 
Wind will accompany this storm in the 45 – 55 mph range.
 
 
An additional briefing will be held with the National Weather Service
next week on Tuesday or Wednesday and more information will be
forthcoming.

2010-01-12T14:28:00.003+11:00

HEY EVERYBODY......

Happy new year and all that...gawd a third through Jan already and what do I have to show for it....?

Good things actually.

Darwin and Roo are making out on the stairs. Ahhh doggy love we all could learn from their simple message. Which involves noses, tongues and the occasional butt.

Rob started his new job at the Uni as a computer nerd guy. Yay!
Going well so far it seems and he is right behind Bookmans- awesome used book/cd/dog friendly/coffee shop, so I can see where the first few pay cheques will go.
It is a bit weird though. We worry about the dogs being left alone all day in the house with no friends.

The first two years Rob worked from home for the Aussie company he worked for when we lived there, and the last year has been home as a long haired unemployed bum (worked for Mike as construction monkey for a bit)...in which he cooked me dinner, cleaned the house and walked the dogs...the bum.Poor poor neglected pups

Poor doggies, the excitement that greets us at home is atomic. They still get a shortish hike through the snow when the first one gets home but its not the long ramble they are used to.
Its probably silly to worry so much but its the most responsibility I have in my life so I do worry a bit about them. So far they have survived, and I reckon they sleep most of the day, saving the insanity for the door opening.

Enough about the bloody dogs already...

Mexico is locked and loaded. Airfares return Phoenix to Cancun, all inclusive 6 nights at Ocean Maya on the Playa del Carmen for US$650 pp via Travelocity....I got worried looking at the resort website that the day rate is about $200 that i screwed up somehow but I emailed the place and they seem to have gotten our reservation, so i guess the travel site can get a uber deal.
There is 6 of us so I looking hire vans for the week. Not that cheap for a minivan but i think worth it for the freedom. We are going to drive to Chitzen Izta which it 3 hrs one way and do the Tulum and Coba Mayan ruins so even if the car sits there not used for a day or 2 while we hang on the beach it will be worth it.
I was there 4 years ago and excited to go back, been practising my Spanish. I can count to 1000 and say 'I don't speak Spanish' in Spanish. Mike the (Aussie) bro-in-law is coming, his Spanish is awesome so once I get past 'dos cerveza por favor' he will save us.

I'm sure there is more but sleep becomes me

Night

2009-12-21T11:31:00.002+11:00

I'D RATHER BE A RISING APE THAN A FALLEN ANGEL...

Quote by Terry Pratchett

Rob and family left for CA today for Chrissie, leaving me all alone, alone, alone...
This will be my first ever Xmas I have been alone, I think I'm old enough to cope, but It is nice to think that my previous 36 I have been surrounded by loved ones (and loot). In a way I'm still surrounded by loved ones but I tend to trip over them and gag at their poop a lot more.
Alone with 6 dogs and 2 ferrets. I'm the only one left to stem the tide of crap. The thin brown line.
The house is quiet...mostly...if you don't count the pitter patter of 32 tiny feet.

We had a break from fostering since Heidi, who is doing wonderfully. She is on her first CA road trip and will spread doggy love whence she goes.
There were no pups that needed it in the last few months. This month has been different.
I took Samantha and Friday home just for a week because they were looking sickly. A day at home and they were totally fine. They got adopted within days.

Samantha and Friday, foster pups

Last week at work, someone drove in dropped off a box in the carpark and drove away. Inside was four tiny Rotteweiler mix pups. Somehow, despite my rule of only 2 pups at once, Jedi mind trick were played upon me and I ended up with all four. Santa Vaca!

The four amigos

I set up a big pen in the middle of our kitchen, which despite it being in the middle of our kitchen is working out rather well. They are small enough that sleeping, eating and pooping are their main interests so they don't mind being cooped up a lot of the time. Plus the icky bits are mostly confined.
I gave them a bath today. Very cute puppies under all that grime.

Bath Time

I have one on my lap as I type so trying to avoid hand nibbles.
She has fallen asleep now...dang how to reach the wine?!

Onto non related dog news...don't look so shocked.

Rob turned 40 last week...still as gorgeous as ever.

Us camping at Fossil Creek

Rob and lovely Leala...Hopi Salt Trail, Grand Canyon.

He has been mostly unemployed all year, been working on and off for Mike as a construction monkey which I must say has done rather pleasant things for his abs.

The best pressie he got was a offer of a job at the Uni starting in Jan. Yeehaaaa..
We are all very happy. If he hadn't gotten this job then we would have had to seriously think about moving to a bigger city with better opportunities. Neither of us wants to move just yet, and the places we would want to move to are exactly like here, the smaller places with no jobs. So despite the fact its awesome he has been home to walk the dogs and cook me dinner, a reasonable paid job is a great thing right now.

Kate and Co have booked their tickets for Feb for a month. I'm sooooooo happy. They will spend some time here, a week in the Yucatan climbing Mayan pyramids and then off to New York. It will be 2 years since I've seen them (except once on webcam ..omg Hal's voice has broken!..) so I'm very much looking forward to this.
Hal will be staying with us (if all goes well with visa's and such) for 3 months on a school exchange. It will be a great opportunity for him and us. Though I have no idea what to do with a 15 year boy in my house... ummm buy lots of food, NetNanny the computer, insert a GPS chip. Any suggestions welcome.

2009-12-10T14:54:00.002+11:00

SNOW DAY PART THE SECOND

It dawned bright, blue and sunny, and ohh sooo dazzling to my eyes..my eyes I tell you.
Not having to go anywhere by car, which was good because the road wasn't plowed and we have sharp steep corners at either end of our road, which can add extra fun to the driving experience.

Instead we forged forth up the hill onto the mesa. The snow was past my knees and occasionally up to my butt.

Always a delight to watch the dogs bound, swim and burrow through it. It is so pretty, everything was clean and untouched, until we came through stumbling around and laughing.

After our walk we came home to thaw out for a hour or so, when the family came over to go sledding. They couldn't get the ute up our hill so parked it below and walked up with sleds and pizza.

We have a awesome hill right by our house so we went and threw ourselves down it for a while. A couple of times went down so fast I got brain chill from the outside in.

The dogs most favourite yet annoying game is chasing the sledder down the hill barking all the way. Good exercise for them running up and down the hill a squillion times, as well as dodging the snowballs and sleds that got thrown at them.

Little Heidi did great for her first real snow, her legs aren't very long so she gets buried and sinks. But kept up with the big dogs and people pretty well.
After we all had sledded out we retired to home for hot drinks, pizza and games.

2009-12-08T14:00:00.002+11:00

SNOW DAY

That's what's it's called round these parts when it snows so much the schools and brothels are shut.
The schools have a certain number of days that they can close due to the snow, if they go over them then they have to make up the days and shorten the Spring break...the brothels I can't speak for...

A snow storm, nay blizzard has moved in. It has not stopped snowing all day and will continue off and on for the rest of the week. I'm very glad I had today and have tomorrow off work. Wednesday i need to go to work, see if I can get off our hill to potter through town. Our street is a loop and sharp turns at either side...can be scary when icey, but there isn't too much to hit when sliding out...one hopes.
I said this before, many many times. Snow is really really beautiful. Like the magic seductive apple...bite it and everything is sparkly and your throat get all tingly...even when sliding the car out uncontrollably down the hill, its still pretty and you yearn for it.
Snowboarding.
And silent, almost too silent.
With rain you hear the gurgle, drum, splash, erosion and thank the gods the moisture has arrived.
Here we just get the latter.
Our street has maybe 2 street lights which are orange, so normally when you go out at night its totally dark with a fairly good look at the stars. Part of the Dark Skies community.
Tonight, its 8:30pm and its like dawn out there. All the lights from the town are reflecting off the clouds turning the landscape a dull yet visionary orange ... the most quiet of post apocalyptic nights.

We shoveled the driveway 3 times today...we had no plans to go anywhere but its way easier to do it every few hours than try and move 3 foot of snow at once. And plus its fun. Yes fun, the dogs go crazy, good exercise, little if no traffic and I'd rather work in the snow than the rain any day.
Plus a central heated house and mulled wine is feet away.

More snow posts to come...you can't stop this.

2009-12-03T16:26:00.006+11:00

37...NOT THE MOST EXCITING NUMBER BUT HAS IT'S HIGHLIGHTS

According to wiki 37 bc was the year that Caligula was proclaimed Emperor and made himself God. That guy knew how to party. One of my enduring images in the last 37 years was watching as a youngster (10-14 maybe?...Mum do you remember?) the BBC show ' I Claudius' (it came out in '76 i would have been 4 so probably didn't get the first showing) was the scene where Caligula cuts out his child from the womb of his sister (that image has never left my head)...ohh and the horse as senator and even then i has a crush on Derek Jacobi.
37... what else...Nero was born that dirty fiddler, and a earthquake destroyed Antioch.

The source of Fossil Creek

It is a prime number, the fifth lucky prime, the first irregular prime, the third unique prime and the third cuban prime of the form

Sounds exciting....I guess if you are into that kind of thing.
Lucky Prime is that like Optimus's slightly lamer sibling

Rubidium atomic number 37, sounds special huh?
Something that would power wormholes and cybernetics.

Rubidium is very soft and highly reactive
Rubidium is not known to be necessary for any living organisms.
hmmmm

Anyhoo Happy Birthday to me. I made it to another one.
YAY!

It's a dogs life. Old Fossil creek dam, now waterfall

Things are all good here. Nothing dramatic to report just cruising along happily.
We went camping just before Thanksgiving for two nights. Hiked down to Fossil Creek, one of the prettiest places I been to for a while. I think its a mad house in summer but we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves, apart from the odd raccoon invading the camp.
The creek burbles out of the ground and is surprisingly not toe numbing cold.
It used to be damned but now is allowed to flow free and wild once again.

Not to give him a big head, but he is rather a large part of why life is wonderful.

My big sis Kate and family are visiting in February. Excited much...ohh yeah! It will have been 2 years since I've seen them and Snowpea will be turning 12 and Hal is 15. Its going to be sooo much fun, I may not let them leave.
We are planning on a week or so exploring the Yucatan, Mexico. I was there a few years ago with my American family and nothing beats climbing Mayan pyramids and sipping Margaritas on the beach.
Can get flights and a all inclusive beach resort for $600-$1000 per person for a week. Will avoid Cancun except for the airport and head south to the much nicer Tulum area.

Raccoon attempting Jedi mind tricks on us to step away from the backpacks full of tucker. It only made me want to go catch fish with my hands.

2009-11-17T11:07:00.002+11:00

SHOOT STRAIGHT YA BASTARDS...

Breaker Morant is one of my favourite movies, and The Equalizer was a staple of my teenage heart.

RIP Edward Woodward

2009-11-12T15:31:00.003+11:00

DAMN I HATE BEING TOO STOOPID TO LOOK AFTER MYSELF

or I'm making Rob's prostate exam appointment for him because I need his prostate to fulfill my sexual needs.

We saw this ad during watching the Daily Show on Hulu. Jack Black seems to be a pretty funny guy...dumb but kinda amusing.
Most of the ad was like 'yeah mammograms..good idea' wrapped up in a funnyish message.
Then came the fuked up punch line.

This bit is longer that the ad I saw but the screwed up bits are there.
Then the true message came out...
'Guys. a pledge to make a appointment for a mammogram for your wife, mother, daughter or your sister..."
Fuck thats right i can't take my own health care into my own hands....quick closest male, you yes I mean you, make that call to that doctor for that boob thing...I must go shopping.

There was another ad which I skipped..the start was something about "men for saving boobs"...blagh...i'm thinking it was part of the same campaign but 'boobs' really?...are we all 14 and behind the shed smoking, giggling and whatever else 14 years do...

ohh I found the site if you really care about booobs...cause its all I am.

2009-11-10T08:17:00.006+11:00

IT ALL COMES BACK TO HITLER AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS

OK for some reason I can't embed it...wierd. So here is a link.

I love John Stewart, I think I may have said that before. This was on last weeks The Daily Show (thank you Hulu).
I've only ever seen Glenn Beck, O'Rielly, Hannity and their ilk spouting out intolerance, bigotry and disturbing sense of patriotism, either in cringing passing a random TV or on The Daily Show.
But what I've seen, he is spot on.

2009-11-06T11:23:00.002+11:00

NERDYIST DOG EVA

Just a friendly warning.
Don't get stuck in a corner at a party with ol' Nigel UFo Spotter here. He'll bore you to the bone.

2009-11-05T14:08:00.004+11:00

DON'T CALL ME ELF....

I love dressing up. It's fun to be something else but not want to be someone else.
I've been part of the SCA since I was 15, and dressing up was a big part of the appeal, along the sense of history and shooting the 'bad' guys with arrows.

Nothing was more fun than a costume party dominated by SCA friends. Comfortable with looking funny and very inventive.
Not to say non SCA friends were slackers either. I remember a costume part where at least one person turned up not in costume, hung out for a few minutes, went back home and returned in something that happily passed as non normal wear. Get people excited by the idea and some great stuff happens. I remember many awesome costume parties- Faires, Moulin Rougue, I'm Batman, Raj Jah G&Ts, plus the random Aussie style Halloween ones.

Halloween here in the States is a Big Deal. Deal that is Big.
Whole stores just appear in October full of spooky stuff, from whole lawn animatronic diaromas to tiny ice cube spiders.
On Nov 1st the space once more becomes a bare brick wall.

This year we went the Geek way. SCA clothes with a few accessories. It was my idea and I must admit I got a little excited about it all.

Downtown Flagstaff closed off its streets and become Spooky Haven. It was aimed mostly for families with rides and 'gentle' scares. We caught the bus downtown and the place of full of little monsters...some of them were even in costume..boom boom.
Our costume was a little obscure. The people who got it thought it was waaaaaay cool, it people who didn't still came up to us, mentioned we looked great but what the hell where we??.....
Explaining we were from a online computer game met with more than a few blank looks.
But it was all worth it for the chuckle it gave the other nerd's eye.

I had to wear my tusks most of the night because of the potential shame of being mistaken for a Elf...pahh...
The smiting would have been a real horror to witness.

Ok for you out there that don't know we have been playing World of Warcraft for nearly 5 years, here is our inspiration.

Quest Giver - I was a Troll
Quest Turn In - Rob was a Tauren

For The Horde

2009-10-29T10:04:00.002+11:00

HALLOWEEN SNOW

Bit unusual for this time of year. Forgot how cold it is. I'm weak from a beautiful summer.

We are looking after Heidi for a couple of days, and it was her first snow romp.

2009-10-13T10:32:00.002+11:00

Quick post to say we survived our mighty trek.
Fitz and Leala came over to visit and wanted to do a camping trip, Rob said he had the perfect one. Just a jaunt down to the Little Colorado River, which feeds into the Colorado River which runs through the Grand Canyon. How hard could it be?....
There were many rocks and hard places and we were firmly in between.

The trail is called the Hopi Salt and its abloody long way to go for some condiments.
We worked out via Google Earth we hiked about 2600ft down to the river then back up again. The trail is marked by cairns and can be easy to miss as we did the first day and hiked a far more arduous course than we needed to.

It was beautiful and amazing and a real reminder that nature is boss and you don't mess around with it or take it for granted. It was all a bit humbling and next time I'll do things a little different.
Well, it was a test that's for sure. I still ache. I will write more about it but here are some photos on my Flickr, and Leala's take on the whole thing at Baggy Trousers

The dogs did great, they carried their food on their backs and only needed to be lifted up and over things a few times.

2009-09-28T09:34:00.002+10:00

Aspens turning

I'm writing a post about my humble take on the fear and loathing I'm seeing this country descend into but it all a bit depressing so I'll finish it later and talk about fun stuff.

Heidi got adopted by the in laws...woot!. We are very happy and she will part of out lives still.
She is becoming a ute dog. Mike has been taking her to his construction sites and she has totally settled in to the lifestyle. Rob has been working with Mike and on Friday he sent me the cutest picture of Mike on his bike and Heidi in the basket. They rode downtown for lunch and she sat in the basket happy as a happy thing.

One thing a love about living here is when we get invited to go camping Saturday morning by M&L, grab the dogs, food and sleeping bags drive half and hour and car camp amongst the pines and aspens. Its so easy and beautiful.

Heidi and her new Mum

And with views like this you can't go wrong.
Behind me are the mighty peaks all covered in patches of green and gold aspens. The landscape then turns into volcanic cinder hills, the painted desert and if you look closely, the north rim of the Grand Canyon. How super cool is that.

It was Heidi's first camping trip and she rocked. I woke up this morning, turned over and there she was curled up by my head.

F&L are coming to visit us on Saturday. Double woot. I love being tourist guide, and connecting with good friends is wonderful.
Trying to make the house vaguely respectable for them. I blame the dogs and ferrets....
It seems the the prices of flights to and from Oz are pretty damn cheap so anyone else who gets the itch to visit, love to have ya.
Also Kate and co will be visiting in Feb....Triple Woot. I can't wait. Hal just turned 15 and Snowpea will turn 12 while she is here.
Kate wanna look into cheap flights to Mexico? Chitchen Itza is calling.

I have to admit to a total crush on Jeff Goldblum at the moment...he was a bit kooky looking when he was younger but has aged very well. I think Rob has a little man crush as well.
We watched 'Raines' which he did a couple of years ago. It only went for 7 episodes, which was a shame cause it was cute. Though now is he in Law and Order so I'm getting them to eat ice cream and sigh a lot at.

Work is better. Things are calmed down but there is still issues which need to be fixed. I've been made a Lead, basically because everyone else left and I have now been there the longest. There may even be a tiny pay rise in it. We will see.

2009-09-15T11:18:00.002+10:00

YAY FOR RUNNING

Heidi's leg is now totally straight and she has started to walk on the pads. They are a bit sore but they will toughen up quickly. She is a trooper. Here is some footage of her running around like a pork chop on our walk today.

Work seems to have calmed down and things are being sorted. After 3 manager types I'm the 4 longest employee there now...Its crazy. Turn over is expected in a business like this but since we lost at least 6 people in the last month its not a good look. But hopefully we can get on with the whole point of the job with less dramas.

This is up on the mesa behind our house. The San Francisco peaks are behind me. Tallest mountains in Arizona at 12000+ feet.
It really pretty and you can't see any building or roads. You do see Elk, Ravens and Rabbits boinging about.
In front of me, the land is owned by the Catholic church. They want to build a fracking huge church and school there. Bleaaak!
Its their property but really, talk about a mega eyesore. There is a meeting tomorrow night and we are planing on going to see whats its all about.
It would be a real shame and not just because its our backyard dammit.

2009-08-30T10:38:00.002+10:00

CAN'T WE JUST ALL THINK OF THE PUPPIES....

Work has kinda exploded and imploded all at once...which is real messy, think transporter malfunction and you will be close.
Bold and the Beautiful but with real cat fights.
Like a chook with it's head in the sand I have been mostly clueless about it all. People are getting real pissed and leaving in droves. If it doesn't slow down soon I'll be one of the longest time employees there.
I wonder if I should too find out more and get righteous and smitey, instead of being a calm wimp with the mantra..'Think of the puppies....and the kitties'

Hopefully things are coming to a head and may get resolved and Happy Land will be restored, or it may all fall into a firey pit of firey lava of firey doom.
I really, really don't want to leave I love working there, which I think is one reason I'm staying distant. Don't make me cry.

I have a weight bench and punching bag set up in the tomb, which I have been pretty good at using. I better be since in the last couple of months I've packed it on.
I really like the punching bag. Very satisfying.

Heidi is doing great. We went on a great hike today with L. and the kids, through Aspens and amazing green and gold ferns, great for hide and seek. We brought Heidi and a bag to carry her in when she got tired. She bounded along and had a wonderful time. It is a bit sad to see her want to do 'big dog' things but is physically unable.
Her surgery should be soon, then she will have to learn it all with three legs.

Here is a couple of vids of Heidi and the ferrets.

2009-08-17T02:44:00.002+10:00

ALMOST TOO QUIET

Not ded, just peaceful.
No much has been happening to report. Rob and the dogs went to CA for 2 weeks with the rest of the family. So it was just me and the ferrets.
I worked mostly with a bit of chillin thrown in.
Even work was quiet, our vet was on holidays so not much could happen.
I did foster two pups Arrow and Spear, they are really good pups. I didn't want them sitting at the shelter for for 2 weeks so I brought them home.

Arrow and Spear

On Friday I swapped them out for Heidi. She was dumped at the shelter's door in a box. She is only about 10-12 weeks old and has two old fractures of the front legs. Her right leg has nerve damage and is turned in so she walks on the front of her ankle. Despite that she can move, go up and down stairs, kill socks and is generally a very happy snuggly pup.

Blues in the Square, Heidi in a bag, Flagstaff

We don't know what happened to her but really really hope it was not deliberate.
She will probably end up with 3 legs, so she has a lot ahead of her.
There is a video of her on my works Facebook page, not sure how to import it here.

Heidi- Croc Hunter

Yeah well ....our car broke down. That was $800 I could have flown to Tuscany with.

2009-08-03T15:13:00.002+10:00

ZOMBIES AT ALL TIME LOW

Tell me it isn't so.....

Get in the fuckin' sack

2009-07-19T05:14:00.003+10:00

ORBS, WHO CAN EVER DOUBT THE ORBS?

Well what a mad cap week its been.

Last Thursday Rob and I drove to Vegas to attend The Amaz!ing Meeting 7 at South Point Casino. We met up with friends from LA, Amanda and 1000 other ~~ubergeeks~~ critical thinkers and skeptoids.
It was a really fun and interesting few days. Got to see, listen and meet some of the fore thinkers in the field. Michael Shermer, James Randi, Penn and Teller, Adam Savage, Phil Plait to name a few.

Skeptics Three

Panels and talks ranged from the harm of the Anti Vaccine movement, critical thinking in the media and entertainment industries, hunt for Bigfoot, magicians and ethics and why the world probably won't end in 2012.

Panel on magic and ethics.
L-R James Randi, Penn, Teller, Ray Hyman and Jamy Ian Swiss

We also got to witness an attempt for the $1 Million Paranormal Challenge. The lady Connie Sonne, believes she can dowse for cards with a bead onna string among other things, like making dogs yawn for instance. The protocals were are set out the agreed to by both parties. She had to dowse 3 cards correctly to move to the next level. It was interesting to watch but kinda slow.
As someone Twittered "it was like watching the worlds dullest card trick"
Surprise, surprise she failed.
She took it all in good grace at the time but now she she claiming she was cheated. I'm no psychic but I could have predicted that one.
I hope the next public challenge will involve ninjas, fire and tigers.

There were quite a few Aussies there so it was nice to hear a familar strine.

Ye Old UFO

On Sunday we drove back to Flagstaff with Amanda and her friend Jo. We spent the week doing all the great touristy things. The were very impressed by the Grand Canyon, 800 year old Pueblo ruins and lava tubes but I think the Ye Olde UFO Store in Sedona was the winner.

Grand Canyon, sisters and dogs.

Amanda's new album cover, Wukoki ruins

It was a mix of tongue in cheek and out right belief that overweight seppos are regularly being probed by perveted aliens.
It was next to the Crystal Magic store, which had great books like 'Who Built The Moon?'...riddle me that Phil Plait, 'The Crystal Children', 'What Is A Vortex' and many, many about digital camera backscatter caused by the distance between the lens and the built-in flash is decreased, thereby decreasing the angle of light reflection to the lens and increasing the likelihood of light reflection off normally sub-visible particles (thanks wiki) life forms that travel in groups and are believed to be the human soul or life force of those that once inhabited a physical body here on earth. (thanks random kook) . Orbs... gotta love the Orbs.

Orbs all around us in the Lava Tube

Good fun.

2009-07-08T12:22:00.001+10:00

I'VE SEEN PENN AND TELLER DO THIS TRICK IN VEGAS.
I WAS DEAD IMPRESSED TOO.

I'm not surprised Penn is one of Lucys.

2009-07-07T14:54:00.002+10:00

AWWW MY ADOPTED HOME STATE IS A MERE BAIRN....

now lets get all that youngern Uranium out of it.

Of course I knew this.
I have read The Book and looked at all the pretty pictures, the pictures are very pretty, but really, its bloody hard to get a ugly pic of the biggen hole.
Damning heh proof that the Grand Canyon was caused by Noah's flood.

no wonder we have no beaches.

2009-07-06T10:39:00.002+10:00

REGRETFULLY, A.H. PERRY, BRAKEMAN WAS CUT IN TWO WHILE SWITCHING AT WINSLOW
From the 100 years ago section, AZ Daily Sun

Having 5 dogs in the house for teh last week has been interesting and we are finally getting into the swing of things.
We are looking after an ex foster we had back in Feb. I never would have recognized him. How quickly they grow up and change. We had him as Kodiak, now he is Romeo.
He is very cute, mostly well behaved and is dealing with Darwin and Roo being mean to him at every opportunity.

Found a new and fun 2 person game via BoardGame Geek. Sadly we have not met many people who like playing strange games, so mostly its just the two of us...alone...in the dark...playing Caylus or Zombies, quietly crying and wishing we had friends.
No its not all that bad, but some of the games would be better with more than two people, hence my semi regular search for good games.
I came across Blue Moon and the reviews looked promising. I ordered the basic set and two extra packs off Ebay. The two packs have turned up so far but they don't come with rules. Lucky the internet came through once again, and we have played a few games.
Each pack is a different 'race' with certain powers and special abilities in which you attempt to smite the other player as hard as you can then brag lots.
The two packs we have so far are the Mimix, your basic half naked Amazon warrior chicky babes and the Khind, small punky children, who are fairly weak on their own but are scary in knee kicking gangs.

There are some good reviews, but what gets me sometimes is when people decribe a certain game as 'wife approved' meaning that their non gamer woman actually will play without too much begging.
I was born a gamer girl and know many females who love to play games, so it kinda sticks in my craw, not craw..craw.....
I much prefer "non gamer approved", less of the image of the long suffering, patient woman who sumbits to the odd game of 'Hide The Artichoke" to keep her nerd man happy.
Its good fun, easy to learn and we are looking forward to the seeing the new decks.

On Thursday we are headed off the Vegas baby....forecasts of over 100F and many many geeks.
We are meeting Amanda there...have a good flight and I hope you found the Euc lollies.
Freinds from LA and Flagstaff are converging aswell.
It's The Amazing Meeting. A big skeptics do.
As long as the pool and Margaritas are believable, I'll be happy. It should be a whole lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to it.

2009-06-23T13:35:00.003+10:00

Thank you Passive Aggressive Notes

2009-06-18T10:50:00.002+10:00

AHH ROB DARLING, REMEMBER HOW WE AGREED TO HAVE A PUP FREE, POOP FREE HOUSE FOR A WHILE?

Salt and Pepper went back on Friday. Pepper got adopted on Saturday Yay. And now its Tuesday..
Welllllll hem I mean 5 days is a really long time if you are a gnat or a up-type quark.

They kinda just fell on my head ( and in some cases my boot) as I was leaving work.

Just for a few weeks...honest.

2009-06-13T12:14:00.004+10:00

HEY AMANDA REMEMBER THIS?
CORNER, CORNER, CHAIR, BED...

(1:25 min into it)

Netflix has the whole Fairie Tale Theatre on instant play as of today. There is 26 episodes, so I'm sure we never saw them all. Perfect for when the kids visit. Much better than 16 episodes of iCarley in one sitting.

After 20 years I still know the quotes 'corner corner' and 'T.I.N.A a small name for a whole lot of of pig'

Also season 3 of Mr Diety just started. Its a hoot.

2009-06-08T13:27:00.002+10:00

A CUNNING PLAN SOO CUNNING YOU COULD PUT A TAIL ON IT AND CALL IT A WEASEL

My loverly sister in law is in DC for a month for work and training, leaving Mike to balance large sheets of roofing on his head and 2 kiddlings.
Last time she went to swan around DC to sip cocktails, ohhh and help relief efforts after the China earthquake.
Mike tricked the kids by telling them they were off to Phoenix Zoo for the day and completely by accident ended up at the airport with tickets to DC to spend a week with Mum and large statues of strange men.
They swore never again would they be tricked thusly.
So a larger more intricate, subtle plan was called for.
The volcano lair, jet pack, 3 white tigers and a crystal skull are on order.
The Aunt and Uncle of Daring Doo are mostly free and on call.

Tomorrow we venture down to Phoenix with kiddlings in tow to go to the Big Surf Waterpark for the day. Which I'm looking forward too. I have never been to a real waterpark before.
Kinda scary looking.

The cunning plan of the plan is the at the kids think that thier Dad has to work and we are going back up to Flag afterwards.
Hahahahhahahahaaaaaa foolish mortals.
We are actually dropping them off at the Airport to meet Mike to go see Mum.
Perfect.

The other part of the plan was that they think we may be taking them away for a few days, since its schools hols and of course Dad has to work.
The kids straight away said 'Yeah Vegas....' youth of today...
*disapproving old woman head shake*

Just don't tell them..shhhh

2009-06-02T13:39:00.006+10:00

MARK OF THE BEASTLING
0r
I REALLY NEED TO WORK ON MY INFILTRATION SKILLZ

Mike and I went to the Mark of the Beast, 666 talk, while Rob nobly watched the kids play WOW and Fallout3.
I tried, what can I say...

Guest blog by my dear brother in law

Never ever take Coz undercover to an evangelical revival meeting thingo. All you have to do is look down and close your eyes and nod a bit when the praying is in progress, and then mumble "amen" whenever the preacher dude does. In order not to get tumbled in the first five minutes and have the organizer sit right next to you, one must resist the urge to mock. One must also not send text messages to Alyssa during the opening prayer, and one must definitely not smirk and make walrus surfacing sounds everytime the preacher makes references to "biblical facts".

Anyways, we learnt several things:

The bible is chock full of references to beasts that have many horns, many heads, many crowns, and many nasty christian crushing habits.

The beast is currently a kraut. Hitler was not the beast by the way, but Pius the tenth was.

According to bible math, God prophesised exactly the 1260 years between the hand over of rome from Constantine to the pope, and the sacking of the vatican by Napoleon, with the insight that the beast would reign for "40 and two months". Forty and two months, being of course, exactly 1260 years...

There is also a hole in the heavens in the Orion Nebula, that is 19 trillion light years across, and through this Jesus is coming soon. Coz observed, that he certainly has porked up a tad since his stint as opening bowler for the Nazareth first eleven.

These biblical facts gave me a headache, so I dragged her out and we went home for beer and ice cream. I prophesise that Coz will not be a Seventh Day Adventist by this weekend. Which is of course, the blinking of an eye in biblical time.

Synopsis:
Look out for fat arse Jesus plummeting through on your head through Orion, and steer clear of the Pope, lest he eat you with one of his fire breathing mouths.

Mike

2009-06-01T09:06:00.002+10:00

When Alyssa and Jessec were they took a lot of photos. Mostly of the puppies, which is totally understandable.
They uploaded a bunch of them onto my Flickr account. So I'm slowly naming and organizing them.

All very fun...

2009-05-30T14:43:00.002+10:00

See this movie...

2009-05-29T14:36:00.004+10:00

MORE SMILE QUESTIONS, LESS BIBLE QUESTIONS..
kthanx

The other thing we did when Alyssa and Jessec were here was to play ID Vs Evolution. That game I bought yonks ago from Bookmans. Which in a cool round about way via Amanda got me connected with other cool Flagstaff folk. Thanks Bill for organising the Condor talk.
It was a team effort. Me and Jessec VS Rob and Alyssa. Battle royale!!
...sadly they must have had god on their side because they won. By only one brain....one stinking god made brain....I would curse them with shellfish if I thought it would do any good.

It was weird, some questions were easy.
'I take 18374793 muscles to seem like I'm happy and not gritting my teeth against stupidty. What am I?'
but then there were the bible quotes and what book they were from. If asked I could get "In the beginning..." cause I know that one and thats about it.
We got those 'Brain Teasers' far too often. Jessec had slightly more knowledge in that area than I did, but still we gave up far too many brains for my liking.
Though always pick Leviticus if you are stuck cause he seems like a right tool.
Then there were the ones which you knew what was right but fought with what was the answer they wanted...it was a mindbender, an mind argument, a hint from the other side, a shrug and a hoot all at once.

' Did man and dinosuars coexsist?'
'....nooooooo but i ...must.... say ...yes ...to get the ..points....aggrrhhh'

The things you will do for brainz

brains...i need brainzzzzz

2009-05-27T10:48:00.004+10:00

Friends, Alyssa and Jessec from LA drove up for the Memorial Day weekend and a good time was had by all.
On Saturday we went to a Condor Recovery Talk at the library hosted by the Nth Arizona Skeptics. The guy from the Raptor Recovery program was very interesting and explained and spoke about the topic very well.
Looks like there is high hopes for the amazing bird.

I took this at the Grand Canyon, was lucky to see about 5 of them roosting and soaring...

One of the problems facing them is lead poisoning from bullets, so the group got with hunters to work together with using non lead bullets and trying to not leave the guts around. Which are very nommy for the savengers but usually have high levels of lead bits. They capture, test, chelate and release the Condors on a regular basis.
Having a good relationship with the farmers and hunters seems vital to the continuing success of the program.

On Sunday we drove down the Sedona which was chocko block of other tourists, but A&J had not been there so its always worth the trip.
We did the short but steep Cathedral Rock Trail. It rained on and off which created the most amazing lighting effects over the valleys and rocks.

Top of Cathedral Rock Trail

The dogs did great, four feet better than two in some stretches, but we had to foil their games. Chasing, body slaming and wrestling on the side of the cliff made us all a bit nervous.
We all made it, nobody fell and the views were magificent .

Rob and Roo on Cathedral Rock Trail

Sometime on Saturday night, Plan B made his own plans by getting out of the cage, which we have put out on the balcony, falling two stories and running off to try to break into Toad Hall and drink all the Dandylion Wine.
Sunday morning before Sedona was spent swearing and roaming the areas near our house....
We let the next door neighbours know and hoped for the best.

Monday, still no sign and before we went to the family dinner, Rob made up some signs and we posted them around. About 8pm he gets a phone call from four houses down saying they had our ferret...YAY! and a mighty WHEW!
The neighbourhood network worked a treat. Even before we placed the signs, our neighbour was talking to the guy across the street and mentioned we had lost a ferret, he said he was talking to the other people down the road and they had caught a ferret.
We have lost ferrets before and somehow always seem to get them back. Demi for a week once till next door found her in a pipe.

Pups and Ferrets

The foster pups are doing really well, getting huge and very playful.

Foster pups

2009-05-13T08:53:00.002+10:00

LEAST IT GIVES MY MATERNAL INSTINCTS A OCCASIONAL TURN ABOUT THE ROOM

Two new foster pups that were found after some utter bastard threw them into a dumpster.
You are too stupid, too macho, too unthinking to get your animal fixed so then it has offspring which you don't want and can't look after, so what do you do?
Throw them in a bin to die slowly. What mental processes does that require?
Not even leave them in a box in front of a vets, store or house to be found and looked after.
Not even have the balls to kill them quickly.
(I can deal with if that is the only option..which it never is but I'd rather they died painlessly as possible)
I generally believe decent people outweigh the wankers, sometimes though it seems to be a close thing.

Meet Salt and Peppa, two squirmy pooping machines.

Not my idea to call them that but every time I say their names I am driven, nay compelled to sass about the room singing 'Push It'

2009-05-04T10:47:00.005+10:00

WHAT EVER TO DO WITH A GNAT CHANNELING HUSBAND.....

Ever since I showed Rob this ad in the mighty 'Sedona- Journal Of Emergence' magazine he has seen the light and started to gather the ancient wisdoms that can only be gained by laughing like Dr Horrible and going 'bzzzzzt' a lot.
He won't share with me the wisdoms, only looking knowing, (or a complete dork, depending on the light) and muttering something about my walkway to ascension is blocked by non converted auric field to the merkabah which is essential to optimally integrate with the Metatronic key.

So the best bet is to wait 6 hours for the gnat to croak it or attempt the dangously eldritch cleasning of the Beer and Pizza ritual. You know how hard it is to smudge a Pizza correctly without accidently opening up all 144 dimensional portals all at once.
Talk about brain chill.

This guy channels moss.
When I start up my scam to scam the gullible scam, I'm gunna channel T-Rex, the mighty yet disgusting three toed Sloth and that flesh eating Kangaroo.
sea sand, Sea Sand, SEA SAND....
I know what Blinky Bill would say.
'Sleeping for 23 hours a day is teh bomb and eating more than one food stuff causes all those icky Thetans to grope you"

Sedona, Sedona, Sedona...i love thee. Beautiful town. Less than an hour from Flagstaff. With views like this how can you not be in love with the cold heartless universe.

The views come with one of the biggest concertrations of woo meisters this feeble plane has seen.
Mt Shasta in CA is a close contender.
(The magazine is published here in fair Flagstaff but no excuses Sedona)

2009-05-01T22:40:00.002+10:00

END OF TEH GAME

I sometimes think people whose work you admire should be kept in little boxes so they cannot spoil the illusion that they may be somebody you would like to have dinner with and keep reading/watching/listening to and not be total utter wankers.

Orson you just fell into the total utter wanker category. I knew you were a Morman, and was trying not to hold that against you. But this waffle goes beyond burning stupid.

Laws against homosexual behavior should remain on the books…to be used when necessary to send a clear message that those who flagrantly violate society’s regulation of sexual behavior cannot be permitted to remain as acceptable, equal citizens.

I will act to destroy that government and bring it down, so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage, and help me raise my children in a society where they will expect to marry in their turn.
Blah blah blah....

Now I just hope Michael Marshall Smith, Charles DeLint or Iain M Banks aren't be shown to be baby eating republicans...
I'll run out of things to read.

2009-04-24T15:12:00.002+10:00

Oh No I Spelt Mum Wrong

One of the dogs at work was being fostered for a while. The foster parent wanted a tag made to put on the collar, just in case she got lost.
I know how to work the tag machine without tattooing my fingers with 'Rex', 'Chico' and 'doggie love' to often.

On one side we engraved " Foster Mum" and phone number
on the other was the work address and number

Just as I hit the engrave button, I realised I wrote Mum as Mum not Mom.
The small cultural spelling thang.

I'm a Aussie despite the re education camps they send me to.

2009-04-23T13:17:00.002+10:00

CAN TORTOISES CREEP?

We are the now proud owners of two Ferrets. Work got 4 last week.
I'm not sure of the story behind them but they are very well behaved and have no inclination to bite, and i think they must be used to dogs.
We named them Rorschach and Plan B.
We bought a cage over a year ago because it was very cheap and big. Its been sitting in the tomb since then, just in case.
As most of you know we had ferrets in Sydney for 6 years....a love and hate relationship.
We loved them and most everybody else hated them.
We were worried about the dogs. They love chasing Squirrels and leaves and Elks and Lizards and tails.
They are Cattle dog mixes so the whole instinct to eat and/or herd small fast furry things is strong in these ones.
I brought the two males home on Sunday for a test. The dogs were all a quiver.
All nose and tail.

Slowly introduced them....and well no blood shed as yet.
We will keep them in the cage with supervisered outings.
Though me laying on the lounge watching the BBC drama "Waking The Dead" and ignoring the 4 some running around there has been little drama.
Roo is way more interested. She wants everyone and everything to love her so she follows them around tail wagging and crazy blue eyes intent. She is pretty good only with the occasional paw on the head when it gets all to much. Darwin is keen and baffled, but its like another foster pup....
'yeah yeah you will take it back soon, won't you'

I was gooogling "ferret' quotes just to see what was out there...not many it seems.

Virginia Woolf once described Noel Coward as
"clever as a bag of ferrets and trivial as a perch of canaries".
which reminds of me Blackadder 4th happily misquoted.

The Bible.
“These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, / And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.”

god dosen't like little critters, now if he mentioned Cockroaches, i may go along with the whole thing...but Moles...oohhh scary.
Tortises, i find them very unclean and ohh so creepy and that slow moving woogly eyed Chameleon stay away or he will cap your arse.
Snails...noooooooodontlookback.

2009-04-16T09:20:00.006+10:00

OUTSIDE A DOG, A BOOK (OR LEONARD COHEN) IS YOUR BEST FREIND.

INSIDE A DOG ITS TOO DARK TO READ

Its been a week and a half since seeing Leonard Cohen in Phoenix. Happy me.
I've been waiting for this moment since I was 15 and was not a let down.
He was amazing. I knew he would be.
Flopearedmule best reviews eva
At 74 he had all the energy, verve and strength of voice of a ninja.
Something to be said for 5 years in a Buddhist Monastery.
The voice reverberated through your chest like a uber reverb machine set to 11.
In part of his patter to me, just me of course, no one else was in the room. Went like this
"I've spent many years studying all religions and their philosophies, but cheerfulness kept breaking through...'
And cheerful it was, no "music to die by.." here.
Phoenix review and set list

Just when you thought it all over, the last perfect song to end on, he would skip back in and sing some more. A few saps left probably thinking it was all over and racing to their car...hehe suckers.
It made my 15 year old heart and this 36 year old one all a flutter.
One strong memory I have
Staying in some pub with my parents somewhere in NSW, maybe Rylstone or Denman way.
I had a MAD special collection, thicker than the usual mags, which i was eeking out to last the time, reading a page here and there. Black Spy Vs White Spy etc.
Long before the time of iPod or even CDs, I had my own non musical brain which had to try and remember the tune.
Walking up the dark brown curved stairs of the pub singing "Suzanne' to my room.
"and jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water..."
Hearing him sing this I could see that pub, the smooth hand rail and me, trying not to read that MAD mag all at once, and singing Len to myself.

Quick camping trip recap. I got sun burnt hiking along the Verde, drove back to Flagstaff in the snow.

To say nothing of the dog

Our battered copy of Jerome K Jerome's 'Three Men In A Boat'.

First taken on a 8 day Overland Trail hike in Tasmania. Where we took turns reading it out loud and giggling.
We still giggle

Camping on the Verde River, Camp Verde, AZ

Dance me to the end of love

2009-04-04T13:01:00.003+11:00

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

This is the reason why you don't get lulled by the spate of warm weather and start planting the garden.

2009-04-03T14:33:00.002+11:00

Zombies...we all love them.
We all, (don't kid yourself we know you do it) walk, groove or saunter into a Mall, Theatre, Pub, Gun Show and/or Bridal Shower, instantly suss the exits, mentally work out the best on hand weapon and who has the juiciest brainz...brainzzzz for when, not if, the Zombies start the shambling.
This is why I wear comfortable shoes.

Flopeared Mule gave us Zombies years ago. We played it once or twice and then forgot it, but we still shipped it over.

Rob and I have played it twice this week and I have bought 2 expansions off ebay which should turn up soon. Its good fun and I'm not sure why we left it gathering dust. Yes it would be more fun with at least 3 players but we are lacking gamers....so we play what we can get. We are slowly, slowly converting Laura and co to less than usual games. They are coping with Settlers Of Catan, Munchkin, Carcasonne, Franks Zoo and a few others.
Sam who is 8 is a born gamer, she loves playing anything and has the attention span to see most things through, J is 11 and is more flightly. I saw that in my other niece and nephew, she the younger will want to play games and keep at it, while he was a bit distracted.
But any game is a good game...except monopoly
We found 12 Minute Games by Gamewright, who have fun quick card games for 6 and up.
I know most of your little ones are a bit too little yet but worth remembering.

One of the big things I miss is the game nights we had in Sydney. Have not found anywhere near the equivalent.
I miss you guys...

Rob inna kilt

2009-03-25T03:24:00.002+11:00

GREAT.

FROM NOW ON EVERY TIME I HEAR HALLELUJAH I'LL BE SEEING NIGHTOWL'S BUTT.

Rob and co are back from sunny California. A good time was had by all. The dogs came back happy but with ticks. The gross type not the slightly insane, nigh invunerable big blue type.

Finally went and saw 'Watchmen', and really liked it. The ending was different from the original graphic novel but it really worked and probably way easier to explain than the giant genetic engineered space squid. Though I would have liked a bit of space squid action.
The soundtrack was pretty good. Bob Dylan in the opening credits, Leonard Cohen in the closing, as well as the superhero sex scene.
The casting was spot on.

Rorschach looked liked he does in the comic, the Comedian was very close and Dr Manhattan is his usual big blue self. Not quite as cool as the Tick but he gets points for that whole Mars thing.

Spring is here, things are getting slightly green. It snowed on Sunday night but back to sunny today. You just think the cold is over, people start planting and breaking out the shorts, and it will snow. It snowed on us in May last year so we are not out of it.
I want to plant tomatoes and strawberries, but I dare not just yet.
Hoping to go snowboarding one last time.

2009-03-23T13:51:00.003+11:00

SO SAY WE ALL

I haven't seen the last episode yet, so no spoilers please.

I really liked the mutiny episodes, felt a bit like a role playing game, role the d20 and see which guard you shoot, corridor you run down and which flesh wound you get, but Adama going postal was pretty cool.

2009-03-17T13:54:00.002+11:00

ALBUQUERQUE..SRSLY, WHO THOUGHT THAT UP?

Its been a busy few weeks with Rob and I passing like groovy and hip ships in the night.

He and Mike went rafting on the Upper Salt River, where all his mad boating skillz came back to him and the word for the week was 'fanfuckintastic'.
While he was drinking G&T's and negotiating rapids I was training it to Albuquerque with the niece and nephew to meet up with their Mum, who was there for work.
Considering I have the maternal instincts and skillz of a sock, I still managed to get us all on a 6am train without losing or accidently selling them to the gypsies.
The Amtrak train is way more comfy than I expected. The seats were big and reclinable, a windowed observation car with seats facing outwards to admire the view, a sleeping car if you splashed out and the food in the dining car was reasonable and more than edible. There were people doing the LA to Chicago 4 day haul....uggg I think that would drive me a little mad, but at least it would be a vaguely comfortable madness.

Albuquerque was a lot of fun. It was a little strange though. There was flowers, grass and trees blossoming all over the place. Flagstaff gets those things to but not till way later into spring and summer.

Lots of adobe Spanish/Mexican houses, which I love the look of, next time we build a house its going to be in that style.
And then some parts reminded me of Strathfield/Burwood/Concord, with big brick Victorian houses, which at one time would have been part of a larger estate.
We went to the Zoo, Natural History Museum, Childrens Science Museum (all walking distance from the hotel)and the Aquarium/Botanical Gardens. Laura and the kids had been to all of a few times before so they took great delight in showing me the best bits.

We got back late Sunday night and Rob got back Monday night and I left for Bullhead City Tuesday arvo for 4 days for work. I got home late Friday night and he left for CA with Laura and the kids Saturday morning. Its Spring Break so the kids are off school so they went off to the family cabin in the Sierras for a week.
Darwin and Roo went aswell and are running around with wild joyful abandon.
If I had thought about it earlier I may have been able to wrangle time off work and go to, but as it was i didn't get organised.
I love that place.

But as it is I'm happy doing my own thing, so its not really a struggle. Really its not...
The wedding anniversery St Patricks cooking class tomorrow means I'm going on a date with my Mike my Bro in law. I was planning on going to it anyway on my own cause it will be fun either way.
I asked Mike (since he is all on his lonesome too) and he was keen. Any excuse for 2 Aussies to eat corned beef and drink beer.

Hmm what else....
I watched 'Serenity' again last night....still makes me sad that the show was cancelled...damn you Fox!

Waiting till Rob and I are in the same latitude to go see 'Watchmen', tempting to just go and see it, but since I'm soooo nice I'll wait.
Joined a gym, went to kickboxing tonight....I'm the the mood to buff up.
Got up at 1am to play with the guildies in WOW, it was great fun and I need to do it more often, I miss playing with those guys, plus I got shiny new purple boots

A NPR story about my work. The shaving sound is me clipping a dog's testicles...job satisfaction...i haz it.

Leonard Cohen soon.

Life is good

2009-03-01T03:41:00.002+11:00

CALENDER OF EVENTS

The dreaded lurgy has slunk off to bother other victims and I feel mostly n0RmaL...mostly.
I lost a few pounds by not eating for a week but have been consuming vast amounts of chocolate this week to make up for it, so its all good.

Considering we are a one income family at the moment we do have a few interesting and cool things to look forward to.
Being frugal is not as fun as it looks.

March 6-9th Laura is in Albuquerque for work for 2 weeks and Mike and Rob are going boating on the Upper Salt River for 5 days with a bunch of guys.
I'm catching the train to Albuquerque with the kids to hang out for the weekend. Should be fun, I've heard good things about the zoo and various museums, plus its been a while since I caught the train and not having to drive will be nice.

March 17th- Our 8 year wedding anniversary.Woot. And a wonderful time its been.
There is a great kitchen supply store called Seasoned Kitchen and they do cooking classes. Have been to a couple and they are great fun. 8-10 people sitting around learning, eating and chatting.
We are booked for

Tuesday, March 17th
6:00 - 8:30 PM
Gay Chanler
St Patrick's Day Dinner - $40.00
Celebrate St Patrick's day with Gay and prepare a hearty, chill-chasing, classic dinner. While the Corned Beef simmers we'll practice some baking skills, including Irish Soda Bread and a Whiskey Chocolate Mousse Cake. There could also be some Black and Tan Libations with Irish Farmhouse Cheddar Crisps. So bring your shamrocks, wear some green and come prepared for a good time.

I got gift certificates for two classes for my birthday so I think this is the perfect way to use them.

April 5th- Leonard Cohen at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix. Woohooooooooo. After feeling very jealous of all the Oz folk getting to see him, I'm so glad he is coming our way.
Now I will be able to re relate to my sisters.
They are not the best seats in the house but they are seats in the house.
Its that frugal thing again.

July 9-12th The Amazing Meeting, Las Vegas. Its a big skeptic do, which sounds pretty interesting and will be alot more fun cause we have friends from LA going and Amanda, my sis is coming over for it and a visit in Flag afterwards. Its going to be hotter than hell at that time, but that why air conditioned casinos were invented for the desert. Never have to go outside....ever.

Things we are missing.
Rownay Festival and our friends Late Victorian wedding in April at Curzon Hall......curses. We were planning on visiting Oz this year but.....*sigh* frugal.
I'm all a bit sad about missing the wedding, I want photos and lots of them. We will have to find a cool pressie, probably something Navajo themed and I know a great place in the mountains with a large hole nearby for a honeymoon..hint hint...

Kodiak got adopted 10 minutes after he was put on the floor, which is awesome. Friends of Mikes saw him while he was being fostered so they were lurking in wait for the day he was ready.

Grapefruit drizzled with maple syrup is very nommy, messy and not recommended to be anywhere near a computer but nommy.

2009-02-18T04:51:00.002+11:00

SICK, I'M SICK OF IT

It is a beautiful blue sunny day, it snowed last night so everything has a cover of fresh crystals.
Rob went up the hill to shred some pow-pow leaving me to wallow in my own mucus.
Smart man.

I so rarely get sick, and this one is a doosy. I went to work on Saturday feeling good, the vet arrived feeling like death warmed up and I spent the rest of the day feeling it build up.
On Sunday Rob went to Pheonix with friends to buy stuff for our gun, did i mention we have a gunne?
Its a Flintlock, its very cool. We haven't fired it yet.
I lay on the lounge cause I could barely move watching streaming Netflix...CSI S9 (poor Warwick), Inspector Lynley (cute but shouldn't he be blonde?), Untracable (cyber crime flick, more people watch the faster they die) and L&O-SVU.....
Just a few uplifting murders to make me feel like I'm not the most pitiful person on the planet.
The 3 dogs snuggled up with me helped to.
I have the next three days on the mobile so I better get better, stat!
Enough about my feebleness.

I'm a few days late but Happy Birthday Mr D.

2 years today another Darwin entered our lives to make it better.

Been watching "The Riches" with Eddie Izzard and Mimmie Driver. Its great. Sadly only 2 seasons, but worth a watch.
I heart Eddie. Even though he is playing a yank there are moments of Cake or Death and Death Star Canteen.

Another funny little show is Mr Diety, 20, 2-5 minutes long episodes all about Mr Diety creating the world with a bit of help from Jesus/Jesse, Larry and Lucy(ifer).

Thats about it...working, watching, boarding and feeling sorry for myself.