Muffy Toe

(Warning: most likely of little or no interest...)


-I finally walked across the Harbour Bridge. There was a little plaque that read "International Historical Civil Engineering Landmark, The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Presented by the American Society of Civil Engineers, 1988." I wanted to call and tell you, Daddy, but it was already midnight in Houston. Are you a member of this society? If so, do you remember presenting Sydney with this plaque when I was four years old? =) Also, should I really be able to feel the bridge moving when I stand still? (ha!)

-While walking across the bridge, I saw two guys hanging just below. Their heads were even with my feet. I really wanted to stop and ask them what they were doing, but I was afraid that if I talked to them they might fall or something. (I think they were painting.)

-Had the best ice cream cone of my life while sitting on the rocks in Farmers Cove. Those of you who know me well, know that I'm not a big sweets fan, and rarely crave ice cream. But this carmel macadamia ice cream was amazing.

-Have I mentioned how scared I am of the birds here? I was reading in the Botanical Gardens and actually had to leave. Cockatoos are beautiful when they fly because of the pale yellow under their white wings, but they fly fast and agressively (I've actually had to duck!). I've never understood Walt's desire to shoot squirrels, but I would have LOVED to take a pellet gun to these birds. They sound like dying cats/screaming 5-year olds with strep throat.

-I saw a tree with about 30 bats hanging upside down in it. Then I walked around the corner and saw a tree with about 100 HUGE bats! And some were flying right above me. It was fascinating in a creepy sort of way. I'm no bat expert, but these seemed really really big and fuzzy.

-I passed a guy in the Gardens and he said "howdy." It made me smile.

-Tiny green bananas here cost a $1 each right now because the cyclone wiped out all the bananas in Queensland.

-Because there is no overlap between my home (American) and my work/church (strictly Aussie) my brain has learned to turn on my use of Aussie phrases and tiny Aussie accent only when I'm at work or church. When I get home, it automatically flicks off. It's like I mimick whoever I'm talking to. My flatmate Abi does this too.... interesting.

-Last night I dreamed that Amanda (my boss) corrected my American spelling and phrasing in a press release I had written. (ha!)

-Highlight of my work week was the window cleaner. We're on the 3rd floor (which means the 4th floor in Oz) and when I looked up from my computer there was a guy staring at me through the soapy window.

-I still haven't been to the cinema here.

-I'm starting to like how everything here closes at 5pm. It forces everyone to go home and be with their family, and it let's all the shop workers go home as well. I think that's really neat for a society. And it makes Thursday nights (late night trading hours) have a festive atmosphere.

-I enjoy reading for my uni classes because most professors here don't use textbooks; they put together their own reader of articles. This is wonderful because even if I'm reading about cyberpunk, Kraftwerk, or the electro-industrial scene, the articles are from leading music journals and books, and the authors write exceedingly well and in a variety of styles. For my writing class, we get to read from The Chaser, the New Yorker, and other literary journals. (soooo much better than textbooks.)

-Special thanks to my "kindred spirit" for sending an Astros calendar. It will be placed on the wall, next to Burke's baseball card that my brother sent. Diana's note was on a cute polkadot card (very "in" for Oz fashion right now... it's horrible). Walt's very sweet note was written on the back of a copy of his Homeowners Survey. So if anyone wants to know his roof type or wiring type, just ask. =)


Confessions of a coffee addict:
-Daddy, I've found the BEST chai places here. One is a little cafe in the Mac Centre- I think they use Oregon chai and put nutmeg and cinnamon on top...sooo good. And I discovered another delicious place this week between my office and my bus stop. This is very bad news because the weather is getting colder here and Aussies are all about late afternoon teatime, so it's easy to justify buying one =)

-Serving sizes here are noticeably smaller than in the States, even in drink sizes. Most places only have 2 sizes (regular and large) and the regulars are smaller than the smallest American sizes; the larges are about the size of our mediums. This is great, and I've adjusted well. Today I went to Jet, a cafe on George Street that I like, right in the heart of Sydney. I asked for a large coffee and when they brought it out it was HUGE. When I saw it, I was like, "how am I ever going to drink all of this?" Four months ago, I wouldn't have even noticed. =)

-I will miss the use of saucers. I've never had a coffee or tea here without one.

The end.


Tell me something random or lovely about your week...