Muffy Toe

(This isn't a great post, but I'm writing it for my family. I know you guys had a busy weekend and wish I could have been there for everything. With three papers down, 1 presentation and 1 exam to go, it was my first weekend out of uni and work. So here's what I "got up to" with my gals this weekend.)

FRIDAY: "Stars and Planets" concert at the Opera House

Program-
Mozart's D Major Concerto and a Ravel show piece: The soloist's violin was very steely and I didn't care too much for her excessive vibrato on the Mozart, but she was a good player and had the perfect balance of caution and recklessness in the Ravel.

Modern orchestral piece by an Australian composer called "Stars" in Aboriganee. It was the most visual piece I've heard in a long time.

Holst's "The Planets"- Absolutely amazing. The brass section was unbelieveable. It made my heart so happy and I feel like I could write a detailed review on each movement.








Kristen and Catie, after the concert.








Amy and me.











SATURDAY: Sydney Swans footy game



Kristen, our footy expert: "The difference between rugby union and NFL is that NFL players have shorter shorts and more teeth."

Me: "It's crazy how high these guys can jump."
Kristen: "Yeah. They're just like ballerinas!"

















Abi, me, and my adorable polkadot umbrella. It was cold and RAINY.















...and then we all bought panchos.

(Marcy and Catie)




"SYD-NEY" clap clap clap
"SYD-NEY" clap clap clap

SCORE! (we still lost by 2 points)

Daddy, Walt, and Jenny- I can't wait for y'all to see a footy game; it's so funny! I love it. Most of the time we had no clue what was going on, but Abi and Amy yelled good American sport phrases anyways, like "keep your eye on the ball" and "where's the D?" I especially loved when it turned into a game of hot potatoe in the mud and when one of our guys punched the other guy in the face! ha! Footy is like all the best sports combined.

We embraced our girliness in the 3rd quarter and left early. It had been downpouring for 15 minutes and wasn't letting up. So we went to our favorite Italian restaraunt on the rocks to warm up before heading home. It's teeny tiny and run by all these great Italians.




Teya and the tiramasu.
(spelling?)











SUNDAY: Darling Harbour Jazz Festival

Sunday was freezing and the city felt like one big wind tunnel. But the Sydney-siders came out anyways and sat along the dock, drank coffee, and listened to lots of jazz performances. The stage was actually floating on the water which sounds weird, but worked really well. James Morrison closed the festival- he's just ridiculous on the trumpet. And at the end, his drummer/brother (?) accompanied the fireworks with a drum solo.







Sunset on the harbour






MONDAY: the Queen's Birthday (Public holiday)

Interestingly, today is NOT the queen's actual birthday. Apparently, if you add up all the "Queen's birthday"s across the world, she has about 12.
Everything is closed, so today was laundry/gym/grocer/study/baking day.

(FYI: 400 degrees farenheit does not equal 400 degrees Celcius in a CELCIUS oven.) =)

A few other notes:
John McG (even though I'm sure you're not reading this right now...) Congrats on getting married.
To the Robinson cousins, if any read this- see you at Christmas!

Gran-O and Granddaddy- It's been rainy and cold here for about a week. But today was sunny and I was wearing a tank top until sunset. Sydney's weather is so funny.)

Mommy- Hopefully you'll forgive me one day for forgetting to say happy birthday on the phone. =) "Wedges" as in "potato wedges" are very popular here, especially with sour cream and sweet chili sauce. And I don't know if I'll keep baking when I get home... probably. I've made bran muffins 4 times and tonight they were finally perfect- I put craisins in them and ate them with honey....soooo yummy, and so healthy! (whole wheat flour, natural bran and honey, soy milk...)

I'm off to Adelaide on Wednesday and coming home (by train through the Outback) on Saturday. Sunday I'm headed to Fraser and then cramming for my final when I get home.

Hope everyone in Tejas is enjoying the summer. Come visit if it gets too hot there!

Until the next Weekend Review...
Mich