Thursday, June 15, 2006
from Adelaide
quick, vague highlights...
southern vibe, southern friendliness
beautiful old buildings
countryside that reminds me of the northeast US or even texas in some parts
pink skies
flavored bagels (first ones in Australia!)
German town, German food, apple struddle (sp?)
sunset on the beach
conversation with 5 yr old boy on the beach
southern vibe, southern friendliness
beautiful old buildings
countryside that reminds me of the northeast US or even texas in some parts
pink skies
flavored bagels (first ones in Australia!)
German town, German food, apple struddle (sp?)
sunset on the beach
conversation with 5 yr old boy on the beach
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Socceroos!!!
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI
AUSSIE OI AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI
oleeeeee ole ole oleeeeeee
Australia has scored their first goal ever in a World cup game. I was walking through the city this morning and mixed in with all the businesspeople going to work were some die hard fans running down the sidewalks waving scarves. Everyone is very pumped.
I didn't see the game which is truly horrible and extremely embarassing. (Apparently, our telly only picks up three stations, none of which cover the world cup). But, I've seen so many replays on the news, I feel like I've almost seen the whole thing. Seriously, each news hour covers the game at least three times. Once from Germany (showing all the great plays and Aussie fans in Germany), once from Sydney (same plays shown again, plus Sydney fans standing outside Circular Quay), and once from Melbourne (same plays shown AGAIN, plus the CRAZY celebrations in Melbourne). It's really funny, because they're all the same. We just can't get enough of those last 6 minutes of the game. If you missed it, you need to see that game. They're calling it one of the top 10 sport moments in all of Australian history.
Bring on Brazil, baby.
(don't worry, Walt. If it comes down to the US vs. Oz, I'll put on my USA hat that Ames sent me.)
oleeeeeee ole ole oleeeeeeeeee.......
OI OI OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI
AUSSIE OI AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI
oleeeeee ole ole oleeeeeee
Australia has scored their first goal ever in a World cup game. I was walking through the city this morning and mixed in with all the businesspeople going to work were some die hard fans running down the sidewalks waving scarves. Everyone is very pumped.
I didn't see the game which is truly horrible and extremely embarassing. (Apparently, our telly only picks up three stations, none of which cover the world cup). But, I've seen so many replays on the news, I feel like I've almost seen the whole thing. Seriously, each news hour covers the game at least three times. Once from Germany (showing all the great plays and Aussie fans in Germany), once from Sydney (same plays shown again, plus Sydney fans standing outside Circular Quay), and once from Melbourne (same plays shown AGAIN, plus the CRAZY celebrations in Melbourne). It's really funny, because they're all the same. We just can't get enough of those last 6 minutes of the game. If you missed it, you need to see that game. They're calling it one of the top 10 sport moments in all of Australian history.
Bring on Brazil, baby.
(don't worry, Walt. If it comes down to the US vs. Oz, I'll put on my USA hat that Ames sent me.)
oleeeeeee ole ole oleeeeeeeeee.......
Sunday, June 11, 2006
The Weekend Review
(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

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
