I agreed with her, but pointed out that the . . . → Read More: Deceptive beauty]]> I woke up to sunshine this morning.  The rain had finally cleared up enough that I decided to go into town to get a few things taken care of.  Shy and I were driving along, when she commented how pretty the area looked, lush and green.

I agreed with her, but pointed out that the lush grass hid flooded farm fields.  Farmers who have taken a beating because they got too much water, they have just rebuilt from years of drought.   I also pointed out the creeks, with water that we could actually see rushing, creeks we would normally see from the highway.  The creeks are eating away at the edges and you could see toppled gum trees laying in them.

And I pointed out that all of this lush growth, barely seen in our area at this time of the year will eventually dry out to become fodder for bush fires.  Yes, I live in beautiful area, but it’s a beauty that comes with a price.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281

Toowoomba is only two hours north of us and they’re expecting even more rain. We don’t know when this will all stop and who could be the next . . . → Read More: Still safe]]> Just a quick post that we are still safe from floodwaters, although we have been cut off from the highway.  But, I consider myself very lucky…

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281

Toowoomba is only two hours north of us and they’re expecting even more rain.  We don’t know when this will all stop and who could be the next severely affected.  Please keep those who have lost their loved one in your thoughts.

First of all, I just want to reassure you that we have not been affected by the floods that have devastated Queensland. We are a bit soggy in Kooralbyn, and frequently play “dodge the massive pothole on the highway”, but are . . . → Read More: Hello 2011!]]> Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas

First of all, I just want to reassure you that we have not been affected by the floods that have devastated Queensland.  We are a bit soggy in Kooralbyn, and frequently play “dodge the massive pothole on the highway”, but are otherwise doing fine.  It’s actually nice to see the once dry billabongs fill up.

Shyanne has just celebrated her 11th birthday, we took her and two of her friends, Emma & Ashleigh, up to Brisbane for the day.  As it has been dodgy weather, we figured that hanging out in Southbank were they have a beach-pool and the Cultural Centre (museums, art gallery, science centre).  The girls had a great time, plus, as a bonus treat, Hugh took us all up on the Wheel of Brisbane:  http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/attractions/wheel_of_brisbane All in all, the girls had a busy day, running around.

Hugh has been off work for the past week and a half, and is now only just starting on some of the home projects I’ve been nagging him about.  He goes back to work next Thursday, I don’t think I’ll be getting my new bathroom done this time around!  We’ve been in this villa for almost three years and he’s just finally fixed the back sliding door.  It actually slides now.  (please ignore the big, gaping hole under the stairs…)   I’m excited for this weekend cause he’ll be replacing the screens on the door and windows!!!

One of these days, our home won’t be so ghetto looking, lol

I’ve been doing pretty good.  I love my new job and I couldn’t wish for a better boss.  He cracks me up constantly, telling what other discounts he can get with his senior card he “just qualified” for.  It’s such a relief not to be working for the lab anymore, it’s gone so downhill.  I do miss my co-workers, they were a good group.

Oh yeah, we’ve heard a new rumor about the resort.  A developer has bought it, with plans for a “super community”.  Apparently, things are going to start up in February, so, I’ll believe it when I see it.

That’s all for now, my show’s on:  http://ten.com.au/bondi-vet.htm

Well, since my last entry, Australia now has a permanent Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. And how she “won” it, still baffles me.

Ok, basically both candidates initially tied in the voting, so, to break the tie, 3 independent politicians had to choose who the next PM would be. . . . → Read More: No plans]]> Ahh… a weekend with no plans, bliss!

Well, since my last entry, Australia now has a permanent Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.  And how she “won” it, still baffles me.

Ok, basically both candidates initially tied in the voting, so, to break the tie, 3 independent politicians had to choose who the next PM would be.  2-1, they choose Ms Gillard, and yes, some major pork-barreling was involved in that one.  So, yeah, Australians did not actually vote for the current PM to be in charge, two pollies did!!!  And you thought the American system was whacked out.

Next to rant about is the cost of books in this country.  Your average paperback novel will run you about $20AU, which in current exchange rates is about $18.53 US.  Why the exorbitant pricing?  The Australian publishing group has pressured the government to keep retail stores from heavily discounting books from overseas (mainly the US) to reflect their “cheapness” in order to keep Aussie authors and their publishers rolling in the cash.  Something about keeping Aussies reading books by aussie authors.  But, it still keeps books expensive and a lot of Aussies shop online through eBay and now Amazon.  I usually try to stick to the op-shops (thrift stores) to find “new” books and occasionally come across some winners.

I’m ranting because, Hugh just spent $1o3.ooAU on five books (including shipping) for me (anniversary pressie!!).  FIVE FREAKIN’ BOOKS FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!  And no, couldn’t find them any cheaper cause the series is by an Aussie author:  http://www.kyliechan.com/books.cfm

I’m willing (or pouting, depending on the case) to spend this kind of money on this series cause it rocks.  I have to thank my co-worker, Matt, for getting me hooked on it, I’m on the second book (thank you local library!) right now and cannot wait for my books to come in

Hugh got his anniversary pressie early, a couple of video games – can’t remember which – which he’s been playing and Shy bugs to watch.  He only bought ‘em because they were ridiculously cheap at Harvey Norman’s.

Shy’s doing good, this coming Tuesday her class will be going to Mount Tamborine to wreak havoc at Thunderbird Park http://www.thunderbirdpark.com/ .  Her class used the money they won at the drama competition to pay for this.  We’ve also volunteered Hugh to help out  I don’t hear him complaining too much!   Hopefully Hugh will remember to take some photos so that I can upload them here.

That’s all for now!  Take care!

First of all, the Australian government is Parliamentary, so the weirdest thing about it to me is . . . → Read More: Election time!]]> Aussie politics intrigue me yet again…  this Saturday, Australians (if registered) have to vote in the Federal Election and it promises to be one of the closest yet.  So, this is how I, an American, view this election.

First of all, the Australian government is Parliamentary, so the weirdest thing about it to me is that the nation’s leader is not elected by the people.  The Prime Minister is determined by the party who gets the most seats in House of Representatives, that person would have been the leader of their party.  Sorry, but, that’s just crap!  I consider myself middle of the road politically, and I would prefer to vote for the leader of the nation instead of having to support a bunch of yabbos in one party just to get my preferred leader to become PM.

And, just to twist things around even more… Just because you’ve been voted in as PM, you can still get kicked out by your own party.  Case in point:  Kevin Rudd was PM as recently as two months ago, but, because he wasn’t popular with most of the powerbrokers in the Labor party, and they were convinced that they wouldn’t be the controlling party at the next election, they convinced his Deputy Prime Minister (kinda like Vice President) to run against him in an inter-party election.  So, that means, Julia Gillard became the new PM without being voted for by the people… wait… I;m confused… who voted her in again?

And now, we’re in the middle of what’s being called the most boring election yet.  No one is really impressed with Julia Gillard, cause really, how much can you really believe in a leader that was quite willing to stab her own boss in the back.  And then there’s the Opposition’s candidate, Tony Abbott.

Ah… Tony Abbott,  I wonder how closely he may be related to George W. Bush, cause wow, someone just needs to duct tape his mouth shut.  Here’s a guy who readily admits to not being a “tech head” but yet has the best plan for the National Broadband plan.  His government would have the best economic plan and yet wasn’t even at the conference to unveil it.  His old boss even said on TV (ages ago) that Abbott didn’t have the best sense of economics.  Plus, he always wears budgie smugglers (speedos), which is not cool.  At all.

Scary…

Then we have rest of the circus performers:

• the Labor candidate that said it was a father’s own fault, when questioned about getting a better health system in place by said father, for not getting his disabled son sooner to a specialist cause the family had already been waiting over a year on the waiting list and could not afford to go private
• the ex-convict (of both Australia and Denmark) that is running for a political seat.  He figures as an ex-bikie who had gone through two different penal systems, and the Danish one being the better one, he was best suited for prison reform.  Fair enough
• Queensland’s own Premier, Anna Bligh, is soooo unpopular, Julia Gillard hardly had her on the campaign trail
• Julia Gillard had to resort to having/begging Kevin Rudd to go the campaign trail for the Labor cause Queenslanders took it a bit personal that she kicked him to the curb

There is so much more, but, I’m starting to confuse myself, so I know you must be

Shyanne: is doing EXCELLENT! She’s now a green belt in Karate and is about to do . . . → Read More: Long time no see :)]]> Hi everyone!  It’s been so long since you’ve heard from me that it’s probably best not to try to update you all from my last email, I’ll just try to keep the update from the past couple of months.

Shyanne:  is doing EXCELLENT!  She’s now a green belt in Karate and is about to do her next grading this weekend if she is allowed to by her sensi.  Next Wednesday, we will be taking her to the Gold Coast as she has qualified for Regional Sports Day in the discus event!  It started in her local sports carnival, featuring the five closest rural schools, where she placed 3rd overall in her age group for the girls.  She got 1st in shot put, 2nd in High Jump, and 3rd in Discus.  That took her to districts, where she place 2nd for discus (districts has a lot more “athletes”, we’re just proud that she made it that far!) and that enabled her to go to Regionals!

*takes deep breath*

Shy is now playing the clarinet, and is disgustingly a natural.  Hugh has already printed out music scores beyond her class level (American National Anthem anyone?) and she has a real good go at it!  I’ve got to get Hugh to upload a video I took of him and Shy playing the clarinets at Margaret’s (Hugh’s mum) house a couple weekends ago.  Hugh used to play when he a bit younger than Shy, and Margaret kept his old clarinet.  And Hugh’s just as disgusting as he managed to remember some music to play.

She’s also doing great in her school work, her last report card was mostly A’s with a few B’s.  Her teacher loves her and the other teachers at the school always compliment her.  Luckily, she’s got the Turtainen attitude that saves her from being a complete goody-goody two shoes

Hugh:  fine.

Seriously, he’s doing good.  He finally got made permanent at his job a couple months ago and right now is covering some of the senior staffs job duties as they are on holidays.  He’s been a bit pissy this footy season as it is his first time in the AFL tipping at work and at first he was in the lead but, some of the teams have let him down. (for the Americans, translation:  Hugh’s upset that his work sponsored betting pool is not going as well as he would like during Aussie rules football season)

Other than that, he’s great

Me:  doing good health-wise.  I no longer have to see Professor Sullivan, he performed my first eye surgery.  My last visit was several months ago and he told me that I was doing great!  He said that he would only have to see me if by the smallest chance I relapse or if I want to get the cosmetic portion of the surgery done.  I told him that I was a bit over having surgeries and plus, I had a bathroom to renovate (we would have to pay for that surgery).  He told me to get my bathroom done  So, now, I only have to see Dr Pane, the main ophthalmologist in October and he’ll probably only need to see me every 4-6 months.

I now work in Brisbane, back with the optical lab I used to work for.  The commute sucks.  It roughly takes four hours round trip as I have to drive into town (20-25 minutes) and then catch the bus (1.5 hours usually) into the City.  I only work part time, three days a week, it’s all that I can handle.  Although I am in remission, I still have to deal with the blasted exhaustion and arthritis mimicry.

But, there is no work out here really, although I apply, along with everyone else, for whatever comes up locally.  I’m hoping that this last one I applied for, receptionist/assistant trainee at my vet’s clinic, will pan out.  Maybe I might even get a job interview this time!  And yes, my boss knows I’m looking for work closer to home.  In fact, she constantly asks if I’ve been putting my resume around!

Gracie & Stitch:  still spoiled and Gracie is still fat.  And Stitch is still his anti-social self.  He now has this annoying habit of sitting by the back door, watching the birds and doing his whingy meowing cause either the magpies are being cheeky and hopping around in front of him or he wants to go after the lorikeets.  Don’t worry, our cats don’t go outside

Right now, I’m sitting on my bed, squished to a corner of it as the two brats have somehow taken over the entire bed.  Oh yeah, because our floor radiant heater died, Gracie is “cold” (never mind that the reverse cycle heater is on) at night and must sleep on MY pillow, pushing me off it.

And that’s it for now.  With my next entry, I’ll try to update you folks on the local happenings