3 outta 4

Jim has now reached 75% of his professional tennis goal. He has gotten to attend the US Open and Wimbledon while he was auditing. He always hoped to be able to attend the other two of the Four Grand Slams. That meant the Australian Open and the French Open. He figured the French Open wouldn't be so bad since Europe is only a 7-8 hour plane ride from the US and the tickets wouldn't be too spendy. But he really didn't imagine he would get the opportunity to get to the Australian Open.
An opportunity presented itself at the end of last year for him to attend one day at the AO, if he provided his own transportation and lodging. He debated back and forth since it would be right after the holidays and it was only one day and a fair bit to do/spend to go to Melbourne for just one day/for just tennis. (My words, not his!)
Luckily he came to his senses and accepted the opportunity. Then he found a great cheap airfare and super cheap hotel right by the arena. Then you should have seen him when he got his pass the week before he was to go. He googled the arena to see where his seat was. Thought about possibly getting a day pass. Things like that. Kid in a tennis candy store.

He even got to watch his older tennis idols (Pat Cash I think) play in a match at mid-day (can't remember their names) along with watching Andy Roddick play. Then he got to watch the women's match. And for the main event at night -- Federer vs. Del Potro. What a night for him!

If I could tame a wild animal

Once again, the cute Indeever by Tambako the Jaguar

I would love to tame a snow leopard. I still miss my cats and I think this large beautiful animal would make a BIG impact. I Can only imagine how strong the purring would be and how warm he would keep me when he sleeps at the bottom of the bed. The one thing I would not be very happy with is the amount of fur he would shed in summer time.

I realized I was a grown-up

the first night I was sitting outside with roommates at college and I heard the bells ring midnight at Marquette and I didn't HAVE to be back for a curfew.

Lost Generation?

Listen and believe...



I will give credit to another ex-pat blogger here in the land down under -- Aussie Erin the American, who just celebrated her 2nd wedding anniversary yesterday -- Happy Anniversary!!!

Yes Man

Tonight we took advantage of the free in-house baby sitting and went to see the Jim Carrey movie, Yes Man. Would not have been our 1st choice, since it seemed like it could have been a renter, but... there aren't many other choices for movies that are released already here in Australia -- besides Australia. And Quantum of Solace. And I think Jim might get a bit tired of my big girl crush of James Bond/Daniel Craig if I made him go see it again. I have to wait and save my Daniel Craig time for his next movie which I think is called Defiance. Don't know when it will ever skip over the pond to Australia, tho.

This movie on the otherhand was quite funny. Jim Carrey in my opinion has gotten funnier (or easier to handle) as he has gotten older. I like the idea that you need to be open to the idea of saying yes and being positive or your life will not be as fulfilling. Kinda makes me think about if I wouldn't have said yes to moving here (however fearfully, begrudginly, sadly, not really meaning it in the beginning, but saying yes nonetheless) then I wouldn't be having such a great experience. I keep saying the same things, but we have such amazing friends. The kids have such amazing friends. They are learing so much here. We are having the greatest experiences that we NEVER would have been able to having stayed in Illinois, that all were made possible by that one little yes that I said when I told Jim to go ahead and interview for the job -- secretly figuring he wouldn't get the position here. Thinking that my yes wouldn't matter anyway... Not that I didn't have faith in Jim -- more like I didn't have faith in Abbott to see his potential. But they said yes to him and we have been on the yes ride ever since!

Gibbs Meat Pie

After the success I had making the famous Gibbs meat pie for Becki, Jim and Gramma Millie I was asked to make it for Mom and Dad. So, since it was supposed to be cool and dreary today, I planned it for dinner tonight. This is how it went with Emmalee's pastry creations on the end...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Emme's Pastry Art

While (or whilst if I feel like being Aussie) I was making the Gibbs meat pie this afternoon, Emmalee was making pastry art with the pastry scraps.


She made this cute little pie...

















And this rendition of Benjamin Franklin in honor of the upcoming President's Day in the US.... Or maybe its just a blob of puff pastry stuck to the counter that she is seeing things in. Wonder how much I could have gotten on eBay for it before she mushed it up and ate it raw???

Gingerbread 2009

We may be a bit late in building, but the kids made up for it in effort. Look at what a winter wonderland they created this dreary summer day...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Summer Sports

Andrew joined in with the big kids for a friendly game of street cricket tonight after dinner. He and Emmalee stood on the sidelines for a long time but he finally gave into his competitive instinct and hit six runs (or so he told me as I tucked him in). Grampy didn't get any videos of his hitting, but he did get a video of him running. The only video he got is one to show you what it is like to play cricket in the street -- Emmalee's classmate, Chris, is hitting the ball, which is bowled (thrown) in an overhand/fast manner towards the batsman, who tries to hit the ball after it bounces once, but before it hits the three sticks (stumps) behind the batter. Or so I have been explained (I think).

Then the batter runs to the other base/garbage bin where a 2nd batter is waiting to run back to the 1st base.

Just like this...

Myrmecia

This monster is my new arch enemy here in Australia for 2009. The Myrmecia, better known as the bull-ant. I had the misfortune of meeting him and a few of his little (close to 3/4 inch long) buddies) on a walk to a beautiful waterfall Sunday afternoon with some friends. I'll talk about the walk later. Let's just say these buggers leave a sting like fire ants, but a bite like a spider. Wholey cow -- only one bite on on my right foot and hit it right away with after bite and I am still smarting... UGH!!!

Reminder to self -- next time when I go on a bush walk, wear closed in shoes with socks -- hiking shoes and tall socks possibly!!!