A New Moon Is Rising

No doubt, my husband is very happy that he hasn't had to listen to me yabbering on about vampires or Robert Pattinson for awhile. There has been no mention of the names Edward or Bella spoken in my house for quite awhile.

The Twilight hysteria hit me, and hard. I'd read all the books & excitedly recommended the series to all the friends I had. I've watched the movie a half dozen times and read every bit of information and gossip I could find on RPattz. But after awhile the Twilight storm grew quiet. There was nothing left.

But now, IT is getting close. A new moon is rising. I can't wait! The second installment of the Twilight Saga, New Moon, is set to hit theatres in just over seven weeks! Although New Moon would have to be my least favourite book in the series, the movie is certainly set to impress. In truth, it has to be better than Twilight. Yes, I love Twilight, but it could have been far better. With a new director on board, a bigger budget and lots of new cast members, it is shaping up to be a huge blockbuster.

For ONCE, something is coming to Australia before the United States! For ONCE, I don't have to wait days, weeks or sometimes months for a film to finally reach our shores! New Moon is released here on November 19th, November 20th in the US.

Today Summit Entertainment released three new 'teaser' posters. It has certainly gotten me excited!

Brace yourself Gregg, I think another storm is coming! :-)

Bella & The Cullen Family

The Wolf Pack

The Volturi

Stop Right There. Put Down That Cigarette

He did.

After nearly 30 years of smoking, Gregg quit. I've been quietly singing his praises to close friends and family. But in terms of putting it out there, in writing, I've been hesitant til now.

Like many smokers, he'd unsuccessfully attempted to quit at various times over the years. He was always very quiet about it, in case he failed.

At the end May my mother-in-law was told that her vision would continue to go downhill if she too didn't quit smoking. Her vision had deteriorated significantly in the prior six months to the point that she could no longer read books (her favourite activity). Although the doctors couldn't say for certain that it was as a result of smoking, they assured her it would get far worse if she continued. So, with that, she quit. Cold turkey. Done.

This was just the push Gregg needed. Maybe you could call it his wake-up call. In his line of work, his vision is of paramount importance. So, three weeks later Gregg also quit smoking. It's been three months now and I think we are well and truly in the 'clear' now. Although I've never been a smoker myself, I acknowledge the difficulty in what he's achieved. He's climbed the biggest mountain. And I'm proud of him. :-)

Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit

For those of you who visited Disney World and EPCOT Center in the 80s and early 90s, you might remember the Kitchen Kabaret show in EPCOT's Land Pavilion.

I moved to Florida in 1982, the year EPCOT opened and the year Kitchen Kabaret debuted.

As my family were Florida residents with yearly passes, I was one of those lucky kids who went to Disney/EPCOT on a sometimes monthly basis. Kitchen Kabaret was one of my favourite parts of the entire day.

I don't know what it was about this animatronic musical that appealed to me. But I know that after the Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit number, it had my mom and I bopping around cha-cha style all day long. Ah the simple pleasures of childhood. :-)

So this post really has nothing to do with Kitchen Krackpots, but everything to do with veggies and fruit. Why? Because I've decided to embrace a new vegetarian diet. Yep. My mom is probably reading this with her mouth wide open right now! This post coming from a girl who didn't eat salads or ANY vegetables until I moved to Australia 6 years ago. No, broccoli, no tomatoes, no green beans, no mushrooms. With the exception of corn on the cob, I ate NO vegetables. I fully credit Gregg for changing that in me. Now, I eat them all.

Why the change? Well I think it's been a long time coming for me. I've somewhat struggled with red meat my entire life. In high school I read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, set in Chicago's meat-packing plants in the early 1900s. I was completely turned off by what I read and didn't eat meat for quite some time. But even as a young child I would cry if I was made to eat a hamburger. Red meat never really appealed to me. Though, in my adult life I have grown to enjoy a nice hamburger or a good beef stir-fry. My only real carnivorous vice has been chicken. For me though, how do I justify eating chicken and not beef or lamb. Rhetorically speaking, is a chicken's life less important? It shouldn't be.

I'm an animal lover, so much so that in the event of Gregg and my untimely death, Gregg and I have willed our estate to the RSPCA. So for me it comes down to love. I love cows and sheep. And although I don't have a particular affinity for chickens as an animal, I don't really want to be eating them.

I'm not going to be one of those vegetarians, who preaches to others about their choice to eat meat. That's not my style. Everyone is entitled to make their own choices in life. I've just made a new one. I'm embracing a new lifestyle. Although my husband has embraced my choice, I won't judge him if he orders a steak. There's no point to prove. I just want to feel better about myself, ethically and physically! :-)

I love to cook and I'm really enjoying thinking outside of the old box. I'm also loving my two new vegetarian cookbooks. So far so good. This is a good thing and I'm excited about this new venture! 10 days and counting...

One, two, three, four, five...SIX

Can you believe it? Six? Really?

No, I'm not talking about six degrees of separation, Six Feet Under, Six Flags or even a Mazda 6. I'm talking about six years as an expat. I've lived in Australia for six years... today.

The last six years have been a bittersweet mixture of highs and lows, certainly more highs than lows but enough of a mixture to keep me on my toes. Six years ago I started a life with my beautiful husband and that is the highest high! Six years ago I also bid my American life farewell which has been the source of a few lows. But in my attempt to keep my blog fairly light-hearted I try not to dwell on the lows, but rather celebrate the goodness in my life.

I've experienced a lot in six years and I couldn't possibly attempt to sum it up in words. But you know me, that's not my style. Photos are my style. So, I compiled six photos, one for each year. It isn't a snapshot of my life, but a few fun reminders of where I've come from.

This is me in August of 2003 on Sydney Harbour. The iconic Harbour Bridge in the background. I was a young girl from the midwest of America, living in a foreign country. It was all a blur to me, the sights, sounds, tastes and smells. My head was spinning, was I really in AUSTRALIA?

This is the day Gregg and I got Aquadisiac in 2004. It was an intensely fun time in our life. I'd applied for permanent residency, but wasn't able to work yet. So our days were often spent boating. This photo also serves as a reminder of my hard work in losing weight. I was so happy with myself for the first time in my life. This is my new goal.

2005 was all about new things. I was granted residency and got a new job. I made new friends and travelled to new cities. I also tried out a new hair colour. I loved it, but Gregg didn't. :-(

This photo of Casey and I in 2006 is a family reminder. Gregg and I love our pets the way most people love their children. For us, they are our children. We have a family unit and we love it. Our times at home, cuddling on the couch with the dogs, chatting in the kitchen and hanging out in the front yard, are among our favourites.

In 2007 I married my soul mate on a beach in northern New South Wales. It was perfect.

For me 2008 was a period of change. I realised that Gregg couldn't be my whole world. And I realised that as much as I missed my friends and family back in the US, I had to really make a life for myself in Australia. It was a big period of growth for me. I got out there, stopped feeling sorry for myself, and met people.
This is me today. I have a great husband who's my best friend, a job I love, a busy social life and diverse group of friends. I've welcomed my first over-seas visitor and excitedly anticipate the arrival of my second. I'm working on the physical side of Erin and I'm hoping for a few big things in the future. I make the most of each day and try to always remind myself of how far I've come and how lucky I am. Life is good.

Oh Mama...

She's coming... :-)

Okay, I've been a bad blogger again. I can't seem to get my life balance right lately. Sigh. As a result, I am WAY behind on officially announcing the best news of the year.

My lovely and loyal blog-reading mother is coming to Australia!! Gregg and I are over the moon! After all these years she will finally get to see the place I call home. She'll get to experience this culture and see the sights. She'll also finally be able to meet the people she's heard so much about!

My mom, affectionately known as Mama Lou, arrives on October 26th, just in time for her 60th birthday on the 28th! Yes, I've put it all out there in all its glory, the good woman is turning 60! (Please don't kill me!) I could never let my mom celebrate her birthday without me, and since flying to the US twice in one year was out of the question, flying her here seemed the obvious choice. This is my gift to her. This is her first passport, her first big international trip and therefore her first time visiting Australia!

Like I did when my friend Katie visited in March, I've begun planning activities and excursions for her time here. Her only request was lots of time spent on the water and lots of seafood. I think we can accommodate that in the harbour city! Maybe she'll love it so much she won't want to leave? A girl can wish, aye?

Stay tuned for more on her upcoming trip and the exciting things we have in store!

Time Flies Working Nine To Five

Yesterday marked one year since I joined the big American insurance company I'm currently employed with. Boy how time has flown by.

It seems like just yesterday I walked nervously into the boardroom to be confronted by the most amazing view of Sydney I'd ever seen. It was in the middle of winter and therefore it was dark. The harbour foreshore was illluminated in the most beautiful way. The neon on the buildings, the lights across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the glowing Sydney Opera House and the boats on the water, it was all too much. I strategically sat with my back to the windows so I didn't stare. I was sure I wasn't going to get this job. But I did. And as they say, the rest is history.

The last twelve months have gone by so fast. That is something I'll have to remind myself when the commute finally gets the better of me. For the last year I have travelled an hour to and from work. I was mentally prepared for the fact that I would grow tired of the travel pretty quickly. But you know, I still don't mind it. Sure, I'd love to live closer to work. Sure, I'd love to get home before 7:00pm. But this is my life right now, and I'm not complaining! In fact, for the last 12 months I haven't complained... well at least not about my job. I can't tell you how nice this feels. I'm sure my husband appreciates not listening to me complain either. I don't love waking up in the morning, but when I do, I don't dread going to work. I look forward to going to work. And THAT is a good feeling.

I know I'm lucky because for every one of me, there is someone else out there who hates their job. I also know I'm lucky because I have an opportunity to not only work for a fantastic company, doing a job I like with great people around me, but I get to work in the heart of a beautiful harbour city. Every morning my train comes around the bend into Circular Quay Station and I look out the window to see the historic Rocks district, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. From the office I can see the entire harbour and out to the ocean. That is the icing on the cake for me. I never, ever take it for granted. And as much as I love Omaha... you just don't get views like this!

So here's to one year down and many more to come!

These are some of my favourite friends and favourite memories over the last year.







And a special mention to my beautiful friend Amiee. She is the one who recruited me. She's the reason I work here. We worked together in a previous life and we work together now. I'm really very thankful for her. xo

Amiee & Erin in the old days.


Oh and when we have a meeting in the boardroom, I still sit with my back to the windows... :-)

On My Music Radar This Week

Heavy Cross by The Gossip.

Loving it, loving it. Beth Ditto's voice sounds eerily similar to Cyndi Lauper. Fantastic lyrics & strong vocals. But my favourite is the pounding drum beat in the background.

Baptized By Fire by Spinnerette

Loving Spinnerette and in particular this song! The vocal range of lead singer, Brody Dalle, is great. Love the low, sexy, raspiness in her voice. She's gorgeous to boot.

21 Guns by Green Day

Okay, I'm a Kerplunk & Dookie fan from way back. I haven't been a huge fan of their commercial success in recent years. I don't like the overplay of their music on the radio. Sadly this will likely happen to my new favourite song of theirs, 21 Guns. I love this song. I can't put my finger on what it is. But I stop everything I'm doing to listen to this song. Shhh...

365 Project

I recently embarked on a journey of sorts. I am taking a 365 day tour of Erin! :-) No, sadly, this isn't a small remote island off the coast of Ireland. It's just me.

On July 1st I started my 365 Project on Flickr. The 365 Days group was set up on Flickr as a challenge to budding photographers to take one self portrait each day for a year. Currently there are over 14,000 Flickr members taking part in this challenge.

My 365 challenge is only on day 15. But I'm looking forward to the next 350 days to come. So far my photos haven't exactly been the most creative I've ever shot. But to be honest, I've been busy and I've been using my Nikon Coolpix point & shoot. I do plan to devote some time this weekend to taking some more creative shots using my SLR.

I don't know what I look to gain out of it. But I think in the end it will be a good way of looking back at a year in my life, every single day for a year. It might also make me more aware of my surroundings, the things I see and do each day. Either way it's totally creative and it's just a bit of fun... just like me!

Below are a few shots to start my journey. Click into each for a full description.







If you are on Flickr and want to share in my 365 Project add me as a contact. Or just click on the Flickr widget on the right side of my blog to see recent uploads.

Down South In The Bayou Country

Okay, well, not exactly. But it was as close as we'll get in these here parts.

South Restaurant is located in Neutral Bay and could hardly be mistaken for bayou country. No marshes, cypress trees, no derelict homes with crooked porches. Nope, not even banjo players on the street corners. But hey, they is Sydney we are talking about, not Mississippi.

Over the last 12-18 months my circle of American expatriate friends has slowly (or rather maybe rapidly) grown... and grown. For that I am SO thankful. But what that means is that one 4th of July celebration is not enough! Despite my best efforts I can't expect that everyone will know one another. So, when I knew that I would be spending the 4th with one group of Americans, I still wanted to plan a get together with the others. So in true Erin-style I arranged a lunch for all of them! I want everyone to know everyone. I've always been that way. We had a great turn out, but even at that there were still a handful of people unable to join us. (Given the size of the place, I think the owners would have had a heart attack if our party was any bigger!)

South may not be on the bayou, but they serve of some good 'ole home cookin' straight outta da South. We all rubbed our hands together in anticipation. The menu offered fresh lemonade, sweet tea, corn bread, buffalo wings, pulled-pork sandwiches, ribs, jambalaya, catfish and chicken-fried steak to name a few. We were in our element.

About the time that our fellow Americans were probably settling into some amazing fireworks displays stateside, we were tucking into some good American food. We had a really good time! Good food and of course great company!

It was a wonderful holiday weekend. No, I didn't get a day off, and no, there weren't any fireworks. But I really can't complain. I was surrounded by great people all weekend, and they made it feel like home!

An Expat 4th of July

This year was the first year I've spent the 4th of July with other American expats... and boy was it good!

You know those parties where the conversation just flows, the laughs echo off the walls and you just don't want to go home? Well, that was the 4th for me.

We were kindly invited to spend the holiday with the ever gracious hostess Laura and her wonderful family. We were joined by Ana and her family, Becca and her family and the newest addition to my expat family, Kate!

I should have known it would be a good day. We woke to a beautiful sunny day in Sydney. It was glorious and unseasonably warm for the middle of winter. It felt like we were truly living in the lucky country when I read that the weather in many parts of the US was rainy. Obviously not the ideal way to spend the 4th of July. So, despite being away from "home" for such an important American holiday, we did feel quite lucky to be where we were.

We had a great dinner and enjoyed a few American brews.

Gregg even had an excuse to break out the cheesy USA sweatshirt we bought in the US last December. I even bought him a Budweiser to really get him into the 'spirit' of the day. He was after all the token Australia at an otherwise all-American celebration. Forget turning Japanese, I think he truly might be turning American! (That's not such a bad thing, aye?) :-)

We ended the night with some amazing desserts including a wonderful apple pie. Would you expect anything less?

The 4th of July will always mean smoky barbecues, bare feet in the grass, balmy summer nights, sparklers, flags waving and fireworks in my heart. But this was the first year, in recent memory, that I didn't find myself longing for home. And that is a good feeling!

Moving Pictures: Going On & Growing Up

Today was a bit of a day of reflection for Gregg and I. Back in November we lost our beloved Casey. On what would be her last day with us, we made a home movie.

Casey was a dog you just don't forget. I can still feel the softness of her fur. I can still hear her bark and the way she breathed at night. I see her in my memory. Every moment I shared with that dog was special and she's left a mark on me that I don't think I'll ever shake. Gregg would agree. But we both knew that we wanted to remember the last times with her. So we took some video.

That footage had sat in the camera since, unfinalised, untouched. Pictures of Casey sit on shelves, the urn of her ashes sits on a table. We have come to terms with her passing. But that video was something that Gregg just couldn't bring himself to watch.

Today was that day. As I laid on the couch cuddled under a wool blanket with Tasch and Georgia, Gregg asked if I wanted to watch it. I agreed. From the first frame I thought maybe it was a bad idea. Casey looked haggard and tired. She was very unwell and there it was in front of us, right there across 42 inches of plasma. She bore the evidence of her time in the hospital, bandages, shaved marks on her legs, weeping eyes. And then there was Gregg, lying in the grass with Casey in front of him. He was quietly crying. It tore me up, all over again. There were several images that got to me- pictures of Casey lying between my legs with her head propped on my leg and of her licking my chin. With each sad sight there was an equally joyous one.

We watched her eat, we watched her sleep. We heard her bark, and so did Georgia. And out of nowhere Georgia sprung up and stared at the TV. She cocked her head to the left, and to the right. She moved in closer and watched closely. Gregg and I looked at one another and smiled. A time later Casey barked again and there was Georgia again, glued to the screen. Towards the end there was a particular vision of Casey walking out the front door as Gregg asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. She excitedly barked. Georgia was there again, watching and listening to her sister she never knew.

Gregg and I were a bit disappointed when the video was over. We of course wanted more. But we talked, and we realised again that we'd made the right decision. Casey was ill and the doctors had tried everything they could. The best thing we could do was let her go in a dignified way. She was too good of a dog to suffer. I still sit here crying at my computer screen. But I know in my heart of hearts she's much better off.

I am struck by that vision of Casey walking out the front door, out of our physical life forever. Then there is sweet little Georgia standing here, in the present, watching her leave. It is a powerful image for me.

From the day we welcomed Georgia into our family we have joked about the likeness she bears to Casey. Physically she's looking more and more like Casey each day. And although her personality is much more fiery than Casey's was, she is still a pup. She is warm and loving though. And she adores Tasch. She fits into our little family like she was meant to be in this exact place.

Georgia was born on November 29th, two days after Casey passed away. Gregg and I often joke that maybe Casey made a stop in Canberra on her way to heaven. Sure, Georgia isn't Casey reincarnated. But we think Casey opened the door for Georgia to enter our lives. As one walked out, the other walked in.

We may not have been blessed with a human family (yet), but the fur-family we have means everything to us. It is days like today that we truly sit back and take stock of that. We are very lucky to have loved the likes of dog like Casey, and we look forward to the future with Tasch and Georgia.

Our little puppy is not so little these days. She's well and truly growing up. Here are our two girls today.

Fun Foto Friday

I am the proud owner of a new digital negative scanner courtesy of my wonderful husband Gregg.

My father was a talented artist and photographer. He did an amazing job of chronicling our family life and particularly my childhood. Whilst I have hundreds of wonderful photos to remind me of the good ole days, I also have hundreds and hundreds of slides. Yes, remember slides?

Dad seemed to photograph in all slide film for many years. When he passed away I inherited the collection. Whist that is wonderful, I don't have a slide projector to view them. Yes, I could buy one, assuming they still make them. I could also probably hire one as a rental. But then I'm still left with the decision of whether I wanted to have prints made from any of them. If I do, then I have to find a reputable lab here that deals with slide film still.

Gregg knew how important my photos are to me and he'd seen me holding up 2x3 inch slides to the light too many times. So I came home from work last night to my little surprise! I now have this nifty machine that not only digitally scan negatives but also my slides. After a bit of fiddling around with resolutions and formats and the god awful dust, I was able to scan a good 20 or so slides.

Now I have the ability to scan my slides and negatives in high resolution. This is not only great for archiving purposes. But, it also gives me a chance to easily get photos printed that I might otherwise not have. With this digital scanner I've given all my old family photos a new lease on life in the 21st century!

I won't bore you with a long trip down memory lane, but I thought I would share at least one. (And probably more for the enjoyment of my mother, and loyal blog reader.)

This is little Erin. Being born in December and judging by the winter coat I am probably two years old. At this stage we would have lived in western Massachusetts.



This is going to be a labour of love. It will take time to get them all edited and uploaded. Visit flickr for a few more I edited last night.

Michael Jackson - How He Should Be Remembered

I don't claim to have ever been a big Michael Jackson fan. Yes, I still have my dad's original Thriller album and yes, I do have quite a few Jackson Five, The Jacksons and Michael Jackson songs in my music database. But I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan. With that said though, there is no way I could deny the impact his music (and dance) have had on the industry and popular music we know today. He is a legend in his field.

I am sad today, not as a distraught fan who has lost a favourite artist. But I am sad today because someone's life has been cut short prematurely. My dad died at 50. Far too soon. Like him, Michael Jackson has left this world before his time.

When anyone dies, famous or otherwise, I like to remember them at their best.

This is Michael Jackson at his best. And this is how he should be remembered.

Rub-a-dub-dub... Thank You Mr Fisher, I love you Mr Paykel!

Autumn is gone.

Winter in Australia is well and truly here. It has been rainy and cold for the last 3-4 weeks, and I'm tired of it already. I like rain, don't get me wrong. But I don't like being out in the rain, commuting around the city. Rain is best enjoyed from the comfort of my own couch, burrowed under a wool blanket!

With all this rain it means that I can't hang my laundry out on the clothesline. I hate having to use clotheslines to begin with. But when it is raining and I can't put my clothes outside I get even more annoyed. I end up with hangers with wet clothes hung from doorways all over the house.

I accept most Aussie traditions, cultural differences, customs and food. But for the life of me I can't make myself like hanging clothes on a clothesline. I've tried, for many years, to adapt... but I still find it terribly inconvenient. I miss having a dryer.

Dryers do exist in Australia, but they are not commonplace. More and more people are moving toward the stackable front loaders, so fitting a dryer in the average laundry room is now possible. Most units will have them nowadays, and homeowners are buying them more and more. But traditionally laundry rooms in homes here were built with space for only a washing machine. Instead of taking wash out of the washer and putting them straight into the dryer- for decades, people have hung their washing with pegs on a clothesline in their backyard and then waited... and waited.... for them to dry.

Every once in awhile I find myself in The Great Dryer Debate. Seems many Aussies are passionate about their clotheslines, namely their homegrown invention, the Hills Hoist. Recently I hosted a dinner party where there were a couple of my Australian friends in attendance, as well as a couple Americans. It was funny because the Americans were in agreement, as were the Australians. Apparently crunchy towels and stiff jeans don't bother my Australian friends. They do bother me!

I have long said to Gregg that I do considerably more ironing here in Australia than I ever had to back home. I attribute that to hanging my clothes on a clothesline. As a result, ironing has become my or arch nemesis. I hate it.

I've desired a dryer for years... years I tell you! First it was a matter of convincing Gregg. Then it was a matter of timing. There has always been something more important to purchase. A dryer was not a necessity. But when our washing machine went on the fritz a couple weeks ago I happily sat there rubbing my hands together in glee. Most women would be frantic, hoping the machine could stick it out. I on the other hand was yelling, "Die, die, die!" And well... it pretty well did. Being as humane as possible, we had to put it out of its misery.

This past weekend I welcomed two very important men into my life... Sir Woolf Fisher & Maurice Paykel. These men have saved my domestic reputation! I eagerly sat (literally) in front of my washing machine and watched it do its thing on Saturday... all day! And because it was raining outside, all my wash went into my nifty new dryer. Five loads of laundry later, I had only three of my work shirts to iron. That's it! how thrilled was I? Ecstatic!

I will still use my clothesline for drying things in the summer and on good weather days. Sheets and bedding immediately come to mind. But the convenience of knowing I HAVE a dryer excites me to no end. It is convenience. Period. It makes my life easier and that's a good thing!

Oh and not having to worry about bird droppings is another great thing!

1923 : A look back

It was the year that Time Magazine was first published.

Vegemite first hit Australian supermarket shelves.

The Irish Civil War came to an end.

Yankee Stadium is first opened.

Warren G Harding was the president of the United States, and died in office.

The Walt Disney Company was founded.

Norman Mailer, Hank Williams, Bob Barker, Ed McMahon, Aaron Spelling, Henry Kissinger and Estelle Getty were all born.

1923 was also the year my grandmother, Nanny, was born.

Last week my beloved grandmother celebrated her 86th birthday. That means she's seen 16 US Presidents take office and eight Popes in the Vatican. She's been married twice, widowed twice, raised three children and lost two sons.


When I came along in the late 70s, Nanny was already retired. Back then I hated being the baby of the family, the last grandchild. But in retrospect I realise just how lucky I was... how lucky I AM. I got the best of my grandmother back then. I got her undivided love and attention and I returned it fully.


I spent many wonderful childhood summers in upstate New York with Nanny and Pop Pop. I had a childhood that most people dream of- country towns, wildflowers, gravel roads, horses, general stores, swimming, camping, exploring, experiencing. When my grandparents eventually moved to Florida, I was lucky to have them live just over an hour away. We spent weekends and holidays together, fishing & boating. When Pop Pop died in the late 80s, Nanny and I embarked on the ultimate road trip around the US. There was another big US tour a few years later when she re-married. She still likes to joke that I tagged along on her and Jim's honeymoon. I suppose I did! Largely thanks to her, I am fortunate to have visited all but one of the US states. Forgetting the amazing travel experiences, what these trips afforded me was the quality time that many children miss out on with their grandparents.

Eventually my family would move to Nebraska and Nanny would remain in Florida. Our time spent together lessened over the years, but our foundation was set in stone. Through the years it has become a matter of quality and not quantity. Not even a move across the world can break the bond between us now.

So, on our recent trip to the US, I had the pleasure of FINALLY introducing Nanny & Gregg. It was sort of the icing on the cake for me. The final puzzle piece fit. Sadly, Gregg will never know my father. But by meeting Nanny, he's met the closest link. The circle is complete for me. The time we spent together was wonderful.



On December 19th (my birthday), just a few days after we left Florida, Nanny had a heart attack. After weeks of worry, multiple operations and months of rehabilitation, she is doing well. She isn't 100% but she is doing well. She is quite honestly the strongest woman I know. She is the ultimate survivor. And like every other hurdle and hardship she's overcome in the past, she will overcome this.

Over the years I've realised that she's not only my grandmother, but my friend... and a fantastic one at that! We've experienced so many wonderful things together over the years. We have also shared in some painful events together. She's helped me overcome things and I'd like to think I've helped her too. She knows me, for me. And I love her for exactly who she is.

I am so proud and honoured to have a woman like her in my life. When many people would throw their hands up and give up on life she's soldiered on with a smile. She's 86 years old and going strong. I'm thankful for that.

Photoshop : Cedar Key, Florida

I'm old school.

I don't do Photoshop. But I'm trying to learn, trying to teach myself to use CS2. I started tonight.

On our trip to the US back in December I took the advice of fellow blogger and former Floridian Chris. Gregg & I took my grandmother on a day trip to the small gulf-coast town of Cedar Key, Florida. It was a wonderful day, complete with clam chowder, key-lime pie, iced tea and some Christmas shopping. But the highlight of the day was and watching as the sun slowly sunk down into the Gulf of Mexico.

Below is the original, un-edited version.

And here is a little bit of Photoshop fun. I'll get there. :-)

Happy Birthday Dad

I took my love, I took it down

Climbed a mountain and I turned around

I saw my reflection in the snow covered hill

Still the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky

What is love

Can the child within my heart rise above

Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides

Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, Ive been afraid of changing

Cause I've built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Children get older

Im getting older too

Oh, take my love, take it down

Climb a mountain and turn around

If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills

Well the landslide will bring it down

If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills

Well maybe the landslide will bring it down

He would have been 59 today and I would have told him he was getting old.

But he's forever 50 to me.

Love you Daddy. Happy Birthday. xo

Beth's Belated Bachelorette

As mentioned in my previous post, my liver certainly got a work-out this weekend. At least some part of me did. ;-)

Saturday night. Jimmy Liks.

Train fare to Kings Cross- $12
Amazing cocktails- $16
Fantastic banquet meal- $55
Six beautiful ladies- PRICELESS

(Okay, I know that is cheesy, but I had to. Forgive me, please.)

My beautiful friend Beth got married recently. Unfortunately, the wedding coincided with Katie's visit to Australia and I wasn't able to attend. But I really wanted to get together a group of her closest friends for a night out, to celebrate her. I suppose it was a belated bachelorette party, but a grown up version. No pink veils or obnoxious outfits. So after what seemed like weeks of planning, trying to agree on a date, time and place, we finally set it in stone.

We decided on Jimmy Liks in Potts Point. It is continually regarded as one of the best restaurants in Sydney. Now I know why. We got there early, since they don't take reservations. Despite arriving at 7pm, we still waited over two hours for a table. We occupied ourselves with conversation and cocktails. But towards the end of our wait time it was getting dangerous, potent coktails on empty stomachs... not good!

While we waited we got a group shot!
Beth, Kei, Bianca, Marianne, Becca & Erin

We finally were seated and all agreed on the banquet menu. It all looked so good and we waited with anticipation.

I tried to get a photo of each course, but sometimes we were so distracted by the presentation or the smell that I forgot about the camera. (Yes, I know, hard to believe I could ever forget about my camera, but that is just how good this food was.) I did manage to grab a few photos.

Food was fantastic and in the end, well worth the wait! If you live in Sydney, go there. Plug, plug. Jimmy Liks might just be my new favourite restaurant!


The night was wonderful!

We said our goodbyes and then Becca made a run for it- for our train- only to realise she'd lost her debit card, train ticket and a $50 bill out of her back pocket. So, back to the restaurant we ran... and it was found! Thank god. After traversing Kings Cross in the rain we narrowly caught our train home for the night. When we finally settled into the seats and put our heads back, I said something to the effect of "I'm too old for this ___." And I felt it. We both laughed. I run for trains and deal with the hustle and bustle of the city every weekday. But then to have a big night the night before, to wake up with my first hangover in years, and then to do it all over again on Saturday... ugh. I was beat! But you know, I'm blessed with a great group of friends, both here and abroad. And I will happily run all over the city for enjoyable nights like that any time. :-)

If you'd like to see the full album you can go here.

Dana's Farewell Drinks

This past weekend my liver got a workout. For the record, I rarely drink. But this weekend I made a good effort! I had a blast doing it too!

As mentioned in a previous post, my good friend & co-worker, Dana had recently resigned. Although none of us wanted to see her leave, we took the opportunity to celebrate her as much as possible. The festivities kicked off on Friday night with her "Farewell Drinks".

We knocked off work at about 5pm and headed over to the Quay Bar at Customs House. Then it is was on for young and old... The drinks started flowing! There were quite a few people away from the office, but there was still a good turn out.

We all laughed, told inappropriate stories and took inappropriate photos. (Well not really, but it sounded good.) But most importantly we celebrated Dana... one hell of a top chick. She will certainly be missed.

If you'd like to see the full album on Flickr you can go here. Below are a few of my favourites from the night.

Dana- with one of many drinks.


Some of the SPC team. Michael, Marie, Mike, Ann, Brett, Dana, Erin & Todd.
(I particularly love Ann's Paris Hilton pose!)


Mike, Erin & Dana- I love Dana's face in this shot. She cracks me up!


Ann & Erin- still sober at this stage. :-)


Erin, Dana & Jill- not so sober at this stage!


Dana & Erin- CHEESE!


It was also brought to my attention that I make fish faces when I drink.
Here is an example. :-)


It was a great, great night. I work with a fantastic group of people and I know I'm really lucky. The office won't be the same without Dana, but at least we sent her out in style!

Annie Leibovitz : At Work

I came home from work recently to find a surprise. An Amazon.com box was waiting for me. I didn't order anything so I was quite surprised. I eagerly opened it to to find the brand new Annie Leibovitz book, At Work.

The book was a belated birthday gift from my friend Laurie back home in the US.

To say I was completely and utterly surprised is an understatement. I was so touched that she sent such a perfect gift. It is SO me! I've been friends with Laurie for over 15 years and only SHE would remember that Annie Leibovitz is my favourite photographer and artistic idol. I LOVE this book...

...and I love Laurie. She was always my muse. She loved my photos and always let me take shots of her. I miss her, but I'm so thankful to still have her as one of my best friends. xo

Archibald Prize 2009

Recently I had the pleasure of viewing the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with my friend and fellow art-lover Dana.

The Archibald Prize is one of those things I say I will see every year and never do. This year- I did it. And I'm so glad.

Not only did we get to view the best portrait paintings of 2009, The Archibald Prize, but also the Wynne Prize, honouring the best landscapes and the Sulman Prize, honouring the best subject paintings.

We spent ages wandering around the gallery. We stood up close, then far away. We discussed the mediums, marveled at genius. We were inspired, sometimes we were smug. I could paint that. Most of the time though we stood with mouths gaping, enjoying every moment. Below are a few of my favourite portraits. There were several landscapes that I fell in love with, but unfortunately the images are not online.

It was a great experience.

Dana, on the train ride back to work, surrounded by more 'art', Cityrail-style.

Turon Gates

The Mr and Mrs are planning a camping trip for the June long weekend! We consider ourselves avid campers. We like to get away from the city, get our hands dirty and soak in the serenity. So, we are planning to head out to this place, Turon Gates.

Each time we embark on a camping trip, our challenge is always finding a place that fits our criteria:

1. Not in a National Park - because we have two dogs that camp with us and they are not allowed in National Parks


2. Not a caravan park - because I really do want to feel like I am in nature, not camped out next to a motor home or caravan


3. Within a 2-3 hr drive of Sydney - again because of the dogs... too much farther than that and it is cruel for them


4. Has some form of amenities/ running water -because we are not the survivalist type & I do like to take a shower at least every other day or so!

Turon Gates is country retreat about 2 hours from our house and it looks great! It has that bush camping feel, but within the confines of a "property". Let's just hope the manager isn't creepy like Wolf Creek's Mick Taylor. Believe me, I've seen a few of those sorts in my time and I've ended up sleeping with an axe next to my sleeping bag! Not good!

So anyway, this place offers horse-back riding, fishing, boating, mountain biking and bush walking all on the property. The camping is right along the river, which looks nice!

The best part is that it is dog-friendly! It should be interesting camping with Georgia though. She is only 6 months old and still very much "puppy". She isn't too fond of rules. She distracts easily. She has zero fear. And she LOVES to run. My fingers (and toes) will be crossed that she behaves herself reasonably well and doesn't cause too much grief!

My only other concern is that we don't have a repeat of our last camping trip. It has been over a year since we last went camping. At that time I swore I'd never camp again... unless it was in a caravan. We could have nearly died. Or I should say, I could have nearly died. That was the time a freak storm ripped through the valley where we were camped. It brought down gum trees all around us and collapsed the tent on top of me and my beloved Casey virtually trapping us inside. Fiberglass poles shattered and tore through the tent and with the weight of the rain and hail, plus the pressure of the wind made it impossible to move. In the end we escape unharmed, with the exception being our tent.

What started like this...



Ended up like this...



So I pray that this trip is less eventful. :-) Watch this space!

Catching Up : Expat Catch-ups

I don't know where my time goes these days, but it certainly hasn't been going to blogging. I'm feeling way far behind. I still had grand plans of posting photos from our US trip from back in DECEMBER. Considering it is nearly June, I might forgo that. I also had grand plans of posting photos and details of the whole "Katie trip" in March/April. But again, getting a bit beyond that. So who knows. I also keep saying to Gregg that I'm so far behind in reading everyone else's blogs. I am so out of touch with all my favourite blogs. His advice is to just start reading going forward and not try to "catch up". But I want to catch up. :-) And since it is 2:00am and I am already rambling, I'll get to my real point. While I am concerned with catching up on blogs, I am actually taking the time to catch up with the real people behind the blogs. And that is way better. :-)

Three weeks ago Gregg and I were invited to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta hosted by a fellow blogger and great friend Laura and her husband Doc. This is the Laura behind the fantastic blog, Florida Girl In Sydney. Also in attendance were fellow bloggers Ana and her husband Don and Jenny and her husband Tom. Ana is another American expat blogger and the author of Teresi Family Oz Blog. Jenny, the newest expat to hit the Australian shores is the author behind The Yellow Brick Road.

It is widely discussed and agreed that there is little to no good Mexican food in Australia. Cinco de Mayo might not even register on Australian calendars, but it certainly didn't stop a bunch of Americans from taking the opportunity to put together a rip roaring fiesta! It was great. We all bought a speciality to share. Laura and Doc made margaritas and an AMAZING sangria (which I must get the recipe for). They also had the biggest taco bar I think I've ever seen! We topped the night off with a chocolate mousse cake courtesy of Laura's mom Pam (who was visiting from the US). We even sang a belated "Happy Birthday" to Gregg. In the eyes of children, if there is cake, it must be some one's birthday. :-)

We had some truly wonderful conversation and shared lots of laughs. It really affirmed for me how grateful I am for these new friendships and for the unconventional ways we all met.

Laura, Ana, Erin & Jenny

And whilst on the topic of catching up...

Last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting up with two other American expat bloggers, Daisy and Lindsay! I've been following the wild adventures of Daisy since the day I started my blog. She's never ceases to make me laugh. Earlier this year I also stumbled across Lindsay's blog. I admire this girl's tenacity and spunk.

The way technology works these days is a funny thing. So, you start a blog and you build up a readership. You start following other people's blogs who share a common connection (i.e. other American expats). You get to "know" one another through stories and photos posted on their and on their blogs. Then you might have a link to your Facebook account or your Twitter page on your blog. Then your blog readers become your Facebook friends and your Twitter followers. One day you realise that you are "friends" with people that you haven't even met in "real" life. Yet, you know their story. You relate to them. You understand them. You would be friends with them in "real" life. So one day you decide to meet, for real. And as with Laura, Ana and Jenny before, I did just that very thing last Friday. I added to my growing list of blogger friends by meeting Daisy and Lindsay!

Daisy is a local girl, but Lindsay lives in Melbourne. Lindsay recently had a good friend of hers visiting from the US. So Lindsay made the trip to Sydney and it gave Daisy and I a good excuse to meet! We had a fantastic lunch in The Rocks at The Argyle. We swapped stories and shared in some very interesting conversation! Unfortunately, I was working, only on my lunch hour so I wasn't able to stay long. I was a bit bummed as the rest of the girls had further sight-seeing planned for the afternoon and evening. But hey, we had a great time and I'm really thankful to have met them face to face. I am planning to get together with Daisy again soon and I know if I'm in Melbourne in the future I'll look up Lindsay too. If you want to check out these cool chicks, you can find Daisy at Very American Girl In Oz and Lindsay at Tales of a Yank.

Erin, Lindsay, Emily and Daisy

Who Wants To Be A Celebrity?

Not me.

I think I'd rather be a milllionaire instead.

Get a load of this video of Robert Pattinson taken at a photo call in Cannes yesterday. I give him so much credit for his patience. He never looks annoyed or bored. But seriously, after awhile wouldn't you be so tired of your own name?

At least something good came out of all of that fanfare... A bit of eye candy. :-)

Karen Can't Drive & Flounder Is Freaky

For Gregg's recent birthday he became the proud owner of a Navman GPS. Her name is Karen.

We haven't really needed to use her yet. We haven't gone anywhere outside of our area lately. And to be fair Karen does a great job around our area. We laugh at her inflection and pronunciation, but she does well.

On Sunday though, we thought we'd test her out. Gregg & I decided to hop in the car and head to the Sydney Fish Markets to get some fresh seafood for dinner. We thought we'd let Karen show us the way. :-)

We'll Karen sent us on all the major motorways and tunnels which we wouldn't normally use to get there. But, I (as the driver) obeyed her.

The journey was going swimmingly until we got to the Cahill Expressway. (For non-Sydneysiders this obviously means nothing, but bear with me.) This is an area where the road branches into a Y and the right lanes go toward the Harbour Tunnel and the left lanes go over the Harbour Bridge. From where we were coming from her directions were to "bear right, then left"... Huh? Bear right I understand, but when do you want me to bear left? She could have just said, go over the damn bridge!!! But no, I got "bear right, the left." Oh you mean I was supposed to bear left on that single little lane that juts off? Yep.

I can't tell you the number of times I've driven across AND under the bridge. I am actually quite proud of my driving skills. I get myself all over this city on my own. But Karen had to go an muck it all up for me!

So, once you miss that little lane that takes you over the bridge, you are stuck and you are forced to go under the bridge thru the Harbour Tunnel. There are no U-turn bays, you are stuck. So... I continued along and Karen shut up for 3 kilometres. (Bless you tunnel that cut off her signal.) Once I exited the other end of the tunnel I thought I'd let her fix her mistake. Tell me where you want me to go... Bear in mind that I know where I am all along. I know exactly how to get where I was going, but I thought I'd follow the leader, follow Karen.

She led me to Kings Cross. Gregg snapped the Coca-Cola sign for me out the window.

Then she led me across the city centre near Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building.

We then headed toward Pyrmont. FINALLY we were making some progress!

We finally arrived at the Sydney Fish Markets, no thanks to Karen!



We battled the crowds.

We scoped the fresh catch.

I nearly broke out into song and dance, hearing a familiar B-52s song ringing in my head.

We discussed the bizarre fish that are flounder. Have you every really looked at these things close up? They are weird!

We made our purchases and headed to the car. Prawns, squid, scallops, yellow-fin tuna, snapper...

The best part of the day was chilling with Gregg, oh and driving over my favourite bridge in Sydney! I love bridges. But I love the Anzac Bridge the best!

Karen was relegated to the backseat and Gregg and I enjoyed a leisurely drive home... without getting lost! :-)

Despite technology, a great day! Oh and a fabulous dinner followed!