kangaroo sightings

Heard around the office again today, "I don't want to tell you how to suck eggs." I believe its from the expression, "Don't try to teach your Grandma to suck eggs." I understand the intended meaning: to not teach something that should already be known to a person who should already know it. But, what if you don't know how to suck eggs? Is the appropriate response to this statement, "actually, I would very much appreciate if you could tell me how to suck eggs?" Or perhaps its better that I ask my Grandma? In more important news, the Australian tectonic plate seems to be a bit antsy the last few days. My thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives were lost or devastated in the last two days. The earth is both amazing and amazingly powerful.

Yeah, I went there for dinner. In other news, I let an aussie sytlist cut my hair today. All I can say is 'whoops' and good thing it will eventually grow out. The good news is I think he took about 12 years off of my age. The bad news is that I look like I'm 14 again! Oh, and Australia doesn't understand the word 'bangs.' I thought the stylist was kidding but it turns out he really had no idea what I was talking about. The word here is 'fringe.' I'm not sure how to make that plural though so instead of 'I have bangs now' perhaps it is 'I have fringe?' Or 'I've been fringed?' Whatever the saying is, I have it/them now and headbands may be my new best friend until it/they grow(s) out. I must say though that the salon I went to (Room 53 in E. Brunswick) was good. I parted with far too much money and am not entirely sure that I signed up for what I walked out with, but everyone was friendly, there was free coffee, and the sham...

beautiful extreme (google: 'Australia & poisonous'; image search: 'Australia & outback') unique from any place i've ever seen similar to every place i've ever seen simple and laid back difficult and uptight lonely eye-opening ... Closing thought that is completely unrelated: my current career is cool. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6471241.stm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0119_060119_jellyfish.html and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8155417.stm and http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070222-squid-pictures.html I wonder how big they are in Queensland?!?

So, I obviously have not blogged since Easter and I do apologize for that, but something monumental has just happened and I had to post it. For the first time since I was 16, I am 100% debt free. No car loans and, more importantly, no more student loans! I suppose its time for me to go back for my PhD now, eh? Now, off to pack for our trip to the Great Ocean Road! Hopefully pictures to follow, but I suppose you never know with me...

I had no idea that hot cross buns had any religious significance, but I suppose you learn something everyday. According to Wikipedia, hot cross buns are "traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion." All I know is there were massive amounts of hot cross buns brought to work last Thursday before the long Easter holiday (Australia takes Good Friday and Easter Monday as holidays). I made it a point to try both the traditional hot cross bun with currants and the more popular hot cross bun with chocolate chips (apparently an Australian spin on the buns). I must say, warm bread with icing and chocolate chips served with a little bit of butter... mmm. I had two! Happy Easter!

Our road trip took us on a 1500km drive from Melbourne to Sydney (yes, those cities are only 880km apart via Hume Freeway, but the easy way is never fun). We actually went Sydney to Melbourne via the Great Alpine Road and the coastal scenic drive. Both were fantastic and with a one-way rental car for less than 8 AUD /day and unlimited kilometers, why not!?! The highlight of the Great Alpine Road was the pass up and over Mt Hotham . Not as tall as many of the passes in the US (at only 1860m) but gorgeous nonetheless. There's a ski resort up there that Brendan and I will definitely be back to check out in the winter – anyone is welcome to join! We pushed on to the coast and ended up staying in a roadside motel that night. The place was packed when we pulled in. However, we determined that this must have been the entire town hanging out at the bar since we were the first people to sign the guestbook in over a month and the parking lot was not equally as packed in the morning! The next...