Brisbane Day #1

 Well, I'm here. I almost missed my connection from Sydney to Brisbane
because I had to go through customs, but they finally realized I had
to rush, so they put me at the head of the line! Yay!

 It is winter here - 70 degrees, sunny and beautiful winter. Palm
trees, brightly colored buildings, lots of open air restaurants by the
water, and beautiful architecture so far. Rachel, Zach, Tom and I
walked to lunch down by the water and had a wonderful fish and chips.
Then when Tom left us to go shoot some hoops with some little kids
that were hanging around (they wiped his butt), Zach, Rach and I
walked along the river back to the apartment.

 Brisbane - We played bowls! On a very short, cropped grassy flatland.
 The best - it is bocci with beer! And then there is the rockabilly
band and all the local beeboppers - they were great! Before we knew
it, 4 hours had passed! I lost at bowls, but had a lot of fun!

 Took a long walk along the river - it is just beautiful! There is a
beautiful sandy beach, right next to the river - not part of the
river, but man-made and beautiful. Apparently it gets really hot in
the summer and the beach is really crowded!

 More to come with pictures!

Day 1: Thursday, July 2
 Starting out at 10:30 am in Hartford, taking bus to NYC penn station. Uneventful. 2:30 - Waited 1/2 hour for A train to Howard Beach/JFK. Good news - only costs $2 (yes, subway fares have gone up). Air train to terminal 7, last stop. Didn't know I needed a visa to travel to Australia! How fortuitous that you can buy one at airport! $25. 7 PM - flight to LA, arrived at 10 PM (1 am Friday) est. Leaving at midnight for Sidney (3 am est, 5 pm Aussie time, Friday)

 Talked with mom and daughter from Melbourne on flight to LA. VERY nice. They mentioned some attractions to visit in Sydney.

 Stay tuned for more interesting stuff once I am down under!

 -Musicmama
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Here is the second half of my Christmas gift to you - the Brooder half of the Whinnem clan!  Hopefully more on the way, but I couldn't wait to show you these! 

Rachel - this is intended as a Christmas present to you!  Have fun!  More to come!  :) Ma

I thought I should include some pictures in the post, especially since the last two I have read were full of great pictures.  So the story that goes along --- the picture of me is me being happy in my office cuz I talked to both my kids at the same time last night - one was in San Francisco and the other was in Brisbane, Australia!  Have I mentioned that I love skype?  Well, it is just the coolest thing since sliced bread (which you can see at liberated fish's posterous, if you are so inclined!)

I have also included some pictures of my handiwork, for Rachel's friend Becky, really.  The blue sweater is one I made for Rachel last year.  She loves it, but I am going to guess that she won't be wearing it much in the 95% weather in Brisbane!  The red sweater is a baby sweater I made last year - this is the pattern I found in Portland last summer and it is done all in one piece.  Very unusual! 

Then there are the couple of unusual pictures of me and Rachel loving a tree - that is actually the world's smallest park - yes, you read that correctly - it is in the middle of the street in Portland and has the official paperwork and credentials to back up the claim! 

The we have a picture of Rachel on the ferry on our adventure last summer when we went from Bridgeport to Long Island on the ferry for my birthday!  That was fun, and you can tell from the happy look on Rachel's face.  And then we have a picture of me and one of Becky and Mac dog on her friend Nino's deck in Bernal Heights, San Fran.

One of my favorite pictures is the one of me and Lala on the swing in the backyard, with all her creatures.  That swing is old, but holds many a memory of naps by me in the backyard - not so many lately, for sure, but some, for sure!  I especially like Lala's glasses!    Oh, and don't miss the picture of Becky and Lala playing with her toys.  Lala wanted to read "The Rise and Fall of the 3rd Reich", but Becky talked her into the my little ponies scenerio.  Becky later gave in to the reading assignment.

Stay tuned for more funny pictures, as I think this is the direction that this posterous is heading.  It will be interesting to see where it goes ---- 

Lastly, but certainly not leastly,  Rachel, we love you and will miss you for Thanksgiving.  Hope that you and Zach and Tom have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, and reflect on all the things that we do indeed have to be thankful for.  And, after all, who doesn't like Turkey Day clip art??? 

Here is me happy to be using my web cam! 

I don't know why any random people would be viewing my posterous, but if you are, and you have loved ones that are a distance away, you really need skype calling service!  I have a daughter who is spending two years in Australia, and not only can we talk over the computer, but with a webcam, we can see each other!  And I can also do the same with my daughter in San Francisco, and we can set up a 3-way conversation as well - all for free!   Everyone in the world probably already knows this, and I am not telling you anything new, but on the off chance that there is someone out there who doesn't already know, now you do! 

I LOVE SKYPE!!!  Picture me smiling!

Enjoy the crazy corn maze and favorite time this past October in Portland with Rebecca and Rachel for the pre-Brisbane gathering! 

 

 

Yes, tomorrow is an important day - we will be electing our next President - an historic day in everybody's life, this country and abroad.  And tomorrow is also important because I  will be thinking about and wishing well to two special people in my life.  Rachel and Zach - we here in the states will be thinking of you as you embark on this great adventure.  I hope you enjoy every minute, and mostly I know that you will  support each other on this journey.  You are very important to each other and to many of us here - take care - we love you.

Tune into the last big week before the playoffs!  Will the sox give Tampa Bay a run for first place??