Eventful Times with Dead Camera Batteries

While nothing terribly exciting happens during the week (unless you count after-sales service for boats exciting, which I don't), I did have a very good weekend last week. Unfortunately, my camera batteries were dead, so none of the action was documented.



On Saturday, Amy and I went to Burswood, which is a resort, casino, mini Las Vegas strip just south of the Margaret River. We went for what I like to call "extremely low stakes gambling," and Oktoberfest at one of the pubs in the resort. Unfortunately, Oktoberfest was dead in the middle of the afternoon, but the food was good. After promptly losing $40 (my limit) at the $2.50 bet roulette table, we headed to Ikea to buy some things for Amy's house.



That night, we headed to the Paddo, a pub in Mt. Hawthorne, for Amy's birthday celebration. We had a very good time, and even found a stag party with an open bar, so the beers were free! My favorite kind of beer is free beer!



After leaving the Paddo, I headed to another birthday party for my friend Ryan at his house. As I got there a little late, everyone was feeling really good by the time I got there. Amy met up with Taryn and I at Ryan's and we ended up staying over at her house.



Sunday afternoon, I went over to Darryl and Brenda's and swam and played Rock Band. I killed the vocals on "Say It Ain't So"!



Tuesday, I came home from work to some very exciting news. Amy's parents, who live in a house with AMAZING ocean views, were leaving for Melbourne the next day, and were wondering if I would like to house-sit and watch the two cats, both 17, and the dog, 14. The house is beautiful, and the animals are awesome (I'll post some photos later), but the best part is that they have also entrusted me with their Saab convertible. Yes, that's right, I've been driving myself around Perth! Driving on the "wrong" side of the road isn't as scary as you would think, and I've only turned onto the wrong side once. It does feel really good to be able to hop in the car and go, I have to admit. I may need to rethink my whole, "I don't need a car" stance. I don't need one, but I think I might want one now!



I've got another jam packed weekend ahead! Amy's husbad is home from his job working on the oil rigs, so he has requested a "spa party" (a spa is a jacuzzi) at Amy's parents house. So....that should be fun. Tomorrow Darryl and Brenda are moving to their new house, so all hands will be on deck to help. Sunday is looking a bit lazy, and for that, I'm excited.

Next Tuesday is the Melbourne Cup. For those of you who don't know, the entire country stops (literally) to watch Australia's Kentucky Derby. Even at work, we will have a luncheon with chicken, salad, rolls and champagne. Yes, champagne at work. Not something that happens very often in the States. I'll be sure to take some photos and post them.

That's all for now!

Into the Bush

On Sunday, I went for a walk with Darryl and Brenda in the Craigie Bush, which is actually just a park in one of the suburbs.  However, it was really exotic to me!  Here are just a collection of photos.  We saw a lot of parrots and cockatoos in the trees! Luckily, I didn't see any snakes, but we did find a blue tongued skink! 

You can see the parrot if you look REALLY hard!

Blue Tongued Skink

Please note the switch in my hand. It's used to swat flies.

Up the Coast in a 300SLX

On Saturday, I went on my first "real" ride up the coast with Stephen.  We needed to bring a 300SLX that we sold at the Mandurah Boat Show from Mandurah to Hillary's, our local marina.  The trip took nearly 3 hours total (with a stop in Fremantle for fish and chips).  It was definitely rougher than the lakes and rivers in East Tennessee, but I am happy to report that I didn't get seasick!  It was the first really warm day (nearly 100 degrees), so I was glad that I was on the water....until I got off the boat and realized how dehydrated I was!

The video below was taken for Adam, one of our salesmen, who was second in line to bring the boat up the coast.  

Here are a couple of photos from the trip!

Sailboat Hire in Fremantle Harbour

Underway on the Indian Ocean

The Marina in Mandurah

Brenda's Birthday!

Last Wednesday was my friend Brenda's 40th birthday!  We had buffalo wings, wood fired pizza (the marinated lamb was my favorite!), pumpkin whoopie pies for dessert, a lot of wine, and a WHOLE lot of dancin'!

Editor's Note

I just wanted to clear up some confusion about Australian viewpoints that might come from a very strange coincidence.  Yesterday, I posted a photo of some Golliwog dolls that I discovered in the mall over the weekend.  As it turns out, they are very rare, and, in fact, Glenda thought that they were banned from sale on the continent.  

Similarly, over the next day or two, you may hear a fuss about a black face skit on the reunion of a popular variety show from the 70's and 80's called "Hey Hey It's Saturday!"  The skit was originally performed 20 years ago and was brought back for the reunion show on a segment called Red Faces, in which people embarrass the hell out of themselves (if you clicked the link on my Vegemite post, you will see a clip from last week's Red Faces).  The performers are judged by a panel, including a celebrity judge, who last night happened to be Harry Connick Jr.  He was terribly uncomfortable by the skit (which was meant to be a Jackson Family Reunion), and was later apologized to by the host of the show.  Always the southern gentleman, he handled the situation with class, and simply explained that, as an American, it was highly offensive.  

So, with that I just wanted to clear up the fact that Aussies are not racist.  While they do not really understand Americans extreme sensivitity to race issues, they do accept the sensitivities of some towards those issues.  It's been all over the news this morning, and no one here really sees what the fuss was about.  They were just having a laugh with no malice intended.  I, however, just about fell off the couch when the skit started.

My First Roo Sighting

Between Freemantle and throwing some snaggers on the barbie, Brenda took me to Pinaroo Memorial Park.  Since arriving in Perth, I have been told that this is the best place to see kangaroos without going into the bush.  The only downside is that it's a cemetery.  Creepy as it is, there were tons of Roo's, some with joeys.  Check out the video below!  I'm sorry if I sound like a complete moron, but I was so excited!

Freemantle and Politically Incorrect Children's Toys

After two weeks in Oz, I am settling into work, my body clock is slowly adjusting and I am having a lot of fun!  On Saturday, I met up with Brenda, who moved to Perth from Florida 3 years ago after Challenge stole her husband away from his job at Sea Ray.  Brenda suggested that we head down to Freemantle, a port town about 22km south of Perth.  We went to the Freo markets, walked around town and even stopped at a lovely brewery on the water called Little Creatures!  Afterward, we headed back to her house for some snaggers (sausages) and wings on the barbie.  They are wonderful people and, even after only two weeks, it's nice to be able to start sentences without the phrase "Back in The States...."  

Here are a few photos of Freemantle:

The Freemantle Market

Senior Photo Nostalgia with a Statue

Freemantle Harbor

On Sunday afternoon, I went with Aileen, Taryn and Shannon to the Galleria for some light shoe shopping and general browsing.  When walking past a book store, I spotted the dolls in the photo below. While I do not endorse their sale, I was SO amazed that they were actually on sale that I took a photo of Shannon with them.  Apparently, they are called Golliwogs.

Shannie helping to set us back 150 years

Vegemite!

Vegemite is notorious in American culture as a disgusting yeast paste that Aussie's bathe in!  Although some have been known to use it as hair gel, sunscreen and toothpaste, most regard it as a lovely spread from toast and crackers.  Here is my first attempt at eating it...

Please note that the spreading was done by Taryn (and she did a top job!), with cinematography credits going to Brett.

Sharp Australian Wit

Aussies are well known for being quite witty!  Shannon did her best to get her family to display their "sharp Australian wit" for the camera.  Unfortunately, no one felt particularly witty!

Wren Family Picnic

As promised, here a couple of videos of the picnic in Mundaring State Park!

Bocce with the Wren family!

A friendly game of Frisbee!

Just Another Day at the Office