Us Two ....

on saying goodbye

2008-07-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Blogging, for me, has served its functions throughout the years.

Almost three years to be exact.
Blogging kept me entertained when I was bored, connected when I was lonely, affirmed when I was insecure and in contact when I was a long way away.
And while it's not as if I never experience those emotions now, I feel as if blogging no longer has a place in my life. And so I'm saying goodbye.
I have thought long and hard for awhile now about putting an end to my blog and I have come to the point where I need to let it go. My reasons are numerous.
For me, it started out thinking about issues of privacy. Privacy for myself, my family and the people I write about. We all know the internet is a big scary place sometimes and while I'm really not the type to be too paranoid about those sorts of things, I started thinking about how maybe I should be a little more paranoid about those things.

And then I started thinking a little more about blogging and about how it is something that often involves references to my husband, yet he is not necessarily 100% on board with the whole blogging world. I would say that's a common feeling among many husbands, or so it would seem. Brad is not the reason I am quitting blogging and I would never reduce it to that, but I feel as if I want to respect his privacy and our family by not being so public anymore about what goes on in our house. If I can respect my husband more by this one simple action, then I will.

But I would say it's my final reason that is the determinate for putting an end to my blog. Many times over in my life I have been struck with how easy it is to spend hours and hours of time on the internet. Hours and hours. And it becomes normal and it becomes obsessive. I have often found myself telling everyone about HOW VERY BUSY I am, yet I somehow find time to sit down on here.
Brad and I have experienced and become passionate about community, and loving people and showing the love of Christ in real and genuine ways through caring. And I don't want to just spout that off and say that I want to care but then not make time for people.
And so I have decided that instead of sitting on the computer for 30 minutes or an hour, I'm going to pick up the phone and give that friend a call and meet them for a coffee and see how they are doing.
Because I don't think one comment on a blog or a two lined note on a facebook wall is any decent substitute for friendship.
And I don't want to develop or enforce habits of relying on comments on my blog for affirmation in my life. Comments are great. Yes. I don't argue that point.
But, for me, I want genuine accountability and encouragement.
I believe life can go deeper than blog comments.
And I believe that, many times over, the line of what is appropriate to share and what is not appropriate to share has been crossed on my blog and others, and I don't want to fight any more with the possibility of not respecting myself by sharing something that belongs solely within the knowledge of those in whom I choose to share it.

By making this decision and even writing this post, I am not trying to make claim to some higher moral ground. I doubt if I'll ever reach that higher moral ground. I will still spend some time on the computer and even make my way around to read various blogs at times. I just don't want it to be an ingrained part of my routine. I don't want to think twice about not going on the computer in a day.
I lived one year of stress and one year of bliss and I know the difference had nothing to do with surfboards, beaches, and bikinis. It had all to do with time.
Time to sit on the couch and do nothing but lean against the shoulder of my husband.
Time to be spontaneous.
Time people spent caring for us by spending quality time with us.
Time spent off the computer and in a community of friends.
And I believe that that community doesn't only exist in some exotic country where life appears to be more simple.
I believe that community can exist when you make the effort.
And make the choices that you feel need to be made in order to make things happen.
And I feel that this is one of many choices I have to make.

This blog isn't going to disappear right away, as I have am going to go about finding a way to some how save much that has been written on here. Because like I said, blogging has been good! and I have documented much of my life on here. And I wouldn't mind saving it.
But soon, it will be gone.
So thank you.
Thank you for reading and encouraging me through this blog for a long while. I appreciate it.
I really really do.
And I will mourn the loss of not having a place to write run on sentences, use dashes and periods inappropriately and make appropriate use of sentence fragments.
I will miss being creative.
But, in the end, or even starting now, I believe it will be worth it.
I know it's worth it.

stephanie.riemer@hotmail.com

more pictures

2008-06-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

It has been a good week here in Australia, though not without its ups and downs. Ups being sunny days, good waves, 6 seasons of ALIAS on DVD, knit toques, good sales and great friends. Downs being good byes, decisions, course registration and broken surfboards that might happen to NOT be our own but one that someone in this family MIGHT have been riding at the time.

Stories for another day.

But Brad has been hard at work taking pictures and editing them to perfection. I think that when we come home, we'll have one album with all the sucky pictures I took- the ones of my dirty feet, our laundry line and our tacky apartment. The other album will be Brad's artsy surfing pictures and such, that are really just so much better to look at then the tan lines on my feet.

So here is some more pictures of what has been going on here, as we live out the final THREE days in Australia.

Three days people.

You sick of the countdown?

I am.

These are Brad's cuts from the fin of his surfboard.

Lovely.

Of course, what blog post would be complete without pictures of Bear.

The best dog ever created.

2008-06-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

sharks

2008-06-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

So this whole trip has basically been gearing up to the point in which we go home. We never came to Australia with the intention of staying here forever, though many times over we have asked ourselves what it would take to make Australia our permanent home.

We're still working out the logistics of that one.

But for now, and for the past 12 months, we are counting down the days until we say goodbye. I believe today, the count is at 16 days until we leave.

I'm not going to say that it's completely unbelievable that we

have to say good bye so soon, because the ending was inevitable.

We knew it was going to come to an end.

And it's a pretty amazing thing how your mind prepares yourself to leave, and the natural process of distancing one's self happens.

And it becomes exciting to think of returning to all that you left behind and picking up where you left off- except with a somewhat altered view of how you want to live your life.

Nevertheless, it's going to be hard to physically walk out of the door and say good bye to our lives here.

SEE, I'm crying as I think about it.

Okay, let's move on from that topic.

What I WAS going to say was that in the name of leaving, we decided that we needed to go camping one last time here in Australia.

And so last weekend, a whole bunch of us went to our favourite little spot about 30 minutes south of here and had a great weekend.

It was pretty laid back. The surf wasn't that great and so we spent our days golfing, longboarding, walking on the beach and talking. Oh, and eating.

Essential elements for a great weekend.

You might have noticed that the pictures that make their way onto this blog contain less of anyone else, and pretty much only Brad and I.

And the dog.

I have to admit that as time goes on, I have decided not to include other people's lives on my blog. NOT because I don't want to, or because I have nothing to

say about them.

Because I do. Because they're great.

But just because I have decided that I'm okay to put my life online, I'm not going to put theirs.

Just in case you were wondering why I talk about these friends of ours and then say nothing more about them.

They exist. I swear.

And if you want to spend some time together in a couple of weeks, I'll show you some pictures of them- because they're so worth knowing.

But anyways, there was some cool pics that Brad caught this weekend. As usual- Brad takes the pictures in this family.

Brad and our housemate went diving to try and get some fish for our dinner. They didn't find any fish but they did find a shark.

A small shark, yes..but still, it's a shark.

And of course, our friend has just no problem picking it up.

Anyways, happy weekends to everyone. That's all there is to say today.

Attacked by a Bear

2008-06-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, it was decided that Bear needed a mat. He is supposed to be an outside dog, though following the death of Jack, we took pity on him and let him come in the back of the house.

Because you know, Bear was mourning the loss of his friend.
We could tell.

He needed our comfort.

So Bear started coming in the house a little bit more and we thought that he needed a place to sit and so maybe, just maybe, not so much dog hair would get everywhere.

And maybe, just maybe, he would not casually pull himself across the floor until you're left wondering how he came to rest his big drooling head on your lap.

So my housemate had the brilliant idea of making a Bear mat out of a bunch of old clothes that were headed for the thrift store. We set about the task of cutting old work shirts into strips, braiding them together and then sewing the whole mat in one big snail like fashion.

For the love of a dog.

We laboured on this mat. Let me tell you, WE WORKED HARD. It became a little bit of an obsession for me, perhaps because the appeal of sewing rags together just seemed so much more exciting than reading about Ancient Greece.

It was a little bit of a frustrating endeavour because as we would get excited about the progress that was made, Bear would come and lie on it and dwarf the whole thing.

Making a mat for a dog that size is a little daunting.

Anyways, we came to a point where we ran out of material and we ran out of steam. And so Bear has had a kind of a half finished mat for the last little while.

He lies on it and gets the point when we say "BEAR! Get on your mat."

But then, somedays, we find his mat mysteriously out in the yard and we wonder how it found his way out there.

And then Brad caught this video.

And we learned that maybe, just maybe, Bear isn't so keen on that mat that we so lovingly made for him.

Brad and I find this video pretty hilarious and as I sat here watching it, laughing, I got thinking about how maybe it's just us that find it funny. Maybe it's like those parents who have that kid that just sits there and blinks and it's deemed the world's greatest moment.

Maybe Bear is just our kid, that looks at us with those big soulful eyes as he rips up the mat we made.

Yet we still love him.

In fact, we love him more for it.

Maybe we just need a kid.

Or not.

attack by a Bear from Stephanie Riemer on Vimeo.

Lighthouse

2008-05-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

Just a few more pictures of south beach wollongong. I dropped our house mate off at his work early this morning and I found this sunrise on the way home. Not much for waves but that is what I love about the ocean.... it never fails to produce some sort of neat-o-ness...and by now you have probably guessed that this is not the usual typing perfection of stephanie riemer but the ever-clever neat-o-ness of her loving husband.

later dudes.... B

surf pics

2008-05-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

If you continue to scroll down this page, you're about to be inundated with a stack of surfing/beach pictures. Brad experienced the best day of surf the other day and captured bits of it on our camera. My personal philosophy lately, that I have been enforcing on Brad, is that you can't put videos in photo albums. It's often a lot easier to take a notchy little video on our digital camera other than catching the moment through a still picture. Nevertheless, videos don't do you a whole heap of good long term. So we're making more of an effort to get some pictures of our experiences here.
Brad wanted to share these pictures with his surfing buddies at home so they can vicariously experience what goes down in Brad's books as THE. MOST. AMAZING. SURF . EVER, complete with numerous barrel rides.
This blog is the most convenient place to share pictures at this point.
So now there is large amount of photos on this blog but it sums up a bit of our life. This is the beach where we walk Bear on an almost daily basis and where, when the winds are just right and the swell is nearly perfect, you can experience some perfect barreling waves.
All less than a 5 minute walk from our house.

no longer newlyweds

2008-05-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Brad and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary here in Australia and you know the key ingredient to a good anniversary? Live for some months with friends and don't go out for a nice dinner as a couple for months and months on end and then, your night out will be amazing. The sheer novelty of the event made it all the more exciting. The fact that Brad and I had the opportunity and the reason to go out just the two of us was so much fun. We spent so much time together when we first arrived over here last July, however slowly, we have become more involved in a social lifestyle.

Which is great.

And we have no complaints.

It just makes those times we spend together that much better.

I know it's pretty stereotypical to say the whole, "I can't believe it's already been two years!" thing. But seriously, I can't believe it has already been two years.
And I know that to those of you who are entering into the double digits of married life, two years sounds like hardly anything at all. But- I don't know- two years is sounding like a long time right now. This last year, especially, has flown by and I'm excited to say that we've been married for two years and it's still this good.

And so I guesss in typical circumstances, I would insert something sentimental here about how these past two years have been the best two years of my rather short life. And while they actually have been the best years of my rather short life, I think I feel more hestitant now to share more intimately why that is. Perhaps its because my passion for blogging and splashing my life on the internet is quickly waning.

Or perhaps it's because the one who actually needs to hear about why he has made the best two years the best of my life doesn't often read the things that are written here, so why tell everyone else the things that just he really needs to hear.

So instead, I'll leave it at just this. Two years ago, when this whole thing started, I think that I had many opinions on how things should be. On how they should run, on how we should act, on how our marriage should be. Opinions and expectations that I didn't realize I had.

Two years later, I'm still working my way through and negotiating those expectations and, ultimately, throwing a lot of them out of the way. Because when I realized that this is me, and that is you, and this is how we work, who cares about what I thought that everyone else thought we were supposed to be like.

Because at the end of the day, when it's just the two us, I feel safe in what we have. I feel comfortable in what we have. I love what we have.

Because it's ours.

And knowing I'm going to be loved forever has yet to get old.

the scoop on poop and the day I turned twenty-two(p)

2008-05-12T04:48:00.000-07:00

So as you may or not know, May 11th marks the day of my birth. And, in fact, I was born on Mother's Day 22 years ago.
Which means something significant. Not too sure what but the fact that my birthday falls on that special day means I am special.
Or at least that's what my mom tells me.
So yesterday was my birthday and it was a good day. Albeit, not a perfect day, but good nonetheless.
The highlight of the day was the part in which me, my hubby and my bestest friends over here met at the beach for a delicious morning birthday breakfast, wherein we all rolled out of bed and pigged out as the sun began to poke through the clouds.
It was a good time. And it was good food.
And I was again, as I am struck almost daily, about what an absolutely amazing group of friends we have developed here that they come out early on the weekend to spend time with me to celebrate my birthday.
And not only did I get to have a birthday party with friends! in Australia! they made me a present too.
My housemate was out until after 2 am the night before and I spent a good many minutes (before I fell asleep) worrying about her being up all night, as if she needed me and her husband worrying so desperately. It turns out that she and two of my other good friends were up putting together a scrapbook of pictures of Brad and I's time in Australia. They took a bunch of pictures off of our computer (without me knowing), combined them with some of their pictures and put it together in a book, with a narrative written in.
They figured that going home, we're going to have enough to worry about and pay for that having to print out all of our pictures so we can share them with people would be just that extra task.
So they did it for me.
And I love them for it.
AND, on top of that, in the back they included all my favourite Australian recipes and the knitting patterns that my dear, dear, DEAR friend has made that I love.
And while that just all sounds more geeky than you can handle, it warmed my heart in a real deep way that they were so thoughtful.

So now I'm 22. Sometimes, when I think that I'm sitting here in Australia, with my husband of two years, preparing to graduate from University in a year and to return home to my house that I am (semi) responsible for, it feels as if I have lived longer than 22 years. But then again, I don't feel like I have because really, I'm still just a little kid.
Maybe I'll adopt Brad's philosophy- maturity is all relative.
But if I had to say something profound, I think I'd say something about how I have just spent probably one of the best years out of my 22 years. Most of the time, I had little money, hardly shopped, hardly went out for dinner, hardly bought new things, lived amongst cockroaches, and yet I have never ever been so content before. Ever.
Maybe that's not so profound, but that's just what I feel.

And on a completely none profound note:
Yesterday we had the families of our housemates over for lunch to celebrate Mother's Day.
And you know when you know that you have married the right man?
When he volunteers to go out and scoop up dog poo.
Bear sized dog poo.
BAGS OF DOG POO.
What a champion.
Brad is my hero. Not just because he picks up dog poo in his free time, but also because he makes me happy on a daily basis.
Very, very happy.

And Bear makes me happy too. Can you tell there's a slight animal obsession here? I'm not the only one. I believe Brad and Bear went for 2 walks today.
And they dug holes together in the sand.
And they held hands and walked all the way home together.

doggies

2008-05-09T15:46:00.001-07:00

I've always loved animals, in general. Dogs more particularly.

This love for dogs usually manifests itself in a high pitched voice, followed by a giant, "aww.." The fact that we have managed to move in with two extremely generous, sweet people AND they have a dog (formally dogs) is just a little too much excitement for me.

Every morning I wake up and go outside to make sure Bear slept okay- and if you think I'm kidding, I'm totally not because there's nothing like a big dog coming to rest his head in your lap because he was lonely without you all night.

I promise you this is not going to be a long winded post about dogs because I have a reputation to uphold and nothing says 'lack of cool lifestyle' more than writing about dog. A dog that isn't even your own.

But this dog, Bear, is worth telling a story about. He's huge. Well, bigger than most dogs you come across. As you stand next to him, his head easily reaches your waist. His weight is estimated somewhere between 90- 100 pounds.

That's a lot of dog.

A few mornings back- or like a few weeks back in the morning-

we were all sitting inside eating breakfast. It was a Saturday, which means that it was Saturday breakfast, sort of like the one my hubby is preparing right now as I lazily sit on the computer and type this- eggs, bacon, homemade bread

toast, coffee..yum.

The window was open and the delicious favours were all wafting outside, tempting the poor dogs who were banished to the out of doors.

Bear, in his eagerness to be a part of all that was going on, kept popping his head in the window to take a look at what was happening.

And to maybe get a little snack.

Then all of a sudden, as we sat there relaxed and full, we hear a big

bang and the panicked scraping of claws.

Bear, in desperation, had jumped through the window.

He hadn't just TRIED to jump through the window. He DID jump through the

window.

THAT is a big dog.

We laughed in disbelief and then I lovingly held on to that 100 pound dog and lifted him down so he wouldn't fall out backwards.

And then we put him back outside.

The rough life of a dog.

And in memory of cute little Jack, who loved to lie on Bear and use him for a bed. And use his big lips as a chewing toy.

weekends

2008-05-04T01:27:00.000-07:00

Winter has hit us about 5 weeks early here.

That means that sooner than we should have to, we've been wearing scarves, pants, and sometimes, shoes. And just the reality that some days it's so cold that we have to put shoes on our feet is just so sad.
Life is so much better without shoes.
Though despite the freezing cold temperatures of around 18 degrees or so (just so SO cold), we have been spoiled the last two weekends with bright, warm sunshine.
Sunshine so glorious that I don't hesitate to leave the house clad in not much more than a bathing suit, because where else would you go on a day like that than the beach?
And so we did what we do every weekend we're able. We pack ourselves up and head to the Farm.
Because the Farm is paradise.
I live in paradise.
Sick of me saying that yet?
This week we even managed to get some pictures of the blessed event.
I believe this was inadvertently taken after Rob stepped in a pile of thistles and Liz dropped our new camera. In the grass, so it was okay. Better than the pavement where I dropped our old one numerous times.
I think that since we've got here, we don't have one single good picture of Brad and I where we are dressed in non-clashing clean clothes with clean combed hair and toes with no dirt in between them. Our lifestyle here is one so casual that picking matching outfits and applying eyeliner often isn't on the agenda.
For either of us.
We're a little bogan sometimes. Bogan meaning like, a form of redneck.
Another form of classy.
We're all about that.

footy, friends and fotos

2008-05-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

I walk to school, by myself, at least 4 times a week (45 minutes each trip). That's three hours of thinking time.
And I drive a couple hours a week to pick up Bradley from his work out of town.
Yet, despite all this time I have to throw around ideas in my head, I never seem to sit down here to write them out. The intentions are totally there, but the follow through- not working out for me.
Kind of like a few weeks ago, I was going to write about how my favourite little puppy was tragically killed. Jack, the little Jack Russell puppy that nestled perfectly in my arms, was on vacation with our housemates and got into an accident involving the highway and fast moving cars.
It was pretty sad.
I cried. For the dog.
And for our friends who had to say goodbye to their little puppy.
But now, it's just sweet memories of little Jack and his little spunky personality.
And now, there's just Bear. The part dog, part human animal that wishes to sit in your lap and collect all the attention that was lovingly bestowed on Jack before.
And I'm okay with that.

But that's a little too depressing for this early morning post that I'm writing. Let's talk about more exciting things.
Things like.. we got our camera back! Wait- it's not 'our' camera but, more so, it's a brand new camera.
They sent us a brand brand new camera, still in the box.
New battery, new chords, everything.
Thank you Olympus.
It came in the mail, no strings attached, just a simple offering to replace the product that had previously malfunctioned.
I thought about phoning up the company just to thank you. I have to say thank you. Who just sends you a new camera in the mail and doesn't ask for a thank you in return.
OLYMPUS- You're great.

So you know what that means, now that we have our new camera back?? That I probably won't be posting any more than usual!
Boring me huh?
I just don't like to make promises and not live up to them. That's quite the sin in our household, therefore, I won't attempt to make a promise on this blog.
But you might, just once in awhile, see more pictures of our life here.

But look, our camera works just as well as before.
See?

Actually, wait. It was broken in that picture. That's why I look like that. I am totally more photogenic that to blink in every single picture taken, aren't I?
Brad what did you say? Your wife blinks in every picture?
Such a lie.
Here's the one from the night that I didn't blink in. The only one of many that I didn't blink in.
Last night we fulfilled one of our very very few 'must-do's in Australia. Up there with NOT getting eaten by a killer shark and being bitten by a deadly snake was going to see a rugby game.
Back in the day (a few months ago) before Brad and I had friends that just spoiled us with their love and generousity, we would spend our weekends at the local club and watch footy games. We started to understand most of the rules and even knew some of the teams.
Like that one- we know them because they have a player that looks like Brad Pitt.
And that team- they have a player that likes to smile.
We knew the teams intimately.
We haven't been spending time watching the games as much lately but we have said many times over that we have to see a game live before we leave.
So last night there was a big game here in Wollongong between the city players and country players. It was sort of a fun game but still, a good game.
We were rooting for Country.
Our housemate wore his cowboy hat in support.
Brad threatened to take off his shirt to cheer them on.
The final score was a tie- which is just so boring. Who ties? We don't want a tie. Such a let down.
But it was fun to go and freeze our butts off watching the game.
Rugby is a great sport.

And as an expression of my great photography skills, this is a picture of Brad and two of our friends watching the game. I was sitting behind them and I decided to take a picture.
But I didn't want to move.
So I leaned back and took a picture.
My abs were shaking so bad because they don't remember the last time I did a sit up, therefore the picture just sucks big time.
But you get the idea. Boys. Footy field. Bright lights. All those good things.
Such a bad picture.
And I wonder why Brad goes through and lovingly deletes half the pictures I take.

Well, I think that about sums up the exciting things that need to be shared today. I withheld some of the high points.
Like the high point that yesterday I bought stain remover for our clothes and have since walked around the house saying, "man, I'm so excited to have NapiSan!" I have Napisanned everything in sight so far- currently it's working on my shoes.
Last week, I was heaps excited about buying Lynseed Meal to make fresh bread with the appropriate dosages of Omega -3 . Flaxseed in Canadian words.
A few week before that it was toilet cleaner with bleach.
Aren't you glad I don't post more?
Next week, I might start telling you about my dish soap.

Carolyn - this one is for you.

2008-05-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

fair share

2008-04-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

There has been some somewhat disgruntled members of our little household here when it comes to the issue of air-time on this blog. I am the one who maintains this blog, therefore I am the one who chooses what the subject matter will be.
And so, usually I write about Brad.
I think it has to do with that thing called love. And that thing that love does with turning the little things someone does into pretty funny things. Or pretty cute things.
Love is like that. You just want to share it .
Of course, love is funny too, in that some days, those little things become kind of annoying things and then you are tempted to share all those little things that made you become all cranky.
But I try not to write those things here because I'm not so proud of those moments and I hope that they are much fewer and far between than the ones of joy and laughter.
Bradley has often stated that he needs a blog of his own to document all of the stupid things that I do that don't make it onto here.
I hardly think it's necessary for him to go to such lengths, though he does insist that the apparent lack of genius in his wife is worth making known to the world. Of course, in the most loving of manners.
In fact, he sort of challenged me into writing about such an instance.
I said it wasn't very funny.
He said I should write it anyways.
And so, for the sake of my husband, because love is funny like that, the story went something like this.

There was once a husband who was inflicting great cruelty on his wife by tickling her to no end and pinching the end of her nose like she hates more than any thing else in the whole world. His poor wife was stuck in some awkward hold and any self defense was hardly a possibility. However, his wife, in a wave of brilliance, decided she would reach quite deftly behind her back and pinch the back of her husband's leg.
Because she fights like a girl and is not ashamed.
And so she pinched and pinched while, at the same time, she realized her husband had somehow started pinching the back of her leg too.
She got frustrated that she could not outwit her husband and proceeded to pinch harder.
Until she realized she was pinching her own leg and was inflicting more pain on herself than on her husband.
And then she won the fight because her husband spent the next 10 minutes laughing at her and forgot all about pinching her nose in the most cruelest of actions.
At least she was able to laugh along.

where we've been- weeks ago

2008-04-07T00:30:00.001-07:00

On the Easter long weekend, which is now a lifetime ago, Brad and I got to see a little bit more of Australia. We traveled with a couple of friends down to the Snowy Mountains.
Snowy Mountains- "the Mountains that have Snow".
Did you know that Australia gets snow? Well, you do now.
Our friend's parents have a farm down by the Snowy Mountains and they invited Brad and I to join them for Easter. Lots of fun was to be had.
The whole wide world of farms has been opened up to me because I've never grown up around farms, with animals. I know about how apples grow on trees and how cherries get ruined in the storms, but how you milk a cow? That's something I have no idea about.
And then there's the sadder circle of life. The fact those cows out there, on that farm, the ones that I want to pet and name each and every one, are the ones I'm going to eat for dinner.
My big soft heart just can't handle that part of the circle of life.
Anyways, a large majority of the weekend was spent relaxing, which for me meant reading for outrageous amounts of the day. We're talking numbers of hours that you would need a couple of hands to count.
And the boys, well they entertained themselves how boys can only do.
Much of Australia has been suffering from extreme drought over the last couple of years (although you wouldn't know it from all the rain in Wollongong), and so much of the dams, etc. are pretty empty. Down at the farm, the river where they get all from is getting pretty low and is over run with carp.
Wonderful.
So the boys thought it would be fun to go down there and try to catch some fish.
With homemade spears.
This would be Brad's first of three spears that he made. It was rather useless and I have to say it resembles a glorified wiener roasting stick.
But after much determination, the boys managed to catch a few fish, on the very last night (after three days of trying, might I add).
They were quite proud.
And I guess so was I.
(AND, you have to note the fact that I am hardly married to a red head anymore. He's more of a platinum blond. The sun has had its way with Brad's hair.)

One day's entertainment was taking in some local festivities. It was called a 'gym' something or other- not sure how to spell it so I just call it the pony show. The pony show wherein families of all shapes and sizes and skills ride around on their horses and take part in little competitions.
The highlight of that was watching a couple of horses munch on a fence.
We are easily entertained.
We also saw a bit of Australian history. The town we were in is where the legend of the "Man from Snowy River" came from. Have you seen the movie? It's an Australian classic. So we went to the museum and checked it out.
Sorta interesting. Sorta not. But we got the picture.
Say it together folks.
AWWWWW.

It is a little funny being over here for holidays. Funny in the sense that holidays just don't seem as big of a deal over here. No traditional Easter dinners happen here and, while there are lots of Easter eggs to consume, there isn't the same emphasis on family get togethers.
But then again, Easter isn't really about family or chocolate and it was good to celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the Australian mountains that get snow.

roaches and relocating

2008-03-29T16:20:00.001-07:00

April 7th marks the day that we say good bye to our little place here in Wollongong. No, we're not coming home yet and NO, we're not going to surprise you by showing up a few weeks early and walking into your house the second after you just got out of the shower saying 'SURPRISE' nice and loud.
We're still coming home on June 24th. That hasn't changed.
However, up until that date that looms over my head with this sense of impending sorrow and intense joy, we shall be living in a different spot.
As I've said many times over here, Brad has been working out of town and will be until we leave. He has a permanent three days a week of work up in the Southern Highlands until we leave in June (three months! ah! three months!). As a result, our little place here has seemed quite empty. While Brad is gone, I spend long days at Uni getting my work done and long evenings at friends houses because they are just so good to me and don't like me to be alone.
I get scolded (very politely) when it is heard that I spent an evening alone without calling anyone.
Good, good people.
We had been throwing around the idea of moving out of our place, as it is a waste of money to be living here only a couple of days a week and eating meals here even less. And so it has come about that we are moving in with a couple of good friends here, for the last remaining months.
And we're quite excited about it.
Plus, they have pretty much the world's cutest dogs.
The little one- his name is Jack. And the big one- his name is Bear. Jack is a decent mouthful for Bear.
I cuddle with them daily.

Have you ever had an infestation problem? Like a significant one? Not a couple of ants walking in straight line through your kitchen but like the kind of infestation problem that when you walk into your house in the evening, all your possessions appear to be twitching and moving because they are covered in some sort of bug? Like a cockroach?
No? You never had that problem?
Well we have.
And it. is. the. MOST. disgusting. thing. ever.
I used to think that it was just people with really dirty houses had cockroach problems. But, even when our place is spotless, it is crawling with cockroaches. It is a super common problem in the city- pretty much everyone has had an issue with them. We're not the only ones.
They're usually not the big ones that you see in movies. These guys range from the size of an ant to about the size of a larger earwig but still. Take 50 of them and put them in your kitchen and see how you feel. And they poo. Everywhere. Little black dots over everything. Luckily, not many of them make it into our bedroom.
So we're looking forward to moving.
The other morning, Brad and I sat down to eat breakfast. As I bowed my head to say grace, I glanced up at the steaming latte sitting in front of me.
And there was something floating in it.
Distracted throughout the prayer, I stared at my precious drink, debating what had made it into the smooth foam on top..
I reached over, and picked out a cockroach.
"Brad- did you put a cockroach in my coffee?"
"No, why would I do that?"
"I don't know. It's disgusting."
"Yeah, it is."
And with that, I picked up my drink and took a big sip because really, I stopped caring a couple of months ago.
Just strengthening the immune system.

And because we just loaded some pictures onto our computer from our old memory card, here is a picture of Carolyn and I feeding the kangaroos about a month or two ago.
I love kangaroos- which you can tell from the over happy smile on my face.

the story about the board and the truck

2008-03-17T02:19:00.001-07:00

So a funny thing happened this weekend. Funny in the sense that time heals all wounds and makes one crappy event into a great story.
That's what happened this weekend. We had a crappy event turn into a good story. Funny even.
The story is called "The Time Brad's Surfboard Flew off the Back of the Truck onto the Highway."
It's a gooder.
The story goes something like this:

At 7:30 Saturday morning, we took off with a couple of our good friends to 'The Farm'. The Farm, just to rehash the subject, is our favorite beach, as it produces the most consistent waves and is basically paradise down the street.
I LOVE AUSTRALIA.
Anyways, we go, we surf, we read, we sun tan- all the essential ingredients to make a good weekend. After the morning session, we all decide to head down to our friend's parents house to have lunch, check out their farm and shoot innocent birds with a potato gun.
Some activities I chose to refrain from.
We toss the boards in the back of the truck and start heading down the highway and everything is all good until Brad exclaims that his board is no longer on the back of the truck.
And LIKE we would believe Brad when he makes such a comment because it is SO like Brad to make such a comment and it is SO not funny that he does it all the time.
But with one quick glance back we confirmed that, for once, Brad was actually serious.
His board was gone.
We pulled over and as we did so, we heard a sickening grinding on the road.
Not a good sound.
Brad's board, sitting on top of the other boards, had gotten caught by some wind and gone flying off the back of the truck. Before we had headed onto the highway, in a moment of pure genius, Brad had looped the small draw string of his board bag around a little hook on the side of the truck, and THAT little string saved his board's life.
We figure the board floated a little behind the truck until we slowed down, when it then proceeded to crash to the ground and grind, at a rapid pace, along the side of the board.
That board should be dead.
It should be broken. It should not be repairable.
But it is okay. Somewhat.
Definitely some solid cracking for about a foot along the edge of the board and a ripped board bag but, other than that, it is okay.
It's a surfing miracle.
We are already thinking of the sacrificial offerings we will have to bring in shame to the guy who made Brad's board and does all the repairs. Brad's track record with his board hasn't been so good and I think he's a little tired of cleaning up after Brad's bad luck with dings in his board.
Until the board is fixed, it is covered in duct tape which just makes it look like the crappiest board ever.
But it works.

I think there is some moral to this story.
It probably is something like, use a rope to tie up your boards when they're sitting on the back of a truck.
It'll stop them from flying out.
Profound lessons are being learned here on a daily basis.
Glad I'm able to share them with you.

the post wherein I wander and find myself saying nothing significant

2008-03-13T03:18:00.001-07:00

So life has kind of been flipped around a little bit for us here and a routine and sense of normalcy has yet to be achieved.
We went from weeks of visitors to severe unemployment to employment out of town, meanwhile trying to start Uni all over again.
Stressful? Yes? No? Perhaps?
Actually, it hasn't been really stressful, but just more I have yet to wrap my mind around the whole situation. Don't know what that means. But when my mind has completely enveloped and sorted through all the various changes that have taken place, I'll let you know.

Currently, Brad is working his third week out of town. We have been blessed with THREE WEEKS of full time work. We're not spending our time thinking about how this work is out of town, but instead, the fact that we have been handed this gift of employment and the opportunity to make some great friends along the way.

I have not been alone these three weeks, in case you were worried because I am sure you were worried. I have tagged along with Brad, when able and stayed with him up in the Southern Highlands, making his lunches, cleaning between his toes and singing him sweet lullabies to put him asleep.
I have also gotten some pretty sweet deals out of this whole situation. Like the sweet deal of getting my hair cut and coloured for less than we spend on a weekly basis at McDonalds. And no, I am no longer ashamed to write that we visit McDonalds on a weekly basis.
WE VISIT McDONALDS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
Loud and proud I'm saying that one.
Anyways, the wife of the couple that we have been staying with for the past few weeks is a professional hairdresser who just so sweetly said that she would do my hair for me. And so I went in and sat in a chair, got a head massage, drank a cappuccino while I got a great hair cut. Added to that I got some blond highlights put in and now, I'm pretty much a new woman.
Or the same old woman (young woman...little girl) who gets up every morning and does nothing to her hair and basically ruins a perfectly good haircut.
It's a shame when you're living in the same house as your hairdresser because then they see, everyday, how you just make no effort to do their hair cut justice.

Brad also got a hair cut too, which has ultimately confused their dog. See, our friends have this dog that had sort of a love affair with Brad- mostly because we assume that in Brad, she has found a long lost relative. The blond curly hair made her feel connected and therefore, her day was made complete every time Brad entered the room. Brad's hair is a little shorter now and I wonder if the infatuation has faded a little for the resemblance isn't quite as striking.
Just the hair folks. Just the hair. Not implying my husband has any further resemblance to any creature with poodle in its family tree.
Need to be clear on that point.

Oh how I would love to say something interesting but the words..they fail me.

OH WAIT.
There is exciting stuff.
You excited?
I am.
Wait, don't be excited.
It's not that exciting.
Just I am excited.

Last Sunday, we spent another glorious day at our favourite beach with a handful of some of our favourite people. Every time we're at this perfect beach I think, "Is this the most beautiful day we've been here?" The sun is shining, the water is crystal clear and the company is just pretty much the best.
Have I mentioned that I have fallen in love with Australia? Oh the lifestyle, the scenery, the people. I find this little smile creeping across my face every time I think about how spoiled we are to be here and just how utterly amazing it has been.
But wait. That's not what I was talking about.

So we were at the beach and after a sufficient amount of reading time, I eased myself into the clear blue ocean and swam out to my Bradley. He gave me his surfboard and started pushing me into some perfect little waves.
I squealed and laughed and stuck my tongue out in concentration, as per usual.
But then I did something completely out of the ordinary. I stood up! My two feet actual planted themselves on the board and I rode a wave in on my feet.
And then I rode another one.
And another.
And then a few more.
And then, I couldn't stop smiling because seriously, that was just too much fun.
And I kept smiling until the next day, when my entire back and shoulders were aching from paddling so darn much. But it was worth it.

So that's my story. Kind of exciting? Yes? No? Maybe? Perhaps?
Okay, I'm going to bed now. Enough of this randomness.
I'm going to put on my tracky daks (aka: sweat pants- tracky daks..what a weird one hey?) and climb into my heaps comfy bed and experience the sleep I have been waiting for all day.
Sweet dreams.

I say they are funny things. Maybe they're not. I'm not sure. The words just fit.

2008-02-27T23:08:00.000-08:00

Marriage is a funny thing.
In the day to day functioning of marriage, there are these thoughts that cross your mind.
The thoughts that say ‘for goodness sake, you’re totally squishing my diagonal sleeping position,’ or ‘ do you really need all 5 pillows to comfort your sleeping body’ or ‘am I the only person in this house that does really important tasks- like fold up a cardboard box for recycling?'

We (or maybe just 'I' because I'm speaking from my own personal experience here and you may not think such things- and if you don't, then you just won the Spouse of the Year award. Congratulations.) let these things get on our nerves sometimes and probably dwell on them a little too much. But then, one day, your spouse goes away for a few days and leaves you all alone and you're wondering what the heck to do with your self because there's too many darn pillows on the bed and there's no empty cereal boxes left for you to fold up and make yourself useful. And pretty soon, you'd give up anything to have someone sleeping in that bed next to you.

Life has kind of changed up for us a bit here as the whole employment situation for us is kind of in limbo. Confused? Yeah, so are we. I'd explain the situation but it' s hardly worth the workout my fingers would get from typing it out. So I'll just say that A: we're not sure if Brad's boss wants Brad to work for him anymore and doesn't seem to want to get back to us on that memo, and B: more money is currently needing to be going out than is coming in. Potential problems.

But alas, this story is not sad. Rather this story yet again speaks of the provision of the Lord. Not the provision where you think the Lord is going to hand you this totally awesome job just down the street where it pays you triple what you're making now and you can finally buy that new computer, camera, car, whatever it is that you think will make your life complete. If you're waiting for the Lord to provide in that manner, the waiting on the Lord thing is going to get old pretty fast.

I'm talking about the sort of provision where He provides for your very needs, not the wants. The kind of provision where sitting on the beach one day with a friend you've met once before, the topic of employment comes up and pretty soon your husband has a week worth of work, in a town a little ways a way with some people he's never met.
Out of the blue on Sunday, Brad was given the opportunity to stay with some people and work with her father doing some landscaping stuff in a town an hour away. It's pretty humbling and it's pretty amazing. This job opportunity came at the perfect time and, while it's just for this week, it is providing for what we need at this very moment. It's pretty cool and we're really grateful.

The sad part of the story is that I have been all on my lonesome all week. Well, just me and the herd? flock? pride?murder?colony? of cockroaches that reside in our place.
I heart cockroaches.
Not.
You probably already know that for the 2 1/2 years of our dating, Brad and I spent the majority of it apart. We got really good at the long distance thing and while we never really enjoyed it, we got used to it.
And it made marriage that much better because we don't count down the days until we're leaving each other anymore. And it has been good.

However, normality has been thrown into complete disarray now that Brad is gone and I'm kind of thinking that he should probably never go away again because it's so much better when he's around.
And pretty fast I remembered why I decided that I'd rather spend the rest of my days sleeping on half of a double bed than spread across the whole thing.
Marriage is funny like that.

And, I need to issue a bit of a warning:
This blog could get seriously more boring very quickly.
We suffered a bit of tragedy here. We had this really totally cool awesome rad waterproof camera that we got to go swimming with and document neat stuff like that time when my bathing bottoms fell off in the water when I dove under a wave. Memorable stuff.
This totally cool awesome camera was totally cool and awesome and WATERPROOF until the day it decided NOT to be waterproof when we took it in the water.
Yeah- you know where this is going.
No need to really go into depth about our precious little camera filling up with salt water and going black and never turning back on again.
I feel really bad about the whole experience because the camera is really really new and quite great and was a very generous gift. I feel like I should be angry about it all but while I'm disappointed about it, no amount of rage is going to bring it back. Stuff happens. That's just the way life goes. And I guess, really, it's just stuff and there could be worse things.
Like a shark could bite your leg off or something.
It is still covered by warranty and so we're looking into all that kind of stuff but it'll take awhile to fix. And so that means that there is a good chance the blog could be seriously lacking in pictures- more than usual.
No pictures makes for a lame blog- I KNOW.
I'm just warning you. I'll have to get really witty really fast if people are going to keep reading this thing.

belonging

2008-02-24T02:54:00.000-08:00

After the dust had settled and routine had set in when we first got over here, Brad and I soon acknowledged that the only other thing that we felt was missing was the comfort of friends. Good friends. The kind that you don't feel twice about inviting over when all your dishes aren't quite done and the kind that make you feel completely comfortable in your imperfect self.
You know the kind.
We weren't at all desperate for these friendships as Brad and I have learned the fine art of living together and having fun together. Yet, there were times when we thought that it would be really nice to share our adventures with some other people.
Sometime in October, we started attending a little Baptist church here in town and immediately felt drawn to its simple yet very genuine manner. Nothing was flashy about it but the words spoken were solid and the people went out of the their way to make us feel welcome.
And it was on the first night that we attended an evening service that one young couple took our phone number and invited us over to dinner that week. We were complete strangers yet they invited us into their house and introduced us to a whole host of their own friends.
And now, 5 months later, I can say that I am honestly moved to tears by the generosity of these people.
As I sit here tonight and reflect on the past few months, I can hardly believe all the ways this group of people have reached out to bless Brad and I. We have spent our weekend at the beach and at the houses of these people. They have given us their house keys so we can do our laundry and they have given us their car keys so we have cars to drive our guests around in.
Through a rather lengthy turn of events, it has come to be that Brad's employment has come into question. That's another story for another day. But as a result of these events, Brad has taken some work that keeps us apart a little more than we're used to. And you know what- tonight, I had more dinner invites of people inviting to keep me company than I have time to spend alone.
And I don't want, for one minute, to take those invites forgranted. Because these people are an answer to prayer and the love of Christ has overflowed from them and impacted us in a really profound way.
I know that not everyone has had the opportunity to be a part of church family. I guess a 'church family' is kind of strange concept to those who are not accustomed to it. For me, it was always perfectly normal because I grew up immersed in that sort of environment and I firmly believe I am a better person because of it.
However, I have learned more about the power of a church family because its one thing when you're on the inside and feel a part of the family.
It's a whole other thing when you come as an outsider and you are welcomed into the church family and loved as if you've always belonged and told that you should really never leave.
The family of God is a powerful thing and this experience has reminded of the importance of it all.

getting' ready

2008-02-11T18:38:00.001-08:00

My, my, my... we are having guests galore here.
And guests galore is a very positive thing because it just so much fun to have so many reminders of home here. At this current time, there are SIX people staying in our little place.
Our place is little. Very leettle. So that meant that last night Justin, Carolyn, Brad and I all had a sleep over in the living room. First we braided each other's hair, told each other who we like and then had a pillow fight. It was great fun.
So right now, we are in the process of packing up our lives to go camping for 2 days. Seriously, camping is way too much work for anyone's own good. No matter if you're gone for ONE night or TWO, you have to bring a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff. I will be relieved when we're on the road.
And you're asking why I'm sitting on the computer while we're supposed to be packing. It's because I stayed home to get things organized while everyone else went shopping. But I'm done my half of the arrangement and so I'm killing some time where I know how to kill time the best.
On the computer.
Oh good. It just started to rain.
Here we go camping!

apologizing

2008-02-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

It's early in the morning here and our alarm clock doesn't plan on going off for at least another couple of hours but I cannot sleep.
While my husband rests in peaceful slumber, my eyes fail to shut for any extended period of time because I woke up this morning and remembered that, in a few hours, we get to go to the airport and pick up our nest round of visitors, Justin and Carolyn.
And I am excited.
We consider ourselves pretty blessed, fortunate, lucky- whatever you want to call it- because we have had so many people come visit us. It's not close and it's definitely not cheap but they have all made the sacrifice to fly over here and spend some time in the sun with us. It makes us happy.
But today, I have a little.. umm.. uneasiness mixed somewhere in my tummy with the little butterflies of excitement.
Uneasiness because for 2 days straight it has been dumping rain.
And when I say it is dumping rain, IT. IS. DUMPING. RAIN, because no where else knows how to rain like Australia. It's wet, wet, wet.
And see, I have this chronic condition. A chronic condition where I need to apologize about everything. Everything.
I take my pills every morning, though at times they seem incredibly inefficient because I still say I'm sorry more than any one person should. And I know it gets annoying for everyone involved but some days, I just can't stop.
So on a day like today, when the rain is falling, the sky is clouded and the forecast reads more rain for the next day or so, I feel really bad that it is raining for our guests who have flown all the way over here to spend their days on the beach (and in our SO enjoyable company, of course).
But because I know I can't actually voice this opinion in person because it will sound outrageous, I'm just going to say this for the record:

Justin and Carolyn- I'm really sorry that it's raining. I tried the best I could to stop it.

There, I feel much better now.

on going home

2008-02-01T21:49:00.001-08:00

I finally did something yesterday that I have been putting off for a long time.

I've have been ignoring responsibility largely because it involved making an international phone call and pulling out my credit card, however, I do think there was a bit of denial driving my procrastination.
Yesterday, I booked our plane tickets home.
Prior to yesterday's phone call, we threw around our departure from Australia as something that would happen eventually- we didn't know when but it would come one day.
But now it is coming. June 24th we will be arriving home in Canada.
I said a few posts ago that we feel good about coming home and that our time here is moving along at the perfect rate. And I still agree with that comment. I feel okay about coming home.
Despite some reservations, we have so many wonderful opportunities and people to come home to.
It's just the leaving here part that we're going to have a hard time with.
A really really hard time with.
Even as I type this, there's a little sinking feeling in my stomach that tells me it's going to be hard to say good bye. I know it's still close to 5 months away- but still...
I don't know if I could truly explain all that we have experienced over here in Australia because I think I am still learning the impact it has had on our lives and marriage, as we haven't yet had the opportunity to see the long term effects of our time away.
But the thing is, it's not just Australia in and of itself hasn't changed much in our lives. Merely picking up and moving to a new place, even one with palm trees and beaches has little to do with your marriage and the manner in which you live your life and treat your spouse.
It's so much more than merely location, though I feel that we have been blessed so richly in our opportunities to learn here in this place. Learning experiences are useless unless you acknowledge that applying what you learned in other circumstances is going to take work. And diligent effort.
What we have lived over here is not perfection and I hope so much that I have not left the impression of a perfect life somehow here on this blog. Living in this country hasn't made our lives perfect because there have been times when our bank account read only a few cents above $0.00 and there have been times when my patience has been below zero when it comes to dealing with life or that man I spend 24/7 with. The fact of life is that those time are going to come and you're only going to be disappointed if you think that living in a new place or just having that new house or just having that much more money is going to change everything.
It's not.
But I believe we have been given the opportunity to learn how to better deal with those situations. Living a lifestyle that hasn't been demanding on our time has given us the chance to learn how to live and love in an imperfect world. And it has been wonderful.

And then there's the country of Australia. I have fallen in love with Australia. We both have.
The friends we have made- I don't even want to think of saying goodbye.
And the beaches. PEOPLE, the beaches! There's one around every corner and they are breath taking.
And the surfing. Life without surfing for Brad is going to be- horrible. Maybe horrible is too strong of a word. Life without surfing is going to be sad because I know there is not much in life that makes him happier (or healthier or relaxed or content) than surfing.
Our lifestyle of going to the beach every opportunity we get is going to be hard to leave behind. It's not just the tan, or the heat but more so, that fun thing that Brad and I get to do together that we both really really enjoy. And sometimes, he even gets me on the board (though he's learned not to hold his breathe waiting).
Our friend was laughing at us the other day because at every opportunity, we make the trip a few minutes South to go to our favourite beach. We are in love. I think you would be too when you see this every time you pull up to the beach.

He said that we're going to try and bottle it up and take it home with us.
And I said, "yes, yes we are."
It's also the reason that, one day, we will come back.
Of that I am sure.

gnome -sized

2008-01-31T00:57:00.000-08:00

The day we left Canada, as we said our tearful goodbyes, we were discretely slipped a little gift of sorts. An air freshener. A Gnome Air Freshener.
This air freshener belonged to our favourite neighbours, who just happened to be Brad's best friend Justin and his wife Carolyn. It was stolen from their car by Justin's brother and we were given the task of taking this little Gnome hostage in Australia.
And so we did.
The little Gnome rode in my purse over the great oceans, through the airports, around Wollongong, until we settled in our little place here. And then he stayed there a little longer.
However, after some time passed, we finally started a little game.
With a rather anonymous email address, we started sending emails home to Justin and Carolyn with pictures of their little Gnome. Ransom notes. Well, ransom notes without the demand for ransom payments.
We would make it known that we knew who Justin and Carolyn were but would insure that we didn't give any clues as to our location.
And so our game went on and on as we sent anonymous emails trying to keep our true identities hidden.
And then came our downfall.
We decided that the little Gnome needed a home. We needed to show that he was comfortable in our care.
Because it is important that your air freshener is comfortable. We are caring people.
And really, this whole blog post is just about this ONE email because we were proud. Very Very proud of this one.
And that is the reason I have to share this one email. The rest of my meaningless typing was just context.
This is what we wrote in the email (written from the Gnome):

Dear Justin and Carolyn,

I miss you deeply but I have to say that my captor is taking good care of me. He has provided me with the proper facilities to ensure comfortable and sanitary living. He has even allowed me some spending money in order to purchase rare amenities that cater to my unpretentious physique. As I am under close supervision, I am not permitted to disclose my location, however I have overheard whispered discussion regarding plans for my eventual and safe return.
I must go now. I have enclosed some pictures of my living quarters that you may rest assured that I am okay. I hope to hear a word from you soon.

The Gnome

And we sent these pictures:

But you see, it was such pride and attention to detail that was our downfall. Because they knew that only Brad would take the time to make a Gnome sized toilet paper roll.

camping.

2008-01-29T23:42:00.001-08:00

Well my computer was nice to me and let me upload a few more pictures and so I have agreed to give it a little extra lovin' and plug it in for a few extra minutes this evening. It gives a little, I give a little- that's just how this relationship works.

So here's just a few more pictures from our weekend of roughing it- roughing it with hot showers, flushing toilets and a kitchen sink with hot water to do our dishes. Oh yes, and McDonalds just down the street.

Here's Brad telling us how big that shark was that almost bit off his leg that day out in the surf. Or maybe it was a goldfish- he couldn't tell.
Tony's smokey needed to undergo a little surgery to remove the broken tip of his wiener roasting stick.
Ally and I roasting our dinner over the fire. Nothing like a wiener roast on a warm Australian night.
Ally and Tony in the clear beautiful ocean- thanks to our totally awesome digital camera.
Care to join us next time?

so this one time, we went camping in Australia..

2008-01-28T15:39:00.001-08:00

Way back a few months ago, Brad and I splurged a little and bought ourselves a tent. Nothing extravagant- just something decent that a couple extra dollars could buy. We intended to slowly accumulate the essential ingredients needed to go camping on the occasional weekend however things happened, we started selling hot dogs and coffees on our weekends and we never got around to furthering our camping dreams.
Until this last weekend.
Two of our fabulous friends that we have met over here, Ally and Tony, were kind enough to invite us along on a camping trip and so on Friday, we packed up two hours later than planned and headed off down the coast of New South Wales.
We arrived at our destination in the dark and proceeded to drive around the campsite, shining our headlights into whatever available spots we could see.
What followed was a successful first time ever attempt to set up our little tent in the dark. See here it is. The little one on the right is ours, Ally and Tony's is on the left- theirs is complete with a foyer. We're not quite that sophisticated.
That's Tony- making our dinner on the ground. I believe it was steak because we're high class.

As the sun rose the next day, so did the birds. Have I mentioned that Australia has some of the most annoying breeds of birds? And millions of them? And they don't sing- they squawk- LOUDLY? I swear that every bird in Australia decide to rest its wings in the trees above our tents in the morning and therefore sleeping in was hardly an option.
But that was okay because we soon discovered that our campground sat next to an amazing beach. The water was- incredible. I have never seen water so clear and so beautiful.
I loved it. Which is why I displayed this cheesy smile.
On Saturday, we were debating about what we were to have for dinner. Brad and I were going to make the dinner, but we just hadn't decided what that dinner was going to entail.
In desperation, I casually exclaimed,"we could just have a wienie roast." As if a wienie roast is something completely normal. As if we always roast out wieners. We're Canadians- we love to get together and stick our wieners in a fire for dinner. IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO.
Yeah, so Australians don't call their hot dogs wieners. In fact, not only do they not call them wieners, they don't cook them in the fire on a stick!
Ally and Tony had never heard of wiener roast before and so we decided we'd give them a taste of Canada and we'd all roast our wieners together over the fire.
It was a memorable experience.
It was such a basic concept for Brad and I that you find a perfect stick in the forest and widdle it down to the right shape and spear your hot dog on the end, shove it into the fire and call it dinner. But to have such an experience with people who have never even considered it before was a lot of fun.
They got the hang of it pretty fast.

And since we were into swapping patriotic traditions, Ally and Tony shared with us an Australian camping dessertish thing called Damper. Or , Dampah, if you're Australian and not so inclined to make the effort into shaping your mouth to fully pronounce the final letter of a word. Damper is pretty basic. Beer and Flour. 2 essential ingredients that are guaranteed to increase the size of muffin top when you're in your bathing suit.
I am living proof.
Damper involves mixing beer and flour and then wrapping it around a stick and roasting it over the fire. The yeast in the beer helps the bread to rise and so you get this little doughy bread clump that you then fill with golden syrup and butter.
Yum.
I was rather addicted to this little treat. Here's Tony mixing up the Damper. We seem to have banished him to the ground to make our meals often.We also went to McDonalds, twice, during our camping extravaganza. We like to rough it.
All in all- camping in Australia is totally awesome. We're already planning our next trip. Another weekend of surfing, snorkeling, suntanning, reading, relaxing...
I love this place.
(perhaps more pictures to come when I stop erasing them accidentally after waiting for half and hour for them to load...)

the picture

2008-01-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

Blogging is kind of like exercise or homework or saying 'no' to 50 cent ice cream cones from McDonalds.
The less you do it, the harder it is to change your habits. Which is why I sit on my butt most day, reading books and consuming large amounts of ice cream, dreading the day I have to go back to university after 4 months off in the Australian sunshine.
I blog quite irregularly and so when I finally get around to typing something out, I get confused about whether I tell you a general picture of everything that's been going on or whether I tell you that that the other day, while I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant take the biggest poo ever. EVER. It was.... well, it was totally awesome because you don't get to see that that often and it made Brad and I laugh really really hard.
Because we laugh at things like that.
Perhaps we'll stick to the general picture. It's probably safer that way and I can disguise our lack of maturity a little bit longer.

Okay, the big picture.
January 18th today. That means that we are halfway done our year long extended second honeymoon most AMAZING time of our lives. Coming home doesn't make us sad, as we are so looking forward to so much at home (friends, family, vacuum cleaners, lack of cockroaches infesting our kitchen..oops, did I admit that? that we have infestation problem and it makes me want to vomit? that the entire contents of our kitchen are sitting on our table because they might get contaminated in our cupboards. Want to come stay with us?). However, we passionately love Australia and I often kiss the window everyday I look out and see the beautiful sun shining before I run off to the beach with my book. Well, not quite kiss the window but I WOULD if I didn't have to clean off the lip chap marks after. Australia is a totally awesome country and now we have people to back us up with this opinion.
On Wednesday, we said the final good bye to my parents, only after a small amount of tears. They loved Australia too. We spent many, many days on the beach with book in hands and paddle ball at the ready.
Just for the record, Brad and I still hold the family paddle ball record. 82. Lots of sweat and tears achieving that one.
While up in Surfer's Paradise, we spent a rainy day at the Australia Zoo. This zoo is the "Home of the Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, who, in case you missed the memo, died a year and a half ago because a sting ray got him through the heart. So sad. But this zoo is fabulous. We even got to see Steve Irwin's family, as his daughter Bindi performed stuff from her TV show and his wife Terri did the crocodile show. It was pretty rad to see.
The zoo is so neat because it is SO well kept. Staff are everywhere and the animals space is absolutely amazing. The animals were more lively than any other zoo, which makes me think that they're a lot better taken care of. The staff would walk around with tasmanian devils wrapped in blankets, snakes curled around their necks, and wombats on leashes to show off to the guests.
It was great.
So the zoo was our one big outing. We spent the rest of the time at the beach, Brad surfing perfect head high waves, or in the pool, seeing how many laps we could do holding our breath. My mom even went on a surfboard which was totally a highlight. She even had fun. Her hair even got wet. Yay for my mom!
Now my parents have gone home and the country mourns their leaving with more big teary raindrops. Lots and lots of raindrops.
We are back at work, even though our days of selling hot dogs are permanently over.
I KNOW. No more hot dogs. I cried about it for about half a millisecond but then we moved on. We were selling hot dogs as part of a bigger business idea, but our boss sold the van and made double our combined yearly income last year in that one sale and so we understood why he decided to take away our hot dog privileges.
Brad still has tons of work at the car lot, although no more commercial roles are in the works yet. I'm going to help him out once in awhile, posing on cars or something like that. We'll see where the boss puts me.
We're killing time and saving money until our next round of guests arrive.
February 5th. We can't wait.

paradise

2008-01-09T14:50:00.001-08:00

Brad and I have somewhat considered our entire time in Australia as sort of an extended vacation. We live a simple life and it has been such a treat that we have felt like we have been holidaying for a long time.

And it has yet to get old.
However, since my family has been over here, we have had the opportunity to take a vacation within a vacation.
While my brother and Megan were over here, Brad and I took about 5 days off to hang out with them, show them around around and spend time time at the beach. Like I said before, it was great. I hardly see my brother at the best of times and so to spend 6 days together was really nice.
But, they could not stay forever and so we said good bye on Monday. So sad.
However, my parents are still around which means that there's lots of fun still to be had.
On Monday, we packed up the car and started driving North to Surfer's Paradise.
Now, I have a little bit of trouble with the name "Surfer's Paradise." We are not actually staying there but rather just a little bit south of the infamous beach. But as we look out our window, we can see on the horizon tall towers crowding the beach of Surfer's Paradise. No vegetation, but just money.
See, I already think that we live in paradise.
Here's a reminder. This is the coast line where we live.

Paradise huh? (Okay, and I know the picture is totally the wrong way but I just took THIS long to get these pictures on here and lack the patience to try and get it fixed. So just turn your head to the side and look at it. You'll get the point.)
Nevertheless, we still are having heaps of fun up here. Our hotel is amazing, which means that I actually have free unlimited access to a laundry machine AND a dryer.
I could hardly contain my excitement.
The weather has been a little crappy, though hardly cold. Actually, we're in no position to complain because last week, all the beaches up here were closed because the swell was so big. So we're grateful that at least we can go to the beach.
And see sting rays in the water.
That was fun.
And Brad can surf with dolphins- for the second time.
And that was fun too.
And my mommy can brush my matted hair for me.
And that was fun as well.
Holiday time is good. Especially in paradise.

break time

2008-01-03T02:35:00.000-08:00

This is the evening where I take a deep breath and say "phew".
It has been a busy, fun-filled, wonderful week but too much of a very good thing leads to a headache, exhaustion and a very messy one-bedroom apartment.
And so tonight I am taking a breather.
My family has been over in Australia here for abouta week now and it has been fantastic. It has been delightful to show them all of our favourite spots.
Basically, "this is our favourite beach."
"Oh yes, we like this beach too."
"This is our favourite chocolate, that we like to eat on this favourite beach over here."
We have had healthy doses of sunshine, sand, waves, paddle ball and McDonalds ice cream and flat whites.
Some miracles were put into action this week, I am sure, because after a couple months of rainy cool weather, we have been blessed with sunny, cloudless skies, with a comfortable temperature hovering somewhere around the high twenties. We've had this for a whole week straight.
Ahh..it's lovely.
Of course, the day the family heads out to visit south of us for a few days it turns cloudy and rain threatens, but we're thankful for the sunny weather.
Weather sunny enough to cause a severe case of bum burnage which has left me in some discomfort.
The kind of burn where the entire expanse of my rear did not manage to stay within the flimsy confines of my bathing suit bottoms and caused an effect that disturbingly resembles neopolitan ice cream.
Somewhat nice chocolate ice cream brown legs, with a bright line of a strawberry colored burn, and then the worst part- the bland boring bright BRIGHT vanilla white of where the sun never touches.
I'd show you a picture but then you'd never eat neopolitan ice cream again.

We spent New Years Eve in Sydney and, while I am somewhat proud that I can boast that we spent New Years witnessing one of the world's most spectacular firework shows, I can't say I'd do it again.
But what a memory.
It was absolutely crazy, with over a million people crammed into an expanse much too small to comfortably accommodate over a million people.
There is video footage to come of that one.
I haven't gone out of my way to document this portion of our time over here in Australia because between the 6 of us, at any one time, we had 5 digital cameras, a video camera and 4 lap tops.
I think at least one of us managed to capture all of the important moments.
When our internet is being cooperative, I'll get some of them up here.
But for now, I'm going to bed.

(I just think this is the cutest picture ever.)

debut

2007-12-27T05:18:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to attempt to write anything witty or wise with this post because the video speaks for itself. Take from it what you wish.

I laugh. Every single time.
But I guess some context is necessary. Brad is still technically employed by the Mitsubishi car lot though he does not sell cars. His boss is the owner (obviously) and basically Brad does anything the boss asks him to.
The list is endless.
Brad's boss is also rather infamous for his TV commercials. They need to be seen to be understood.
Brad's latest assignment was a guest role in the newest commercial. A guest role that involves a mask and banana. Brad is such a good sport.
I am very proud.

Mitsubishi Car Ad from Stephanie Riemer on Vimeo.

As I type this, my family is arriving from Canada in less than 10 hours, therefore the posts may be a little more sporadic than they currently are. Which means, don't hold your breath waiting for something to read.
Unless, of course, you can hold it for weeks on end... then you've got some talent.

all things non-christmasy

2007-12-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

I am writing this post on Christmas Day, despite what the date reads at the top of the page. Blogger has yet to figure out I'm in Australia- maybe I have yet to tell them that and, therefore, the dates are always wrong when I post.

Who really cares.
Anyways- Merry Christmas! I never thought that I would post on Christmas Day, but the demands on my time are very limited on this day, therefore it would seem appropriate to take some time to say hi! cause it has been a little too long since the last hi!
I have not met my monthly hi! quota, so I shall try to reverse such wrongdoings.

Brad and I have worked really hard the past four days. I was beginning to wonder if 'working really hard' was a combination of words that could ever be used to described the types of activities I have been taking part in since we've come over here, but I wonder no more.
We spent long days selling hot dogs, coffees, and cans of drink to weary travelers up on the highway.
You're wondering what cans of drink are? ME TOO. That name doesn't tell you ANYTHING. They don't say 'pop' here. If you do, you just sound like an idiot. So you order a can of drink, which just really narrows down the selection doesn't it? (sense the sarcasm there..)
It was, overall, a fantastic weekend and Brad and I had a lot of fun. I know that selling hot dogs on the free way sounds just so ..strange... but I'd rather do that then a lot of other things in life.
Like, I don't know, working outside in minus 20 degree weather?
No thank you!
Yet, despite us enjoying our work, exhaustion set in after day three. The kind of exhaustion that causes mild delirium. The kind of exhaustion that makes your husband's tricks with his mouth guard nothing short of hysterical and that sound you just made - yeah, that one right there- that's the funniest thing. EVER. Sleep did not come quickly though, because we spent half the evening lying in bed giggling at, well, anything.
It was the kind of exhaustion that makes memories.
We're ready for a day off.

Last night we got the most splendid of invites to go to one of friend's parent's house for Christmas Eve and we both agree that there could really have been nothing better. We ate fresh seafood, that would usually cause a slight gagging sensation at the back of my throat, but this stuff was delicious. We ate and laughed and talked outside, with Christmas carols playing in the background and the biggest, hugest, spiders I've ever seen spinning the biggest, hugest spider webs right behind my head.
Brad and I both stated that we would have felt more comfortable with a couple of bears in the backyard than a couple of big-ass spiders hanging over our food.
Creepy crawlies versus ripping your face off.
I'll take my chances with the bears.
Last night's conversation came around to traditions and the fact that every year, Ally's family attempts to sing Christmas carols while someone plunks out keys on the piano. And then, as these things tend to go, it came about that hey! Stephanie plays piano! You could play for us! And so I went and played the piano while the whole family sang along to Christmas carols.
It felt good. Really good.
I have played piano only once in the past 6 months and so to sit down and play something as simple as "Away in the Manger" felt really wonderful.
Here's proof of our singing extravaganza.
The red cardigan? Always a Christmas favourite. This one was on loan because it's so darn cold here in Australia right now (not even joking) and I was freezing.
I thought it went nice with my bright pink shirt.

So now it is Christmas and we have spent the day doing nothing Christmas-like. Brad and I opted for our tradition of "let's not buy each other gifts" and so our day has been very simple. No tree, no gifts, no Christmasy things. But that's okay. Really it is.
We can't help but think that it is such a huge gift for us to be over here and experiencing everything that we're experiencing. I would take a dozen Christmas' with no gifts and no Christmas tree just to have this adventure again.
Christmas has a lot of different meanings for everybody and this year, we've been reminded that Jesus was born as a little baby no matter if there is snow, Christmas trees, Christmas Eve services or presents.
It's not all about us.
It's about Him and I pray that we will always remember that.
And so to celebrate His birth today, we're doing 5 loads of laundry and we went out for breakfast.
It was darn good. Merry Christmas!
Much love to everyone at home.
We miss you more and more as the days go on.

tuesday ramblings

2007-12-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

I have had two days at home while Brad is off at work and both days, after going back to bed and sleeping for an extended amount of time, I have thought about coming on here and writing something.
Something. ANYTHING. But nothing inspirational has come to me.
I could talk about the weather and the fact that the weather has been completely sucking for the past 3 weeks. In the past few weeks, I can think of 2 maybe 3 sunny days (of which we were busy). Other than that, it has been raining or overcast. In fact, we had four thunderstorms in one week. FOUR. Count them. One, Two, Three, Four! That is a lot of storm action.
My favourite was the one that woke us up in the morning because the thunder was so loud it was setting off all the car alarms.
That one was actually pretty cool.
I know what you're thinking. Poor you. You have a few days of rain while we suffer through temperatures with a little minus sign in front of them and a couple feet worth of snow.
Granted- I give you that.
But we are in Australia. In the summer. I have a tan to maintain and this weather isn't helping.
This week is supposed to look up though, as outside the window today I see blue sky. Maybe I'll see the beach sometime.

I guess I could tell you about the fact that we have been granted unofficial permission to sell our hot dogs up on the highway again, but only on weekends (for now). Through a long chain of events, they said that they will pretend that we're not there and therefore, we can go back to selling our lovely hot dogs a couple days a week.
So that's where we were this weekend.
We sold 50 hot dogs in about 5 hours.
It was a lot of hot dogs.
Then to change things up, it started to rain and we had to go home.

It is a week today until Christmas.
Weird.Weird. Weird.
We sang a Christmas carol this Sunday at church and it was stormy outside and so it almost fit. Except for the flip flips on our feet.
That ruins the feel every time.
We were invited last week over to some friends house who made us a turkey dinner because they heard that we were missing the family meals and such at home. We even had Christmas Crackers, or bon bons as they call them over here.
We even wore the hats.
It was very sweet of them.
They told of us of deadly snakes in Australia and we told them of bears and cougars from Canada. They now never want to come to Canada because they fear that the bears will eat them. Maybe our tales were a little too gruesome.

The best thing, however, about Christmas being so soon is that after Christmas, three days to be exact, my family arrives from Canada.
Let's count together again, my friends. One, Two, Three, Four, Five.....TEN! TEN DAYS UNTIL THEY GET HERE.
I can hardly believe it.
It shall be wonderful.

Now I am off to complete my wifely duties for the day. Duties such as reading my book, watching a movie and maybe throwing a shower in there somewhere.
I'm already enjoying my Tuesday, hope you enjoy your Tuesday when the day arrives!

because I won't be home for Christmas

2007-12-12T19:32:00.001-08:00

Last week I wrote a post about Christmas and the fact that we are thousands of miles removed from anything resembling holiday normality for us. The beaches and bikinis aren't really the definition of Christmas in our eyes.
And seriously, this bikini thing 12 months a year? Who thought that part up? When are you supposed to pack on the winter pounds when you're wearing a bikini all year long? I miss that 6 month winter grace period.
I received a splendid suggestion from my lovely sister in law that we should go and find some egg nog to celebrate the Christmas season with. That festive drink would be sure to bring back feelings of Christmas at home.
Great idea- except for the minor complication that I personally find egg nog rather revolting. I know many people love the drink and so I acknowledge that it's just my own personal preference.
However, despite that complication, the premise of the idea was great and so I started thinking. What sort of drink (that we enjoy) would remind us of home?
And then I thought of it. A Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks.
We had not been to Starbucks once since we left Canada. They are not as common over here. In fact, we have met people who do NOT know what Starbucks is.
I actually laughed, out loud, that they had to ask what Starbucks is.
Yet, I forgave their poor unfortunate souls for their lack of knowledge of one of the world's most profitable coffee chains.
In Brad and I's opinion, Starbucks does not have the final say on the whole coffee situation. They do some things good, some things real bad (like mochas- bleh..) and the rest of the things so-so. However, the best thing about Starbucks is that when you go there, you know what you're going to get. That counts for a lot.
So we set out here last week to find ourselves a Starbucks. We drove about 25 minutes until we came to our destination. I had mentally prepared myself for the fact that they might not have Gingerbread Lattes here but I was not disappointed.
We handed over the equivalent of our yearly savings as well as the promise of our first born child (inflation rates included, as that child will not be born for about another 20 years- Lord willing) in order to purchase a couple of grande Gingerbread Lattes, but let me tell you, it was so worth it.
Everything about that store was exactly the same as at home (except for the meat pies) and strangely enough, that brought with it a comfort I never knew I was missing.
Sitting there in my flip flops and jean shorts, with my husband by my side, a latte in my head and the strains of ' I'll be home for Christmas' playing in the background, I felt the most homesick that I have since we left Canada 5 months ago.
Yet at the same, I felt so at home. Cheesy huh? But it is completely the truth.
Strange what becomes comfortable, when everything else feels so different.

We put our best photography skills to use and got this sweet shot of us enjoying our drinks. And because I love my husband and I loved my Starbucks coffee, I had to include this one.

the facts on leather sandals and hot ovens

2007-12-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

Brad and I spent yet another afternoon at the beach this weekend. Brad loving the waves, myself loving the pages of my current book. The sun was hiding behind the clouds but the air was still warm.

After a few hours it was time to come home to get ready for our Christmas staff party. Well, Brad's Christmas staff party with the Mitsubishi dealership. We were really unsure of what to expect at this staff party. Secretly, we were kind of hoping that we would experience a situation similar to that of the Dundies.
Because then that would confirm Brad and I's suspicions that Micheal Scott, of The Office, is truly reincarnated through some of Brad's coworkers -which therefore has provided us with many hours of entertainment.
Alas, no Dundies were awarded.
Just some good Italian food .
But, once again, I'm ahead of myself because this post was to have nothing to do with staff parties. Rather, it has to do with getting ready for staff parties.
Brad and I came home from the beach and had about an hour to get ready- meaning I had an hour to get ready and Brad had 55 minutes to do whatever the heck he wanted and then 5 minutes to get dressed.
While I was running around trying to figure out how to iron my shirt with a crappy iron and a wrinkly towel on the floor, Brad calmly pulled his clothes on, smooshed his hair a little and was ready to go.
As he went to grab his shoes, he realized that his flip flops were still soaking wet from the beach. The only other option was bright white shiny running shoes or dirty black skate shoes and so the flip flops had to be worn.
I suggested the hair dryer as the best drying method. Brad decided the oven would do the job the best.
Yes, the oven.
Now I promised Brad that I wouldn't emphasize his wrongdoings in this post. Only merely present the facts as they were.
The fact that I said "honey, are you sure that's a good idea?"
And the fact that he said, "it'll be fine. I'll just watch them closely."
And the fact that I decided that he is a big boy and can make decisions for himself, like whether or not he wanted to lightly broil his trusty leather sandals in our oven.
And then there's the fact that after a few minutes Brad called out to me that, "Steph, I think I need some new sandals."
And that he showed me this.

Fact: Leather shrinks when put in hot oven.

Just sharing the facts.. Just the facts.

In other news, this my friends, is a full sized Australian peach.
It's hardly worth effort of biting into it. It costs heaps more than any peach in the beautiful Okanagan and is hardly comparable in taste.
Despite my cheery disposition in this picture, I was quite disappointed to hear that they don't grow them any bigger here and even more disappointed when I bit into this little peach and realized it that it just wasn't the same as home.
There's no place like home.

denying december

2007-12-02T19:56:00.001-08:00

Have you ever seen the movie Christmas with the Kranks? The one with Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen? Where they try to skip Christmas by going on a cruise to some hot destination and their neighbours get real upset about it?
You haven't seen it?
Okay good. Don't.
It's totally cheesy. I forced my husband into watching it and I pretended to laugh the whole time just so I wouldn't have to admit to him that it was a really bad movie. But I'm admitting it here.
It's a really bad movie.
Yet, despite the fact that that movie can be ranked with the likes of 'Men in Black II' as one of worst movies in the history of mankind, there are some elements of that film that have a distinct similarity to our current situation.
The whole skipping Christmas thing.
See to me, there's a certain distinction that needs to be made about Christmas. First there's the reason for Christmas. The reason that we have all these traditions that mark this time of year. There's the reality that two thousand years ago my Saviour was born to a virgin in a stable because there was no room in the inn. The reality that because of this birth, a series of events were put in motion that led to the death of that man, on the cross, so that we can choose to live in confidence that our souls have been redeemed by the grace of Jesus Christ.
You can't skip that part. Well, I guess so many people do skip that part and lose the true meaning of the holiday but we're not skipping that part. Definitely not.
But then, there's the celebration of Christmas- the trees, lights, presents, songs, credit card debt and the extra ten pounds gained- those are all part of the celebration.
And we're totally boycotting Christmas.
Moreover, I think we're in complete denial.
As I sit here, in a tank top and shorts, my skin smelling of sunscreen and lightly browned by the sun, I cannot think that it's December.
It feels almost impossible.
December is tobogganing and gingerbread lattes and hot chocolate over chocolate chip poker and cool nights by warm fires and all those good things.
I have to confess that I miss it all.
We both do. We miss the month of December in Canada.
(PS..Happy Birthday Jenil, since today is December 3rd..)
It's not that we don't love the cloudless blue skies, white sand beaches and the scorching Australian sun. No complaints there because we love it.
But it's not Christmas. It's not the celebration part of Christmas. The tradition part of Christmas.
And so because we're so far away from what that feels normal to us, we're not attempting to do anything normal. We have no decorations, no Christmas tree and haven't sung one verse of Frosty the Snowman. We're going to do something completely different but we just haven't thought about what that will be yet.
Actually, we need some ideas of what to do on Christmas. We have a few invites to people's houses to celebrate, however we really feel like we want to do something on our own. We're not really buying presents because we live in Australia. This IS a present. And there's nothing we really need.
We wish we could transport a list about a mile long of people we would love to see and chat with but alas, that is not possible. Shocking I know. You mean we don't make millions selling $3 hot dogs to truckers?! The injustice of it all..
So if you were living in paradise during the holiday season, what would you do?

priorities

2007-11-27T02:09:00.000-08:00

Ever since Brad and I came here (which is coming up to 5 months), we have been planning to go out for a 'nice' dinner. The sit down and order from the menu sort, not the hang out of a window and yell into the window sort.
We always say "next week" as if next week will have the designated 'dinner fund' that we're waiting for. That dinner fund never seems to come.
However, I would need at least two hands to count the number of times that we have gone to McDonalds. It started as cheap ice creams but has evolved into some dinner substitute. Or a late snack.
Take this evening for example. We actually ate dinner at home tonight, but it was early for us - about 5:00. After dinner, I headed to aerobics.
But it's not aerobics. It's called aerobics but it's more like sweat like a pig until you can't do anymore push up kind of aerobics. A friend from the church runs it for girls once a week. Man Aerobics also takes place on Thursday.
But the whole aerobics thing is besides the point. What I meant to say is that I ate dinner, ran around for an hour and felt like I was going to ralph. Toss my cookies... that sort of thing. I was FULL and NOT HUNGRY.
Yet then, after time had passed and we sat at home, Brad and I became hungry.
Really hungry.
A fridge full of food sat feet away from us, yet McD's was just so appealing. Even though I had just spent an hour running in circles.
Why I ask you? Why?
I really never went there in Canada (maybe because it takes 30 minutes to get an ice cream cone.. oh the Summerland McDonalds. You are a waste of my time..) yet here, there's this strange appeal.
The fries are still soggy 50% of the time, the McFlurry is never properly stirred and the burger has more grease that one's body should really be able to handle.
But yet we go and fork over more money in weekly McDonalds trips than we would if we went out for dinner say, once every other week.
The things we do that make no sense.

hot dogone

2007-11-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

This is a story of sadness, disappointment and custard pies gone to waste. A story that was played out this week, Thursday night to be exact, and a story that brought some of ours dreams crashing down.

Okay, maybe not crashing down. That's a little too dramatic. But some of our excitement was stomped out.
I wrote a few days ago about how our newest occupation has been selling hot dogs to truckies on one of the major free ways that runs down the East coast of Australia. We were talking to people all day and answering the same basic questions, over, and over, and over again. And then again... and then once more.
"So, where are you from? America or Canada?"
"Oh yeah, so what are you doing over here? How long are you here for?"
"How'd you get into the whole wearing a fanny pack, selling hot dogs to truckies up in the middle of nowhere kind of thing?"
Or some variation of the above questions.
It had been all fun and games. Really it was.

(Okay, okay. Time of for some brackets and a little side note. About the fanny pack. They don't call them fanny packs over here. In fact, I was fashionably sporting a 'butt bag.' Yes, a butt bag. You see, the word "fanny" over here doesn't mean bum, like it does in Canada. It is actually slang for the parts on the OTHER side of the female body, AND no, I cannot say that word on my blog. I just can't- I am not that mature. But you get the point. Anyways, I don't wear a fanny pack over here. I wear a butt bag. Moving on...)

On Thursday, we headed up to our little spot in the middle of nowhere to selling some more refreshments to the passerby..ers. We had made some friends up there, a few Lebanese guys who were selling mangoes across the parking lot from us and they were usually there 7 days a week (and gave us free mangoes everytime!). However, on Thursday they weren't there.
We didn't think much of it because it was sort of a rainy day and really, who in their right mind wants to be selling stuff in the rain.
Well, I guess we did but everyone else was smart enough to stay out of the rain.
So we set up and started selling our goods. Seriously- it was the best spot. People just LOVED the hot dogs. They LOVED the drinks.
A few hours after we started, our boss showed up and fired up a BBQ for all the truck drivers. He went FULL ON. Steak sandwiches, sausage rolls, apple pies, caramel slice and yes..the custard tarts. ENDLESS amounts of food.
Endless amounts of food that we had yet to go through when the cops showed up about halfway through.
The nice little cops that told us we had to pack up that instant and get out because our permit that we had from the city council did not allow us to be set up in a rest area on the freeway.
And we had to get out before they gave us a hefty fine- which they had done to the Mango Guys the day before WHICH is why they weren't there that day.
It all made sense.
With coolers and fridges full of food, we packed all of our things up and headed out, as there was no use putting up a fight against the highway patrol.
Deportation was on the line for us.
Well, not quite but I wasn't about to confront a police officer about why in the world he wouldn't just let me sell my hot dogs!
Luckily, our boss was there to do the talking and Brad and I were able to hide in the background.
(Okay- another side note. I took this VERY artistic picture of our hot dog cooker. I know that most people know the things that go into hot dogs and you think that Canadian hot dogs are kind of gross (but you find them secretly very appealing, which is why they keep selling). Well, Australian hot dogs are a million times grosser. Grosser looking at least. They keep the skin on- and it's just sick. But MY GOODNESS, people love them. I cannot believe it. In a couple of hours, we would sell like 50 hot dogs, despite all the flies swarming around them.
You think we're crazy. We're not. And trust me, while this looks disgusting, I was as food safe as possible!!....and I actually just maybe might have ate one and just maybe they might have actually tasted okay... )

Anyways, we moved on to another spot, but it was nothing at all. Nothing compares to what we had going there. For the past few days, we have been trying out different spots, trying to make it work but it's just not the same. We were forced to keep ourselves entertained for hours, with very few customers. For example, we started playing the game 'props' with the random utensils we had sitting around. I believe that this was Brad's turn - "a finger hula skirt."
We have tried to save most of the food but we had TONS. Our little freezer is stuffed full of loaves of white bread that. Enough to last us at least a month.
Oh white bread. I love the way I can roll you up into a little ball and eat you- so lovely.
We had to get rid of a bunch of the food though because we just couldn't keep it all.

And so, that is our sad story. Our journey of selling hot dogs and bags of chips is not yet complete, however the future is looking a little more grim.
Perhaps I'll have to find myself a real job.
Perhaps....

process

2007-11-23T17:09:00.000-08:00

I would like to apologize for the condition of my blog at this point. I have taken a bit of time this morning to try and make it somewhat more presentable however my long vacation from working with HTML code and the fact that blogger won't let me do what I want to has left me a little frustrated.
So I will wait until my designer arrives home from surfing and maybe he can help me make it look presentable.
Plus, there's nothing new to read so you don't have to stay looking at it for long!!

somewhat surfy wife

2007-11-21T02:59:00.000-08:00

Before I continue, let's just take a moment of silence to commemorate the fact that I just uploaded this video from our home internet connection.
Well, the one we borrow off our neighbours.
It has been working like a charm lately and I was actually able to upload an entire video, in less than half a century. Amazing.
Nevertheless, moving on- this is another little video Brad made. I think it's sweet, while perhaps a little embarrassing at having such achievements presented in such a manner.
But it's somewhat amusing.
And I think our camera is super because we get to capture moments like these.
(PS- The movie is heaps better if you have sound).

Surfin' Steph from Stephanie Riemer on Vimeo.

hot doggin' it

2007-11-20T14:57:00.001-08:00

School is now a couple weeks gone and summer holidays have officially started. December 1st marks the first day of summer, though I feel as if summer started a couple of months ago. The heat has gained in intensity and the stickyness factor has increased tenfold as the humidity here has increased A LOT.
Summer holidays has also brought a rush of increased busyness to our lives. BUSYNESS- can you tell me what that is? We haven't been 'busy' for months and let me just remind you that it is a wonderful thing to have time to sleep. And eat breakfast. And clean your house. And do nothing with your husband but go to the beach and play cards.
However, busyness within reason has proved to be enjoyable. It also makes those days off more pleasant- like today for example, when I sit here late Wednesday morning, still in the clothing I wore to bed with the remnants of breakfast and coffee stacked neatly beside me and just the prospect of spending the day at the beach set before me.
The source of our busyness has actually been work, but work that we have been enjoying.
I am going to tell you the abbreviated version of this story because if I told you the whole thing, it'd go "and then...and then...and then.." AND THEN you'd stop reading and go do something more entertaining. Like watch paint dry.
So, Brad's boss, whose ideas are endless and endlessly successful, started to get us selling drinks and the such at beaches along the coast here. We would cruise from beach to beach with this van that he has set up and serve people cold drinks or coffees or chips and stuff like that. Good idea, nice scenery - not as successful as we hoped.
Nevertheless, he did not give up.
He discovered a place up on the freeway, about 30 minutes from our place, where there is a rest stop for truck drivers and tourists and no refreshments for miles. And miles.
So he put us up there, selling hot dogs and drinks.
Even as I type it, I have to laugh at myself. For a living, we sell hot dogs to truck drivers. Kind of sounds trashy huh? I stand in the sun, wearing a FANNY PACK no less, and serve refreshments to random people driving by.
But you know what? It's been really successful so far.
We spent 6 hours up there on Sunday and tripled our profits from our 6 hours at the beach before. We were so busy we barely had time to rest.
We are still figuring out the logistics of the whole thing however, it looks like we might be doing this a few times a week.
As random as it might all sound, honestly, it's great. Brad and I work together, talking to people, while enjoying the Australian sun. We have the same hours, we get the same days off and keep each other entertained during the slow times.
Brad has also learned how incredibly obsessive I am about NOT touching anything unsanitary with my gloved hand while serving hot dogs because heaven forbid I touch a piece of paper with a gloved hand -SOMEONE MIGHT DIE.
Or at least I think they could. Brad has a hard time agreeing. I don't really blame him. He's learning to love this side of me. I'm learning not to make it obvious how particular I am about the whole deal.
I also don't let Brad serve hot dogs.
It is stinkin' hot out there. I think the mercury hit 35 the other day, so we were a little warm. And I had to start wearing a hat I borrowed from the boss's wife. It's stylie. It matches my fanny pack , it's that stylie.
So that is where we are at. Sitting on the edge of the highway, serving hot dogs and drinks to whoever passes, and watching the sun set behind the silhouette of a semi-trailer truck.
And we're having some fun along the way.

browning

2007-11-19T03:43:00.001-08:00

This is what I call my 'Springtime' or 'Pre-Summer Tan.'
Still counting down the days until summer hits but you know, I'd take the 35 degree spring time weather too.
I'd also take a pedicure. Those feet might be somewhat tanned but those are some UGLY toenails.
oh well..

perfection

2007-11-16T00:28:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing that I will remember about Australia is its absolute beauty. Cliche, I know, but I would hardly be doing the country justice if I didn't mention it. Those postcards you seeing floating around of the pristine white sand beaches and the turquoise sparkling water- it's like that here. It's like that everywhere here. It's not hidden away on some distant inaccessible island but literally, perfection is just down the street.
It has yet to get old.
Of course, the sun isn't always shining. Rain has been pretty common, actually. However, on a day like this, when the sun glistens through a barreling wave and produces that perfect colour of water, I can't help but get excited. God got this right when He put this place together.
Okay, well, he could have left out the killer sharks and gigantic sting rays, but everything else- He did real good.

pimples.

2007-11-14T00:46:00.000-08:00

On Sunday morning, I woke up with the beginnings of a big shiny pimple on my face. Right in the middle of my face. Obviously there. Just down from the bridge of the nose, take a slight turn to right and I promise you, you can't miss it.
In my youth (which was like yesterday), this was not uncommon, however it has been awhile since I have had such a substantial growth on my face.
Just what you wanted to hear, I know.
Now, today is Wednesday here in Australia and not only is this pimple still there, it is a full blown zit that won't disappear.
It just won't.
I stopped wearing cover up or anything of the sort a few months ago but I have had to drag it out just to reduce the blazing red of this stupid thing to kind of a dull roaring red. While it bugs me, just out of pure vanity's sake, I'm not really embarrassed about it because, the truth is, I'm not around people (other than Brad) enough to really have that many people look at it.
Nevertheless, this evening, Brad and I were out for a longboard before dinner.
Perhaps before I go any further I should say that if you have ever spent any substantial amount of time with Bradley Riemer, you will know that he often makes up jokes. Some of them actual deserve a heartfelt laugh- some just a mere nod of the head in acknowledgment.
Anyways, on our longboard tonight, Brad comes up to me and asks:
"What do you call a baby with a pimple?"
"What?" I asked appropriately.
"A baby zitter!" He said with quite a look of satisfaction.
"Very funny honey," I replied, with a smile. "Did you just come up with that one?"
"Yeah- I was just thinking about your zit."
Thanks. Thanks a lot.

the height of sophistication

2007-11-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

"How come you just wove at that guy?"
"He looked unsure because he thought that he was cutting me off. So I wove at him to tell it was okay."

Silence.

"Did you just say wove?"
"Did I?"
"I actually think that I said it first and then you copied me, without even thinking."
"What's the proper word?"
"Waved."
"Oh right, waved."

storms and surf

2007-11-08T02:28:00.001-08:00

Brad's most recent masterpieces captured with our little (very wonderful) camera.

retrospect

2007-11-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

I guess I have kind of dropped off the face of the blogging world for a little bit here. I blame it mostly on the fact that I am done school for the semester (except for one final exam) and so I do not regularly have access to the internet.
Well, internet that works regularly.
We often share our neighbours wireless network- they just don't know we share. However, for the internet to work, it involves us standing in the kitchen, with our backs up against the kitchen sink, holding the computer at shoulder height, and inserting the proper amounts of desperate pleas in order to get the thing to work. And even if it does connect, it's for brief intervals and as slow as old school dial up.
I often lack that much patience, therefore this here blog often gets neglected. But I think it's time for a re-cap of what has been happening in this little life of ours.

As of now, I'm pretty much done school (of course there's that one exam but I have conveniently blocked that out of my head for the time being- it's amazing how effective denial can be). That means that from now, the beginning of November until the end of February I have off school.
Summer holidays in Australia. Four months. FOUR MONTHS OFF!! In Australia!!
It's pretty sweet.
I have applied for some jobs-mostly casual Christmas positions at retail stores in the mall. We'll see about those but I'm really not holding my breath at all.
I do help out my friend cleaning her house once a week. I think I get the better half of the deal. I clean her house, get paid PLUS we do all of our laundry and I get to use her internet. She has been very very good to us and we really appreciate how she takes care of us so well!
Brad is currently still working for Mitsubishi however, he is no longer selling cars. The shirt and tie got old real fast. He's kind of become the boss's 'go-to' guy. Brad delivers and picks up cars (including $75,000 Mercedes Benz), runs random errands, does work on his boss's house, does some landscaping- just basically a bunch of random odd jobs. On paper, it is by no means the most ideal job, however I really believe that the Lord was providing us with what he knew we needed when he provided that job for Brad. The flexibility of the position as well as the generousity of Brad's boss has been a real blessing for us and it's neat to see the relationships that have formed there.
Plus, we still get a free car and gas out of the deal.
My favourite vehicle so far has been the red 2005 MAZDA 3 that we got to drive for a couple days. It's basically a distant cousin of my protege at home and we really fell in love with the vehicle. However, good things don't always last and now we're driving a car that's pretty much the distant cousin of Mr.Bean's car. What can I say- you can't have it all.
We have been regular visitors to the library here. The library supports my reading addiction, as well as provides us with endless amounts of DVDs to watch and CDs to listen to.
As well as free access on the internet to all things educational- including facebook.
We have been attending a Baptist church here and have been establishing some relationships with some people our own age. It's been a really encouraging experience. I have learned the extreme importantance of making people feel welcome in a church, just as these people have been so welcoming to us. We look forward to seeing how these relationships evolve.
Brad and I, as in 'us' as a couple, are doing wonderful. You ever wonder if you and your partner really do have things in common or if you really can have fun together- just you and them and no one else?
Well, I had started to wonder that for awhile when we were at home. I don't wonder that anymore.
It's coming up to 4 months since we have been here and I have spent almost everyday with Brad. We have spent only 2 evenings apart and until Claire and Peter had come, no one else had spent time in our place.
It has been just us, just like we wanted it to be and, you know what, it's been pretty amazing. Patience is essential and so is laughter. Expectations of perfection have to be left behind because I did not marry a perfect husband and he most certainly got an imperfect wife out of the whole deal.
Dreaming of the future has become fun and exciting and is slowly becoming less of a lost look at what we're going to do together but, instead, a look at what we get to do together. It's a pretty cool thing.
Maybe our lifestyle isn't for everyone. The sleeping in until 10, having brunch, going to the beach for a few hours, coming home, having dinner, watching a movie and going to bed. Those are so many of our days. It has been an extended holiday for us and one that we don't need to wait until we get home to appreciate.
Daily we give thanks for all that we have been blessed with. We always have just enough and we give thanks for that.
And, we give thanks that right now, in this moment, this is exactly what we need.
More than we ever realized.
The Lord has provided for us in every way and in no way do we want to take it for granted but rather rejoice in this amazing opportunity.
Well, my book is calling my name. It's lonely over on the couch. I think I'll go keep it company.

water-logged

2007-10-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

The weather has been warming here as summer rapidly approaches. The warmth hasn't really changed our habits for even when it was the middle of winter, we spent the day at the beach. Now that it's warmer, we just enjoy it more at the beach.

The water has also warmed substantially which means that wetsuits are being abandoned and more swimmers are seen in the water.
Including myself.
After my first experience swimming in the waves, we decided to change the method we were using of getting me in the water.
Little itsy bitsy waves are a necessity before I will come close to the water's edge.
Also, with the warmer water, I find that I don't hyperventilate so much anymore. Maybe because my body is no longer quite so frozen in the icy waters.
It started with just merely floating in the water and intentionally learning how to dive under the waves that came my way. Brad stayed close, pretty much holding my hand and we went out together.
It was a positive experience.
We did that a few times until I was more comfortable just being in the water.
Then we brought out the board. Just like this.Take a look at that. I managed to swim in the ocean, riding a surfboard (on my stomach) and still managed not to get my hair wet.
I am so my mother's daughter.
It has been fun to start going out in the water more and Brad is patient. He pushes me into waves and I ride them in, body boarding style.
I can see how the sport could become addicting.... on small little waves.
No, I'm not trying to become a surfer. Goodness, I haven't even stood up on the board yet and I squeal- a lot. But it's nice to be in the water and sharing something with Brad that he really really REALLY enjoys.
And at least I'm not crying anymore, right?

reminders

2007-10-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

After being away from Canada for (gasp!) 3 months already, naturally we have begun to miss home a little.

I wouldn't say that I (or we) have experienced 'homesickness' yet because the term homesickness invokes memories of endless tearful days at Camp Tulahead and the physically sickening fear of leaving home overnight from grade 2 until about...well, we don't need to know the exact date.
It was a long time before I realized that there was life outside the boundaries of my home on Wharf street.
However, now that I am married, home comes with me. In a little cuddly unit called my husband. He is now home in human flesh- he is the coffee maker, the CD player, the cuddly bear and the annoying brother who delights in pinching the bountiful amounts of excess skin underneath my arms and pinning me down and poking me until I am this close to being very angry.
Ahh..home.
However, there are some things that cannot be replaced over here- like your favourite coffee shops, your favourtie vacumn, your own laundry room, your own laundry machine, your own internet access, your personal PRIVACY (our place is a little small) and, of course, your favourite people.
Yet, we got a small taste of home last week. It was wonderful.
Claire and Peter got us caught up on all the Summerland news (non-gossip sort, of course), treated us to dinner and played games with us.
They even said they like our new card game- Nards.
So refreshing to see a familiar face and it made us even more excited for Christmas time when more visitors from home will arrive.
We love it here, we really really do, but there's no denying the comforts of home.

Essentials

2007-10-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Longboarding has been an essential component of our life over here in Australia. Initially, it was our only form of transportation and it carried us all over town. Now that we have a car, longboarding is Brad's excuse to get me to stop reading my book.
We have accumulated various clips of our longboard outings and, once again for your viewing pleasure, Brad has composed another video.
Now, we don't own a video camera. We'd love a video camera one day, however right now it is not a financial priority.
Finanacial priority- it's a nice way of saying that if you counted up every penny in our bank account you could maybe, just maybe could buy yourself a soft serve ice cream cone from McDonalds.
A Dairy Queen cone would be asking to much.
So, instead of using a video camera, we just use our little digital camera, which is why the quality of the videos do leave a little to be desired.
However, that being said, we love our camera and all that it does for us and these little clips are better than nothing- or so we think.
Also, I have to add a disclaimer:
The speed of these videos may or may not have been altered to make Brad's wife appear more competent on a longboard than she really is.
I can roll- I never said I was good.

Longboarding in Oz from Stephanie Riemer on Vimeo.

2007-10-12T01:53:00.000-07:00

Edited: I think that I may have messed up the settings on this video and so no one was allowed to view it?! I think I fixed it though..

After lamenting about the fact that my computer crashed- it got fixed.
Thank you to the nice man at DELL who held my hand over the phone and somehow mangaged to fix the stupid thing and retrieve all my 'un-backed up' stuff.
So in celebration, I am posting the zoo video Brad made awhile ago.
All the clips in this video were taken at, or on the way to, the zoo. All the clips except for the very last one.
THAT sucker- he was outside our back door. That is my broom.
I found him when I went to sit outside and read.
I was not impressed but Brad sure was.

Taronga Zoo- Sept. 2007 from Stephanie Riemer on Vimeo.

randomness at its best (or worst)

2007-10-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

I've been trying real hard to come up with some brilliant ideas of what to post, however I keep drawing a blank. Our life here is simple, lacking chaos and busyness and, therefore, there are not tons of different things taking place.

Some highlights of this week include:

-My computer crashed a few days before two papers were due. It is still not fixed and all of our pictures stored on it have yet to be retrieved. A little frustrating, especially when my 'daddy repair man' is some gazillion kilometers across the world.

-After writing emails home last week and gushing about how it's just been SO HOT here all the time, this week has succeeded in bringing us more wind and more rain. Except for yesterday. Yesterday, it was so hot walking home from school that I think 2 more minutes in the heat I would have died.

Seriously. Dead on the sidewalk.

And I was wearing shorts- it was that hot.

It is for that reason that I am happy I only have about a week and a bit left of school. Not because of the school work and not because of my endless hours spent doing homework (right..) but because I will not survive walking to school if it gets any hotter.

I know, life is so rough.

However, all in all, Brad and I are well. It would be a lie to say that life is perfect, because there will always be things that don't go as planned.

And living with just one other person everyday of your life is bound to bring along anxiety once in awhile.

Yet, at the end of the day, we have no complaints.

accountability

2007-10-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

Last night after dinner, Brad finished his dinner, leaned back in his chair and said," I could totally go for something cold and delicious and mmmm...."
"Bradley, you know that we said we weren't going to eat those types of things during the week. No desserts."
"But it would be so good and refreshing."
"No. We can't."
"I never said you had to have one."
"But..but..that's not fair. If you're having one then I want one."
"Well you just said that we couldn't have them."
"But I want one!" is now my desperate reply.
"Okay- then you go ahead and buy the ice cream for us. If I go, then I'm just buying one."
"Brad- that's SO not fair. Don't manipulate me like that."
"I'm just kidding. I wasn't actually going to go get ice cream."
"You're not? I totally wanted some."
"Well, if you say so."
"Will you buy one for me?"
After some deliberation, "Okay."
And with that Brad head off across the street to the corner store and bought us two of the most delicious ice cream bars that I have ever tasted.
So much for accountability.

the zoo

2007-10-01T20:28:00.001-07:00

The latest dosage of excitement into our lives here was a lively trip to Taronga Zoo up in Sydney. We had been planning to go in a couple of weeks but decided, on the spur of the moment, to go Friday in order to avoid the masses of little children with cute accents that would appear as a result of the upcoming Spring Break.

Spring Break in October- I still don't have my mind wrapped around that one. Weird.
We headed out early Friday morning and took the train up to Sydney to avoid the driving, the parking, the getting lost, the maps, etc. We exercised our tourist status and asked lots of annoying questions of the train supervisors, just to make sure we got to the right spot.
This is an ongoing issue in our marriage: Who asks the stupid questions?
For the first while, Brad was often designated to ask the questions, as I slowly slipped into the woodwork in the background. However, he soon caught on to my tactics and now demands that I go ask all the questions.
It usually ends in a little bit of a standstill as both of us refuses to enter in the building and ask the same person ANOTHER question. Nothing screams TOURIST as much as asking like 5 questions in a row.
But, we made it to Sydney, rather uneventfully and hopped onto the ferrry that took us through the harbour to the zoo.
It was pretty fantastic.
Those who have spent some time with me, know that my heart is a little overly compassionate for things that are cute and furry. I cry for the dead mouse on the side of the road and so going to a zoo where hundreds of God's precious creations are locked within 4 walls tested me a little. I'm not going to discuss the ethics of zoos because I really have no desire to get into that sort of conversation on this here blog, but needless to say, such issues crossed my mind many times over.
However, all such things aside, the zoo was pretty neat. It had a beautiful view of Sydney, as well as some pretty rad animals. Some though, I had no pity for. Like the big ugly snakes. Such animals I am okay with if they stay within a cage.
Brad was the official photographer for the day and captured many of the little creatures that we saw on film. He did put together a little video of our day, and so I will hopefully post that soon. Until then, here's just a few pictures.
It was a fun day just to get out and see a little bit more of the country here.

just another day at the beach

2007-09-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have been on my 'mid-session break' this week. At home we would call it a reading break, and that's exactly what I have been doing.
I have become slightly obsessive lately when it comes to reading books. I discovered the public library a few weeks ago and have proceeded to go there often and take out books to read at the beach. I never read much at home in Canada. Partly because I didn't have the time, partly because I didn't make the time.
I didn't really make the time to do a lot of things at home.
Anyhow, this week I have spent vast amounts of time reading random books. In just under two weeks, I've read about 4 John Grisham books and 2 others.
Too much time on my hands?
I think maybe.
But there will never be another time in my life when I can sit on the beach, on a DAILY basis and read a book.
And get a tan (or so NOT get a tan because it would seem physically impossible for me to turn a shade other than blinding white or rosey pink- yet I will try).
And look up occassionally and see this.
I am a geek and my husband is coming to terms with it.
So am I, and I kind of like it.

keyed

2007-09-23T20:34:00.001-07:00

“Brad, do you have the keys?” I yelled (or spoke nicely) to Brad outside, AS I locked and closed the door to our little unit.
“No,” was his reply, with a little grin.
“Seriously Brad, do you have the keys?” I ask again.

It was completely necessary for me to repeat this question because this exact situation has happened many times over… or a similar situation anyways. Brad likes to make me think that ‘oh no!’ we forgot the keys, before he smiles, does some sort of slight of hand and whips the keys out from some crevice or pocket...and I think that I am then supposed to laugh.
I was hoping, for once, that he would perform that same trick in this situation. However, he was serious.
I had just successfully locked the keys for our apartment and our car inside of the unit. Therefore, our illegally parked car could not be moved.
So, we stood there and considered our options.
Four windows- all of which are closed by not locked. First floor sitting above a garage.
In an effort to redeem myself, I suggested that Brad lift me up on his shoulders, I’ll pry the window open and climb through.
And so that was the plan.
On a busy, busy street, dressed in my beach attire, I climbed onto Brad’s shoulders and proceed to negotiate my way through the window.
We attracted an audience, broke a screen in the process, got my rear end stuck halfway through. However, in the end, we got the keys.
And a picture with just my legs hanging out.

One a side note, I was asked about where we got the car. Brad’s boss has been very good to us. Brad works on the car lot, as well helps out on the boss’ house about 20 minutes away. So, Brad was given a car to get himself to work … AND to help us find all of the best surf in NSW. They're older cars, usually trade ins, and we have been through 3 of them because they keep getting sold. Nevertheless, it’s been really nice to have a car. We don’t pay for insurance or for tune ups and we often get free gas.
It’s a pretty sweet deal.
This is a picture of one of cars. It sold already. It really wasn't my favourite- this style of car is everywhere over here. Kind of like a more modern El Camino. I personally think they're pretty ugly, despite their practicality. Also, the clutch squeeked in this one and I get really irritable with things like that.
I'm really no fun.
We now have a little Toyota Camry that gets us from here to there.

the bright side

2007-09-17T18:29:00.001-07:00

I can’t say that I have really been the epitome of health lately. In the past two weeks, I seem to have had two incidents of ‘illness,’ neither of which is all that serious, but both have required antibiotics and both have required the appropriate amount of tears and outward signs of distress.

Last night, the 2^nd plague to attack my body was starting to get a little worse- the discomfort was increasing and I just couldn’t concentrate through a whole game of crazy eights. Tragic, I know.
It was a little later and there were no doctors’ offices open and so we decided to head up to the hospital to see what they could do for me.
I felt a little like I was abusing the system. Emergency room? For me? I wish they had a ‘semi- emergency’ room, because that’s more of the category that I fit in. It was the kind of thing that, although I wasn’t feeling so hot, if someone came in who was on the verge of dying, I’d let them go first.
I’m just that kind of person.
Anyways, as we sat down in the chairs for what would be a 2.5 hour wait to see a doctor, we situated ourselves in front of the TV.
Brad leaned over to me and said, “Check this out. We get to watch a decent sized TV- for free! We should really do this more often.”

driving

2007-09-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, after a morning of less than ideal surfing and less than the ideal quantity of sunshine, Brad and I decided to do something a little different. A little spontaneous.
Now, formerly, the word spontaneity wasn’t really in my personal vocabulary as I tend to live my life on the side of predictable normality or ‘boringness’. However, after uniting myself with a man who thrives on being spontaneous, I have been forced to change my ways- somewhat. I’m still awfully boring at times, but I’m sure there’s some loveable qualities in being predictable.
At least that’s what I tell myself.

Anyways, we decided to go for a late afternoon drive up to a little town about 30 minutes away (we’re talking BIG plans here people). We really haven’t done much outside of our little area and so driving in the direct opposite direction of our normal environment was quite liberating.
We decided to go and surprise a friend of Brad’s that lives in this town. He had worked with this man in New Zealand on the construction project there and had not seen him since (3 years). So we drove, looked him up in the phonebook, drove to his house- he wasn’t home.
My first thought? SEE, we should have PLANNED things out- made phone calls! And appointments! And then maybe he would have been home.
But Brad did not give up then. We drove around and looked at scenery and waterfalls and, once again, were in awe about the fact that we’re actually in Australia.
We’re in Australia.
We actually did it.
We actually came over here.
That’s pretty cool.

It was fun afternoon and reminded us of all there is to see in the beautiful country.
Oh- and we did finally meet up with Brad’s friend (and mine too, I guess once I remembered what he looks like).
And his friend was happy to see us.
And Brad was totally right- being spontaneous can be fun.

lost in translation

2007-09-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

Australians speak English- there is no doubting that but, at times, you're not sure how much of it is the English you understand. Example:
At home we say, "how's it going?" or some variation of the sort.
That basic statement covers all grounds and basically just means "hi", as usually, no one really cares how you are doing because if you dare to say anything other than 'good' to that question, it catches people off guard and the conversation gets kind of awkard. We all know that's the truth.
Australians have a similar greeting. In general, the greeting is "how you going?" Same idea. Except, when they say it (especially middle aged men), it comes out kind of like "howyergoin'alritemate?" Kind of impossible to understand but you get the point.
However, there's other slang here that has kind of thrown me off my guard.
This weekend, we were blessed we with the opportunity to attend the baptism of one of our friend's (Brad's coworker) baby. A perfectly beautiful like girl in the perfect little dress. We were spoiled with free food, free beverages of ALL sorts and conversations, with real people. It was quite outstanding and a huge piece of 'variety' thrown into our lifestyle.
There were also a few babies there which was quite a treat as a whole two months has gone by since I actually had the opportunity to even be close to a little one. Quite the culture shock after being surrounded constantly by the sort back at home.
As I sat speaking with one of the mom's, she asked me if I would like to hold her baby. Of course I would! And so she hands him to me and say, "here you go- you can have a nurse."
Shocked, I catch Brad's eye.
A nurse?
Me. Nurse your baby?
Umm.
No thanks. Just ain't going to work.
...So I guess nurse means 'to hold,' or 'to cuddle'.
Who knew.

beaches and boards

2007-09-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

It would seem that the more time that passes between one post to the next, the less inspiration that comes to mind when you actually sit down and try to post.
Perhaps that inspiration is also killed by the fact that every. single. time. you sit down to post, the internet disconnects every 20 seconds or so which really cuts into the posting abilitiy- especially the picture part.
Nevertheless, all is not lost.
It's hard to believe that September is already upon us. September 1st marked the first day of spring and so mother nature commemorated that special date by giving us a week of rain, which totally cuts into Brad's work schedule which is really really.... annoying.
However, we have managed to spend some time at the beach. Weekends are usually designated for frolicking in the waves and especially now that Brad has his new board (oh and what love exists between him and that board), we spend a great many hours at the beautiful beaches.
Now you might wonder where I stand in all of this surfing stuff. A husband, created part human/part amphibian, would suggest that perhaps his wife too, would enjoy the beautiful waves and such.
Well, I went swimming for the first time about 2 weekends ago. The sun was out, the air was somewhat warm and I finally gave into Brad's urging that I should really partake in all that the ocean has to offer. So I pulled on my bathing suit (which hadn't been worn in over a year and for GOOD reason- my goodness) and followed Brad to the water.
It all started out well- that was, until I got into the water. My fear of waves has haunted me since the summer of 1997, when one little overwheight girl got smashed by too many waves on the beaches of Hawaii.
I have never been the same.
Some waves started coming in and as Brad leapt through the water, I tentatively dipped my head under. After emerging from the water, I looked up to see a wave towering above my head.
Never before have I hyperventilated, but in that moment, I could not breathe.
In fact, we even had some footage of this moment, but really, it was too pitiful that it had to be deleted..
I hyperventilated, couldn't hold my breathe long enough to dive under the waves that were towering over my head. Wow- what a great experience.
So I made my way back to the shallow, and stood there staring at the waves, while Brad gave me a little self help talk. After a bit, he started to urge me back out and right there, at that second, is when I started to cry.
It was a proud proud moment.
Here is our favourite beach that we found so far. And see that little speck far far down the beach, with the towel, a good book and a big botttle of Diet Coke? Yeah, that's me
This is Brad's new board- in case you were wondering what it looks like. .

surfing montage

2007-08-28T02:05:00.001-07:00

Untitled from Stephanie Riemer and Vimeo.

With much effort, we have finally been able to post this video. Who cares that it is not centered on the page and does not have a title- it's finally here.
Brad has been having many adventures in the ocean with our camera. He has found his new calling- if it's not surfing, it's take videos of people surfing. Since he has been waiting for his surfboard for what seems like FOREVER now, he found the next best substitute for being on the waves himself.

life in 5 minutes

2007-08-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to spend this precious time applying for a work visa, however, I forgot to bring my passport.

Brilliant.

So I thought that I would sneak behind my husband's back and post on my blog quickly, while he waits outside.

Our life in 5 minutes:

The surf- has been fantastic.

Brad's custom made board- will be ready next week.

School- is fine.

Scrubs- is a great show to watch.

Oprah's 20th Anniversary DVD Set- kept us entertained all last weekend.

Brad thinks- he might have sold another car.

I think- my husband is great.

Brad is- turning 25 on Tuesday.

I will- not be able to make him a cake because I have no flour, baking soda, eggs, sugar, vanilla, chocolate or cake pans.

Life is- great.

Phone us- ANYTIME!!!

We miss- everyone at home.

Wanna come over for dinner?

We'd love to have you.

disconnected

2007-08-14T00:18:00.000-07:00

Certain tragedies have taken place in our little household. The first of the tragedies is the fact the surf has totally resembled a pancake for the last 3 weeks ("like, totally unsurfable dude"). The tragedy of this is certainly unmeasurable.
However, in my own personal life, the tragedy surrounds the internet and the fact that it no longer works in our little home.
Up until this point, we had been using (or borrowing, or stealing...) a wireless network that we had found floating through our place. It was better than we could have asked. Internet for free? Yes please. However now, suddenly, it decided to stop working. The network still exists but our computer refuses to connect to it.
It's tragic. I almost shed a tear.
So now I am stuck sitting in a grubby little internet shop, surrounded by a bunch of pre-teen boys playing some killing game and screaming like the world is going to end.
I honestly am in disbelief at how loserish it seems. I hate to judge on this blog, but seriously- it's really lame. Quite funny to watch.
And now my time is running out on this computer.
The posts will be a little fewer and far between. It saddens my heart greatly. But keep waiting and they will come.
That, is my promise.

sold!

2007-08-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

I would like make a little shout out here to my hubby.
Not only does this man keep me incredibly toasty warm at night (until he gently shoves me to my cold side of the bed) and is adorably cute- today, my husband sold his first car!
Now, in all humility he would say he really didn't do anything. He just happened to be at the right place at the right time with a customer who really wanted to buy a vehicle.
But I say, it was all because of his good looks and charm and extensive knowledge of used Mitsubishi utility vans that really sold the customer.
So now, we get a handy little commission pay. A commission pay that the government swiftly sucks out 30% of because we don't live here and so they get to do that.
I'd like to call it stealing. They call it fair.
Somehow that doesn't seem to add up.
But any pay day minus 30% is better than no pay at all..right?
Well, at least that's what we're telling ourselves.
Nonetheless, Bradley sold a car (or a used utility van).
He's pretty great like that.

sunrise

2007-08-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

At home, we didn't have much for routines. On a good day, I was lucky if I saw Brad in the morning before he headed off at the crack of dawn for a day of work. I have extreme difficulties in physically removing myself from the bed in the morning and so climbing out at half past six to make Brad's lunch, clean between his toes, and sit and watch him eat his breakfast was never something I could muster the energy for. As I type that now, I realize how selfish it sounds, and maybe it was- but it was dark and cold and I had to work EIGHT whole hours in the warmth of the beanery with a steaming non-fat latte grasped between my veiny fingers while I talked with friends all day long. I needed my sleep people.
So, like I said, we didn't have much for routines. It was somewhat chaotic. The routine we did have involved a Saturday morning breakfast, with Daniel, my computer and an episode of Office. Like I mentioned before, WIN. WIN. WIN.
Anyways, over here in our little world that consists of just Brad and myself, there's not much going on in our lives. Sure, I go to school for about an hour 4 days a week and Brad stands around on a car lot and drives brand new cars for a few hours a day, but other than that, there's nothing but time to create new routines, habits, and traditions.
Like this one. It's my favourite.(Please notes the cardboard placemats (easily replaced and recycled), the $1.99 box of Cornflakes (that includes tax) and the matching stoneware dishes that we bought for $30 for an entire 32 piece set-including cutlery. We have reached an all time high, or very very low, of what it means to be cheap. )
Every morning, Brad wakes up, has a shower, and then makes some mochas and whatever breakfast we are having for the day.
Please note: I am still in bed at this point of time.
When I hear the appropriate noise of the tinkling of the spoon in the mug as he mixes the drinks, I know that it is time to emerge.
And so I do. And there we sit at the table, drink our coffee, eat our cornflakes (or crumpets, or toast) and start the day off right with a game of crazy eights.
Then, my husband dons his polyester suit, grabs his leather briefcase and practices his cheesy smile one last time before he heads out the door.
That, my friends, is a morning routine.

adventures

2007-08-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Brad and I had an adventure. AN ADVENTURE. It's called an adventure because it was something other than walking to the beach and playing crazy eights and so it is worthy of the title "adventure."
Because Brad is an important car salesman now (who stands around for hours on end and talks to no customers because no customers come on the lot), he was asked to drive and drop off a car a couple hours of away and he could bring his wife with him. So yesterday morning, we woke up way too early and climbed into a brand new car and started to drive.
Being the good wife I am, I took some pictures along the way. Pictures like, "this is the car we're driving" and, "here is my husband crooning cheesy love songs all the way." I realize they weren't the most artistic of pictures but pictures that captured the essence of our adventure.
In a moment of waiting, Brad took the camera and erased all my pictures. The conversation went like this:
"You erased all my pictures!"
"They were stupid."
SO, they were my pictures."
"But they were stupid."
"You hurt my feelings."
"Sorry."
Awkward silence. Eyes diverted to opposite corner of the room.
And that was our conversation. I got over it in about 5.49 seconds and, in reality, I had taken about 3 pictures and they were blurry and totally lame.
Brad was right.
So anyways...
Yesterday morning at 6:00 in the morning, we climbed into this brand new Mitsubishi Lancer, except ours was black.

We drove it 2 and some hours from here to here.

I almost barfed somewhere along the way.

I saw animals like the Wombat.

And a kangaroo.

And a dead kangaroo (I'll save the picture).
We were able to see some of the country and have a bit of freedom driving a car. It was good fun. We arrived home around 2pm and had a nap for about 2 hours because we were tired and we really had nothing else to do with ourselves.

In other exciting news, we have a DVD player now. Our very kind friend has lent us her DVD player and a menagerie of movies and so we no longer have to play cards every single night of the week. It is quite liberating. We now go to bed later than 9:00. It has changed our world.

dealin'

2007-07-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

Life has a funny way of doing things.

In our own wisdom, we choose our dreams, our aspirations and the path we think our life should go. And we think it should fall into place because, well, it all makes sense that it should be that way.
Kind of like the way it made so much sense for Brad to be in a cute cozy little cafe, serving drinks and playing music. But sometimes, things don't work out like that and the Creator, in His infinite wisdom, plans it out a little differently. Our limited minds don't have the capacity to understand why He works that way, or why He chooses to provide for us in the manner He does, but yet, at the end of the day, I cannot help but stop and give thanks.
I never failed to be humbled.

Friday was a bummer day. Saturday wasn't turning out to be much better. Before Brad and I left for Australia, we had dreamed of waking up for a day and have nothing calling our name. No house that needed fixing, no meeting that needed attending and no people that needed pleasing. We just needed a break. Now, after 3 weeks of having a break, we were ready to do something. The unknown was starting to get to us as boredom was setting in.
Saturday Brad headed off to visit his surfer buddy guy friend that Brad likes to stop in and chat with on a regular/daily basis. On his way home, he thought that he should stop in at this one car dealership one more time. He had been bugging this place for a job, telling them he'd mop their floors, spit shine their shoes, anything.. He just wanted to work.
Really, it's a miracle that I'm not the one who is looking for work. Brad is a lot more insistent than I am. My job application would be more like this:" Umm..I'm sorry to bug you..really really sorry..but I was just umm..wondering if, possibly you had any work that I could do...I mean, I really don't want to get in your way but...."
You know how it goes. I'm a pushover.
Thank goodness Brad isn't.
The guy told Brad he could maybe give him a couple hours work and to stop in Monday morning.
Within half an hour, Brad we got a call from the boss of the Mitsubishi dealership asking Brad to come in Monday morning with a shirt and tie to be a 'trainee car salesman.'
We laughed- hard, but it was work.
So, we went out, found Brad a blue dress shirt and a matching tie. Sunday night, in my apron and bonnet, I starched and pressed his shirt on our ironing board made of our $15 card table, a towel and our cardboard place mats with our $9 iron from the REJECT SHOP. Meanwhile Brad practiced his cheesy smiles and firm handshakes with his reflection in the mirror.
Monday morning he pulled on his new outfit, complete with black Etnies skate shoes and headed off to work.
It's not his dream job but it's work and we're excited. He gets paid a basic minimum wage (which is substantially more than in Canada) and then gets a good commission for every car he sells. It's extremely laid back and slack, and sometimes boring, but Brad enjoys talking to people, so it's pretty perfect. No customers came in on his first day, but he got to drive some brand new cars around Wollongong and so he was excited.
The best part is that we both get Fridays off- so we have long weekends together.
That is where we are at. It pays the bills, supports our Tim Tam habit and has given us some good laughs along the way. It might last a week, it might last a year, but for now- my husband is a car salesman for the Mitsubishi dealership.
Maybe one day he'll learn how to spell the name.

public toilets

2007-07-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

I was wanting to put this story on here, as I think it needs sharing, however I was unsure of how best to elaborate on the details. Brad was writing an email home and I stole this little bit of it, as it best explains the events of our day. Or THE event of our day.

Steph and I were longboarding and I needed to go number 2 so we found this bathroom. it is one of those automatic ones... the door slides open by itself and the light comes on and music starts playing... so it was actually kinda fun... quite novel.... and so I was in there doing my thing, listening to the nice music and time was just passing me by...... but I guess they have a time limit..... so I am sitting there and all the lights go out and the music stops... the toilet then flushes itself and the automatic door slides wide open leaving me exposed to the playground outside with a line of people waiting for to use the toilet... so I quickly waddled forward to try and press the big green button to re-close the door and people were all embaresed and not sure where to look... but some old man just walked in like he didnt see me and I was like" ummm sorry.... I am not done yet" saying all this with my pants at my ankles.... and he realized it and quickly scooted out.... finally the door closed, music started and the light came back on and I was just sitting there in disbelief.... yeah.... so that happened today.

The fun never stops.

Floating out at Sea

2007-07-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and marks the beginning of another day. We begin this day feeling like we've had the wind completely blown out of our sails.

Yesterday was rather a depressing day, though not bad by any real measure, but it did feel a little...depressing I guess.

Brad had the trial at the little cafe the other day. We had to go buy him an outfit of black clothes for the occasion and he went off to work. He really enjoyed it there, did his best and at the end they said he did really well. However, they also waited until the end to tell him they had been trying out a bunch of other people this week as well, and Brad was the last they were trying. They said they would call him that evening or the next day.
The evening passed, and we awoke with expectancy the following morning. Little was planned for the day, except wandering aimlessly along the surfless beach and so our hearts were quite anxious about that phone call.
The sad thing is that it never came.
No call to say "yes" you got it, or "no" you didn't. Just no call. I think it's worse this way.
Brad had also been promised by another place that he would be called about work yesterday, and they never called.
And so we're back at square one.
Three weeks without working, getting settled in another home- we're starting to feel a little desperate. More desperate for Brad to have peace of mind and not be worrying about always finding work.
Job hunting kind of makes you feel helpless, for as much as you go back and back again (as Brad has many times over) you're still at their mercy.
No control- and it bites the big one.
Nevermind, to top yesterday off, we splurged and bought a TV antennae. A friend of ours (YES! we have a friend- he takes Brad surfing with him) brought over an old TV for us, as you can only play cards for so many nights on end. We were quite excited about some mindless entertainment, however the bunny ears did nothing. We got better reception with Brad's guitar strings and my bobby pins.
Oh yes, and our neighbours, who we never hear a peep out of, decided to play 'Dance Dance Revolution' and SING ALONG last night at 3:30 in the morning.
Right above us.
Let me ask, WHO DOES THAT? THAT TIME WAS MADE FOR SLEEPING. WE WERE SLEEPING.
Note the caps- it was annoying.
But life moves on.
We have some to-do task on list today so that gives us a purpose.
Number one- take our TV antennae back.

2007-07-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

So many exciting things happening over here in the little home of the Riemers of Australia. Exciting, exciting things. The most exciting of which is that Brad and I have come up with a new card game.
Crazy eights was good, Golf wasn't that bad either but NARDS* (trademark of Riemer Inc.) is pretty fantastic. It requires the ability to add and just some good old luck, hence the name, derived from the words 'CARDS' and 'NUMBERS.'
We are just so original.
Our evenings begin here around 5:00, as that is when it starts to get dark. We usually head on home from our busy day (of sitting on the benches by the ocean and watches the waves roll in) and make ourselves some dinner That usually means Brad makes me dinner and then we eat our dinner together on our dining room card table, lit by the light of our halogen heater. So very romantic. As the night progresses, Brad plays guitar while I clean up (because he made dinner) and then we bust out the Tim Tams, hot chocolate and cards. We're in bed by 9:30, THAT is how busy our life is... but no complaints here.
Actually, one complaint.
I wish we brought Scrabble.

Another exciting piece of news is that Bradley got a new guitar! This is a Win-Win situation for us both here (or a win-win-win situation for the OFFICE lovers out there). Brad fell in love with this guitar here in this little shop down town. Just for kicks, he brought in his old guitar to see how much the guy would give him for it. He offered Brad more than we even hoped he would offer and so Brad walked away with a virtually new guitar, for a very small price. Brad has played guitar more in the past week that I have heard him play in the last year and a half and it is the most wonderful music I have heard in a long time.
We found a cute little cafe that has live music 2 nights a week and so Brad is signing up to perform at the end of August and so he's practicing up a bunch of songs, including some Amos Lee and Martin Sexton songs. I. AM. LOVING. IT.

And, in other exciting news, Brad has a 'trial' at the same little cafe that has the live music! We'd been in there a few times, just for coffee and dessert and we had talked to them a bunch in there. They knew Brad had applied and they thought he was a 'nice guy' (which I certainly think he is) and they're going to give him a try. We were SOO overjoyed when we got the call. All I wanted was for Brad to just have a chance there, and I know he'll do well. The chances of Brad talking to people, making coffees and serving food and not doing well is VERY very slim. We know it is just a trial and it's not for sure but we're excited none the less.
The Lord has been good to us. Very very good to us and we are thankful.

And finally, Brad went for his first surf.... but I'll let him tell you about it another time.

(this was taken yesterday. It hit 19 degrees here IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I was sun tanning.
We just can't take them seriously when they complain here about the winter.)

Everyday things

2007-07-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

We did not pack light coming over here. Considering we have come for a year, I think that we packed well but not light. Air Canada reminded us of that when they stole $85. from us for the surfboard and our overweight bags. Included in our luggage was our two longboards. Actually, they were included in Brad's luggage. We each had one big bag of stuff. Mind was filled with my clothes, shoes, and toiletries. He had his clothes, our sheets, our longboard wheels and trucks AND THEN my extra clothes that didn't fit in my bag.
Hmm..I wonder why our bags were too heavy.
The longboards have been great for getting around town, except for the fact that I am in fear of killing myself many time throughout the day. There's only been a few close calls.
Funny though, I am the only girl I have seen skateboarding over here. I barely call myself a skateboarder. But I stand on the board and roll, and turn..sometimes. Usually, it's more of a stop, pick up my board and then go the other way.
I make Brad so proud.

Our drink of choice, resting in the hot Australian sun, waiting to be consumed.
Hey look! It's a self portrait! Wow. That's something new.
Perhaps one day, we'll take a picture when I don't have my sunglasses on. The sun here is wonderful. It is much warmer to be outside in the sun, than be inside in your house. Comfort was not in mind when they built their buildings here. Insulation does not exist. Central heating would be a dream. Good windows would be too much to ask. Instead you freeze until you step out into the sun. I love the sun.

HOME

2007-07-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have tried many MANY times over to post a video on here of our place. Of course, it hasn't worked. Figures.
Anyways, I thought I would just post a few pictures instead. Despite the fact that there is no heating or insulation in this place and, therefore, we're hitting subzero temperatues, it's great. Once the summer hits, we'll be set.
Oh yes, I also tried to redo my blog. I kind of failed. Now it looks like an amateur just made over my blog.
Oh wait, I am an amateur.
That would be why it looks like it does.
That's a job for later.

No need for Explanation

2007-07-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

2007-07-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

Because it's just the two us - self portraits are what we get!
Brad's excited.

Done Waiting!

2007-07-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Today is the day...

Today is the day that we get to move into our new place! We were approved for the place that we wanted the most. It is a block from the beach and a block from town. As Brad says, "Location, Location, Location!" It is a bit of walk to the university (about 45 minutes) but I need the exercise and I want the exercise.

Our little place is a one bedroom with new laminate floors, a neat and tidy kitchen, a sweet technicolour bathroom and beautiful mirrored closests. Maybe doesn't sound like much but after some of the places we checked out, it's quite beautiful.

Last night we bought a pretty sweet (or not so sweet) double matress set for $40. It's going to do the job just fine. Now we are off to pack up our stuff here and take the rest of it over. The lady who has so willingly hosted us for the past week here is driving us around to buy some stuff today- some of the essentials for our house.

Brad was out job searching on Monday and handed out a bunch of resumes. There were some possibilities but a lot of it is just waiting. And so we will wait... We are confident something will come through.

I had all of my orientation at the University on Monday and Tuesday and it went well. The campus is absolutely beautiful. I start my official classes next Monday. I am a little upset because we are only allowed a certain amount of time on the internet per semester and if you start spending time on sites like hotmail! and facebook! and blogger! it eats up all your time and you can't go on the internet to do research. So basically, we're going to have to find some other way to make it onto the internet. Once Bradley has a job and we're making money, we're going to look into getting the internet at our place. But now, we will be going to the little internet place downtown. I will post as much as I am able. I will bring pictures.

Now, it's time to go pack up my exploding suitcase. It's a task I'd rather not face, but it is time.

Life

2007-07-14T00:32:00.000-07:00

This was a cold winter day.

Oh so cold.

I think I might have got a sun burn it was so darn cold.

So this is our life so far. Longboards, beaches, waves, and us.

Just us.

Honestly, not just cause I'm a mush and not because I'm trying to create something that doesn't exist..but honestly, life has rarely ever been this good.

This is the life.

What's going on

2007-07-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

Blog posts without pictures are boring, that I know, however we are not yet in the situation where I can spend a long time downloading pictures onto a computer.

So my words will have to do.

Third day in, we're still homeless, but still loving it here.

We have treked across town numerous times including cruising down the path that runs the length of the beach yesterday.

We were in disbelief that this is our home for the next year.

Everyone here is complaining that this is their coldest winter in years and years but we really feel there is nothing to complain about.

The weather is in about the mid teens and the sun has been shining everyday. I'm still in jeans and long sleeves, but cold I am not.

Happy I am.

We are extremely anxious to find our own place. We are living with quite the lady and we are grateful for the free room, food and roof over our heads. Needless to say, we have had many hours of laughter at our situation but it has been what we needed.

We are heading out now to check out the university, look at a few more rental units and walk hand in hand in the sunshine through Wollongong.

Wish you were here.

Arrived

2007-07-11T00:12:00.000-07:00

18 hours later, we are finally here in Australia.

Long, long haul but SO exciting to finally arrive.

Brad and I spent the day walking around the town here, looking for places to live and discovering our new home.

We love it here already. Brad saw perfect barrel waves at the beach and he knew he had arrived.

More updates to comes. Just wanted to let you know we're alive.

It's a board that is long

2007-06-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Since I opened this bag of blogging worms, I thought I would share for the SECOND day in a row.

How outstanding.
This blog has documented my anguish surrounding my husband and his longboarding adventures. Such adventures included a broken finger and weeks off work.
This spring, as the snow melted, Daniel and Brad started to longboard more and more often and Daniel even made a SWEET board for Brad. Probably so Brad wouldn't always be riding one of his many many boards.
Longboarding kind of caught on with a bunch of our friends here. Note Brad's super longboard that Daniel made in this picture.
Through a little peer pressure, I was asked to climb on a board one night and roll down the street. And so, I stood and squealed while Daniel pulled me. It was pretty cool.
But then, I got hooked. Longboarding. The sport that injures, is now a sport that I quite enjoy.
I know I look like a stiff board riding down the street on a wobbly piece of wood, but I still have fun. Practice makes perfect.
Brad wanted to encourage me in this new adventure and so he built me a board all of my own.
He's pretty amazing like that.
And the board, is pretty amazing.
This is my board.

I am officially a longboarder wannabe, and I'm loving it.

Just checking in

2007-06-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

Last Published March 19th.
MARCH 19th.
Seriously people, what happened to this blog thing of mine.
As I sit here eating Animal Crackers for my lunch, pondering the deep wonders of life, I had the brilliant idea to resurrect my blog. Not quite a full resurrection but a partial breath of life into its dead self.
Life has been CRAZY.
Oh that is so cliche, but really, it has been bad.
So bad that my body is beginning to hate me in weird ways for going overboard.
For the sake of avoiding boredom, I'm not going to try to recap the past two months here. However, this is where we stand.
End of April- I finished exams. I finished with one of the worst marks I have EVER received in my schooling career. It was really quite outstanding.
It felt good to be done.
May 7th- our dear son Daniel left us. He set off out East to begin filming his longboarding documentary. We miss him.
I turned 21!! and Brad and I celebrated our ONE YEAR!!! anniversary.
I love my husband.
And then came the last two weeks.
By June first we needed to be out of our house for the renters AND finish our renos. It never seems to stop. Needless today, we are now living at my parents and alive.
That's all that matters.
Our plane ticket is booked for July 9th. We will then be gone.
Crazy.

Longboarding

2007-03-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

Back in late October, Brad broke his finger. This shall stand out as a memorable, financially broke point in our first year of marriage. However, at least we shall have some footage to remember this event by. Brad videoed a bunch of their longboarding that day and put it together into a fancy little video montage.
I promised Brad awhile ago that I would put it online. We did get it onto YOUTUBE but I still decided to put in on my blog. If you have no idea what this longboarding thing is, take a look at this video.
It's funny, as I watch this video, I can't help but think that my husband looks a little umm.. 'overgrown.' But as I look up at him now, I realize his hair is pretty much is the same length and that pesky beard has yet to disappear. I guess it's time for a haircut.

Where I learned to cook and burn rice

2007-03-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have never aspired to be a surface looker. I often shun those who are, however I know deep down in my heart that I truly am a surface looker myself.

Most of the time, I shuffle things around a bit in hopes of finding the item I am in search of but it takes a lot to get me looking.
Like when Brad lost his wallet recently. Once I was sure it was gone, not just sitting in the bottom of his bag, I helped him look for it.
And I won the prize because I found its hiding spot. But also, in the process, I swept aside some coats on a hanger and lo' and behold I found my digital camera.
The one I had 'lost' so many months.
Like I said- surface looker.
Anyways, as a result, I've been meaning to take a few pictures of our house in process here and post them. Yeah, well, I never did- until tonight that is.
Now taking pictures of this house is a difficult task because there really aren't many angles which I can take a picture from that you won't see either a pile of garbage or an unfinished wall.
Everything is in process and a mess.
We have been a little crazy here- in our schedules and mentally, just as we try to keep everything straight that is going on here. A little exhausting. Everyone goes through it- we just don't handle it so well all of the time
So here is a blurry picture of what our kitchen looked like before:
And here is a rare moment of when our kind of finished kitchen is clean.I really love the extra counter space and the nice features of some of the cupboards, but most of all I think I just love that it feels like my own. It feels like we made our mark on the house. It still needs some new paint, some cupboard doors, shelves, backsplash, etc. but the idea is there.
Through everything we've done with this house, I think that Brad and I have always tried to keep reminding ourselves it is just a house, it is just stuff. We want to be willing to let it all go if we ever needed to or called to and learn not to depend on so much. And we always want to be thankful.
When you have so much, you don't really remember or know what it is like to have little.
Our prayer is that we would always remember that it's ours to share and really, the best parts of being in this house isn't the stuff.
It's the little mice that run around and eat my oatmeal and that we catch and wrap up and give to people for birthday presents.
That's the kind of stuff that makes a home.
I don't want to ever forget that.

One track mind

2007-03-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

I don't post for weeks and then I share this wholesome story.
Charming.
Tonight on our way home from Kelowna, I ask Brad a completely nonsense question, as (just for the record) this would never happen. N.E.V.E.R.
"So Brad, if I came up to you one day and said that I had secretly saved money in order to have breast enhancement surgery, what would you say?"
"No Way."
"Seriously?"
"Of course, you could buy a great surfboard with that kind of money."
Oh right. How could I forget.

Excitement

2007-02-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

I should do this in an exciting manner - redeem myself for having a boring blog by making an announcement in a creative, intelligent way.

Hmm..

Nope. No ideas.

So basically, the news is this.

No, I am not pregnant but I got me an email. One that says I am officially accepted into the UBC Go Global program and I have been matched with the University of Wollongong in Australia.

So, basically that means that Brad and I are going to Australia in July and will stay over there for a year while I go to school and Brad works.

Geez..that was pretty anti-climatic.

Maybe I should add a few of these !!! and a few of THESE.

BRAD! and I! are GOING TO AUSTRALIA FOR A WHOLE AMAZING YEAR WHERE IT WILL JUST BE ME AND HIM A BLOCK FROM THE OCEAN WHERE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK CONSTRUCTION AND I WON'T FREEZE MY BUTT OFF IN THIS FREEZING HOUSE OF OURS AND HAVE TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL FOR AN HOUR EVERY OTHER DAY!! HOW FREEKING AMAZING IS THAT!!!!!!

We're excited and we are blessed.

And THAT, is my exciting news.

PS..Anyone want to rent this freezing house of ours? It really is quite beautiful and it even has a tire swing in the front yard. I know. It's that great.

hearts of pizza and ice cream

2007-02-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

As I sit here floating through my daily list of blogs that I check (and rarely comment on because I'm a BAD BLOGGER), I have been reading many valentine's day stories. This is to be assumed, as the day of love is a great and joyous thing, especially when you have someone special to love and also, because there's lots of chocolate floating around to eat. Now being somewhat still newlyweds (I figure after a year we'll quit getting the newlywed title), our life is obviously always filled with candles, gentle music and lovely meals for two and so the arrival of Valentine's day really isn't anything out of the ordinary because our whole life is just so full of love. Well, kind of. You can decide to believe what part of that statement is true.
Something that I find interesting about blogs is how you can manipulate a story to fit whatever you would like it be. Without sounding like I'm composing a ten-page english paper, I have often thought how you can make up a life and post it on your blog and then everyone interprets it how they want. By posting only of the great things our husbands do, or the funny things that take place in our house or the great things that we buy, we convince our audience that that is truly how our life is. I'm a victim of it, as are we all, and I guess that's one of the addicting things about this blogging life of ours. We like to read the interesting stuff. On that note, I thought I would speak of my Valentine's Day with a bit of romantic flare, as to make it a little more extraordinary than it was. Perhaps not romantic flare but some little pizazz to make it interesting enough.
Early on Wednesday morning, I woke to the gentle hum of Brad's radio. I rolled over as he whispered "happy Valentine's day" in my ear and I convinced him to hit the snooze button one more time. I savour every last 30 seconds of sleep and on this special day, I wanted all I could get.
...Now is the point when I skip 75% of my day because I had to work, and it was just as always. COFFEES! LATTES! "SURE! I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE YOU A SANDWICH!" COFFEE! LATTES!! YAY!!..
I came home from work and greeted my husband who stood unshowered, in his work gear ready to give me a Valentine's day hug. Yes, only a hug. Have I mentioned Brad has had a cold sore now for almost a week? Good times kissing the cheek.
And then, the exciting part of our night.
We decided to stay home.
Order pizza.
Watch a movie.
Eat ice cream.
And the best part of all, we wanted Daniel to stay enjoy it all with us.
Valentine's Day is fun and I support the reason to eat chocolate.
I also support all those people out there who chose to be romantic in the laziest form by sitting on the couch and eating food.
I salute you.

puppy love

2007-02-07T20:23:00.000-08:00

Everytime an animal comes to inhabit our house for an extended period of time, it reinforcese the fact that my heart is made of mush. I am a sucker for all things cute and furry. I brake for birds, chipmunks and ants, if I could see them. It is for this reason that I have had to work really hard to come to terms with the fact that mice are bad, mice must not live in the house- just don't tell me how you get rid of them. I still don't know how these mice in our house are eliminated and I have no intention of finding out.
Since Rolo the Wonder Pooch has come to stay, it has proven once again that I cannot help but love God's little animal creations. Rolo began to rule this house within the first days of living here and has us wrapped around his little paw. This includes the fact that he sleeps in our bedroom, cuddles on our bed and hangs out on the couch with us while we watch TV. He plays on our bed, which includes chasing our feet underneath the blankets. Yes, I realize our maturity level in this sense is a little less than expected but you should really try it sometime. We laugh a lot. Which is also why I was not surprised when I came home the other day and I heard the boys laughing upstairs. Rolo came running downstairs to greet me with an overabundance of energy. I asked Brad what they were doing. He said they were playing a game.
I asked what game they were playing and he said, "Rolo."
However, I also realize that this has brought an over abundance of dog hair onto our furniture, etc. I have intended to keep on top of the vacumning, but that is not always successful.
During the day when we're gone, I put a large washable blanket on our bed upstairs so Rolo is not cozying in between the sheets of our bed. Most of the time this is successful. Except for the other day.
I walked out of the bathroom and there was Rolo, curled up in our bed with his body stretched across the pillow and among the sheets... on Brad's side, so I let him stay.

A night on the town

2007-02-05T21:40:00.000-08:00

Our lives are plenty busy enough. Those activities often involve me going out somewhere later in the evening, adorned in my saggy sweatpants and a t-shirt wreaking of coffee beans- nothing really that exciting. However, once in awhile an opportunity comes along that inspires you to whip out that curling iron that is collecting dust, use a little hair spray and slap on a pair of heels. That opportunity was this weekend.

There was a celebration this weekend for community excellence awards and all of the staff at our little coffee shop had the opportunity to go because Robin was nominated for employee of the year. A much deserved nomination if you ask me. Rob keeps us all in line, sanitary and all round organized and is a pleasure to work with and so we were excited with the opportunity to support him.
All week, I had been encouraging Brad in that he needed to wear a dress shirt to this event.
A dress shirt was all I asked. No, we weren't pulling teeth, waxing chests or selling his surfboard. Just a dress shirt- and he finally agreed, looking quite handsome, if you ask me. I was pleasantly surprised when he walked out of the bathroom dressed and dressed decently.
And then there was the issue of what us girls were going to wear. After standing in front of the mirror with one of my best friends standing next to me the night before the event, we were feeling a little defeated. For me, all my clothes were bought at a time when exercise and healthy eating were a regular part of my routine- not a sporadic addition. Therefore, some things don't quite fit like they used to. Neither Vicki or I could figure out what we would wear. We left it alone and the next day, worked it all out.
The night was a blast and the food was excellence. Perhaps we need to go out more often.
It was fun to see customers we see everyday in the store at a completely different venue. I felt like saying, " LOOK! I do have more than one pair of dirty old clogs and hey, this is what my hair looks like dry and not straight out of the shower."
Perhaps I need to start doing my hair.

Anyways, as Vicki said, here's three reasons to come get a latte at the Beanery. Well, I'm married, so two reasons to come get a latte at the Beanery!
My husband and I. Not really too sure about this one. I'm so blessed to work with such wonderful people. We never fail to have fun at work and for that I am thankful.

Things that are furry

2007-02-04T22:43:00.000-08:00

Everytime I go weeks without updating my blog, I begin to shamefully avoid even the thought of typing out a little diddy for everyone to read. It's either all or nothing- either I have a blog or not and right now, I am currently in the awkward stage where I don't update often at all, yet I still have a small part of my heart set aside for blogging and that can't bring me to stop my little addiction. And so spontaneous updates continue, which really marks the only ounce of spontaneity within my life. It's to the point that I know I need to do a complete overhaul on this blog. New template- most definitely- but also a new address is in line as well. Perhaps a new address that won't have rude anonymous comments being left occassionally that really are quite pathetic. I shall leave that subject alone except for these two words- grow up.

Moving on.
I wrote a few weeks ago about a mouse. And then another one.
And now there are more. Two, almost three more.
After discovering more little mouse turds littering our pantry and underneath our sink, holes eaten through our Ichiban noodles (how tragic) and Daniel being awoken by a mouse running up his arm in the middle night, we have come to the complete consensus that we are not alone in this place. And so, since we are cheap and lazy, my dear husband set about creating his OWN mouse traps. One that involves a tupperware container, a weight and little wire smothered with peanut butter. And better than just the idea is that fact that it works. Two down so far.
Yes, that is correct. My husband has caught one mouse out of pure speed and agility and now- sheer genius. Pretty dreamy huh?
This afternoon, I sat curled up next to the fire and I heard a thud and knew that another little creature had fallen victim to my husband's brilliance. I beckoned Daniel to get rid of the little rodent and now 4 mice have being eliminated.
Makes our house sound pretty inviting huh?
Come on over! We eat mice for dinner! Quite tasty.
In other animal news, if you read the wonderful tales that take place over on Amanda's blog Kickyboots, than you most definitely have heard of Rolo the Wonder Pooch.
I completely agree with his title.
While Amanda and Steve are having fun elsewhere, we have adopted Rolo for two weeks. I was a little cautious at first as I let him jump out of the car and enter our house. After past experiences with dog sitting, I have learned to expect the worst. Which includes dogs peeing numerous times on various pieces of our furniture.
But no, not Rolo the Wonder Pooch. He is absolutely wonderful. He goes outside and comes in when called.
Amazing.
He stays all day in the house and keeps it like we left it.
PHENOMENAL.
He takes me for runs, keeps me company while doing homework and helps me out in the kitchen by lying right in the middle of the floor.
Oh yes, and gets us up at 6 in the morning because COME ON PEOPLE, the day is starting.
So that I'm not too impressed with but I'm willing to deal with it.
We've decided we're going to keep him, forever.
Or another week at least.

And because a blog update is just that much better with pictures (and my blog needs all the help it can get and my camera is still in the land where all things misplaced and lost live), here is a practice wedding shot, pre-wedding..when the trees were green, the sun was bright, my skinny pants fit me and we had no idea mice infested our house.
Good times.

Times to cry

2007-01-26T22:24:00.000-08:00

I like to think that the rational side of my brain often takes precedent when controlling my actions. I think things through, plan them and try to live effectively ( AKA: I rarely do anything spontanious= BORING). However, there are certain times when the hormonal part of me completely rules my actions and my life, for no particular reason other than it likes to. It's really annoying. Such an experience tends to result in me crying for some unreasonable reason, which then forces my husband to gently rub my hair and hold me close (while probably secretly smirking to himself), knowing that it will pass within the next 30 seconds.
Like the other morning, for example. I was forced to awaken much earlier than I wanted to. I had to attend school- I didn't want to. I was fighting a cold- I felt gross. And Brad was leaving for 4 days- I didn't want him to go. So as I dragged my tired bum downstairs, I entered the kitchen to see a tupperware container sitting on our counter, containing a dead mouse smooshed in the corner, and Brad, with such a look of glee and pride on his face that it really gave you every reason to think that all is right in the world. Even though there was a dead mouse sitting on my counter, he had caught it with his own two hands. I shrieked, turned away and burst into tears. No rational AT ALL in my actions. Brad comforted me for the next half hour before he left for his trip to Edmonton. I got over myself eventually.
But then, there's those other times when I think that tears are perfectly warranted. Like the time when I thought I was being forced to open lingerie in front of my in laws but it turned out to be the most beautiful wedding ring ever. I cried there too. Somewhat irrational, but warranted none the less.
Here is the picture of that ring. Yes I know the pictures sucks. Yes it is blurry and I know you're resisting the urge to leave a comment that says, "STEPHANIE, get yourself some moisturizer because your hands are ugly." I know. I've come to terms with it. I am currently shedding a layer of skin at this point and there doesn't seem to be much that I can do with it.
I borrowed my parent's digital camera, as I am staying wtih Magoo at my parent's house while they are away, because Magoo just can't handle it at our house. The temptation to leave a hot steaming pile behind door in our bedroom is too much and he gives in EVERYTIME. So, this time, I moved into HIS domain- which means I get to sleep in a King sized bed as part of the deal.
I'll take it.

Wifeing It

2007-01-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

Life has undeniably changed for me in the past year. I went from being an unmarried woman, living in a single university dorm, in a big city, being cooked for and living by my own schedule.

There's very little of that description that represents my life now. Sure I am attending school but it doesn't nearly have the priority that it did at previous points in my life. One has to ask the question, what defines you as a housewife?

I have fought that label since the day I got married (a whole whopping 8 months ago) for I basically have thought that it meant that I lost my identity and needed to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. Our house is an igloo, there's no way I'm going barefoot in our kitchen. Oh yeah, and that pregnant part- negative on that one too.

But last night, as I perhaps did the tackiest thing ever of taking over a couple of baskets of laundry to a lovely friend's house because our washing machine is out of commission, she made the comment that I have officially become a housewife. I think in that moment, I came to terms with the fact. Yes, I go to school and work, yet, at the end of the day, I still cook and clean and do laundry and fold my husband's boxers into perfect neat little piles. And today, as the snow falls and stops my trek to school, I am going to make bread and clean the bathtubs.

I am a housewife- in slippers and NOT pregnant, thank you very much, and it's really quite great.

Stuart Little

2007-01-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

I like to consider myself a relatively clean person. I shower at least once a year, wash between my toes just as much and I think that doing laundry is quite necessary, when you have a functioning washing machine. Of course, ours currently is full of dirty rags and water that won't drain so washing our laundry is really quite out of the question.

We sweep our floors, they even see a mop once in awhile, and we even have used our vacumn on numerous occasions.

And so why in the world did we have to go and get a mouse in this house of ours? The tiniest little creature that succeeds in creating such anxiety in the human race. I believe he has been making himself quite comfortable in this house for quite awhile now. When we discovered his little treasures he left behind, we knew he must be sharing our house with a mouse. Our house is large but not large enough for a mouse.

So last night, we were sitting at our table and Vicki oh so casually mentioned that she just saw our little friend, Stuart Little, run into the pantry. Daniel jumped up and chose his weapon of choice, his shoes, while Brad ran to the toy bin and grabbed some plastic golf clubs.

Real effective boys. Mind you, I went and grabbed one of our numerous toy guns that shoot so hard that they sting when they hit you. Like I could hit a little mouse with a toy gun. That's what 3 years of university does for you.

The boys pulled out all of the items from the floor of our pantry but the little guy wasn't there.

But there was one remaining large box and when they hit the box, they heard the little scratch of a frightened animal.

Now you see, I have a heart of mush when it comes to animals. I have often scolded Brad for laughing at or treating my mom's dog Magoo rudely, which then he thinks is hilarious and does it even more to make me more angry (yes, we have a healthy functioning relationship). I brake for birds, worms and ants if I could see them on the road. Dogs deserve many hugs and even cats have their place in this world, and so I was quite torn about the fate of this little animal.

The box ended up in a bag, the contents emptied, until all that was left in that garbage bag was a frightened little mouse squirming in the bottom. Brad cut open the bag and put the mouse into a little container for our viewing entertainment. He was so very tiny and of course, I had to say 'aww..' But then the time came and I knew I had to leave the room. I left saying that they could do what needed to be done but don't tell me.

And that's where it ended.

I still don't know what happened to that little mouse, but all I know is that he won't be leaving little turds in my pantry.

Probably all of his brothers and sisters will now.

LazyBoys and Cardboard boxes

2007-01-15T14:02:00.000-08:00

Our kitchen is put back together and looking WONDERFUL- at least so I think. It actually feels like it belongs to us which has been a rare thing for Brad and I in this big old house. A new kitchen in only 4 days. I am a lucky lucky girl.

And I would post pictures, if I could find my digital camera.

But obviously, it is still misplaced at this point in time.

The inside of our hosue is nicely put back together and more organized than it ever has been, but the outside is a different story. If you were to drive by, you'd see a faded house with junk surrounding it. A christmas tree, wood scraps, old cupboards, cardboard boxes- pretty much every piece of ugliness is sitting around our front door. The look of it makes me slowly want to vomit everytime I drive into our driveway- but hey, we have a nice kitchen!

Anyways, along with all the junk that WE put in our yard, we started to get someone else's junk.

Daniel came home last night and asked Brad and I who put the chair in our front yard.

Chair?... What chair?

We had just pulled into our driveway a few minutes before and we hadn't seen a chair.

Daniel reassured us that he wasn't making it up and there was in fact a big chair sitting in our front yard.

We went outside and cautiously approached the foreign object. A random blue lazy boy (an old one) recliner sitting in our front yard with a big sign on the back of a cardboard box saying "Red, this one is for you!"

And that's all..

Just a chair and a box and a random message.

We rocked it a little, looked under the box, searched for bombs or explosives but none were to be found.

So in our yard sits a chair, from a secret admirer.

Someone who calls Brad 'Red'.

I fear that it will self-destruct, but at least if it blew up, it'd burn up some of the junk sitting in our front yard.

Save us a trip to the dump.

10 reasons why I shall develop an ulcer

2007-01-08T22:54:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school, I lived a rather busy life. There was numerous sports, a couple of jobs, some volunteer stuff, things at the church and the normal homework. Despite all such busyness, I managed just fine and was even able to enjoy myself along the way. Actually, who am I kidding- I despised a large majority of my high school experience, but that is for reasons beyond being busy and none of which I feel like digging up of a past the is slowly being buried by my new life.
It's funny to me now that I have only 1 job, 1 house, 3 classes, 1 volunteer position and 1 husband, yet I handle it all horribly. It takes me about one day until I start stressing out, not sleeping at night because I can't stop thinking of all the things I need to do. It's really quite a pathetic way to live. My husband thinks so, I think so. I should really stop it.
Always easier said than done.
Tomorrow I start back at school. Not wanting to always be negative about being blessed with the opportunity of going to school, I do look forward to learning. It's the homework that kind of puts a damper on things. It has been night and day, the difference that me not being in school makes for our marriage and just the overall happiness rating of our household. It feels strange to voluntarily step back into that former position, however it goes by fast and it will be worth it in the end.
Now, if I hadn't lost my digital camera (or temporarily misplaced it), I'd take a picture of my kitchen and my living room, for everything that belongs in the kitchen, sits on the floor of our living room.
Our kitchen is getting torn apart tomorrow. Literally. New cupboards, counter tops, sinks, etc. It's very exciting, yet it can't help but put a tiny bit of anxiety into my heart. The fact that my Corning Ware and rainbow coloured mixing bowls are strewn in an organized mess across our living room floor and our offensize Aloe Vera coloured sofa does make life a little more complicated.
But hey, all in good fun and all in good time.
So perhaps potlucks at the Riemer household will be put on hold, indefinitely.

10 hours, better than 20

2006-12-30T17:51:00.000-08:00

A new day, new roads and sunshine make a drive so much better. Our drive home from Edmonton was not as drawn out as our trek there and we made the drive in good time.
We are thankful.
We stayed overnight in Calgary with some relatives, which allowed us a jump start on the drive ahead. As well as enabled the boys to have some quality boy time by watching movies of stupid boys hurting themselves doing stupid things. It was the highlight of their day, that's for sure.
Anyhow, home safe and sound - just in time for New Years.
The most over-rated celebration of the year.
But it shall be good, I am sure, once we figure out what is going on.

And PS.. for the brave soul that functions under the alias of anonymous (aka: wuss) the funeral and celebration was a great time and an event that we are THANKFUL we attended and not bitter about attending. Perhaps our hearts weren't always in the correct place, but all in all, it was a good time. My apologies I miscommunicated so. Thanks for the input.

We just kept driving

2006-12-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas holidays- full of eating, family, presents, and 20 hour car rides with a 2 month old baby.

Yes, when the Christmas holidays began, I did not anticipate the events of this past week.

Christmas was wonderful and such a great experience to spend a Christmas with my husband, as well as both our families. We slept in, got WAY too much loot, and spent time enjoying family. Mushy and cheesy, oh yes it was, but wonderful all the same.

However, last Friday, Brad's grandpa died. While a sad event, this was not a surprise, as we had been awaiting the call for weeks and it was his time.

Grandpa and Grandma Riemer live in Edmonton and the only option to attend the funeral was to drive, in winter conditions, with Luke and Tianna and their 2 month old baby Danai.

I believe that we all have had mixed emotions with this whole experience because as much as you want to support the family, a cross-province drive was not on the list of "I WOULD LOVE TO DO OVER MY ONE WEEK CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY."

We headed out at 7:30 Wednesday morning, following the 8 inches of snowfallt he night before. Danai, being the wonderful bundle of joy that she is, was sleeping and continued to do so for the entire time in the car. For that, we are thankful.

However, we were slow. REALLY SLOW. So slow that we got to Edmonton at 4:30... in the morning, Edmonton time.

By the end, I was not a happy camper. None of us were. It was a LONG ride. But we made it.

Brad and I got up the next morning, after 3 and a bit hours of sleep to attend the graveside service and later we all attended the funeral.

It has been a really neat time, and wonderful to get to know the Riemer family more but it has gone by quick.

So tomorrow, we will get up, pack up a baby, climb into that car and drive all the way home.

Am I excited?

Not a bit.

But I sit next to my husband the whole time (athough I sit in the middle of the backseat for 15 hours), so there's something good about that.

Christmas Holidays- eating, family and 20 hour car drives.

Good times in the Dodge Caliber.

Thank goodness for DVD players and random trivia games.

All I want for Christmas

2006-12-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

So I sit here as my husband and my parents partake in a theological discussions that has continued on for about 3 hours.

I have said about 2 words.

Splendid.

After listening to them run in circles, I have run away to entertain myself with something else.

I shall tell a Christmas story of one of the greatest Christmas surprises EVER.

When my husband and I got married 7 months ago, I whipped off my engagement ring minutes before I walked down the aisle, slapped it on a little white pillow and then Bradley slipped it back on my finger.

I went in with one ring, I came out with one ring. We decided eating on our honeymoon was morning important than having a few more diamonds on my finger.

And I have never failed to remind him of the fact.

"Oh, you want ANOTHER surfboard? I want a wedding ring."

It definitely gave me some grounds for my cause.

However, as much as I dropped not so sublte hints that I wanted people to know that I am married, and NOT ask me "OH! When are you getting married," I knew that we are not in the position to drop some non-existant cash on a bunch more diamonds.

Cause I wanted ones with diamonds.

I am spoiled. I admit it.

Anyhow, so Christmas came around and Brad and I decided to call it even with buying no presents for each other, as we just paid some cash for a new computer (that we got literally free from DELL for setting up internet at our hosue.

Christmas Eve came along and Brad had to run to Penticton. He had FIVE toonies in his pocket and he told me he wanted to buy me something small.

Something we'd BOTH enjoy.

I agreed with that.

So he made a little jaunt to Penticton to make his purchase and I happily hung out with my big brother and met his new girlfriend.

My story goes on and finds us at his parents house opening presents with his family.

Brad was insitent that I open my gift from him in front of his family.

I did NOT want to open the little gift that he bought for me in the women's section in front of his family.

Can we all says AWKWARD together in a loud chorus?

No thank you.

But he made me.

And everyone was staring at me with large expectant eyes and I was ready to enforce some form of physical abuse on my husband for embarassing in front of his family in such a manner.

So I opened the present.

And the box had a lot of tissue paper.

And then a little box.

And then here is where I insert tears because my husband had bought me a wedding ring.

A pretty white gold one with ten little diamonds that match up with the other four little ones on my engagement band.

He REMEMBERED the one I had looked at months ago.

That man gets bonus points there.

And he arranged for Tianna (his sister in law and employer) to take money out of our pay cheques every month to save money so I wouldn't know.

He gains more points there.

And he bought it on sale. And I knew nothing about it.

And he did it all for me knowing I had bought him nothing.

And not caring.

He makes me a happy woman.

Could but worse- but not much

2006-12-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

For lack of words, this is what I shall do

I'll fire up the old digital and show a couple of pictures for you.
I shall write a little diddy, that sounds somewhat dumb
But hey, it's Christmas time- it's all in good fun(mb).

I'm done all my classes, and this makes me glad.
I even passed, with relatively bright colours, so that's pretty rad.
We went and found a Christmas tree and it was quite a delight
We sledded and laughed, our noses quite bright.
Now Daniel has gone home, all is left is Brad and I.
A house to ourselves- WOW.
(lost the rhyming scheme there)
I'm off to take some pizza for lunch to the boys,
then I shall go to the mall and shop and find my husband some toys.

Hope all is well in the blogging world, as my visits seem to lack.
Keep on writing- one day I'll be back.

Just the season

2006-12-13T22:46:00.000-08:00

I feel somewhat like a blog failure. I go from boom to bust. I write here and maybe there, and then pretty soon, a week goes by and I've written nothing.
Oh the tragedy.
That's not to say I don't grace the internet with my presence throughout that week, I just don't leave my mark. I slip in, read a little bit, and then slip away. I hardly contribute.

One of Brad and I's most recent topics of conversation surrounds the idea that is it really necessary for the human race to be so outrageously busy? I know, it's original. We're the ONLY ones to have thought up such a concept. But in all honesty, I think it's getting a little absurd.
And I mean that in my own life as well.
Look at the pattern of zits that have broken out on my face. If you connect them by straight lines, in a sort of connect the dots kind of way, it spells out STRESS and LACK OF RESTFUL SLEEP, acoompanied by I'M A LAZY BUTT AND NEED TO GET SOME EXERCISE.
And then it always comes down to being too busy.
We work at jobs we don't enjoy because we need to make ends meet.
And then we get overwhelmed.
And tired.
And pretty soon life just isn't enjoyable anymore.
I think when the Lord told us to work hard, he didn't have this lifestyle in mind.
And even if He did, He created the Sabbath, which hardly exists anymore.

Our household has been a busy little place lately. Well, I can't say that is really any different from the norm here - not saying there's anything noble in being so busy that you can't even find time to go out with your own husband once a week.
We cut down a Christmas tree on Saturday morning.
We set it up last night- Tuesday evening.
We got our new (relatively free) computer on Monday.
We haven't set it up yet.
But, I just keep telling myself this is just a season of busyness. Tomorrow, I write my final exam for this semester and after that, I shall be able to breathe.
And sleep.
And clean.
And write THANK YOU CARDS.
Tonight, while I lay on the floor studying, I heard my husband puttering downstairs, making his lunch and getting ready for the day tomorrow and so I headed downstairs to take a break.
I watched him wander around the kitchen and OF COURSE, I half-heartedly offered my help.
Once he had cleaned all his things up, he grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and starting pouring cereal into it.
Not wanting to be the one to judge yet ALWAYS being the one to critique, I subtly asked Bradley, "Are you having some cereal?" which basically meant, "we just ate dinner 2 hours ago, surely you can't be hungry." I thought this as I ate a handful of chocolate chips.
Brad quickly denied the fact that he was eating cereal and proceeded to put his bowl of cereal into the pantry, equiped with spoon.
He poured his cereal, for tomorrow morning.
I laughed. Out loud. For a long time.
I never knew that pouring a bowl of cereal in the morning was SUCH a tiring thing that it needed to be done the night before.
Like I said, perhaps we're all a little too busy.

For a cause

2006-12-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

So I disappeared from the blogging for a week, merely for the reason that my brain was elsewhere. I have yet to determine where, in fact, that elsewhere is but it wasn't in blogging.
Nevertheless, I am still alive. Though, at times, barely. As in this morning, when I had to work at 7:30 and get up at the horrible hour of 6:30. I know, 6:30- so rough. And I don't have a crying baby to pull me out of bed.
Only the voice of Shakira and "these hips don't lie" calling to me from my radio telling me to get my lazy bum out of bed.
However, all random points about my life aside, funny thing happened to me tonight.
Well, kind of funny.
Actually, probably not really, but I'll share anyways, now that I've set my story up for failure.

This evening, I heard a knock at the door. Curiously I opened the door to see who was there and it was a little girl (who ain't so little any more) who is the neighbour of my parents.
Formally my neighbour.
Or basically, still my neighbour because I pretty much still live as close to my parents now as I ever have.
She skipped through all the formalities and asked me if I wanted to buy some chocolate.
She knew I was a sucker and lucky for her, I took a trunk full of pop bottles back to the recycling today and received a whole FOUR bucks back for my four hours of work trying to sort through all of the stupid things.
Any other day, she would have had to take debit because cash is a foreign word to me.
As she took my money, I asked her what she was fundrasining for, as I noticed it had a sticker on it from the Middle School.
In the most innocent of ways she answered, "Honestly, I have no idea."
Now if walking around selling chocolates door to door on a cool winter nights for a cause you have idea about- if that isn't unthinking loyalty than I don't know what is.
I hope they give her straight A's on her report card.

writing woes

2006-12-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

I think I am about done with the whole school senario- for now anyways.
Tonight I am home, once again, writing yet ANOTHER paper. Another one! Come on, is this really necessary?
I am only in 3 courses, yet the number of full papers I have had to write feels endless.
But, in fact, it is not endless- for tonight, I shall finish my last paper for the term.
If that is not worthy of me finishing up the remainder of our Heavenly Hash ice cream, than I don't know what is.
I am alone in the house tonight. This is rare.
I am alone because the boys, well, they're out on a date.
Daniel had a couple of tickets for a hockey game tonight. Being the generous young man that he is, he first offered them to Brad and I so that we could, heaven forbid, spend a night together.
However, Edward Said and his theory of Orientalism, combined with a little Post-Modernity called my name tonight and I had to decline the other.
And so, Brad and Daniel turned, their gaze locked and they agreed that they would go on a date.
Together. To a hockey game.
I'm sure fun shall be had by all.
Wish I could be there. Anything to get away from homework and to be with my husband.
And our adopted 24 year old child.

Tubs O' Water

2006-11-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

So it's gotten cold. You probably noticed. So cold that our pipes going out to the washing machine froze.
That was fun.
My super hero father, combined with my own personal super hero skills, fixed that problem and so an exploding pipe fiasco was avoided.
I have stayed plenty warm this week, in case you were wondering. I work in a coffee shop and make over priced coffees and hot chocolates for a living and so I keep plenty warm.
I also skipped school on Tuesday as the 5 minute walk from my car to the school building is MUCH too cold for me to handle.
So I stayed home. It was rough.
However, an extremely exciting, yet sorta sad advancement has been than my dear gimpy husband has gone back to work.
That is, after FIVE weeks off work because of a broken finger.
Brad has often stated how much he despises working construction in the winter.
Take a job that is not your passion, combine it with sub zero, frost bite on your bum conditions, and you get a pretty crappy day.
Ironic isn't it that the week Brad goes back to work, it's Arctic conditions out there.
Every morning Brad and Daniel have bundled up, with their numerous thermoses in hand, and headed out the door.
I wave as they leave.
And then I go jump in the hot shower before heading to my warm and cozy job making high quality espresso beverages.
But, alas, there has been a high point to this chilly week.
We have re-discovered the joy of a hot tub.
My PARENT'S hot tub.
But, "don't you have a hot tub?" you might ask.
Yes, yes we do.
Let's rephrase that.
The joy of my PARENT'S hot tub- FOR FREE.
Every night the boys have gotten home and we head down the street to my parent's house.
We strip down, to our bathing suits, and jump in that splendid water.
After I force Brad to go pull the lid off, I jump in there first and calmly relax in the waters.
Brad then follows and climbs in there with a grace that doesn't quite match my own.
And as his foot sinks deep into that warm water, every night it's the same.
"Oh thank-you. Thank- you. Thank- you Jesus. Thank-you."
My reaction? "Okay Brad, that's enough. We get the point."
"Oh thank- you. OH..OH Jesus..thank-you."
Perhaps such a comment borders on verbal abuse of the Lord's name, but I think I understand his heart.
When you freeze all day but then have the opportunity to relax in the comfort of a hot tub, you are blessed.
And all things good come from the One above.
Or so I believe.
So, today, we are thanking Jesus for hot tubs cause they sure are pretty great.