GREAT.

FROM NOW ON EVERY TIME I HEAR HALLELUJAH I'LL BE SEEING NIGHTOWL'S BUTT.

Rob and co are back from sunny California. A good time was had by all. The dogs came back happy but with ticks. The gross type not the slightly insane, nigh invunerable big blue type.


Finally went and saw 'Watchmen', and really liked it. The ending was different from the original graphic novel but it really worked and probably way easier to explain than the giant genetic engineered space squid. Though I would have liked a bit of space squid action.
The soundtrack was pretty good. Bob Dylan in the opening credits, Leonard Cohen in the closing, as well as the superhero sex scene.
The casting was spot on.


Rorschach looked liked he does in the comic, the Comedian was very close and Dr Manhattan is his usual big blue self. Not quite as cool as the Tick but he gets points for that whole Mars thing.


Spring is here, things are getting slightly green. It snowed on Sunday night but back to sunny today. You just think the cold is over, people start planting and breaking out the shorts, and it will snow. It snowed on us in May last year so we are not out of it.
I want to plant tomatoes and strawberries, but I dare not just yet.
Hoping to go snowboarding one last time.

SO SAY WE ALL

I haven't seen the last episode yet, so no spoilers please.

I really liked the mutiny episodes, felt a bit like a role playing game, role the d20 and see which guard you shoot, corridor you run down and which flesh wound you get, but Adama going postal was pretty cool.

ALBUQUERQUE..SRSLY, WHO THOUGHT THAT UP?

Its been a busy few weeks with Rob and I passing like groovy and hip ships in the night.

He and Mike went rafting on the Upper Salt River, where all his mad boating skillz came back to him and the word for the week was 'fanfuckintastic'.
While he was drinking G&T's and negotiating rapids I was training it to Albuquerque with the niece and nephew to meet up with their Mum, who was there for work.
Considering I have the maternal instincts and skillz of a sock, I still managed to get us all on a 6am train without losing or accidently selling them to the gypsies.
The Amtrak train is way more comfy than I expected. The seats were big and reclinable, a windowed observation car with seats facing outwards to admire the view, a sleeping car if you splashed out and the food in the dining car was reasonable and more than edible. There were people doing the LA to Chicago 4 day haul....uggg I think that would drive me a little mad, but at least it would be a vaguely comfortable madness.

Albuquerque was a lot of fun. It was a little strange though. There was flowers, grass and trees blossoming all over the place. Flagstaff gets those things to but not till way later into spring and summer.


Lots of adobe Spanish/Mexican houses, which I love the look of, next time we build a house its going to be in that style.
And then some parts reminded me of Strathfield/Burwood/Concord, with big brick Victorian houses, which at one time would have been part of a larger estate.
We went to the Zoo, Natural History Museum, Childrens Science Museum (all walking distance from the hotel)and the Aquarium/Botanical Gardens. Laura and the kids had been to all of a few times before so they took great delight in showing me the best bits.


We got back late Sunday night and Rob got back Monday night and I left for Bullhead City Tuesday arvo for 4 days for work. I got home late Friday night and he left for CA with Laura and the kids Saturday morning. Its Spring Break so the kids are off school so they went off to the family cabin in the Sierras for a week.
Darwin and Roo went aswell and are running around with wild joyful abandon.
If I had thought about it earlier I may have been able to wrangle time off work and go to, but as it was i didn't get organised.
I love that place.


But as it is I'm happy doing my own thing, so its not really a struggle. Really its not...
The wedding anniversery St Patricks cooking class tomorrow means I'm going on a date with my Mike my Bro in law. I was planning on going to it anyway on my own cause it will be fun either way.
I asked Mike (since he is all on his lonesome too) and he was keen. Any excuse for 2 Aussies to eat corned beef and drink beer.

Hmm what else....
I watched 'Serenity' again last night....still makes me sad that the show was cancelled...damn you Fox!


Waiting till Rob and I are in the same latitude to go see 'Watchmen', tempting to just go and see it, but since I'm soooo nice I'll wait.
Joined a gym, went to kickboxing tonight....I'm the the mood to buff up.
Got up at 1am to play with the guildies in WOW, it was great fun and I need to do it more often, I miss playing with those guys, plus I got shiny new purple boots

A NPR story about my work. The shaving sound is me clipping a dog's testicles...job satisfaction...i haz it.

Leonard Cohen soon.

Life is good

CALENDER OF EVENTS

The dreaded lurgy has slunk off to bother other victims and I feel mostly n0RmaL...mostly.
I lost a few pounds by not eating for a week but have been consuming vast amounts of chocolate this week to make up for it, so its all good.

Considering we are a one income family at the moment we do have a few interesting and cool things to look forward to.
Being frugal is not as fun as it looks.


March 6-9th Laura is in Albuquerque for work for 2 weeks and Mike and Rob are going boating on the Upper Salt River for 5 days with a bunch of guys.
I'm catching the train to Albuquerque with the kids to hang out for the weekend. Should be fun, I've heard good things about the zoo and various museums, plus its been a while since I caught the train and not having to drive will be nice.

March 17th- Our 8 year wedding anniversary.Woot. And a wonderful time its been.
There is a great kitchen supply store called Seasoned Kitchen and they do cooking classes. Have been to a couple and they are great fun. 8-10 people sitting around learning, eating and chatting.
We are booked for

Tuesday, March 17th
6:00 - 8:30 PM
Gay Chanler
St Patrick's Day Dinner - $40.00
Celebrate St Patrick's day with Gay and prepare a hearty, chill-chasing, classic dinner. While the Corned Beef simmers we'll practice some baking skills, including Irish Soda Bread and a Whiskey Chocolate Mousse Cake. There could also be some Black and Tan Libations with Irish Farmhouse Cheddar Crisps. So bring your shamrocks, wear some green and come prepared for a good time.

I got gift certificates for two classes for my birthday so I think this is the perfect way to use them.


April 5th- Leonard Cohen at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix. Woohooooooooo. After feeling very jealous of all the Oz folk getting to see him, I'm so glad he is coming our way.
Now I will be able to re relate to my sisters.
They are not the best seats in the house but they are seats in the house.
Its that frugal thing again.


July 9-12th The Amazing Meeting, Las Vegas. Its a big skeptic do, which sounds pretty interesting and will be alot more fun cause we have friends from LA going and Amanda, my sis is coming over for it and a visit in Flag afterwards. Its going to be hotter than hell at that time, but that why air conditioned casinos were invented for the desert. Never have to go outside....ever.

Things we are missing.
Rownay Festival and our friends Late Victorian wedding in April at Curzon Hall......curses. We were planning on visiting Oz this year but.....*sigh* frugal.
I'm all a bit sad about missing the wedding, I want photos and lots of them. We will have to find a cool pressie, probably something Navajo themed and I know a great place in the mountains with a large hole nearby for a honeymoon..hint hint...

Kodiak got adopted 10 minutes after he was put on the floor, which is awesome. Friends of Mikes saw him while he was being fostered so they were lurking in wait for the day he was ready.

Grapefruit drizzled with maple syrup is very nommy, messy and not recommended to be anywhere near a computer but nommy.