Catching Up

I know, I know, it's been a while since I checked in. Truth is before I left for the US it was much of the "same old, same old" here. As we've been here going on 6 months.....yes, it has been that long, we are very much in a routine. With the shortage of MD's at the ER, John has volunteered to pick up more shifts and our leisure time is very limited. The things we do in his "off time" is much of the subjects of the blogs, so that has been a problem, but I'm back and will try to make some interesting entries in this the second half of our year here in Australia.

I did just return from a 3 week trip back to Wisconsin. I was there for the wedding of my bestie's son, Mark, to Maddy his lovely bride. I got to see all my kids, my dogs, my sisters and their kids, and grandkids, and generally just saw everyone I could in a short time.

For those of you wanting to come visit, you need to spend at least 2 weeks, from just making the trip back and forth again, it makes no sense to come for less time than that. The time traveling here (24+ hours) plus the adjusting to the time zone, will knock you out of commission for a day, or two. Like with any vacation, you take the good with the bad or just unknown. Try to make the fewest number of stops, with the shortest layover you are able to manage. Carry on your luggage! That way you can make the connections without the worry of a toothbrush on the other side of the flight.

Australia is VERY casual. You don't need fancy clothes, men don't need a sportcoat, just pack with the thought of everything going with every activity and you'll be fine.

Either one of these would work for most places in Australia.

Here's one for the guys, too. 

This is a winter capsule.

Remember a swimsuit, baseball hat, extra sunglasses and a sandal of some sort. (Flip flops are fine.) This advice is for all, men, women and children!

Whatever you feel you've forgotten or need, is available here. Bring the credit card with no foreign transaction fees and remember to let that company know you'll be in Australia. All of these things will make your trip here to visit us MUCH more enjoyable. 

All of this advice is to try and lure some of you here to experience this country which is so interesting but very far away. 

Being back just made me realize how much I miss all my peeps and hoping I can make the rest of this year fun with lots to look forward to.

I was very remiss in taking pictures while home. My phone didn't work there so I left it in my suitcase, that is my camera for most everything. Here is a picture from the wedding with my kids.

Wedding time

Really dark and minus Colin, who was my date. 

The other "family" I saw was the four footed one, Scout and Bear. We had a lovely reunion at the Haas's and they greeted me very warmly.

 

 They are so happy with Lois and Joe. Truly the two of them have never looked better. Lois believes in holistic dog care and she's carefully changed their food and treats. Their coats and eyes just sparkle, and you can tell how much they're loved. Once they go over me being there, Scout just cozied up to Lois, and Bear to Joe. It seems that Bear has gotten it in his head that when Lois isn't around he doesn't have to mind Joe when it comes to walks. Joe says he's gotten more and more stubborn, and just refuses to get up from where ever he is to walk. He picks his battles with him and wins 50% of the time.

How can you resist those eyes???????

Anyway, as we've said before, we could never have done this year aboard without Joe and Lois, we can NEVER thank them enough. They will be very sad to leave the golf course and dog bath, but we can't wait to be the ones dragging Bear for that walk!

While I didn't manage to take many pictures with my cell phone, I did manage to misplace it while home. So on my return to Bundaberg I had to purchase a new one. Buggers! (An expression used commonly but don't look up the slang for it, it isn't polite.) I bought a much cheaper one, not quite a flip phone, but close, and I don't expect to loose this one. In my defense, I was "sleeping around" quite a bit. I went from Evanston the first night to Lake Geneva, Bayside, Lake Geneva, Oswego, Lake Geneva, Bayside, Fox Point, Lake Geneva and back to Bayside. Whew.....it's a wonder I didn't loose more than the phone! All this traveling while jet lagging and trying not to complain. 

A big shout out to John who met me at Bundaberg Airport on June 4, which happens to be my twin brother's birthday. When I walked into the condo there flowers and balloons and 

this adorable little Scout!!! The wine was already in the frig waiting for me to shower and go out for dinner at Catalonia, one of our favorite places here in Bargara for dinner.

I'll end this rambling entry with the promise of better ones to come. I hope to hear that some of you will make the trip over to see all this for yourselves.