We are still here

Sorry for the lapse between posts. Things have been kind of quiet around here so there was not much to share. We made a trip to IKEA, hopefully our last, to get a wardrobe and spent a whole day getting there and then putting it together. I love IKEA, but we have spent waaaay to much time there. Our crate arrived safely and the only thing that did not arrive was a painting Blair made of the Burt Lake cottage. We are trying to figure out how to claim that on insurance.

Last Friday was ANZAC Day which is similar to Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. The great thing about ANZAC Day is that there is a gambling game that is legal on this day only. Two Up is a game where you stand in a circle and one person holds a paddle and places two coins on it. Then the person flips the coins and people in the circle bet on whether the coins will land heads or tails. It is really fun, but it helps to have a few beers. It did get pretty heated where people were betting $50 on one flip. At one point we were up about $50, it didn't last long.

The next day we went to the races (another gambling day). It was a fancy pants kind of day. We got all dolled up and met John's friends for a champagne breakfast. Then we headed over to the Randwick Racecourse and it was beautiful. It was the first sunny day in over two weeks, I am not kidding. There were all sorts of famous people there, like Orlando Bloom and Hugh Jackman. I am so bummed out that I didn't get to see them. Once the races started, John and I lost all of our betting money, but it was still a really fun day.

Blair is coming to visit in about a week right after she graduates from Utah. And John's brother, Brian, picked a college (Wabash), so now we are looking forward to the Shelbournes visit sometime in August. Just remember the hotel is open for business and we are taking reservations. :)

I will be back in the Midwest from May19th-June10th and can't wait to see everyone.

Also, pictures are on the way from 2-up and the races.

Flugtag

Today was the 1st Annual Sydney Redbull Flugtag and it was quite a sight for creative flying machines. We saw everything from a flying pig to a flying flip-flop to a Delorian. And it was definitely more falling into the water than flying. There were about 20,000 people there and Redbull everywhere. It was so much fun to see all of these teams have so much fun sinking their flying machines.

Finally!

Our crate has finally landed, passed customs and quarantine! Now we just have to schedule our delivery. We will be off an air mattress for the first time since February. Neither one of us can wait for a good night sleep in a real bed. And I will have my massive amounts of shoes. Yeah!

John is still enjoying his job and I am still temping. I just started a more long term assignment as a receptionist in a hospital on the surgical wing. A lot stressful, but much more interesting than stuffing envelopes. And I get to wear scrubs, so I am very comfortable.

My parents surprised my sister, Blair, with a trip to Sydney after she graduates in May. Then she and I will fly back home on the same flight. I am so excited to have her here and I know she is very excited to see the sights. Then our next guests will be the Shelbournes at some point in the summer, and again, we can't wait to have them. We are so excited to have our families and friends come to visit. Then Scott and Davis are coming in February 2009. Who else is coming? We would love to have you at Hotel Shelbourne!!

The Royal Easter Show

I hope this blog will be easy for everyone to read and please pass it along to anyone you think would enjoy it.

So this weekend Sydney celebrated Earth Hour, and unfortunately John and I did not see much of a difference other than the lights being out on the Harbour Bridge and on the Coke sign on our building. We participated and kept our lights turned off. We are saving the earth one light at a time. :)


On Sunday, we went to the Royal Easter Show at Olympic Park. It is like the ultimate state fair. We took the ferry down the river to the park and then took the train home. We saw a cutting competition, lots of barnyard animals, a woodchopping competition and a dog show. And of course, what would a fair be without great people watching? The dog show was great-we saw the best breed, best puppy, and best in show. One of the handlers was a dead ringer for George Michael in his heyday. He won the last year and we hoped he would win again, but he did not even place. Then we watched a polocrosse match which is a cross between polo and lacrosse. According to the announcer, anyone can play if they can afford a horse, so really it's just as accessible as soccer. Overall, it was a fun day full of Aussie culture.

Up next, the Redbull Flutag! It is so close to our house and I can't wait. I will take a million pictures.