The Shootist

We stayed up late watching Grimm last night, so I had a lovely sleep in this morning and then went for an extra long walk in the beautiful warm sun enjoying the blue blue sky.

I ran some last minute errands with Terri and Bec.....I hesitate to confess I bought more souvenirs- I had to get something for the dogs, didn't I?!!

I had a pastie with Stephen's homemade sauce and a passion fruit drink for lunch.

I packed my third bag, slept some more, quizzed Kelsey on her legal studies, and enjoyed my last day of doing nothing and not having to be anywhere or make any decisions and just hanging out with my dear friends.

Bec booked us all in for tea at a local Pub...I had a steak, salad and chips. Not the most well-done of well-done steaks...probably the most pink I've ever eaten...but it was fun to be there all together.

I had my favorite white chocolate drink and a shortbread bikkie when we got home.

It was a very nice last day of vacation.

This trip has been a lovely break from reality and a lovely visit to Australia. I've seen wallabies, kangaroo, koala bears, galas, cockatoos, and rosellas. I've seen beautiful rolling hills and the blue-green ocean. I've experienced humid hot days, rainy cool days and everything in between. I've had fun, seen the sites, been lazy, read books, slept whenever I wanted, eaten my favorite Australian foods, and spent wonderful days with friends.

I would love to stay in this lovely place with these people I love, but I miss my family, I miss being in my homeland, I miss my mountains, and I am sure, I would eventually miss earning my keep...so I am homeward bound.

See you all in 30-something hours. Xoxo

Rooster Cogburn

Did more packing- its a rather tricky business when you're me.

Had a lovely walk in the lovely warm sunshine.

Went shopping with Terri and bought a little HONEY of a new bag - the beautiful black item below: R.M. Williams, Australian black leather, best bag I've ever owned; and I bought some HONEYcomb.

Terri made me a mango and passion fruit shake for lunch and I had a lemon squash.

I had a lovely lie down and then did laundry.

Hung out with Terri and Rhiannon while my laundry was processing.

Went to the market with Bec and picked up groceries for tea.

Stephen and Bec made me a beautiful meal - lemon chicken and herbs with pasta, veggies and cheese. Yum!

Xoxo

McClintock

The title must be pronounced "tock" NOT "tick" or further reading is not allowed. Hahaha

Today was lovely too.

Slept in.

Went for my walk.

Went to Kelsey's New Beginnings.

Had a girls outing (Terri, Bec, Rhiannon, Kelsey and me):

-Went to an open air market in Castlemaine - 20 minutes away except we didn't really know where it was so it took a bit longer. Had a pork bun and bought more souvenirs. I've gone a bit out of control.

-Went to the Bendigo art gallery - wonderful gallery - really amazing collection of multiple periods of art and some very Australian works. I bought more souvvies.

-Went to some charming little shops across the street....I only bought one thing. I HAD to. :)

Went home to hot scones (the Australian kind) with raspberry jam and clotted cream made by Stephen because he knew I wanted some. One of my most favorite things to eat here.

Had a nice chat with Kyal who was re-organizing his room.

Took a lovely nap.

Went to the market for groceries.

Drove past the home the Rechters lived in when I first met them...the infamous 4th discussion/law of chastity ordeal. :)

Had the Saturday Turkish for dinner- so yum! Chicken with barbecue sauce with a lovely salad with a light lemon vinaigrette dressing.

Hung out with friends and watched some Telly.

I now think I may have to mail clothes home AND pay for a third suitcase. Crazy girl.

McQ

What a lovely day.

Slept in.

Packed a suitcase full of souvenirs (slightly challenging since I need both suitcases for my clothes, etc. - I will have to mail my clothes home).

Went to visit my dear friend, Mina, who I taught 20 years ago as a missionary. She remembered that I loved her butter cake and made me one....and a lot of other things too. She had her two children and their spouses over to see me too. I had such a nice time with them - reminiscing and catching up. Mina showed me the photo book with the photos of when I was here as a missionary- wow have I aged. Unreal.

Sat in the sun for a couple minutes.

Went to see my old missionary flat and also saw the first street I ever tracted.

Took a nice nap.

Went shopping for more souvenirs. It was necessary- trust me, you all will be glad I am a freak shopper.

Went for a beautiful Japanese meal. Unreal. Six courses (salad, tempura veggies, shrimp, chicken and steak, veggies- bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, ham fried rice, pancakes). One of the most amazing meals I have ever had.

Such a nice day.

Robert, Jack and John (Denver not Wayne)

Sorry for the theme change, but...

Tuesday

Two roads diverged in a wood and..... I took the scenic route. Literally and figuratively. Turns out the navigation unit I rented from Hertz has 3 billion options for traveling from point A to point B; including, the option I inadvertently selected of "take every single out of the way little side road that exists in Victoria to get from Bendigo to the Great Ocean Road." Wow.

I kept thinking, okay Michael Scott, you're driving into the pond, but, once committed - out in the middle of nowhere in a country that is not your own - you kind of have to keep going.

Luckily, it was a stunning drive - the whole drive. What a beautiful country-side. I was reminded why Victoria is the garden state.

For those of you who need all the details, here's a quick snapshot (photos to follow when I get back to Bendigo and normal wi-fi).

- got up "early" (7:30)
- saw kangaroos out the window
- took Kelsey to school with Stephen
- went to Hertz to add me as a driver
- had a quick driving on the left side of the road refresher lesson from Stephen
- got some petrol ($75 to fill a Toyota Corolla tank 3/4 - ouch)
- packed, ate, prayed, and left
- drove all over the country-side of Victoria for 5 hours
- very happily arrived at The Great Ocean Road
- pulled over to say hello to the ocean and in my haste and excitement, flipped on the windshield wipers...you have to think the whole time you are driving on the wrong side of the road
- found my motel and checked in - they upgraded me to an "apartment"
- got a salad roll and lemon drink and walked over to the ocean to eat
- talked to a nice lady
- walked along the beach
- bought souvenirs
- bought groceries
- turned in for the evening

I have officially begun one of my bucket list items - "Drive down the Great Ocean Road by myself and stop at all the towns I wish to."

Good old John Denver wrote many lyrics with layers of universal human sentiment and truth....whether it be a night in a forrest, a mountain in springtime, a walk in the rain, a storm in the desert, or a sleepy blue ocean....skiing down a snow-covered mountain in Aspen, Colorado or driving down a sun-filled ocean road in Australia.....my senses were filled. So amazing!

What a beautiful world God created for us!!

More tomorrow- if the wi-fi works. Xoxo

Signs, Symbols, Stores and Sir Walter Scott

So - I love Barnes & Noble. One of my top five favorite stores probably. Years ago, I was browsing through the store and saw a book about word and phrase origins. I really wanted it, but it was pricey, and I, very uncharacteristically, walked away....thinking it would always be there - I could get it another time.

Of course, I've never seen it since - (Kurt - see, this is why I should buy stuff when I see it and want it!)

Anywho - here's an entry from a similar online book. It seemed apropos today.

"BAD PENNY -- The phrase usually is heard in this country (U.S.) as 'A bad penny always turns up,' meaning that a no-good person can be counted upon to come back again and again. The expression was originally English and the unit of currency referred to was the shilling. Sir Walter Scott, in one of his early nineteenth-century novels, whereto: 'Bring back Darsie? Little doubt of that. The bad shilling is sure enough to come back again.'" From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988).

Learn something new every day.

Belated note to self: STOP! Don't pick that penny up!

DECADE OF JOY

Are you one of those people who thinks writing in a journal is really important and yet your journal entries look like:

ENTRY 1 - Jan 1, 1989 - New Journal...so motivated....pledge to be better.... the world's best journal writer.... detailed description of my day...
ENTRY 2 - Jan 3, 1989 - Rats!, was so committed and missed a day, but.....I'll be better.... less detailed description of my day...but still a success...
ENTRY 3 - Jan 4, 1989 - Yay, me! Two days in a row....feel so happy....what a great day...

ENTRY 4 - Jan 1, 2001 - Shame!!!!!.....look at how long it has been...where do I even start and what events are gone forever because I didn't capture them when they happened...five hours later and 12 years of events..., I'm almost caught up...

And it starts again.

Yeah - that's me. I totally believe in journal writing and keeping a record, but to my utter shame, like my annual resolution to budget, journaling too, lasts but a few days.

So, what follows is Entry 4; and it took me a ridiculous amount of time.

The theme for the decade of 40s is JOY. And, while there certainly have been struggles this year, I have also had a lot of fun:

Parties
Valentines/Bugsy Malone party with the kids

Hat/Tea Party with the girlies(We missed you girls who weren't with us... next year!)

Pig party for the April 1st Celebration - with Pigs in a Blanket, pig toys and books, and licorice ice cream. We're thankful for pig valves in our family.


The Australians

Trips
Mesa to see Henry and Paul and Kami and baby girl niece :) - where we ate at fun places, shopped, fed ducks and played at the park, went to Spring Training, and got me addicted to Lost.



St. Louis to see Tiana, Bror, Inj & Melanie, where we went to a Cardinals game - complete with an airport-devastating tornado, saw Abraham Lincoln's home, toured the Anheuser Busch facility, celebrated Easter (in style thanks to a very thoughtful Chris - my brother's father-in-law, who bought me and Mellie hats to keep up my Dad's tradition); and I also caught a three-month cold/cough.
Hawaii for a "Its ok that you're 40 now" relaxing vacation.


I did some "radical" things with my appearance
PINK extensions (the purple from the chocolate party turned hot pink....and had to come out).

And then, I started going shorter...

And shorter...

Until....look what happened....

Yep. I'm "that age." Glasses. So - of course, I took advantage of that opportunity and got black and whites (above) and Kate Spade's (below). Had to. (And I'm about to get some Fendi sunglasses.... its an illness, I know.... but, remember how this is the decade of JOY.)

Most importantly, I've been having a great time with my sweet family...

And, of course, I have continued to eat chocolate to my heart's content.

So - now you and my journal are all up to date.