I’m working on it

In between feeling slightly “floaty” from all the medication, extra vitamins and herbs circulating around my body (all recommended by the pharmacist), I started the Nashville post.  It’s long, so it may will take a day or two.

To explain the floatiness: I tend to have an adverse reaction to Codeine and other strong painkillers.  When I had my wisdom teeth removed they gave me Mepergan, the effects of which I can only describe as what it might be like to be in a coma.  I could hear everything going on around me, but everyone else thought I was sleeping because I was unable to move.  I couldn’t even open my eyes.  I kept trying to say, “No wait!  Come back!  I’m not asleep, really.”  Nothing came out.  As someone who has a very hard time sitting still normally, I didn’t care for the sensation.  It didn’t help that the entire time I kept picturing the video for “One.”

The last time I had Codeine I was in single digits. . .until today.  I feel a bit like I’m gliding through the room rather than walking, but if that’s the only side effect, I can handle it.

So yes, I’ve been trying to blog on the liptop Scott brought home from work.  No, that’s not a spelling mistake.  I’ve decided to call it the liptop because it arrived to me with lip prints on the screen.  I’m not sure who’s been kissing that particular icon (though it’s very specific to a certain group of individuals), but I hope she got what she wanted/needed from it.

Don’t worry.  I used some nice green antibacterial cleaning products on it yesterday.  I think I’m safe now.

A Sickie Post

When we got back from the States two of our party were not doing so well – both Amanda and our computer are a bit under the weather. It saddens me to say that one of them isn’t expected to make it … though it  cheers me to say that that one is NOT Amanda!

Hope you feel better Precious! 

We’re Back … Mostly

We arrived back into Sydney yesterday morning to be informed that one of our bags had decided, with help from the airline, to take an extra day of vacation.  Obviously being able to come home (as opposed to being a tourist or someone new in town) makes this mostly just an inconvenience.  However, it turns out there are quite a few important things in that case – not least of which is the power cord for our laptop.  Our bag is due to arrive some time later today, so we shouldn’t have to endure for too long.  So forgive this short post from work, but just so you know we are back safe and sound and normal services will be resumed as soon as possible.

FYI

This blog is not social commentary.  It is about our days and our lives.  As an American, have you seen me post anything about the recent presidential elections?  Anything about the war in Sri Lanka (where we have family)?  Anything about 9/11 (which I lived through)?  The terrorist attacks in India?  No.  For information about politics or current events (tragedies happen all over the world everyday), read your newspaper.  This is not the space.

Just A Perfect Day

If you keep up with the Australian news (and if not why not?) then you’ll know we’ve had another scorcher of a weekend.  So, we did what any self respecting Australian would do: we went shopping in the air conditioning.  And what a perfect day we had.

We crossed a few things off our long term household and wardrobe lists; we had a fantastic sushi lunch; we indulged in a little dessert at an excellent chocolatier (we shared a moorish warm chocolate mud cake in ganache), and then we stopped to imbibe a wee refreshing tipple.

Once home we played a game of Chamble^TM (that’s a regular game of Scrabble accompanied by a lovely bottle of Champagne- a favourite of ours, especially on Sundays).

Who doesn’t love a weekend?!?

If You’ve Been Rubbish And You Know It. . .

To answer a few emails all in one go: No, we haven’t stopped blogging.

‘Tis the holiday season, and I’ve been busy with that in its various forms.  By coincidence it has also been the busy season at work, so Scott has been fully occupied as well (not to mention the many outings we’ve been attending).

So now I sit (cutting into my gym time btw) staring at my list, trying to cross off a few tasks.  I love lists.  This time last week I had seven different lists on my desk.  I’m happy to say that I’m down to one final list.  Of course, some of its tasks are slightly monumental in nature, and I have a day and a half to get them done, but I’m not worried.  I have each task arranged by day of the week, then further refined with AM, Afternoon, and PM labels.  Of course, now that I look at my list, “Blogging” isn’t actually on it, so I’ll just go ahead and add it (Blogging-Tues/Aft).

So, yes, we’re off to the States again!  We’ll have more time to update and post photos while we’re away, so watch this space over the next few days and weeks.

Okay, well, it was great to catch up with you.  We should really do this again soon, and I’m not just saying that.  I really mean it this time.  Call me. . .Kthanxbai!

Weekly Menu (Last one of the year!)

Monday: Spicy Honey & Garlic Quail

Tuesday: Broccoli with Red Lentil Sauce

Wednesday: Coconut Fish with Cucumber Salad

Thursday: Marinated Lamb & Mango Salad

Friday: Penne with Spinach & Cannellini Beans

Breakfast: Banana Muffins

Lunch: Tahini Salad

Weekly Menu

Monday: Kitchiri

Tuesday: Lime Shrimp Kabobs

Wednesday: Five-Spice Lemon Sole

Thursday: Chicken & Vegetables Balti Style

Friday: Spicy Beef with Coriander Relish

Breakfast: Goji Berry Granola

Lunch: Tomato & Chickpea Orzo Salad

Weekly Menu

Monday: Baked Honey, Soy & Garlic Drumsticks

Tuesday: Teriyaki Tuna Steaks with Asian Tomato Salad

Wednesday: Puy Lentils with Crushed Potatoes & Creme Fraiche

Thursday: Beef Rendang

Friday: Tomatoes Stuffed with Orzo Shrimp Salad

Breakfasts: Fruit Salad with Yogurt

Lunches: Velvet Corn Soup; Tuna Melts

Twitter-Free Twitter

With the revisions to my book chapter finally over but still fresh in my mind I find myself quite anti-words.  You may find this post a little less verbose than my normal offerings.

We’ve been watching Dexter season 1 & 2 recently.  It’s a really great, darkly comedic show.

I discovered after getting to work in just one layer that today’s high temperature was in single figures, even though it was 30 C (86 F) on Sunday.

Yesterday, someone put a hundred blow up dolls on Bronte Beach.  Today they wrapped cars like presents.

Since I started at Appen, I’ve driven away 3 receptionists, 4 IT guys and ALL the other computational linguists.  I’m very important!

India absolutely crushed Australia in the first test.  I’m just saying …