Christmas with the Wolfla's

So its Christmas time again. Being away from my family at this time of year is always a little sad. But some time spent remembering the good family memories always helps!

So I thought I would share a few Christmas memories with you.

The picture above is of me and my Dad. The year my Dad gave me "Julie" the doll that could read books to you. It was the coolest Christmas gift ever!! This is Dad teaching me how she reads right after I opened her! I loved a doll that could read to me as I struggled to read myself. I was pretty impressed. And I still am! This was 1986 or so and this was a high tech doll for its time! I was so lucky to have parents who spoiled me rotten!

Another favorite Christmas memory is of our family ritual on Christmas eve. I was an only child so Christmas was pretty quite at our house. But that did not mean we didn't know how to have a good time. My Dad use to take me on a drive to see the Christmas lights around our area. It was always just me and Dad. Mom would stay home to wait for Santa, "just in case!" We would always end the trip with an ice cream sundae from McDonalds. God Bless America. I love that you can get an ice cream sundae on Christmas eve! We would sit inside the restaurant and enjoy our sundaes! That was a real treat! Then like magic when we would get home Mom would come rushing out the front door of our little log cabin calling "Mary, Mary guess who came while you where away!!" None other then the man himself. He even ate a few of the cookies I left out! How exciting. We always opened our gifts on Christmas eve, it was a family event. Even the cats got involved and would play in the pile of Christmas wrapping and bows!

Another one of my favorite Christmas memories involved my childhood cat Tomas "yes I know its not spelt that way, and it should be spelt Thomas, but thats not how Tomas the cat spelt his name." Tomas was a real trouble maker, a black cat, and like most black cats he knew how to find trouble. Over a 10 year period Tomas fell 2 Christmas trees. The first occasion happened in Boise, Idaho. It must have been the Christmas I was in 7th grade. Tomas decided it would be great fun to climb the Christmas tree (real tree) well as he made his way up the branches the tree could no longer hold his weight, as he got closer to the top the tree simply snapped in two. "Bang" down came Tomas and we had two trees instead of one.

The second occasion happened in Greenfield Indiana when I was about 21. Mom, Dad and I had been out visiting family on Christmas eve. We got home late and I took a seat in the living room to admire the lights and ornaments on our beautiful large Christmas tree. Little did I know Tomas was orchestrating one of his famous stunts. As I sat there half asleep I heard a strange snap of tree branches coming from our tree and as I opened my eyes I saw Tomas leap off the Christmas tree from somewhere in the midsection of the tree. He just leaped from the tree like his little kitty but furs had caught alight. As he was leaping I noticed that he had Christmas lights wrapped around his body. He hit the living room floor running pulling a 5 foot Christmas tree  behind him. He dragged that huge tree a couple of feet before he struggled free from the lights. I jumped out of my seat, so shocked at when I just seen. Don't worry Tomas was okay. But I think the following year we bought our first fake tree. And that put an end to the tree climbing. Please note Tomas was also the reason why my parents have cat safe ornaments on the lower branches on the their tree. Sadly my little Tomas cat passed away a few years ago now. He was my best buddy. But don't be concerned, he did not die in some horror Christmas tree accident. He was just old.

I have to say although I am an only child my parents made Christmas such a special time of year. It must be because I have such amazing parents.

This year 2010 will be the 5th Christmas I have not been home with my wonderful parents. As the years are passing I want to get home again and have a few more Wolfla family Christmases. I love my in laws, but nothing will ever be the same as Christmas with my family.

So weather you are near or far this Christmas be sure to let the ones you love know how much they mean to you!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

A Flag In The Rain

Like many American families my parents have an American Flag hanging off the front of their home. Boldly stating "A Proud American Lives Here" , or "God Bless Our Troops". My parents flag bares both these messages. (Side note: except when its Butler Basketball Season, then Mom displays her Butler Flag, Butler was the University I attended). 


When I was home in August an unexpected storm blew in one evening. Mom and I sat on the front steps under the flag and watched as the wind picked up and swiftly blew the leaves on the  big cottonwood tree across the street. We listened to the clap of thunder, and felt as the first big drops of rain came down, on us and our flag. 
Mom and I sat and watched the rain for sometime. All the while our proud flag was getting soaked in this summer rain. At one point the wind blew so fiercely that the flag flapped wildly, spraying us with water. I could not help thinking to myself that I had just been baptized, in a way, by that flag. Suddenly each droplet the flag spayed onto me tingled my skin. 
I have always loved our flag. But living away from home in a foreign country has made me respect that flag in a way I have never experienced prior. 


In Sydney Graham and I went to an Australia vs. America Rodeo. (Graham's first rodeo experience) 
The Australian and American Flag where hanging side by side. I watched as nearly 4,000 Australians rose and sang their national anthem. When it was the Americans turn to sing the anthem and pay homage only a handful of people in this huge stadium rose, crossed their hearts and sang our American anthem. It was a strange moment. A moment that made me miss home badly, and a moment that made me proud to be an American. Don't worry I sang loudly!


Another experience happened to me while working on World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. Its a huge Catholic event, Over a million Catholics gather from around the world to share their faith. I worked on this event as a Stage Manager. Part of my job was to get the Convention Centre ready for mass in the mornings (among many many other things). One morning I went to mass out on Darling Harbour with at least 1,000 other people. I stood next to another American(I did not know that at the time), a young man I didn't know, he was just in Sydney for World Youth Day. As is it came time for the Lords Prayer to be said we looked at each other at the same moment and clasped hands, we where the only two people holding hands in this huge crowd, we held hands through the prayer and let go when it was finished. This hand holding is a normal occurrence in many Catholic churches in America, but not a practice that is common in Australia. When I attend a mass in Australia and have no hand to hold I always feel a little bit alone, alone in a country that is not my home country. Standing next to my fellow American in the crowd, holding hands for the lords prayer, I thought to myself, I am sure glad I came to mass this morning, or this man next to me would know what it feels like to have no hand to hold, when it feels so natural. This was one of the best moments of World Youth Day for me. Among a few other really cool ones too.. But that man is still the last strangers hand I have held during mass. No need to worry though, I make Graham hold my hand for the lords prayer. 


I want to let you all know that yes I do have the American colors hanging on my front door. Its something I will always do no matter where I live. Its important to remember where you come from. And I come from America.

Dogs on Grills

Yes, that is a dog sitting on a park grill. I just thought I would add this photo as it is one of my all time favorites. This photo was taken in 2005. Graham and I took Jack my parents dog to the park for a walk. We tied him up to the grill and walked a short distance away, when I turned back to have a look at what Jack was up to, this is what I saw. Still makes me smile. I have no idea how he got up there. But he seemed to enjoy the view.

Not much is happening around Perth at the moment. Graham is busy with studies and I am working hard at Buzz Dance Theatre. Things are moving along. Its spring now in Perth and the warm days are wonderful, I can not wear summer dresses and sandals all I want! I have put away the winter sweaters and have the shorts out for another hot summer. This year we will have airconditioning in our living room! One of my cousin's friends gave the airconditioner unit to us and I was so grateful. Now we can keep at least one room cool on the hot days. Although I don't plan on using it all the time, just on the hottest days of the summer!

We have made some new friends in the neighborhood. Liz and Franck. They are a married couple from Houston and have recently moved to Perth. Its nice to have some fellow Americans near by and we have had a lot of fun getting to know them! It helps with the home sickness to have someone else to talk to who knows what your going through!

Kit cat is visiting the vet this Saturday and I think he may need to get his teeth clean. We have had him for almost 3 years now and he has just turned 10 years old. He has turned into a good cat who likes to sit on your lap and sleeps between me and Graham at night. He is my cat for sure, I guess the two weeks I was in the USA he was sad and just roamed around the house, sleeping on my side of the bed and just looking like a lost little cat. I love my kitty! Well I better go. Kit is giving me the signal that its time for his dinner. Mine too!
Smell Ya Later!

Bowls

This Sunday Graham signed me up to play in a lawn bowls tournament at our local Bowls Club.  Before I begin, a basic guide to Bowls.

Now being an American I did not grow up with this popular Australian past time. To describe it, its kind of like Bocce Ball, but different.


Basically you have a long flat grassy playing field, similar to a golf green. You place a rug on the ground where you will be tossing your balls (bowls) from. You then take a small ball about the size of a white ball on a pool table, about as heavy too, and you toss it in a strait line from where you stand. This is the "Kitty" ball. Its the ball you want all of your Bowls balls to get closest too. Then you start bowling.

In the picture above is the small Kitty and two Bowls balls. These balls are weighted to curve to one direction so its important before you throw it you know which way the ball is going to curve. If you get it wrong your ball will end up in someone else's bowls game, or way out on the other side of the lawn. 


The objective is to get your bowls as close to the Kitty as possible, you have 4 bowls balls to toss, as does your opponent. Your opponent can hit the Kitty out of the way of your balls, or knock your balls further away from the Kitty. Its a tricky game. You should be getting a rough idea of the game. If not go and check out this link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowls

Now back to my story. As I said before Graham signed me up to play in a Lawn Bowls Tournament this weekend. Now it was nothing really serious, but  when we arrived at the club I quickly realized I was going to be on the losing end of this tournament.

Bowls is mostly an old persons activity in Australia but just recently it has enjoyed a spark of interest from young college aged people. At this tournament however Graham and I where the youngest in attendance. After a few practice tosses and a chance to buy a pint of beer the tournament was ready to begin.

For the first round I was paired up with two older gentlemen who at first seemed annoyed to be playing with a young American woman who knows only the basics of Lawn Bowls. After a few frames the group atmosphere warmed and I laughed listening to these two men use phrases such as "thats good green", and "come on get that kitty". This is a really competitive sport, with lots of courtesy rules similar to golf. Like no talking when someone is bowling, not acting in a distracting way when someone is bowling, picking up your next bowl only after someone has just bowled and not while they are in the act of bowling. But on the other hand this is also a sport that allows you to play barefoot and smoke cigarettes while playing.

I won a few frames and was happy to give the old guys a run for their money a few times. But at the end of the game my score was 16 and well... thats really really low.. like scoring a 13 out of 200 at the Bowling Alley. So I lost. Graham did well though and got to play on in another game. It was an interesting afternoon.

Now I am not sure if I am going to take up this sport more seriously, I think I had better get a little more practice before I try to compete against anyone again. But you never know if you never try.

The fair foods of my life!

Recently I went home to Indiana to visit my parents and friends. I like to plan my trips around the Indiana State Fair mainly due to my love of fair foods. So I thought I would write a blog honoring the fair foods of my life. 


Growing up I got to attend two different state fairs. First the Indiana State Fair,

 and then later the Western Idaho State Fair. 

Mainly these two fairs had the same foods. But Idaho had one food delight that the Indiana State Fair did not. That was the Ice Cream Potato.

I first had the Ice Cream Potato when I was 10 years old. It is vanilla ice cream rolled into a potato shape and then frozen as hard as a real potato. Then it is rolled in coco for that dirt color, topped with whipped cream, crushed cookies, nuts, and chocolate sauce.  I remember standing in line with my Mom and girlfriends for this fair treat and then fighting to get that first bite on to my plastic spoon as the ice cream was frozen solid. This is one fair food you can not miss, and the great thing about it, its an Idaho original. 


Most of my best fair food memories come from the Indiana State Fair where the line of food vendors stretches over 1 kilometer. There is everything on offer at the Indiana State Fair. These are just some of my long time favorites.


The Lemon Shake Up

You will find this sugary drink at most fairs in the US. Its a mixture of lemon juice and sugar syrup mixed together vigorously. Its tangy and sweet and leaves a little tingle on your tongue, not sure what they put in it for that effect but its unique. This is not a carbonated drink but still give you that refreshing feeling that a carbonated drink offers. This year at the fair I slammed down two of these babies. I like to get one right when I arrive at the fair, and then another one as I leave. Knowing it will be another long year before I see the Lemon Shake-Up stand again. 


The Pulled Pork Sandwich

Most of you know that I was born in Indiana. In Indiana people take the hog farming business seriously. Hogs, Corn, and Soy Beans are a big industry in Indiana. So when you go to the Indiana State Fair and walk down the "fair food alley" you are hit in the face with a big sign that reads "PORK TENT". In the pork tent you will find all sorts of of treats featuring Indiana Hogs. My favorite is the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Now this sandwich did not originate in Indiana, it being a southern food, but Indiana Hogs go into making many of these sandwiches. The pork is slowly cooked and smothered in BBQ sauce. Its the centre of my fair food experiences. I loved this sandwich as a kid and I still love it just as much as an adult. 


The Smoked Turkey Leg

This is my husband Graham's favorite fair food. I first tried the large Smoked Turkey Leg at a renaissance fair in Boise Idaho. Then upon moving back to Indiana in 2000 I was pleased to see my old friend the Smoked Turkey Leg at the Indiana State Fair. My husband Graham, being an Australian was always a little overwhelmed at all the gut bursting choices in food at the Indiana State Fair; but before long I had him in line with the thongs of people who also shared a love of the Smoked Turkey Leg. It is huge in size sometimes larger then a child's head, its smokey, you can barely eat it all and after you have to take a short nap in the horse barn on a pile of wood chips but its worth every bit. And for the health conscious like my husband, its one of the more healthy choices at the fair. 


The Elephant Ear

Also known as a kind of deep fired dough this was my Grandpa Wolfla's favorite fair food, thus I remember many a fair sharing a huge Elephant Ear with him. This deep fried dough comes out as big as an elephant's ear and then is covered in cinnamon and sugar. It is delicate and moist and the sugar on top just adds to the already sweet flavor of the dough. This is also my Mom's favorite fair food, and one I hope to share with my kids someday. 


Corn On The Cob

Remember above I told you Hogs, Corn, and Soy Beans are big business in Indiana, well it would not be an Indiana State Fair without a few corn on the cob stands. This treat goes back to the start of fairs in the United States. Corn on the Cob has traveled far and wide, I even see Corn on the Cob stands at fairs in Australia. Although nothing shakes a stick at the quality of Indiana sweet corn. This fair food will remain a classic forever. Just remember to pack a tooth pick if you plan on enjoying this classic treat! 

Now if this blog does not make you hungry I don't know what does. 

What are waiting for! Its August call you friends and family or just get in the car and GO! Point yourself in the direction of the State Fair and eat something for me!!! 

Back to Boise 2010

I went to Boise for 4 days this August to see my best girlfriends!

Some of you may or may not know that when I was 9 years old my family moved to Idaho. Growing up in Idaho I met 4 girls who changed my life. These girls are still my best friends. All of them still live in Boise. I am the only one who has moved away, and although there is a world between us and we may not to get to see each other as often as we would like, nothing has changed. We are still the same group of girlfriends we have aways been!

My Girls are:

Ann - (in the tree with me) I meet Ann in 5th grade, my Mom made me go to a new school for the last week of 5th grade, and good thing cause Ann sat next to me in class. She lived just behind my home too, there was a lot of fence climbing over the years from her house to mine. Ann is the glue of our girl group. Also Ann's Mom makes the best cookies in Idaho, uncontested!

April -(on far left in second photo) I meet April in 7th grade at West Jr. High School. This girl can warm any heart with her smile. I remember loving April's sense of style growing up and was always trying out her ideas (although she may not have known this). When April fell pregnant her baby Taylor (kido in the photos) I remember having this intuition about it. I knew before she called to tell me. Taylor is the sweetest girl and so smart! Just like her Mom!

Kristy - (photo holding a bird) Ann, Kristy, and I all lived in the same neighborhood. Kristy lived on top of the tallest hill in our neighborhood. Kristy and I became close when both of our families went to a car auction in Sun Valley Idaho, from then on we where the best of buddies. Kristy was the girl who introduced me to make up and the art of looking like a lady. Kristy's words at our sleepovers still ring in my ears "Hey lets give Mary a makeover." I met Kristy in 6th grade. Thanks to Kristy I made it to High School on most days.. thanks for the rides.

Lindy - (center of second photo) I met Lindy in 7th grade too. The first thing you learn about Lindy is that she loves to laugh and her laughter is contagious. Lindy is so generous and always helpful. Over the years Lindy has given me great advice and gotten me out of a few jams. She is a Mom to little Kyra, the cutest baby girl ever!

Going back to Boise was a blast. The last time I had been back was in 2006. I moved away from Boise when I was 17, but always made my way back every year till 2006 (lots of spring breaks). I even spent a wild summer with them in 2003, and had way to much fun!

I was surprised to see Boise had not changed too much, its the same town I love. The afternoon I flew in from Australia I was picked up at the airport by Ann and quickly whisked to her house for a shower and then we were off to Kristy's parents birthday parties; being held at Kristy's house. It was a great party and good to see lots of Kristy's family and catch up with her parents. There was BBQ southern style, cake, an open bar, and poker tables. It was a good party, and I quickly felt like I had never been gone.

The following days we had BBQ's and spent time catching up with some old faces. As well as meeting some new ones. It was just great to see my girlfriends and spend time seeing there homes and laughing like old times. One of the highlights was meeting Ann's neighbors. She lives between a house full of 23 year old boys and on the other side an 80 year old lady. This lady and the boys love Ann and they often have parties and spend time hanging out together. I can understand why, Ann is one special girl, if she was my neighbor I would be at her house every day!

The Bird Picture Explained

Another highlight was my day spent hanging out and shopping with Kristy. We meet an old friend from school out for lunch, we where eating outside on the restaurant patio when a yellow cockatiel lands on the handrail beside me. Shocked to see this kind of bird just landing next to us I put out my hand and the bird climbed onto my fingers. Soon the bird was enjoying our french fries and had the whole restaurant looking out at us! For some strange reason Kristy and I seem to find lost animals when together. Realizing we could not just leave the bird there we finished our lunch and with the bird on my shoulder we got in the car. Kristy started calling our friends asking them if they wanted to free pet cockatiel. Let me tell you this was one cool bird. It was gentle, didn't bite hard just nibbled you, it also danced to oldies music, and liked to be handled and petted. This was someone's beloved bird. Knowing finding the owner was going be tuff, we frantically looked for someone to care for it. Kristy drove me to a pet shop and was shocked when I came out with a cage for the bird compete with food, and toys. As a last resort Kristy called her Mom, and luck would have it her Mom said she would take the bird and look after it. Now the bird (named Sydney for Australia) is happily living at Kristy's parents house with no other pets. What a relief! But also a strange adventure in our day!

My trip went by too fast and soon it was time for me to head off to Indiana to see my parents. I am so grateful for my girlfriends. They have shaped the person I am today and have enriched my life more then they will ever know. I miss them everyday and often wish I could just walk over to their houses for a visit.

One thing is for sure, there is nothing like the friendships you make while you are young, they help us remember who we are, and who we want to be.

Two Places I Love in Australia

South West Rocks, NSW Snowy Mountains NSW

1. Grahams grandparents retired to a small coastal town called South West Rocks in the early 90's (near Port Macquarie on our map). Lots of Graham's fondest memories are in this town. Its a little place with only a handful of streets, it has a couple of pubs, a bakery, a golf course, some restaurants, a shell shop, and a super market. In the holiday season the beach side camp grounds are full of tourists. Graham took me there not long after we moved to Australia and it is one of my most favorite places. We have been back many times now.

The beaches are amazing in South West Rocks, the water so clear. It was here Graham taught me how to swim out past the break zone in the waves, out past the break zone on a long beach you can just float and let the waves you roll up and down. I remember looking down through the water and being able to see the bottom so clearly even though it was way. and I mean way down there. I would never do that alone so don't worry.

Also the town has great events on all the time like crab racing. One of the best places in South West Rocks is a short walk from the town shops. There is a little bay off the ocean, the water is clear and you can snorkel and see all kinds of fish and wildlife in this little bay. Graham and I often fish in the bay and have lots of fun. At low tide the narrow back end of the bay turns into sand flats and there are millions of little crabs that rule the area. You can walk out among the little crabs and chase swarms of them. The little crabs run away and then dig down into the sand to hid from you. To see a thousand little crabs all do that at the same time is pretty impressive! Then there are the sea turtles and dolphins that swim the rivers and beaches. Can I say more about why I love South West Rocks?? It is truly one of the best beach towns in Australia. It also has some of the best salt water fishing to be had any where in the world.

2.The Snowy Mountains in NSW. This is another one of my most favorite places in Australia. Graham and I love the Snowys partly because of the great fly fishing in the area but also because it is so beautiful. This area is home to the tallest peak in Australia Mount Kosciuszko.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kosciuszko)

It also is home to amazing wildlife, including wild brumbys (horses). Seeing the brumbys in the wild is pretty cool, along with the kangaroos, wombats, and emus there is never a lack of wildlife. One of my most favorite Snowy Mountain memories happened last year. Graham and I got up really early to fly fish a section of the Snowy River, we had to cross a large grass field to get to the river and with every step we took about a hundred crickets leaped forward with us. Crickets jumping everywhere (including down your waders) might freak out some girls, but not me. It was really something to see and even more beautiful with the sun coming up through the trees. That morning I was also charged by a herd of sheep. I guess they thought I looked like a tasty treat, I had to jump into the river to escape their pounding hooves! It was pretty funny!

The Snowy Mountains are some of the most ancient mountains in the world, making them round and long.. As you move up the mountains the plants and wildlife changes immensely, at the top of the mountains the plants become waxy and delicate. I have never seen anything like it, this area of Australia is truly unique. The whole landscape is amazing. Some areas are strewn with the biggest boulders with nothing around them to suggest how they got there. Kind of like aliens came down and brought the rocks with them. It is so interesting!

Okay, those are my two most favorite places in Australia. When you come out to visit, be sure to make sure we see at least one of these places. I will have to update you with some really interesting Western Australian places!

Cheers!

List

It is Autumn in Perth, I can tell because the few North American trees that line my street are changing color (most native Australian trees keep their leaves in the winter). I have now lived here in Perth for one year. Seen all four seasons. I now know what to expect in all months of year. The hot days of summer, and the wet days of winter. There are a few things I have not gotten use to yet though. Allow me make short list.

• Cockroaches being a common native animal. Walk around at night and there they go, running up and down the street/walls/garden. Some can even fly. YUCK
• The still ever present lack of ice. Why in such a hot country is ice so hard to get?
• Australians asking me if I am from Canada. No offense to my best buddy Mel in Sydney; But I am sure she gets "Are you an American" a lot too.
• Australian girls out doing me in the fashion department. Lets face it Australian girls have got it going on. I don't know how they manage to look so beautiful and well groomed all the time. (there are exceptions to be noted, but not many in the city). It makes us American girls look lazy, that or either we just like to be comfortable.
• Spiders that can kill you. Although I do not run into too many of them at our house in Perth thank goodness.
• The lack of Mr. Coffee style, drip coffee. Does this exist outside of America?
• People referring to all Americans as "Yanks", I guess they did not get any history on the American civil war in school. Clearly not all Americans are "Yanks" I would hate for them to make this mistake in some deeply southern towns.
• Large Birds (with claws) need I say more. Come and see for yourself.
• People walking down the street without shoes on, everywhere. And no one thinks its strange. Now I understand why Graham thought it was odd when I got mad at him for not wearing shoes in a fireworks store in Indiana. Its just normal here.
• Being homesick. I get it in waves.
• English Pudding..
• Fruit cake. Someone in the USA says fruit-cake and almost everyone in the room thinks yuck. In Australia you say fruit-cake and every goes "Yummy, can I have another piece."

I will leave it at that. Next time it will be all the things I love about Perth and Australia in general! Cause there is lots to love!

John Denver, Chicken Wings & Study

Howdy Partners...

Lately life has been flying by at a rapid speed. Not that anything too exciting is going on. I am all settled into the new job now. Check out this website to see what I am up too. http://www.buzzdance.come.au/ I will be tested soon as our next production goes into rehearsals next week, so I am enjoying the last week of clam before chaos breaks loose in our office.

I have also been rocking out to some John Denver as of late. It brings back a lot of good memories of being a kid and listening and singing along to John Denver songs in the car with my Mom. Songs like "Grandma's Feather Bed" and "Annie's Song" bring it all back. Gosh I was a lucky kid. I have the best parents!

I have broken out the crock pot for the winter; people in Australia call it a slow cooker, and they also seem to have a whole new batch of recipes I have never seen done in a crock pot. But then again Australians have never seen nacho cheese crock pot style. In fact there is a real lack of melted cheese products in Australia all together. I dream of fries (hot chips) covered in googey cheese better yet, lets make them waffle fries (something else they don't have down here), with maybe a little bacon and chives on top. Yum. Anyways off the subject, So far we have made Lamb shanks in the crock pot (Australian) and tonight it is chicken wings (American). So we are off to a good start!

I am busy worrying about all the things I want to do with the money I don't have. I am trying to plan a trip home this summer. I have gotten the first two weeks of August off work and okayed by my boss. Now to find a good air fair. I hope to include a stop over in Boise Idaho on my way back from Indianapolis. The problem is it is never long enough, when I lived in Sydney it took me about 26 hours to get from my house in Sydney to my parent's home in Indianapolis. But now it takes 36 hours to get from Perth to Indianapolis, times that by two and that means I would travel a total of 72 hours of my two week vacation. That always pisses me off. But its worth seeing my parents waiting for me at the airport and saying hi to old friends. But gosh its a long trip. I will also be going home without Graham this year and that adds a whole other layer to the trip. First guilt, cause I wish he could go too, and a slight heart ache cause I know I will miss him a lot while I am away. He can not come due to school commitments.

One more thing before this random post comes to an end. I thought of something I would love to do this American summer if I where to win the lottery this week. I would like to spend the whole summer following Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on their 2010 summer tour. I would also waste no expense flying out friends and family to join me at the locations of their choice. I know this is not every ones cup of tea, but it sure sounds like fun to me!

Okay that's it for now. The picture above is of me and my Kit cat in Graham's office. I took it just now! Cheers!

"Whats New" in Mary's Corner

So its been a long time.... Some things have changed! Don't worry all good things!

Firstly..

I GOT A NEW JOB! Finally a job in my industry, it took 9 months of looking and lots of help from Mom and Dad, Graham, and the Australian government to get. Not to mention the nice people at Kwinana Home Support who kept me in a good job until I found one in my area.

I am working for Buzz Dance Theatre in downtown Perth. I work in a quite office. Only 3 full time staff members and I am one of them. So far so good! I am an Admin and Education Officer. So I am in charge of the teacher resource kits we give to schools when they come to see our performances as well as bringing productions to schools and dance workshops for kids and adults. I work in a cool old building with many other art companies. The top floor is nothing but rehearsal space and I get to listen to and sometimes watch the dancers from all different companies at work. Its pretty cool! I am having some fun! This new jobs mean I get to spend time building lesson plans for teachers and in doing so I get to spend time doing fun research. Like today I spent a good chunk of my day researching cool street artists from around the world because our next production has street art by a famous artist doing the art work on the set .(Stormie Mills http://www.richardmartinart.com.au/pages/artists_details.php?artistID=17 ) He is from Perth and has made a big name for himself. In doing so I found the above image by a guy named ABOVE he is an interesting street artist and worth a little reading about I suggest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Above_(artist) .

So I am loving the new job and all is going well there!

I recently ran my first 10k Marathon over the Perth bridges that go in and out of the city along the Swan River. It was not easy, but I did not stop and I made it in 1 hour and 10 minutes! I was proud of myself. All this working out in the park has been paying off. Although I just came home from a cardio class and thought I was going puke or pass out. But hey! Thats what you do to look good in jeans!

Graham is having a good year at school this year and is excited for his 29th Birthday on the 25th of April (well excited is the wrong word) maybe cautiously waiting for his Birthday is better. I think 29 is getting a little close to 30 for his liking. But I hear the 30s are even better then the 20s so he should not worry. Enjoy the ride!

Well other then that things are the same. I still have one large (fat) cat. Kit is getting bigger these days. I am not feeding him more so I think he must be putting on the pounds for winter warmth. Graham says I have to stop filling his cat bowl whenever he cries. He says over feeding a cat is just as bad as not feeding him at all. Its a form of abuse. But he loves his food, and he can still run and jump so I am not to worried. Kit pounced on me from around a corner the other night (I was sitting on the ground) he pounced so close to my face I thought he was going to land on my head. I screamed and he ran away. He got me good. So I don't think we are at the abusive over feeding stage yet. As far as I am concerned he is a happy fat cat!

I promise to keep you better posted! XOXO

Weekend Dishes

I am not sure how it has happened but it seems Graham and I have used nearly every dish we have in the house in the space of 24 hours. No we did not have guests or even cook anything fancy! I am just surprised. I did see Graham eating scrambled eggs from a LARGE kitchen mixing bowl yesterday, so that should have been an indication that there was a bigger problem going on. But boys are boys and somethings I rather just watch in horror then get to the bottom of it.

I have a long afternoon of dish washing before me and I am not looking forward to it in the summer heat.

I am nearly 30 and there are somethings I thought I would have by now. One of them being a dish washer. Being a girl who grew up pretty spoiled I never had to do a lot of dishes. Always had a dish washer and most other luxury items such as cloths driers, and air conditioners. Everywhere I look I see my peers using luxury items. Not even realising they are using an item of such domestic bliss. This being said I am creating a short list of items I would like to have before I turn 30.

• A good oven, my entire married life I have not had an oven that works the way it was meant to. In Indiana we had the oven that only half worked (bottom element only), then in Sydney we had no oven for 3 years. Now in Perth I have what could be the worlds smallest oven, and only has one setting. HOT HOT HOT burn to a crisp hot. To cook cup cakes or any pastry I must pre heat the oven and then take the cake out every time I see the elements turn back on or the cake will be burnt. This means sitting next to the oven for about an hour and half taking the cake in and out, in and out.
• A Car, I have been car less for nearly 5 years. I do not feel a car is an essential item, but I do like to have freedom to travel outside of the limits of public transport or my legs can take me. I also just like to drive. But that's the problem isn't it. We all like to drive, and too many of us drive everywhere. At home in the USA this is a big problem. Growing citys would benefit from investing in public transport people like to take. All the same I would love to have a car for the weekends, and for going to buy heavy things from the store. Of the items I would never like to take on a bus again include: An ironing board, a microwave, 30 lbs of flour, and a weeks worth of food supplies. Wouldn't it be great to have a car to move such items around town. That would be great!
• A dishwasher, My Aunt Gretchen once shared with me the diary of my Grandmother from 1961. In it she wrote of her joy when she was given her first dishwasher. You know the old kind that had two hoses. One for the tap and one for the sink drain. You just hooked it up when you wanted to use it. Although it was an early model and did little more then just spray the dishes with dirty water she was over joyed at this new technology. I believe I will feel the same when a dishwasher finally graces my kitchen.
• A Cloths Dryer, I love soft towels. There is only one way to get soft towels. By using a dryer. If you hang dry your towels they will feel crisp like paper and free you from your weekly luffa treatment in the first dry off. They are ruff and crispy. Need I say more. YES I DO. I do not mind hanging most of cloths to dry outside. But in the winter it becomes a problem. I now live in a place where it rains all winter long. Its hard to hang things to dry in the rain. That means hanging cloths all over our little apartment, and it takes nearly 2 days to dry a pair of jeans, one day for most other items. God forbid you wanted to wash your sheets. We do have a ceiling fan now though and we could hang them off that I guess. But still, a Cloths Dryer sure would make life better.

For now I will keep the list short. But one has to be grateful for what they have, and I can not tell you how grateful I am for the things I do have. It took us a long time to get both a couch and a TV in Australia and now we do, those things are great!! I am just saying I miss "the good life". Those little things that make it a little nicer, a little faster, and a little cleaner. So I have 1.5 years to get these items under our roof. Lets see how I go. But until then I am sure I have it lots better then some!

On the Mend and the Meds

Hey All,

So I got the surgery done and over with. Waiting to be put under really put the anxiety meter at an all new high. The thing that really did it was right before they put the mask on my face the head nurse was asking me some general questions. Whats your name, birth date, and what are you having done today? I said " Mary Wolfla, 7/12/81, (yes is backwards on this side of the earth, just like the toilet bowl water flowing the other way) and I am getting my tonsils out." The nurse gave me a blank stare and said, something like ( I was going under) " Oh are you sure, just your tonsils?" And bang a massive spike in the anxiety and then I was knocked out. I think that may have been why when I woke up in the recovery room I nearly jumped out of the bed. The nurse next to me had to hold me down. And it must have been a site cause another nurse came running to her assistance!

Hospital conditions where great under the private system here in Perth. I had a nice BIG room, not that I needed it and my own bathroom and shower. Although I found the hill down into the bathroom a little odd. I don't know why you would put an incline into a bathroom in a hospital, but what do I know. I was given the most wonderful pain drugs which was fine and dandy until I decided I did not need to use the morphine pump anymore and then got sick to my tummy for the rest of the night. What was I thinking.

Graham and our dear friend Rick brought me home the next day and the following week is a blur of tears, pain, and general feeling of here I go again dizziness followed by waking up on the arm chair never realizing I even fell asleep. I hope childbirth does not include this part of the recovery cause I have no idea how mothers could deal with that. But most Mothers I know are extremely strong and proud woman and would never tell me anyways as I guess it is best to find out on one's own. ( I am only saying this as the TV told me today that most woman have lost 90% of their eggs by the age of 30, great thats just around the corner) So I better get serious.

Its been a week today from the tonsil extraction and I am on the mend. I plan to go back to work this week as long as no one expects me to talk at length about anything or (which can be hard when you work with senior citizens who can not hear, meaning you must yell most of the time, see Mom I knew that loud voice would come in handy) or be forced to eat large amounts of food. Eating is still not going that well.

But I hope by next week this time I will once again be able to yell a little more and eat some much missed food. Like corn on the cob, BBQ chicken, Spicy anything, and candy candy candy!

TONSILS OUCH

So I am getting my tonsils out in the morning. I am being a grown up about it too. Calling a cab at 5:30am to take me to the hospital, all by myself. No one to hold my hand or rub my back. Just me and the poor nurses who are forced to work at such an early hour of the morning.

Then I am going to sit around until they decide it is time to drug me up and knock me out for a short snip snip of the tonsils. My doc told me I could look forward to a morphine drip when I wake up. That only made me feel more nervous.

Actually, this is the first time I have had a body part removed (other then my wisdom teeth, but I never got to know them). Never to be a part of me again. I know its not like I am losing a hand, arm, leg or foot. But I have known my tonsils in a way most people never get to know their tonsils. They have been sore, and yucky for as long as I can remember. I can tell when they are getting infected and know the process it takes to make them feel better like the back of my hand. Details of which I don't think you really want to know, but it involves hot salty water and puss.

I think I am a purest of a certain kind. I never wanted my body altered by way of piercings or tattoos. Even my ear lobs are the same as the day I was born. My mother has been asking me to get the gap in my front teeth fixed for years (and my husband agrees) but that gap is a part of me just like my nose is. So thinking about getting my old enemies (my tonsils) out makes me well.... kind of uneasy, and strangely a little sad. I know, I am happy to be done with all the pain and bother. But still... its a part of me.

Well I better pack my overnight bag and get my papers in order. I am off on an adventure tomorrow. And in a few hours I will know what its like to live tonsil free! Here I go.

A Sunday at the Dog Beach

This Sunday Graham and I got up early and headed out to the beach. Being new to Perth we where not sure what beach to go to, so we just drove over to the coast a little north of Fremantle and kept on driving until we found a parking spot along the beach road. It was a hot day so many people had the same idea as us and it took awhile to find a place to park the car we had borrowed.

Upon arriving at the beach we noticed right away that something was different. there where about 200 hundred people at the beach and 3 times as many dogs. I mean for everyone one person on the beach (and it was busy) there was three dogs. I could not believe it. Dogs of every kind, all running free without leaches. Graham and I dropped our towels and headed for the water, it was cool and refreshing. We then spent the morning watching the nearly 600 dogs play, swim, fight, and chase each other. Many dogs where in the water with their owners, swimming along side, leaping over breaking waves. Some dogs completely ignoring their owners and running free like bandits on the sand, swimming with whom ever they choose. I have never seen so many dogs in one place in all my life, it was truly a site to see.

After a long swim Graham and I went for a walk down the beach, but where constantly being cut off by running dogs, or roaming dogs looking for some attention. It made for an interesting beach stroll. We watched in a kind of awe-horror as we saw dog after dog peeing of the same beach towels over and over again. That would be a big surprise after a swim in the ocean, nothing like a pee soaked towel to dry one's self off on. After seeing this we hurried back to our awaiting towels happy to find they where doggy pee free. Although we could not be sure of this as it was a hot day.

I did not have a camera with me on our beach outing but I wish I had (the pics above I found online). It was a beautiful beach, and it made me glad to know there was somewhere for dogs to play in the sand. But I am glad most beaches are off limits to our doggy friends. All the doggy pee and poo was a little off putting. Most owners picked up their pets "droppings"but sadly some did not. I don't know about you, but seeing a gigantic doggy poo floating in the water near where children are playing is a little upsetting. Even more upsetting is noticing that no one around really cares.

But despite all this it was a fantastic outing to the beach. These dogs really knew how to have fun. Graham and I headed home with a big smile, but decided next time we would go to a different beach, one with fewer K9 swimming companions. But next time we are there I will take my camera I promise!

Knowing me..

If you know me well these are a few things you can count on.

• I can not spell.. at all... even simple words, once a friend named Janice had to teach me to spell her name by saying "Mary think of it as JA-nice, then you will never forget". and this proves I did not.
• I am a simple cook. meat, and veg. maybe some pasta.
• I spend a lot of time worrying about things that will never happen.
• I can not sleep unless I read first, it can be for a few minutes, or a few hours, does not matter.
• I love sugar, I was a candy child. I know my parents tried their best to keep sugar out of my diet, but I was a kid, and I was an American and that meant I ate a lot of sugar, I still do, although I have gotten better.
• I do not know my multiplication tables. In 3rd grade I swore to my mother that I could do without knowing my times tables for the rest of my life. For all of third and fourth grade I hated learning them. And to my luck I have not had to use them much in my adult life. Although marrying a human calculator was the best thing I could have ever done.
• I hate it when people are late.
• I am rarely late.
• I use images on my blog that I am sure I have to ask permission for. Hope I do not get caught.
• I still have my childhood stuffed animal "Brownie" He sits on my bedside table!
• I am a proud American
• I love to write letters, and get them in the mail. My mom sends me a letter nearly every day with clippings from home, I have 4 boxes full of her letters. I guess she forgave me for not knowing my multiplication tables.
• I love cats! I would be the crazy cat woman if I had not met Graham, although there is still a chance it could still happen.
• I like to watch The Simpsons every evening at 6pm, and am not sure what life would be like if that stopped.
• Sometimes I want to climb tree's in the park, but don't tell anyone about it. Same with jumping into pools with my cloths on when no one is paying attention.
• I like to think I am a good friend, and I always try my best.
• I would love start my own Children's Theatre Company.

Just felt like sharing. Cheers.

Always I wish there was more time!

This year got off to an exciting start for Graham and I, my Mom and Dad visited us from Indianapolis Indiana. We saw Mom and Dad last in July back in Indiana, so it was great to get to show them our new home in Perth.

Graham and I have a small 2 bedroom apartment in Perth so fitting us all in was an interesting challenge. It did not take long from my Dad to install his ham radio station from our front porch. He tied a long wire antenna to a tall tree on the street and then brought it back to our apartment. It was hanging about 10 feet off the ground from the tree to our front door ( a distance of about 30 feet). I am sure the people living on our street thought it was pretty strange, but in the Wolfla family things like that are normal. He was able to talk to his friends back in Indiana as well as new friends he made in Perth. He even went out to lunch with some of the local hams! It was fun to come home from work and see Dad chatting away on his radios!

I had to work most days of my parents visit (yuck I know). But Mom, Dad, and Graham got to have lots of fun together, they saw nearly all the sites of Perth. Visiting a reptile park, and the Australian Mint. I think Mom enjoyed the more simple things like going to the fruit and vegetable market, and super market the best though. I do have to say our local fruit and veg shop is pretty cool. They sell all kinds of great things, butters, cheeses, meats, candy, baked sweets, its a truly European shop. One could spend hours there and come home with tons of yummy fatty things. I love to visit on Sundays and come home with something spoiling for Sunday dinner.

Over a weekend Mom, Dad, Graham and I went down to one of Australia's most famous wine regions, The Margaret River. And yes, there is a river there although Graham claimed there was not one. We drove over it on the way into town. But don't worry I still thing Graham is perfect, as most commonly claims. Margaret River was beautiful, and I started to wonder why in the heck we did not live there. Its about a 3.5 hour drive from my home in Perth. Its green and on the coast with some really great beaches and reefs. We went to some of the best wineries the region had to offer, and stayed in a cozy hotel near town. Mom spoiled me while in Margaret River and bought me a pain of Birkenstock sandals. I love them! I know I will have them for a long time to come.

Mom and Dad where with us in Perth for the Australia Day public holiday. Its like the 4th of July, but it does not mark the day Australia won its independence from England like the 4th does for us. Instead its more like a "Yay for Australia Day". Australia is still tied to England in some weird ways. The queen is on the money, there is a Union Jack on the Australia flag, and Australia is a member of the Commonwealth. Kind of like being a member of the Queen's Club. Anyways. Australia Day Celebrations happen all over the country on January 26th, there are citizen ceremonies and fireworks, also lots of BBQ's and beer drinking (this is Australia after all). Graham and I took Mom and Dad down to see some fireworks and an air show (with airplanes) on the fore shore (shore line of the city). The fireworks where really cool, and I have to say better then any firework show I have seen in Indianapolis over the years, although the cities are of similar size. We brought a picnic dinner with us and had a few cocktails. It was a great night!

It was easy to get use to having Mom and Dad home with us, so as you can imagine it was hard to see them head home again. Although I suspect our cat Kit did not mind seeing them leave, (traitor). I feel so blessed and am truly lucky to have parents who are willing and able to travel to other end of the earth to see their daughter. Its not an easy trip, from my front door in Perth to my parent's door it takes a little over 34 hours travel time. If you have not traveled this far before, please let me tell you..... Its Far, really far. And only getting longer with the new laws being placed on air travel. But if it keeps us safe, its worth it! I am still waiting on a teleporter though! I hope to be the first commercial buyer of that product!

I am working on a trip home in June of 2010 at the moment to see Mom and Dad, and my girls in Boise. I will keep you posted on how it goes. It maybe just me coming home as Graham is studying non stop this year!

We love and miss you Mom and Dad! Thanks for everything!

Home with out Graham

Graham is in Sydney this week visiting his parents and family and friends. And I am home in Perth. I am so happy he is home and having fun. But I miss him tons. Being home is not the same with out him.

With Graham being away I have realized a few things about myself. 1. I am messy (big news to those who know me well) 2. I have horrible anxiety 3. I can not sleep with out someone else in the house AND 4. the most important thing I have learned; I should never be allowed to live alone.

Now I am not totally alone. I do have Kit cat to keep my company, but mostly he makes the above things worse. He keeps my up at night be making noises I over re-act too. Like Kit jumping on the table sounds just like someone knocking at the door. Or Kit playing with his cat nip toy sounds like someone for surely breaking down the screen door. I then have get up and make sure no one is breaking in. Followed by a 30 minute anxiety attack before I fall back asleep again. Then it starts all over. FUN. I wish I had a turn off button to cure me of this anxiety problem.

My solution to the night time anxiety is to stay up all night reading (or writing blogs) until I pass out. This is not the best solution as I am over tired and have to work in the morning and am also suffering from some form of the flu at the moment (it too is making my life horrid, I have missed 2 days of work so far). Tomorrow, no matter how sick or tired I am I am going to go to work. I can sleep on the train and bus a little, and if it is bad I can always pass out on my desk in the afternoon. At least in an office full of people I can feel safe enough to sleep soundly. Gosh the more I think about this issue the more I think I should see a doctor for some sleeping pills. But I guess its only one week with out Graham home and then it will all be fine again.

Sorry for the depressing nature of this blog. But if anyone has some sleeping hints for me I would love to hear them as I have 6 more nights to go. Yes and I have tried tea before bed, reading The Bible, and watching TV.

Okay.. going to try sleeping again.. fingers crossed!

It Comes around every year

Christmas 2009..

We spent our first Christmas in Perth this year. It was the hottest Christmas I have ever had that is for sure. The heat was searing, the kind of heat that can cook an egg on the side walk. While walking to the corner store the other day I thought I could smell my flip flops melting like gum on the hot side walk. Its hot here.(PS. I went swimming of Christmas Day to cool off, a first for me.)

Christmas Eve found us on our friend's Helen and Peter's yacht, it was great to sail up and down the river and feel the breeze. I could get use to that life style. But I do not see even a dingy in our near future so our adventures on the water will have to be as invited guests until our income gets a little better.

We spent Christmas Day with my cousins family south of Perth. Although it was a nice family gathering we could not help but feel a little out of place. We missed our families both in Sydney and the USA. So we where happy to just let the holiday slide by us. We spent the week after Christmas just lazing around the house trying to stay cool. We had a few days of mild weather, and by mild I mean "not as hot as the day before" which always feels better. I watched 4 days of non stop cricket action. The Australians where in fine form and won the 4 day test match. So watching a 4 day cricket match took up most of my vacation time.

We went to the casino one afternoon to cool off, and did pretty well. I won $115 in the first 15 minutes in black jack. But then got careless and lost it all again. But we did manage to get our original $20 back plus a round of drinks on the casino, so in the end it was not a loss just a few hours of fun!

New Years Eve was fun, I cooked a turkey "hind quarter" in the grill. Its an oven type grill. It turned out great! After a huge dinner we walked down to the fore shore of South Perth, the water way facing the city, and played some glow in the dark Frisbee and brought in the new year sitting on the grass over looking the water and the city. Not a bad start to the new year.

We are both hoping 2010 will bring some new fun things for us! I would like to find a job that makes enough money to support us (my current income is pretty sad although the job can be fun). Graham will start school again as a 3rd year Medical Student. I don't plan to see him again until Christmas 2010. Just kidding, but he will be really busy. In January my parents will be visiting us in Perth and I can not wait! I am also hoping to get home again to Indiana with a possible stop over in Boise next summer (American Summer). We will see. Its always about money. But don't get me started on that topic.

Okay.. thats my update on Christmas. Now on to more interesting things!

Hope you have a great 2010, thanks for reading!