Big Stretch Tour

This is long over due... But since being home from the Big Stretch Tour in September things have been busy at work and at home.

Before I start telling you about Big Stretch. Let me give you a quick update overall.

Graham is busy studying for his BIG exams. THE BIG ONES. Also know as the Oskys (don't think I spelt that right or even close). Or in American the eqivilant would be your medical board exams.. THE BIG TEST you take to become a doctor. Graham's big test will be November 23rd. So he is a study maniac at the moment. Before these exam starts he has all the other University exams as well.. Poor guy.. but once these are behind him he only has one year left... and then its Dr. Weaire-Buchana time!

I have been super crazy at Buzz with planning and sending out our program for 2013. This is always a busy time of year. I have also just started to direct a show for the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth. Its called Secret Bridesmaids Business and opens February 1-17 2013. I have a great cast of 6 actors to work with. And some great friends helping me along. I am excited, and so thankful to the wonderful actresses and actor who have come on board for the love of theatre.

Kit cat is well... he has been enjoying the arrival of spring. He spends his mornings laying in the sun and watching other cats pass by his window. He then sleeps from 9:15-5:00 then spends the evening being lavishly spoiled and cuddled by me and Graham... He has a great cat life. I sure from time to time he wishes he was an "outdoor" cat... But when the wind picks up and the raindrops fall... he seems content to be fast asleep on our bed. Plus... our street is not cat friendly.. I don't want Kittles to Skittled.

BIG STRETCH - Kimberley Tour

A few photos from the tour..

 Crossing the Fitzroy River just outside of Fitzroy Crossing WA. On our way to school!

 Anyone feel like a bushfire? Well there was plenty fires out bush, we drove past many. 

It was beautiful country side, bushfires and all!

 At the Garnduwa Office in Fitzroy Crossing, love those Buzz Dancers showing off for the camera!! 

 Its my ride... well you wouldn't want it to be. The Royal Flying Doctor Service plane. Its how you get to hospital out Bush. We saw them take off!

 Beautiful wildflowers of Western Australia

Camp dogs in one of the communities we visited.  I have a soft spot for camp dogs...

 Sleeping arrangements at school for the night. In the school Library! 

 Beautiful birds nests on the roof of Ngalapita school. 

 Another community and school we visited.

This was the entire school population.. 

 The wonderful Undercover area at Ngalapta. The kids love to play in this area.

 Another school we visited. 

 Dance Games!

 More Dance Games!

 Is it our turn yet?? 

 Camp dogs keeping cool.. it was HOT!

 Mr. Welsby buying art in Fitzroy Crossing. A great place where you get to meet the artists!

 School Dog!

 Lets go swimming!!!

 Fitzroy River Lodge 

 Yumm.. Nothing like a can of soup for breakfast!! While on a tour boat! 

 Beautiful Fitzroy River

 Dog at a football game!

 More dogs of the Kimberley!

 Cooling off with a swim!

 Who wants to come over to my Donga! At Fitzroy Crossing Lodge

 BIG Boab tree

 More boab trees on a dirt track.

 Cable Beach Broome.. Next few photos

 Photo shoot!! 

The Kimberley is home to some Big Crocs...

Well that was my journey in a nut shell... It was wonderful... and no Blog post could begin to tell you about it. So if you want to hear more. Call me, write me, or lets get together for a catch up and I will tell you all about it. 

Going Bush

So I am off next week with my work (Buzz Dance Theatre) to teach dance/drama in remote and regional towns in Western Australia.

The tour I am going on is called Big Stretch. I am traveling with 3 beautiful and amazing dancers to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It will be a two week adventure and I am super excited. Our first week will be spent camping and traveling inland along the Fitzroy River visiting 4 different communities where we will teach dance and drama. Then we will spend a week in Broome teaching dance.

I will of course give you an update when I get back. But until then... here are a couple of photos, thanks to the internet.. of where I am going.

I will start out by flying into Broome and then driving to Fitzroy Crossing, spending one week in that region. Then I will drive back to Broome for a week. 

 The Boab Tree famous in the Kimberley

Broome Beach 

This is what you do for fun on a Broome Beach.. Camel Rides. 

 The town of Fitzroy Crossing from the air.

 Fitzroy River in Summer time (dry season) this is the time of year I am going.

Okay.. as promised I will give you an update when I get back..

Till then my friends.

Love Ya!

What a Saturday!

This past weekend I had the busiest Saturday I have had in a long time! It was an epic day so I thought it deserved a blog posted dedicated to it!

10:00am: Pippa's Surprise Birthday Party

The morning started off with a surprise party for my boss Pippa. Pippa is the best boss a girl could have. We have a small office. There are only 3 full time positions in my company (Buzz Dance Theatre). Its me and my two bosses. One is currently on maternity leave, so that just leaves me and Pippa in the office. Once a week our other team member the bookkeeper (Anna) comes in for a visit. So its a tiny office! Pippa works hard, and is an extreamly giving person. She opens her home to young people who need a place to stay, she has raised two boys on her own, and she is always doing for others. Last year she raised over $2000 for a friend who had cancer so his family could rest a little easier while he was out of work getting treatment. She threw this guy a big party complete with a rock band. A Perth local Pippa is an impressive person, and I am so lucky to have her in my life.

I knew Pippa's birthday was coming up, and while she was away on a conference I contacted her friends and invited them to a small surprise party at a local cafe. Well the day went off with out a hitch. One of her friends brought her to the cafe under the impression they were just going to have a quick catch up and Surprise!! A big table full of her friends, old and new was waiting for her!

Pippa gets her surprise!! 

Party shot, please not the home made paper chain I made for decorartions, I also made starts for the table. I made them out of a magazine all about the state of Western Australia. 

We all enjoyed a cafe breakfast at the Secret Garden Cafe in South Perth.

Pippa cutting her cake. It was a big fruit flan, Australians call it a fruit tart. It was yummuy.

Pippa had a great party, and it was joy to put it together for her. Made my weekend!

1:00pm- Go to Lawn Bowls with Graham and take some photos. 

Lawn Bowls is unique to the commonwealth countries which Australia is a part. Graham plays competitively every weekend, and has found a way to play for $$ so his winnings pay for many of his refreshments after the game. I guess you could say he is pretty good at lawn bowls.. Heck... what isn't Graham good at?

Graham having a "roll". 

The Como Bowls Club in Perth. Graham is having a roll on the far right side of the photo, he is hunched down in blue... And yes.. he is one of the youngest members of the club.. Actually last week his title of being the youngest member was stripped from him when a 28 year old joined the club... But we will see how long that guy sticks around. He could get his title back. 

3:00-5:00pm- Bike shopping

So Graham has been crazy about cycling for a couple of months and uses his bike to get all over the place. He has been pressuring me to get a bike to, so I agreed to get one under the pretense that I was only going to get a bike to have fun with and not ride to work everyday.. and maybe only get grosheries with and ride on the river. 

After a couple of weeks of online research and looking around I settled on the type of bike I wanted.

The nice people at Canning Bridge Cycles gave me a great deal on a new bike. 

http://www.canningbridgecycles.com.au/

I got a Mongoose Crossway, its blue and shinny... and came complete with a matching helmet.

This is my new bike... it looks just like this image. Think I might get some spokies for it! 

My super action Saturday continued with a workshop at work.

7:00-8:45pm- Work

Buzz had a group down from Newman in Northern Western Australia for a dance workshop on a Saturday night. They where a active bunch of teens, 15-17 yearolds with real attitudes. Had to break out my teacher voice and stern face for this workshop, but by the end of the workshops the teens where up and dancing having a great time. Thanks to the dance tutor for keeping the them engaged. It was a great workshop!

9:30pm - Moive

Graham and I then went out with our good friends Holly and Sam to catch a late movie. We saw the Campaign. It was a funny movie, and just the perfect way to end my busy Saturday. I was pretty tired by the time the credits came around though!

All the best!!!! 

7 of the Best Years

July 28th 2012

Graham and I have been married for 7 years! Wow the time flew by.
So glad I found my perfect match, and I am so thankful to god for bringing this amazing man into my life!

Some of the best of our journey so far:

• Graham moves to the USA and marries me July 28th 2005.
• Our first little tiny apartment at The Orchard in Indianapolis, where we "found" our little Lockie cat who now lives with my parents.
• Canoeing and fishing with you on Indiana lakes.
• Graham makes the best firework shows, and always includes parachute men for me! 
• Mary and Graham move to Sydney Australia October 2006
• Our first home in Sydney together.. over looking a beautiful nature reserve.. living room lizard that lives under our book shelf. Spiders bigger then your hand. Snakes breeding in the backyard. Possum and her baby living in the roof.. loud greek neighbors, only non greeks on the street (us)..we loved every moment!!
• Move to Perth Western Australia. Graham starts medical school!! whoohoo!!
• Mary finally has a full time "career" job.
• Party in Fiji with Mom and Dad.
• Trips to Pemberton, and exploring WA, our favorite places in Perth include the best little Vietnamese Restaurant in Northbridge, Harris Organic Wines, hanging out on the South Perth Fore Shore, hanging at the bowls club on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon.

Its been a wild ride!! I love you Graham, and would do it all again. Tomorrow sound good?

Love Always,

Marymoo

Winter Update

Its winter....

Everyone in North America is enjoying summer... and here I am in winter.

Today it was 17/62 and last night it got down to 3/37. Now I know 62 is a good winter temp.. nothing like back home in Indiana during the winter.. But I guess I am starting to feel like people from Florida who come up north and think 62 is cold while everyone else has shorts and t-shirts on.. But 37 is chilly.. everyone will agree with that.. good thing it only lasts a few hours. But long enough to remind me that Australia is currently a long way away from the sun this time of year. Oh gosh.. all those summer photos my friends are posting online sure are making me wish it was summer here... Hope your all enjoying it!!!!  I am officially jealous..

Last week was the 4th of July. Just another day to Australians but many of the Americans I know in Perth celebrate one way or another. This year we got together with our American friends Holly and Sam, they live just a few blocks away from us. We had a nice BBQ and I brought along my BIG American flag to hang up. I also brought my house slippers to Holly and Sam's and was in jeans and a sweatshirt.. not your usual 4th of July attire, but I was cold..remember its winter here. They boys had to BBQ in the cold as well.. but we all kept warm drinking a few beers, eating some good American fare. Hamburgers and Buffalo Chicken Drum Sticks. I also made some Brownies my Mom lovingly sent us in a care package. We ended the evening playing a round of a game called Farkle, Holly and Sam taught it to us, and Graham and I can't get enough! Nothing like a cold evening with two good friends to celebrate a truly American holiday.

Its been a busy winter thus far. Work has been keeping me super duper busy. We have had a show on called Fragile. Today was its last run. Loved the show, but boy am I glad its done now. It started in Perth on June 15th, then traveled down south to Margaret River Western Australia (4.5 hours from my house), then Fragile went to Manduarah (just an hour south of my house) and this week its been in Midland (1/2 hour from my house). The dancers as always were impressive to watch everyday. So lucky I get to work with and watch such talented young dancers. They are inspiring!

Graham is currently on his GP (General Practice) rotation, and studying for his big exams at the end of the year. He takes the Australian equivalent of the medical boards exam in November. Then he will only have one more year of rotations to complete! Exciting!!! But studying medicine is a commitment to life long learning.. as I am coming to understand.. Graham sure is going to be a great doctor one day. He is just such a smart cookie, and I know I am bragging now.. but he has a great bedside manner too. I am just so proud of him. Its also good to have someone at home to tell me if I am sick or not. Because if you know me well, you know I will somehow find every cold, flu, cut, scrap, bug bite, tripping injury, stubbed toe, knife dropping accident, fence related puncture wound possibly available in my local area. So having Graham around is extremely helpful. I love that husband of mine!

Well... we have a couple more months of winter still to come in Perth. Not a lot of plans at this point. But the sun is staying out a little later each evening. Soon I will be able to fit my evening run into my work schedule again. Can't wait! All this winter food is making me gain weight!!

Winter wishes to your and yours... all the way from Perth!!

5 Years with Kit Cat

Graham and I have had Kit our cat for 5 years now. I thought I would share some photos of Kit over the past few years, and let you get to know him a little better.

We got Kit at a cat shelter I use to volunteer at every week in Sydney. Its called the Cat Protection Society (CPS) of New South Wales. Located in Enmore in Sydney. I would ride the bus in on Fridays feed cats, clean floors, wash cat dishes, clean littler trays, and then head up to the adult cat room to play with the big cats for awhile. It was great to spend time there, seeing cats get adopted and talking to the general public about the personality's of the shelter cats. There were lots of different cats that came and went while I worked at CPS.

One day while doing some cat dishes I look down to see a new arrival in a cage near me. He had big sad eyes and was just watching me work. When I was done I took him out and he sat on my lap for a good 30 minutes. He was the biggest cat I had ever seen, not only fat but large in body size. This was how I met Kit. He was about 8 years old (from what they could tell) and his old owners had both been from other countries. They had gotten a divorce and moved back to their home countries.. leaving Kit cat behind. I brought Graham in to meet Kit, and after about a week of working to get my way with Graham, he said I could bring Kit home.

It was a tough start. Kit was an older cat with rules of his own. He had spent the first 8 years of his life in a apartment and never went outside. He was also only fed moist food, so he had some bad teeth. Graham and Kit did not get a long at first, they had a battle for top cat going on for about 2 years. After moving to Perth Kit and Graham seemed to get along a lot better, and now they are best buddies. But I am still Kits number one lady. The battle for top cat has ended.
Graham says the hierarchy goes:
1. Graham
2. Kit
3. Mary

But Kit tells me its:

1. Kit
2. Graham
3. Mary

So I guess they are still working it out. I am always at the bottom but thats okay..
Its hard being the only girl in a house with two redheaded males. (with tempers)

Some funny Pictures over the years:

 Kit laying outside at our old home in Sydney. This big mouth shot makes me laugh.. he is a talker, and has been talking more and more over the years, now if you get him going he can hold a conversation for a few minutes.

 Book shelf cat. Kit likes to lay in odd places. He is always changing it up and finding new locations to nap. We had to keep this top shelf clear for a couple of months while Kit took up residency. This bookshelf is taller in me by the way. The picture does not show how tall it is. 

 Kit the box cat.. if is a box and made of cardboard it belongs to the cat. When we moved to Perth we had to keep a box from the move, its still in our living room 3 years later. Its a box Kit sleeps in and keeps his toys in. A couple of years ago we add a second box to the main box.. he now has a living room and master bedroom on his box house. The box pictured was one my Mom sent over. He loves boxes from the Wolfla house in Indiana. They always smell of other cats and make good resting places for as long as I let him keep the box.

 Cat yoga. Not all places are perfect for cat yoga, but this hiding hole was the perfect spot for stretching and grooming.

 Looking smug as the Christmas cat, keeper of all gifts until Christmas morning. He looks smug most of the time. Its part of his superiority complex I have come to love. 

 Kit in his bedroom (also known as Graham's office) Kit spends most his time studying with Graham in his office he sleeps on the bed, sometimes doing this sit up number he likes.. and I guess he finds it comfortable. He often helps Graham keep his medical school text books, diagrams, and charts in order by laying all over them. When I am not home he will snuggle with Graham on the office chair.. but pretends nothing happened as soon as he hears me coming.

 Fishing cat, Kit enjoys out fishing gear almost as much as we do.

 Not many people know this, but Kit has shoe fetish. If your over and Kit decides your feet smell fantastic he will spend a good 30 minutes loving on your shoes, rubbing his face and body all over them. He has a special fondness for my flip flops. He loves flip flops. I think they are his favorite verity. I will often go to put my shoes on in the summer and find they have been drooled on and covered in fur.. Its gross.. But I take it as a compliment. I know my feet smell great too. 

 Here is Kit paying homage to our heater in the winter. He loves the heater, and will ignore us all winter long while the heater is out of storage. He even lays in front of it when its not on. Just as happy as he does when it is on..

 Kit and me. He does smile.. and this is one of my favorite photos of Kit smiling. Snuggles on the couch. 

 When I first got Kit in Sydney I started letting him outside.. he loved it..but he was a bully cat, he harassed all the other cats in the neighborhood, he didn't fight too much, but instead he intimidated them with his voice and his size. I once went to bring Kit inside and I found him in our neighbors back patio with a cat corned and shaking in fear. He was just sitting there growling and looking at the poor cat. I picked him up and and said it was time to go home. He didn't fight me, he just let me take him. 

It was also in Sydney we discovered Kit also loves to eat spider webs. Its one of his delicacy's.. He uses his whiskers as a sort of wand to whip up the web, like cotton candy. Then he licks it off. He still does this in Perth, but only near the front door. He is not allowed out here in Perth, our street is busy, and he already hustles neighbor cats through the window at night, so I think its best he stays in. Last night there was a huge cat fight under our bedroom window. Kit cat sat there and watched.. I think he is a cat wrestling referee...

 Kit snuggling me at the office desk. 

This photo really shows his size.

 Hanging out in Kit's room with Mary!

Kit seems to think my spot in the bed is the best spot. I normally have to fight him for my place at night. Once I was going to bed, laying there falling asleep and Kit came in, jumped on the bed, saw me in his spot and smacked me across the face with his paw. I opened my eyes and he was there in my face looking at me like "Move B*tch, this is my spot" I gave him a mean look and he backed off.. But for a minute I thought it was going to be a cat fight. He has big claws too.. Lately he has been happy to take the day shift in my spot.. in fact he is sleeping in my spot right at this moment.

I will end this post with a list of all of Kit's allis's.

Kit

Kit Cat

Kittles

Kitty

Smoogie

Mr. Meowgi

Meow Meow

Moogie

Snuffy Jones

Love you my Kittles cat. You may be difficult at times, but for the most part.. we love you and your weird ways. Your one of the family.

Pemberton WA Trip

Graham and I went away to Pemberton Western Australia last weekend. It was a great 4 day trip, and our first time going away together (not visiting family) in over 2 years. So this trip was long overdue!

 Kerri Forrest

On our way down to the southern part of Western Australia we drove threw a rainbow!!! It was amazing!! All the other cars on the highway around us seemed just as excited, people had cameras out, big smiles, and lots of funny faces as we drove threw this huge rainbow. It was so bright, and you could see each color reflecting off the windshield and hood of the car.. Graham was sad that there was no pot of gold on the other side.. just rain and a grey sky. But it was really cool.

Our trip was full of wonderful meals. We stopped at one of our favorite winerys, well it is our favorite West Australian winery. The Wine & Truffle Company in Manjimup WA.

http://wineandtruffle.com.au/truffle-hill-wines

The winery also has a beautiful restaurant, where we shared two dishes (smoked chicken and marron, with all kinds of truffle goodies, pate, spreads and bread) and enjoyed a bottle of white wine.

After this delicious lunch we headed out and enjoyed a little fly fishing. It was a beautiful day. Half way through the fly fishing I gave up as nothing was biting and just enjoyed the local birds. Three fairy wrens had been following me around the lake making all kinds of noise, so I just enjoyed their company for awhile. My Mom would have loved this!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendid_Fairywren

We rented a nice little mud cottage at a place known for its wildlife. Warren River Cottages. We had a nice two bedroom cottage with a wood fire and full kitchen. The perfect place to hang out and sit in front of the fire with a glass of wine and a beautiful meal. It was fun to have a fire place and take turns keeping the fire burning. Some of you who know me well know that I have a hard time sleeping at night. I wake up about 4 times during the night and just roam the house. On our trip I discovered this was a perfect sleeping habit for keeping a fire going all night for warmth. Graham slept safe and sound as I kept the fire roaring all night long!!

On our last full day in Pemberton a big storm blew in falling trees and pulling power lines down. We lost power on our last night and decided to play a few games of scrabble by candle light in front of the fire. It was a lot of fun, after 4 games of normal scrabble we made it a little more interesting and played a game where you could only use words related to cats or cats you have known!! Having over 5 cats growing up and 1 big fat cat now you know I had lots of cat related words. Part of the game was telling your opponent how that word was related to cats.. Then your opponent decided if the word was appropriate to play or not. We thought of some good ones! Names/cat sounds are acceptable playing words..
 
We also enjoyed the meals at the Pemberton Pub, we both had smoked trout for dinner and then took up a place sitting at a table next to the front doors of the pub.. many people said hello as they passed, we started to feel like locals ourselves!!

 Pemberton Pub knows as the Pemberton Hotel

It was so nice to get away together.. We love spending time in the Kerri Forrest with the BIG trees, and just enjoying the bush and local wildlife and people!

 A few photos from our trip!

Graham keeping warm by the fire.

 Cooking us a nice BBQ breakfast!

 Beautiful Pemberton country side.

Feast of marron when we got back to Perth!! 

Scrabble by candle light.

 Woops.. we can't get out..

Sneaky kiss

Thanks for sharing our adventure with us!!

Till next time - Mary