I've got to ask skagirl - why do you have the knit caps then? Are they from an era when you had longer hair? Have you bought ear muffs or a babushka scarf?

Yea, of course they're from normal hair days! I wear them all the time for the gym & groceries, I'm just vain the rest of the time. I can't handle plastic (thus no earmuffs), babushkas don't suffice. I need those soft fleecy headbands, but I am a tough cookie.

Hey suction prints hope you had a good time down here. Yep, the Salvation Army are "the Salvos", basically everything is shortened and an "o" added to it. Aussies are a very lazy people, (must be the weather), it's too hot to even speak correctly.

Oh, well, if we're fessing up to causing our beloved teams to lose due to our unfortunate judgment in watching the game, I have just four words:
Red Sox. Game Six.
Yes, it's true that it was all my fault. But please don't tell anybody.

Yogi, are you walking labyrinths again? I'd give a shave and a haircut for a weekend by myself on some balmy beach. My tundra isn't as frozen as Zron's (is THAT what the kids are calling it these days?), but it's damn close. I don't believe it got higher than 5 degrees F today. The birdseed is disappearing faster than shrimp cocktail at a wedding, and I caved and left out some food for a little feral cat that lives in my 'hood. Then again, as I mentioned earlier, the skating rocks. And my building does not sway from side to side under any circumstances.
ETA: Welcome, Last Dodo! What kind of writing and singing do you do?
Oh, and also: Go Patriots. Not that I'll be watching, because, well, see above.

AussieGirl, i hope that you get some relief from the heatwave. I was visting my parents in South Brisbane over New Years - and despite them having cool-or-cozy, the inside temp was still 34 C degrees! Outside was even hotter, so much so that the first half a metre of the pool was warm. I got sunburnt on the first day of the heatwave and then had heatstroke on the second and third, so it felt like i was roasting slowly. Not a good thing at all. But now that I am back in New Zealand, where my co-workers were complaining that it was too hot and it was only 27 C degrees, i now miss the days when that was the overnight low......

Oh and for anyone coming to Aussie, remember that afternoon is called arvo. And don't eat mushy pea pies!

Thisarvo, the salvos, the ambos (ambulance dudes), musos (musicians), the Reddo (Red S supermarkets now long since defunct in NSW), smoko (cigarette break),bottle-o (bottle shop, um don't know American equivalent but it is an Off-Licence in the UK) etc etc

If it doesn't have a o it has an ie, like oldies (parents), barbie (barbeque), mossie (mosquito), firies (firefighters), brolly (umbrella), kindy (kindergarten) budgie (budgerigar sp?) coldie (cold beer) etc

If it doesn't have an o or an ie it has an a/er, sanger (sandwhich), copper (police officer) etc

Sometimes it's just a funny word association sparkie (electrician) chippie (carpenter), chalkie (teacher usually a nickname for a particular teacher), copshop (police station) goie (speed), jackaroo and jillaroo (station hands who use horses to muster cattle), dunny (toilet) etc

I know an older gentleman who used to speak Spanish using just that rule. He would say, "a cupo of coffeeo, please."

I like the Aussie habit of giving everything a nickname. It reminds me a bit of the mob.



I am indeed walking a labyrinth tomorrow morning at dawn. It promises to be another perfect day. I keep trying to ward off the guilts by reminding myself that all the meals are made, labeled and frozen with little tape labels, the schedule is on the refrigerator, and all the paperwork is up to date. Nonetheless, I am aware that no one deserves such lovely weather in January. But if someone has to have it, I'm quite thankful to be included in the population.

And oh, Hildy, the keywords in your sentence are "by myself". When did being alone become such a luscious, delicious, sensual pleasure that I crave with all my being? Much as I love the Yogi Family, oh the joy of having my own bed to sleep in, of walking a path at my own pace, or enjoying a meal in absolute silence? It's enough to make one quiver with pleasure - it is the great luxury.

Plus, there will be a second belly dancing lesson before I come home. I plan to undulate with abandon... Must be the heat.

Where? It's been ages since I've walked a labyrinth - such a wonderful experience.

Hi ora wai, sorry you got such a severe dose of our sun here. Heatstroke is horrible, I've had that a few times. The other day we were at Sea World on the Gold Coast, and during a 40 minute waterski show we all got badly sun burned. This was with 30+ sunscreen on. Ouch! What part of NZ are you in? Lovely place, I spent some time in the South Island in 1980, I loved it.

Hey Raen, great list of Strine - I reckon two Aussies could have a conversation and others would have absolutely no idea what was being said.

Okay Hildy, Yogi, Skycatcher, I have to ask: what does walking a labyrinth mean? Never heard of it. Now you guys are speaking in a language that we over here don't understand.

AussieGirl, there's an explanation of labyrinth-walking here.

It's an ancient tool for prayer and meditation. One of the most famous labyrinths is in the Cathedral in Chartres, France.

Thanks for that, TraceyBee, it was lovely. Namaste.

Hey, I used to post under the name sunmayde but now have changed names. Hello everyone!

I never felt more at a loss for words than when I was in Australia. I think it was the belief that I should be understanding everything and my miserable failure at doing so. And sounds like a great vacation yogi bear.

Hey sunmayde! I like your new name, but I'll miss your old one! And yes indeed, it is a lovely vacation. I am so thankful.

Tracey Bee, that's a great web site. Thanks for posting it. Also, if skycatcher, or anyone else, wants to find a labyrinth in their area, you can look at this . There is a very helpful labyrinth locator in the menu. I completely agree with Skycatcher - walking the labyrinth is a wonderful experience.

I saw Calendar Girls last week. Unlike Love Actually, there was lots of nudity. Helen Mirren was great. So was Julie Walters. However, it was disconcerting to see Mrs. Weasly naked. But I got over it.

Creepiest nude scene in a movie? Kathy Bates in About Schmidt. That was all shades of disgusting, vomitous, and just plain wrong.

Hey Hoola, you should have come and seen me, I could have translated for you! When were you here, and where did you go?

By the way, I have always liked your previous name, very mysterious etc.

Aussie Girl, I am a Jafa all the way (Auckland), so the rest of NZ strongly dislikes us - mostly people from the South Island. You almost need a bodyguard to visit there, or so i have heard - having never wanting to visit a colder place!

I didn't actually mind the heat, it was more that I was stupid enough to get sunburnt when I was still all white and like a shining beacon for all the sun's rays.
What I don't get is how Queenslanders can hear the kiwi "accent" (cos it's the rest of the world who pronounce words funny....) when it is harder for kiwi's to hear a Queenslander's accent?

*sigh* I spent 2 years in Queensland and people could still recognise me as a kiwi.

Hi ora wai - okay, now please explain to me what a "Jafa" is (apart from an alien on Stargate!). A Maori? All the Maoris I met in NZ were wonderful. As for the accent, it's dead easy to hear: repeat after me, fish and chips, not "fush and chups"!!!

TheCustomofLife, I recently watched that movie, and it was a bit of a creepy scene.

It's not just the vowel sounds it's also the rhythm. I can't explain it, but Kiwis have a slightly different rhythm in their speech. (Different from ours I mean ;))

It's kinda funny though that it feels like Aussies and Kiwis are cousins or something, like going to NZ is not really like going to another country. Maybe it's because so many Aussies live there and so many Kiwiws live here?

That single-handedly ruined the movie for me. All the "Dear Ndugu" letter-writing scenes were very funny in a subtle way. But him hitting on Millicent Torkelson in a trailer park? Yeah, let's cringe again.

I sure did - it showed me that the world could be a happy and exciting place, and taking pleasure in eating, painting and music were not necessarily bad things. When I returned to the Upper Peninsula, I felt like one of those Berlin Wall escapees felt when they were shipped back to East Berlin. I was quite despondent for a long time. Fortunately, I perked up!

Hey, do they still use this slang in AUS and NZ?
swimsuit = swimming costume = aka cozzie

I loved Auckland when I visited it in '76. I'd go back in a hot minute. But I loved the South Island too. I've always been a fence-sitter! ;)

I always liked the name sunmayde, hoola. It reminded me of the nice happy grape-picking lady logo Sun-Maid Raisins had.

yogi, enjoy your labyrinth. But keep an eye peeled for minotaurs! (Bet this is only the 50,000th time you've heard that)

AussieGirl, I went to Townsville, Cairns, and Sydney. My friend was studying abroad in Townsville. It was nearly four years ago! Yikes, I thought it was so recent, like last year. Very nice young men you have over there. If I weren't drunk nearly the entire time there I might have understood more.

suctionprints, I was eating raisins when I picked my name at another site. I don't even like raisins, but I like tanning, or I did until I saw the most recent Joe Millionaire. It had to go for other reasons though. I see my new name and I'm like who's this Hoola.

ora wai I know people over in NZ joke about coming "over to the mainland" (Australia). I guess we are only a couple of hours away by plane.

suction prints, yep, swimming costume - cozzies. Ditto for these words too: presents - pressies, relatives - rellies, biscuits - bikkies. Anthing that can be shortened, is.

Hoola - you would have seen one of the nicest parts of OZ - the tropical north coast and Barrier Reef. By the way, I really have to say that I miss your old name Sunmayde - that name just conjured up visions of a Sun Maiden. It will take awhile to get used to Hoola.

Due to Auckland being the "main city" or rather the biggest city, we take alot of the government money for roading etc and alot of people (from Auckland) consider Auckland to be more sophisticated and all round better than the rest of the country who refer to us as (sorry to the mods for this) Just Another F**king Aucklander.

Yup, Brisbane is just over 3 hours from Auckland, depending on headwinds etc. And just so it's clear NZ is the mainland......lol

Ahhhhh. It's like the resentment of Michiganians toward Detroit, Canadians toward Toronto, and Minnesotans toward the Twin Cities. City mouse versus country mouse, I guess.

Ah, bikkies! Forgot that one. We learned that those were cookies RIGHT AWAY, to the chagrin of my mom.

lol ora wai, okay, you guys be the mainland. Bloody Jafa's!

Well suction prints, I'm going to have a smoko now (coffee and bikkies).

Psst, Suction, over here it's mum, not mom.

Just wanted to stop in and say, "Yay Patriots!"
That is all.

Hildy Ya Patriots right back at ya. Tom Brady, squeeeee! Don't think they will be beat this year. Too bad they can't take that great crowd with them. That was incrediable. Good to see the home crowd having so much fun.

Well, after cheering in a blizzard and cheering in a deep freeze, last night's weather probably was tropical in comparison!

ETA: Where did everybody go? Is it my breath? It is, I know it is. I'll brush with Listerine if you all will come back, pinkie swear and everything!

I'm still here Hildy. I was wondering the same thing.

Raen, Yogi, etc, where are you?

Hi Gang at Meet Market (particular wave at Hildy and Aussie Girl)

I'm back from sunny California, (I avoided getting digested by a Minotaur, suctionprints. The one that was following me choked on the ball of string some wierd lady gave me that I left lying around!) but now I'm in shock, shock I tell you! The cold - oh. my. heck! When I lived in Chicago, I had this wonderful quilted down coat the snapped from just under my chin to just above my ankles. It was ugly as sin, but I would do anything to have that coat now. It was like walking around in a big old sleeping bag. I may take my son's sleeping bag and cut a hole in the bottom and start wearing that. Ugh.

I finished Wicked. The book is stangely and amazingly unrelated to the musical. They are both about the Wicked Witch of the West, they both have a few of the same characters, and that's about where the similarity ends. Plotwise? Very little in common. I have to say, I'm pretty grateful that the Philosophy Club was not put in the musical. It would have taken me a month to recover.

I hear that Taboo ends soon. Did skagirl catch it? Did I miss that? Will Boy George take off his make-up? Can Boy George take off his make-up? Inquiring minds want to know.

I love fish tacos. It's sort of a specialty in San Diego, I think. I never had them until I started going there, and that's what I've been told by the locals. They are a lovely food item that I highly recommend. I also love sourdough toast with butter and jelly, but that's a whole 'nother story.

Oh I forgot to post about Taboo! (and welcome back, bear d'yogi!)
Well, the news two days before I saw it was that it was closing on Feb. 9. Fine, but Friday night both the lead (guy playing BG) was "ill" as was Boy George. Rumor is, the lead has not missed any American performances. However, we sat through, and I must say the critics may have been a bit harsh. It's not the greatest but there are some OK songs, great scenery & dancing (and 3 BIG girls in in, including one as one of the female leads). There is one guy who may break out after this, who of course got his feet wet in Chicago (Steppenwolf & Goodman). I think part of the raves it received in London was due to the charm & humor that was missing. They made a lot of script revisions & I think in the "translation" from English to American theater they lost something that made it so popular across the pond.

Overall, well worth the discounted tickets we got. However, still hacked off at missing the two leads.

Welcome back yogi, skagirl. Glad you enjoyed your trip to CA, yogi, and sorry you're so cold. The "cut up your son's sleeping bag" idea sounds promising...

Cheeky, Raen, are you still out there?

Now, if we could only find FeralOne...

Nah, don't cut up a perfectly good sleeping bag .... get one with double zippers that can unzip from the bottom! (Drawstring tops are nice too.) When I was a scout camp counselor in college, that's how we used to go wake up the kids: unzip the bottom of the sleeping bag, strap on your sandals, and shuffle out like a blue nylon worm.

So, to sum up: Meet Market folks are missing in action, which may or may not be related to minotaur maulings; Skagirl missed her chance to assess the self-inflicted trowel wounds on Boy George's make-up mad face (through no fault of her own, mind); Aussie Girl has no need for a down coat and we hate her a little bit because of that, although we hate with love; Yogi is thinking that a nice portable radiater strapped to her back might ease the winter chills. Perhaps you need another one of those milk and honey baths. Did you say that they heat the milk up?
I'm going insane writing and testing recipes for this stupid cookbook, and I want a cookie and a big glass of something hot and toddyish.
Anybody got any exciting plans coming up? I'm very excited about the fact that our new dining room chairs arrived yesterday, and I'm planning a bonfire of our old chairs to help warm our skating party this weekend....

No plans, exactly, but I just ordered myself a new computer! An iMac, to be precise. My current computer (Mac Quadra 650) will be 10 years old next month. In other words, I'm due. Since I work at a University, I get a slight discount, which makes it even better. It should be delivered next week, possibly earlier.

Anyone know of organizations in the Twin Cities that want old Macs? Otherwise, it goes to the recycling center.

Hurray for you and your new IMac, Tracey Bee. I really like mine. You're going to have so much fun.

Though I can't deny the appeal of shuffling around Manhattan like a blue nylon worm, jennblevins, in this grotesquely frigid weather, I'm afraid that I may be arrested. If the real police don't get me, the Manhattan Fashion Police surely will. Oh, what I would not do for a sleeping bag coat this week! I also like Hildy's idea of strapping a radiator to my back. That would be lovely and toasty.

Why would anyone want to go skating in this weather, Hildy?! I think you should move the party inside, watch Survivor re-runs and drink copious amounts of Chai Latte. By the way, I'm having one right now with a cookie. I love Starbucks!



I hate it when that happens, skagirl. I want the leads all present and accounted for when I show up. You're not the first person who said the critics were too harsh. What a shame. Do you think it has anything to do with Rosie's less than Rosie personality. I hear she continues to be sort of nasty to all those around her. But of course, that's just gossip. But it comes from a relaible source.

Speaking of less than nice, who thinks Martha Stewart is going down?

See, yogi, I could handle one lead as I'd love to see Boy George but understand the other guy (Euan I believe) is great. One would have done the trick.

And between re-writes, dumbing down, and Rosie's tenuous relationship with the media, it became a sinking ship.

I fear Martha, and know she did a bad thing, but I can't help but feel she's going to be in worse shape than people who did very bad corporate things.

My only up-coming plans include what should be an excellent show at CBGBs this weekend ( a bunch of ska bands, one of which I've never seen live & am totally stoked) and keeping up my workout/eating well thingy. Plus, high holidays on Sunday for the "Golden Globes: If you're not drunk, we're not drunk" feista!

edit, "coming up plans"? what did I eat at lunch?!?

tracybee:
Places to donate computers in Minneapolis

yogi, glad you had a great time. I hope you made sure to raise the right colored sails on the way back!

Two leads out sick is definitely one too many, skagirl. You're right, one is OK, but with both of Boy George the person and Boy George's actor out, I would have been irritated too.

I pity Martha. If someone had called me and told me my stock was taking a dive I would have sold too, and I'm a very law abiding person. Really, who would have been able to resist selling under those circumstances? Sending her to jail seems absurd to me. Basically, folks seem to just be happy to see someone with every finger sandwich and gilt rose in place fall from the sky. Plus, I hear she's a bitch too. I think it has a lot to do with a culture rejecting and rewriting the Great Mother Archetype. It's a theory. Don't wait for the book.

Your weekend plans sound great, skagirl. I want to see LOTR:ROTK again before it leaves. Not so exciting, but I need to lay low after my adventures in warmer climes.

Now, where is Hildy. For heaven's sake, you roused the sleeping bear only to disappear into the ether!

ETA: suctionprints, you're such a card. I always enjoy "seeing" you!

I'm not exactly paying attention to Martha-gate, but I believe I've heard that she's being charged for lying about it, not for doing it. (And which of us hasn't done that -wink, wink)

Pisses me off because I know she's being dragged through this to keep our minds off of the "Old Boys Club" guys from MCI and Enron.

Hi guys. My plans? Well this weekend we're going to the Gold Coast to stay in a really nice hotel for the night. Taking the kids too. On Saturday night I'm going to see a show at the Casino. It's Australia's little bit of Las Vegas, casino, shows, showgirls etc. And we'll probably bow to the pressure and take the kids to Sea World again, which means I have to go on all those scary rides they love - aarrgh!

Who's Martha Stewart? Just kidding! We don't get any of her shows here, but we know of her, and her troubles too.

Yes, Hildy, no coats around here - the weather has cooled off somewhat and now we're just bloody hot, as opposed to frying in this heat.

I think the only two still MIA are Cheeky and Raen - should we send out a search party?

I have come to believe that we are a family that has frequent medical skirmishes. This morning, my daughter poked herself in the eye with her finger. She wailed, and I didn't think much of it until I picked her up today and noticed that the skin around her eye was red and puffy, and her eye was watery. The daycare lady said that she complained about her eye off and on during the day, but mostly when she wanted attention, so the daycare lady didn't think much of it.
So, we get home, she's pretty clingy and complaining about her eye hurting, and I decided to be careful and called the dr. , who promptly sent me to the ER because he suspected a corneal abrasion. (that is, a cut on her eye.)
Off we went to the ER, where we discovered that she does, indeed have a corneal abrasion. A little one, right over her pupil. Treatment is minimal: Motrin and antibiotic ointment in her eye, but they have to be checked out because if they are very bad, you can lose sight in your eye.
This one is minor.
But still, this is just another in a long list of ridiculous and stupid incidents. For example, My son ate half a pretzel this summer, the other half of which had been consumed by a raccoon. Since many raccoons have rabies around here, he ended up with a full course of rabies shots, the poor little bastid. Stupid things like that. I"m thinking that if we all wore sleeping bag coats we might be safer.

Oh, poor you, Hildy and Little Hildy too. There is nothing worse than those trips to the emergency room to take care of a child. I'm so glad that the cut was relatively minor. Bless her brave little heart. Bless your heart too. I'm sending you lots of karmic cookies. I hope you have a real cookie as well. There's nothing like a cookie make everything good again.

How did you know the racoon ate the other half of your son's pretzel? Were they passing the pretzel back and forth?

I spent many, many hours and days in emergency rooms when Little Yogi was a baby. What a nightmare. He had so many proceedures and surgeries when he was little that he never cried when he got shots or blood drawn. It was bizarre to see a little child so brave and strong. It actually became a problem. He broke his collar bone at school when he was in kindergarten, and unbeknownst to us. The school didn't tell us he fell. Since he was essentially mute, we didn't find out for ten days. He was wearing his backpack through the airport on the way to visit my folks, and he started to cry hysterically and point to his collar bone. After much investigation, I uncovered the story. Good Gravy Marie.

I think all mother's have a few stories of medical mishaps. You are not alone, Hildy! Well, except maybe with the pretzel story... I've never heard of sharing pretzels with a racoon before, though I do know a woman who shares her ice cream cone with her dog.

And skycatcher, I'm with you on the Marthagate thing. Let Martha go, for heaven's sake! Everyone knows that jail is definitely not a good thing.

That's just wrong.

Kisses and hugs to little hildy, thinking of you both and hope she makes a speedy recovery. So sorry to hear about this. BTW I agree completely with draadje, we had a few issues like that too with my son's day care centre.

Yogi you said your son was essentially mute, and had many surgeries and procedures done - what was the diagnosis for him? I am curious, as like you said in your last post, I am one of those who had lots of hospital visits etc with my son, who it turned out, is autistic.

This weekend is Australia Day, the equivalent of your July 4th (which by the way is my birthday), so we're in full celebrations. (Come to think of it, that's probably why Raen hasn't been around, maybe she has gone away for the holiday). Love to you all from Down Under.

Happy Australia Day, Aussie Girl! And good wishes to raen, too, wherever you are. I hope your day was filled with too much food, fun, and friends (if you can ever have too much of those good things.)

Best Wishes to Hildy et famille for a better day.

My son doesn't have a conventional diagnosis, Aussie Girl. I know a lot about autism because several of my son's classmates are diagnosed with various types of it. You and I walk a similar walk. My son was born with numerous congenetal heart defects. Most of his learning and speech issues result from the surguries and proceedures that were necessary to save his life. It's been, and continues to be, an odessy. He is almost thirteen, and he does talk now, though he has an accent, not unlike someone who is deaf. We ended up in NYC because when he was five, our doctor said his prognosis was good only we could provide intense therapy. So I sold my house in three days, packed up my truck, and moved to an apartment in NYC. I have since sold the truck (it was too big.) Now, Little Yogi has at least one and frequently two or three hours of different types of therapy a day, and he is doing generally well.

Hope this wasn't TMI. Blessings to you and Aussie Little One.

Hee, I knew I was going to get called on this one. It's another negligent mother story. I forgot to close a car window one summer night, and an enterprising raccoon crawled in and discovered a big bucket of pretzel rods in the back of the car. (You know, the kind you buy at the wholesale warehouses.) He opened it up and scattered the pretzels all around the way back of the car, and then climbed up onto the back seat between the two car seats and had a little pretzel feast. I know this b/c I am like Crocodile Dundee in my ability to track wild animals. Also, his muddy footprints were all over the car, and there was a little nest of pretzel detritus where he had had his feast.
Unfortunately, I didn't fully piece together the clues until after I'd strapped the kids in their seats and sat down in the front seat. As I realized what had happened, I looked into the back just in time to see Little Hildy power down a half pretzel that he'd been given by his sister, who'd plucked it from the festal remains.

But these incidents are minor compared with broken collarbones, heart surgery and autism, so I should not be whining. (And no, it's not TMI at all.) Thank you guys for your kind thoughts. Most of the time I laugh at this minor stuff, it's so ridiculous.

Hey guys, I'm not sure if anywhere else is an appropriate place to put this, but I just fired up the Survivor Game Without Pity: All Stars edition in the Creative Quests section, so if you missed out on joining last season, or if you came in late, here's your chance to start from the beginning! Come take a chance at knocking Retail Queen off the throne, I promise lots of fun!

Heh, Hildy, the pesky varmit! Enjoyed the story. Doesn't every mother have a few of those types of tales. And I bet Little Hildy never ate another pretzel rod again after all those shots, poor little guy.

I think we should definitely knock Retail Queen off his throne and right on to his ASS. Or our ASS. Or whatever. Win.

That Retail Queen's ASS is grass, I'm telling you. Thanks, Mercury, for the head's up!