I (Sarah) just found out this morning that I've been excepted into grad school at University of South Australia!! I'm pretty sure I'm gonna do it, since the program is only 1 1/2 yrs and half the cost of grad school in the USA. Pray that we would make the right decision and that I would be able to get into my classes as they are filling up right now!
I will be doing a Masters of Conflict Management within the School of Social Work and focusing on immigration/refugee issues!! I am really excited!
Also really cool, a few families have just moved over here from Bath, Maine and I know at least one of them are Christians! They have 5 children and have been homeschooling them. I went around furniture shopping with them today and had a lot of fun.
I start my volunteer position (still can't work under my bridging VISA) at the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc. this Thursday. I will be doing paperwork and helping do some case studies in the financial counseling department. I am really excited to learn about the aboriginal community here because there are similarities between them and Native Americans (though I do believe here they are worse off).
We miss you all so much and can't to see you over Christmas time. We will have pictures of the house up soon. It's still a little bit of a mess and we don't have all the pictures hung up and have a few furniture items to get (hallway table, end table).
Love,
Sarah
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Barbeque
Friday night Sarah and I threw a barbeque for my coworkers from Gibbs & Cox Australia. About 25 of them showed up for the partay. It was a magnificent success. The weather was clear and crisp, and the stars were out in force. The new barbeque (grill, for my fellow Americans) worked wonderfully, turning out some delicious burgers and sausages, and even a couple lentil and chick pea burgers. The flaming braziere hosted its first fire, fueled by some hot-burning red-gum and eucalyptus hardwood. Despite the cool temperature of the evening, most people spent their time outside, conversing around the fire about topics ranging from home brews to having to pay for your ketchup (tomato sauce for my Aussie friends) at McDonalds in Europe.
Sarah and our friend Megan whipped up several scrumptious food options, including cajun potato wedges, a veggie plate, home made chips and guacamole, and a baked blueberry cheesecake. Sarah also intruduced the Australians to good old fresh home made lemonade, and us uninitiated Americans were taught the proper way to prepare an unfiltered Cooper's ale for consumption.
After a long separation my pipe is again with me, so I smoked some "Hobbit's Blend" tobacco given to me as a going away gift by my friend Ben Guthrie. My friend Ruben smoked my spare pipe. I'm growing a bit of a beard at the moment, and it was noted by several that the image was picturesque.
Overall I think it was a good night of company fellowship and deepening of friendships. I'll be looking forward to next time.
Sarah and our friend Megan whipped up several scrumptious food options, including cajun potato wedges, a veggie plate, home made chips and guacamole, and a baked blueberry cheesecake. Sarah also intruduced the Australians to good old fresh home made lemonade, and us uninitiated Americans were taught the proper way to prepare an unfiltered Cooper's ale for consumption.
After a long separation my pipe is again with me, so I smoked some "Hobbit's Blend" tobacco given to me as a going away gift by my friend Ben Guthrie. My friend Ruben smoked my spare pipe. I'm growing a bit of a beard at the moment, and it was noted by several that the image was picturesque.
Overall I think it was a good night of company fellowship and deepening of friendships. I'll be looking forward to next time.
Warrawong Sanctuary
Church did a "day away" conference on praise at Warrawong Sanctuary in the hills about 10 minutes outside the city on Saturday. About 40 or 50 of us went, and it was a lot of fun, as well as spiritually challenging. Australians at our church are pretty reserved when it comes to singing, etc. so the leadership wanted to infuse us with a little enthusiasm. I think it worked, because I could actually hear the people around me singing this Sunday. The following pics were taken at the sanctuary.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
The Stuff is Here
Well, the shipment arrived safe and sound, excepting a few glasses and a ceramic cross given to Sarah by a friend after a trip to Europe. The house is still a bit of a mess, but Sarah and I have been working pretty hard to get everything set up and put away. Sarah's been an organizational genius in the kitchen. We had more counter space and cupboard space in our Arlington apartment.
We're throwing a barbeque for the coworkers on Friday. Should be good times.
We're throwing a barbeque for the coworkers on Friday. Should be good times.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Weekend Shots with the F4
A waterfall. I've been told I need to get a polarizer to take care of the overly bright sky.
The churning waters of the Southern Ocean.
This is our backyard. Whoop d doo.
This is a cliff on The Bluff outside of Victor Harbour.
The churning waters of the Southern Ocean.
This is our backyard. Whoop d doo.
This is a cliff on The Bluff outside of Victor Harbour.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The Shipment (i.e. Most of Our Wordly Posessions)
Our shipment will be delivered to our house on Monday, June 19. Needless to say, we're pretty excited. I think, and hopefully Sarah will agree, that we should host a party on Tuesday evening.
Tomorrow then, will be the day to purchase a picnic table and a barbie.
Boo! Brian beat me to making a comment and announcing our stuff ariving!! I'm so excited. AND NO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A PARTY ON TUESDAY, unless of course I am super fast at setting everything up and cleaning the house. We can have a party on Thursday if you like. We'll see... don don donnnn!
Sarah
Tomorrow then, will be the day to purchase a picnic table and a barbie.
Boo! Brian beat me to making a comment and announcing our stuff ariving!! I'm so excited. AND NO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE A PARTY ON TUESDAY, unless of course I am super fast at setting everything up and cleaning the house. We can have a party on Thursday if you like. We'll see... don don donnnn!
Sarah
A Couple of My First Works with the F4
This is a good spot to give an introduction to the wine culture of the area.
There are several wine valleys near Adelaide. McLaren Vale is south, the Barossa is north, and I think Clare is to the east. People around here are very proud of their wine, and they like to drink it. I have not yet met anyone who is a teatotaler. Many people like to do a road trip through the valleys every so often to stop at the cellar doors of the vineyards or wineries and do some tasting, and stock up on their favorites.
The wine in general is, as far as I can tell, pretty low in price and pretty good in quality. The use of metal screw caps on the bottles here is not an indicator of low quality, as it would be in the States. It only means that the winery knows this particular type of wine is usually drunk soon after purchase. Anything that is meant to be cellared is corked. Boxed wine, however, is still considered rather trashy.
This is my friend and coworker Ryan pouring some boxed wine at Joe and Megan's house.
This is the tropical rain forest conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Adelaide.
These photos were taken with a 20 mm lens. I let the camera choose shutter speed and exposure, since I still have a little learning to do there.
There are several wine valleys near Adelaide. McLaren Vale is south, the Barossa is north, and I think Clare is to the east. People around here are very proud of their wine, and they like to drink it. I have not yet met anyone who is a teatotaler. Many people like to do a road trip through the valleys every so often to stop at the cellar doors of the vineyards or wineries and do some tasting, and stock up on their favorites.
The wine in general is, as far as I can tell, pretty low in price and pretty good in quality. The use of metal screw caps on the bottles here is not an indicator of low quality, as it would be in the States. It only means that the winery knows this particular type of wine is usually drunk soon after purchase. Anything that is meant to be cellared is corked. Boxed wine, however, is still considered rather trashy.
This is my friend and coworker Ryan pouring some boxed wine at Joe and Megan's house.
This is the tropical rain forest conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Adelaide.
These photos were taken with a 20 mm lens. I let the camera choose shutter speed and exposure, since I still have a little learning to do there.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
And Some More
This is Granite Island near dusk. You wouldn't even guess that the sinister seals of death are lurking just below the water's surface ready to devour the little fairy penguins at first sight.
I got some sweet army pants from an Op Shop. They're real. From the state of Victoria.
This shot was taken with the digital on my new tripod (thanks Mom J). Notice the young fairy penguin in the lower right corner of the photo. The rocks look rather reddish because the tour guides were shining red flashlights on the little guys. I guess they go blind for about half an hour if you shine white light on them, especially when you use a normal camera flash.
Notice the rainbow to the left of my beautiful wife. If you look closely you can kind of see another one sticking up over the top of the rock just above her. It was a pretty sweet double rainbow.
I got some sweet army pants from an Op Shop. They're real. From the state of Victoria.
This shot was taken with the digital on my new tripod (thanks Mom J). Notice the young fairy penguin in the lower right corner of the photo. The rocks look rather reddish because the tour guides were shining red flashlights on the little guys. I guess they go blind for about half an hour if you shine white light on them, especially when you use a normal camera flash.
Notice the rainbow to the left of my beautiful wife. If you look closely you can kind of see another one sticking up over the top of the rock just above her. It was a pretty sweet double rainbow.
More of What We Saw
This is a cliff on The Bluff in Victor Harbour. I'm a big fan of the orange lichen on the rock around here.
The horse drawn tram out to Granite Island (where a bunch of little Fairy Penguins live) is big draw for the tourists. I think it would be pretty sweet to jump off the top deck into the harbour during the summer, and hang out with the seals.
I'm afraid the water was pretty muddy here, and the temperature was quite cool, so I denied myself the pleasure of a little cliff jumping. Also I'm pretty scared of Australian animals killing me, and since the water was mudy I could not see what was in the pool. There could have been crocs.
The horse drawn tram out to Granite Island (where a bunch of little Fairy Penguins live) is big draw for the tourists. I think it would be pretty sweet to jump off the top deck into the harbour during the summer, and hang out with the seals.
I'm afraid the water was pretty muddy here, and the temperature was quite cool, so I denied myself the pleasure of a little cliff jumping. Also I'm pretty scared of Australian animals killing me, and since the water was mudy I could not see what was in the pool. There could have been crocs.
We Took a Trip, and This is What We Saw
Sarah and I went on a road trip Sunday and Monday down to the coast of the Southern Ocean south of Adelaide. We visited Victor Harbour, Port Elliot, Goolwa, and Deep Creek Conservation Park. It was all quite beautiful.
These horses and this landscape were just hanging out together near the side of road.
We went on a mountainous hike in Deep Creek Conservation Park that took us to this waterfall. It was really nice spot, I would recommend the hike to anyone who's able to do it.
The roos are plentiful in this corner of the world. We saw about a hundred of 'em over the course of the weekend.
These horses and this landscape were just hanging out together near the side of road.
We went on a mountainous hike in Deep Creek Conservation Park that took us to this waterfall. It was really nice spot, I would recommend the hike to anyone who's able to do it.
The roos are plentiful in this corner of the world. We saw about a hundred of 'em over the course of the weekend.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Peace
This dove was hanging around on our front porch last night for several hours. I hope it comes back. I felt like we were pretty good buddies by the end of the evening.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
24 and 666
Today is the much hyped date 6/6/6. It really is no such thing, but people love crazy numbers. They'll twist the facts any which way they like as long as a pretty number comes out. I would refer to today as 06/06/2006. Not really all that exciting, I'm afraid.
It is D-day, the anniversary of the day the troops landed at Normandy. It's also my birthday. I suppose some would like to believe that I am pretty likely to be the antichrist because of this. Not so. I am already ruled out on account of the blood of the Lamb.
24. Twenty four. Two times twelve. Four times six. Three times eight, too. 4.8989794855663561963945681494118 squared. I'm 96% of the way to 25.
Sarah made me some eggs, bacon, and pancakes this morning. What a great woman!
We're gonna miss Laura. She's been a great friend, and we're excited to see her again. We wish we were with the crew (FHBC, UPBC, GR, MI, TU) right now, to mourn within the community.
It is D-day, the anniversary of the day the troops landed at Normandy. It's also my birthday. I suppose some would like to believe that I am pretty likely to be the antichrist because of this. Not so. I am already ruled out on account of the blood of the Lamb.
24. Twenty four. Two times twelve. Four times six. Three times eight, too. 4.8989794855663561963945681494118 squared. I'm 96% of the way to 25.
Sarah made me some eggs, bacon, and pancakes this morning. What a great woman!
We're gonna miss Laura. She's been a great friend, and we're excited to see her again. We wish we were with the crew (FHBC, UPBC, GR, MI, TU) right now, to mourn within the community.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
An Early Birthday Present
Sarah gave me this sick camera for my birthday:
She got it used at a local shop, and got me a 20 mm lense. It's sweet, but I'm still pretty ignorant on the operation of the beast. It's got more buttons, switches, and levers than I can handle. I'll get the hang of it soon enough. Thanks babe!
She got it used at a local shop, and got me a 20 mm lense. It's sweet, but I'm still pretty ignorant on the operation of the beast. It's got more buttons, switches, and levers than I can handle. I'll get the hang of it soon enough. Thanks babe!
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