Cheers to the Simple Things & Happy Easter

The Easter bunny has been quite busy between the states and Australia. We woke up today to birds chirping, a sunny day and great coffee.

But, what about the bunny himself? Well, in Australia the bunny that the US knows, is not a popular one because of the damage they do to the land.

The prefered celebrant is the bilby. In 1991 a campaign was started by the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter bilby (an endangered species by the way).

Other traditions? Hot cross buns (sweet spiced bun), pancake day (or shrove tuesday, last day before lent), Sydney Royal Easter Show (little Matthew had a really fun time), and the best of all, a 4 day weekend!

The holiday time here is really something the US could learn from! Kids go to school year round but have 4 big breaks. Anyway, Nick's uncle and his 2 little girls flew in last night so we are enjoying the last few days with them.

The simple pleasures? We did some great shopping yesterday and I witnessed the best exchange of happiness that I wanted to share. We were in a department store that had a wonderful pianist playing so we took a minute to sit down and listen.

As we are listening and looking at all our purchase options, an elderly lady walking with a cane scoots herself up to the pianist. She puts her arm around the pianist, smiles, and starts digging in her pocket for what we assumed would be money.

As we were "assuming", out comes 2 chocolate lady bugs which get sat on the top of the piano and are followed with a hug and kiss by the elderly lady. She tells the pianist how good her music was and they both smiled. Out of all the fabulous things you could buy in this store that was something that no amount of money could have bought!

I have also discovered one other simple thing. The addresses here are so easy. If you have 6 houses on a street, your number will be 1, 2, 3, etc. Ever wonder why the US houses are 4 numbers and aren't really relevant? I'm sure there is a logical reason but it's not simple or obvious. :)

Well, more later! Enjoy your bunnies, bilby's and chocolate today. We are on the road to the US tomorrow (mid-day monday or sunday US time). So, lots more stories to follow! All the best to you & yours today.

Love,
Jen

Back to Syndey We Go

G'day all. We are at the airport heading back to Sydney for the weekend. I have to say this is about the quickest security ever. They had more questions about Fred & Ginger themselves vs. whether or not I was carrying anything. :)

Hanging out in Kingscliff has been such a great time and met fun people. Walking on the beach has been a bit interesting.

If you ever need a really hard workout, grab prosthetics and start walking.

It feels like your in quicksand but you soon get your strategy. It has made me focus on everything around me as my surroundings have changed so much.

The overall experience with my challenges hasn't been bad at all. The only situation I can say was tough was trying to give a "peace" sign in a photo. I just had to smile and think it in my head.

One interesting bit though, is that most of the disabled bathrooms have been more difficult to access than the non-disabled. The locks are much easier in the non. Strange, huh?

While I'm comparing things, what about the coffee? It's a whole different concept with different terminology here. I have yet to find creamer besides milk! And what about just a "drip", is that a long black or a short/long white? It's been fun. Nick and I are going broke just on coffee, ha!

Well, more comparisons later. Just realized we are starting to board. Have a great day!

Love,
Jen

The Aussie Life

I can't believe it's been a week already. Did you know people here drive on the wrong side of the road, surf a lot and take boats to work? :)

We have traveled from Sydney to Kingscliff, to Nimbin and back to Kingscliff and we are on the road tomorrow as well.

Let me start by saying that Sydney is amazing!

My first amazing bit was when I ordered a hamburger and it came with an egg on top (amongst other foreign objects). Apparently this is pretty standard in the Aussie world and I have to say it was really good. I soon started seeing amazing everywhere.

Our first night we had a beautiful dinner on the barbie with Nick's family. The weather has been about 25 celcius. We have been to the aquarium (wow), Hyde park, Palm Beach, Bondi Beach, Icebergs and all of Nick's old stomping grounds.

That has been good fun. Getting in the beach was such a great feeling. A bit scary at first but, once the water touched me I thought "no worries, I can do this".

One of our highlights was seeing Jack Johnson, Matt Costa & G-Love & Special Sauce in Centennial Park. It was one of the best concerts I have been to. I have seen Jack before but not like this. Words cannot accurately describe how amazing it was!

We are now by the Gold Coast at Marie's—my wonderful mother-in-law. We have been enjoying our time with her and explored some new territory today.

If you are ever in Australia, you must check out a little place called Nimbin—hippies, hippies and more hippies! We saw things that kept a smile on our face all day. :) Not to mention the drive is gorgeous. It's the most awesome bit of rain forest.

We are going to Byron Bay this week which I am really excited about. They have great markets and local shopping. Not to mention this is the new hot spot and about an hour from Marie. Who knows who we may see.

We are flying back to Sydney on Friday for more family stuff then back to Dallas on Monday. Australia is such a place to fall in love with and forget who you are for a while. I have had more meat pies, lemon tarts and beers than I have my whole life—ha!

I have so much more to share I just wanted to say hey from Oz. I will write again in a few days. I hope your week is going well!

Love,
Jen

Runaway Mascara, Another Speaking Event, Daisy the Labradoodle & Bon Voyage

This week has really gone by fast! Let me just say that I started the week off by meeting a friend for lunch with half of my make-up done.

Why you ask? Well, I was doing great until my mascara slips out of my hand, rolls under a piece of furniture, and rolls far, far away. Then everything else seemed to fall. I had about 10 minutes to be at lunch so I made an executive decision to go anyway and suck it up. :) I had one side done and the other, well, not.

It wasn't pretty but my stomach thanked me with lunch! I also had the opportunity to speak to a wonderful group at a law firm this week. It was very rewarding and it prompted great questions as well. It's funny how speaking can lift your own spirits while trying to help others.

I met a wonderful little girl named Daisy today. She is 1 year old and is also known as a "Labradoodle". Yeah! This is not a definite, but she may make the service dog program that I am involved in. If that is the case, I may have a new addition to our family. She is so adorable. I will keep you posted as this will take several months.

Happy birthday to Marie, my awesome mother-in-law. My parents and Marie are all turning 60 this year! Blow out some candles and have a glass of wine or a beer—it's someone's birthday somewhere! We will celebrate soon when we fly our way to Sydney, Australia this coming Monday!

I am so excited and can't wait to explore. We were planning to go last year before I got sick and never made it, so this is a well deserved trip. Hopefully I can find a job as a beach bum surfing! Just kidding—I'll be back, maybe. :)

I am really happy to finally be meeting the rest of Nick's family whom we have talked for so long. My parents and grandmother are headed to the big "D" for the weekend so that will be a fun bon voyage! We always have a great time and enjoy delicious food when they are in town—especially with dad and his free-loader fork, ha!

Have a great weekend everyone and I will be talking, blogging and thinking about you all while we are down under!

Love,
Jen

Prosthetics for Allison—The Sea Turtle

Not to worry if a turtle looses a flipper! There was a sea turtle—named Allison—who was found on South Padre Island missing 3 flippers.

What is the solution? Prosthetic flippers—how awesome! Rather than swimming in circles (talk about getting sea sick), Allison will now have a "direction". These are apparently made from the silicon that is used from human facial prosthetics.

According to the Dallas Morning News, she will be the "first sea turtle to get a prosthetic but not the first animal. At least two dolphins have been fitted."

I would love to be a marine biologist (in another life) and am fascinated with the world that lives below us. Now that scientists are working on something like this, it makes me feel like the possibilities are endless!

As slow as turtles are, perhaps they can speed Allison up with these flippers and make her life just as rich and fulfilling as with regular flippers! I wonder if the turtle and dolphins with prosthetics will be an inspiration for a new exhibit at Sea World? :)

Love,
Jen