1. When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, the world was neon orange. I couldn't get a good picture, but here's a picture of what it looked like at a local beach.
Those ain't special effects. Overnight, a windstorm blew in a blanket of red dust from the outback, and all of Sydney is covered with a thin layer of it. Our windows and doors were all closed, but I could smell and taste the dust while I was making breakfast this morning. Freaky! So even though, I haven't gotten to visit the Red Centre, I now have some between my teeth! The wind has continued to blow all day and has blown the orange clouds away, but we are left with a layer of dust over everything. See?
Yes. Instead of cleaning, I have gone around the house writing messages in the dust and taking pictures of it. Like an 8 year old. Aren't I hilarious? Lolzzzzzz!!
2. I bought an apron on Saturday.
I was hoping it would inspire me to bake more stuff. Cute things to wear are good motivation for a girl, ya know. So far, I've made two loaves of banana bread and a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I'm thinking if I wear an apron to make dinner when folks come over, they will think the food tastes better than it really does. This is a phenomenon known as psychology. I know that because I have a degree in it.
3. Dave is here with us.
Here he is with Nate on a little bushwalk we took yesterday.
It's been great to have my brother here. I realized that he and I haven't had this much concentrated hang-out time in several years. But isn't it nice when you have such a history and an affection for someone that you can pick up right where you left off the last time you saw them? We've talked about everything from nuclear proliferation to Taylor Swift. I wish he didn't have to go home tomorrow. But I suppose he has a "life" to get back to. Selfish.
4. Ava is now a theologian.
Just now, when Nate asked me "How you know that?" about something, I replied with my standard, "Because I know everything." Ava responded, "No you don't. You don't know if you'll have teeth in heaven!" No. No, I guess I don't.
That about covers it. How are you?
Cuuuuute apron. You look adorable, all ready for a bake-off.
ReplyDeleteAva? Philosophical genius.
Teeth in heaven....wow, I love it.
ReplyDeleteIs that a picture of Manly Beach? Crazy! Does that, like, happen from time to time?
ReplyDeleteI'm reeling from the psychological insights you have shared.
I'm so glad you and Dave have had such a good time even without me there. I know there must have been a becky-shaped hole in the proceedings.
heard about the dust storm on NPR this morning and through my groggy haze I thought...Amy and Jason! Amy and Jason! How are they surviving?
ReplyDeleteOr something like that. It was a groggy haze after all. Glad to see you made it through.
As you can see whenever I heard the world "Australia" you are my first thought :) (no offense to all the other Aussies who read this brillant blog).
I was wondering about you too when I saw pictures of the dust storm in Australia, although I didn't have a clue where you actually live and Australia is pretty big. But you're the only person I "know" who lives there!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm supposed to be a theologian. I can tell you that they have teeth in hell. Otherwise, they'd have nothing to gnash.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience when I was in Korea in 1973, only the dust was yellow and from the Gobi desert.
ReplyDeleteWow ! That's a great looking apron. I bet it makes you cook wonderful cookies too. That was a freak storm. It was covered tonight on the NBC news and it did look scary and apocalyptic. I'm glad it's over now.
ReplyDeleteThat dust totally reminds of the movie Dune "He who controls the Spice controls the universe..." Nerd-tastic!
ReplyDeleteThe apron is perfect. And really, aren't they quite handy? Why aren't we wearing them more often, I say. Especially when they're cute.
I'm kind of curious, What about Taylor Swift?
Do you wonder, when Ava says something particularly wise like that, about all the things she thinks but doesn't say? I'd say there's some rich stuff going on in that mind of hers!
Later Gator!
I love your posts. Psychology degrees, selfish brothers... you are a funny girl in a totally adorable apron.
ReplyDeleteI own not one but FOUR aprons, and I am still a pretty bad baker. Any advice? Maybe one of those puffy hats?
You really need to write a book. I can't say that enough. It'd make you really ridiculously rich (and I could say, "I know her").
ReplyDeleteDavid, that's a good point. But doesn't Eric Clapton sing, "But I know there'll be no more teeth in heaven"? Something to ponder.
ReplyDeleteAmy and Ginny--thanks for thinking of us! We are fine, but they say this dust storm was the worst Sydney has seen in like 70 years, and that it did a lot of damage to crops. It is still SUPER windy here. I feel like Dorothy!
Sara--I am continually realizing that Ava now has a whole "inner world" that I don't know much about. It's so interesting, and a little scary, too. :) And about Taylor Swift--we were talking about the whole Kanye West thing, and then that we both really liked her songs, but that Dave was slightly embarrassed to admit it. Hee hee.
And fraught--I am SURE your cooking is better than mine, but a puffy hat may just propel you even higher. Give it a try! And take a photo, please!
Crystal--you flatter me. Don't...Stop... Don't stop!
I must say that was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. (And the banana bread was excellent.) But next time I come, try not to have A 70-YEAR DUST STORM! It's funny that we were talking about (nuclear) apocalypse and the next day the Red Death rolled in.
ReplyDeleteAnd it looks like I've been outed in my Taylor Swift love. Oh well, it's probably for the best.