Catching up...well, starting to.

Note: I typed this 8 days ago, so I guess I need another "Catch Up" post! (stupid internet people taking their own sweet time getting our connection right!!) I have 2 more weekends of exciting activities and pictures - plus we have plans the next 2 for our 10th anniversary!!! Anyway, I'm working on getting this more current...

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Narrabeen, NSW - Australia

If I don’t have a “catch up post” by the time the internet people get things working we could be home! So here is what has happened over the last 10 days or so. (BTW, I have to gripe again about the internet. First we had to get a phone line since – unlike at home – the high speed internet services still run over the phone lines. Ok, that took a week and a half. Then, the internet service took another week and a half to turn us on – that was yesterday. Paul is letting us borrow a router until I can get a nicer set up, and I got the router configured fine…but no internet. Both computers connect to the router just fine – one via a cable the other wirelessly – but no internet. Called the internet people. They run a test and… there is a telco problem with the lines. “Please leave the router up for the next 48 hours so our engineers can run some diagnostics to determine the problem.” Great. Do they not know I NEED THE INTERNET TO WORK?!?! I’ve “explained” that fact several times. Hopefully my boss at home will be patient. We ARE trying everything we can to get this working. Maybe I’ll ask Paul and Amber to borrow their internet for a while later this week…) Now back to regularly scheduled programming…

Last Saturday (May 17th) Clarice and I went on a drive up through the Northern Beaches, (go to the link for a great website about the beaches) stopping at each one alone the way to walk and check things out. Between here (Narrabeen) and the point of the peninsula we are on (I’ll try to find a map when I can get online) there are 5-6 beaches and each one has its own unique flavor. We loved Avalon, which has a rocky outcropping that is perhaps 100 yards long and covered with tide pools and interesting rock formations. We took a bunch of photos and generally crawled all over. After Palm Beach (the farthest North) we turned south again on the other side of the peninsula. There are lots of very rich looking homes overlooking the ocean or bay on both sides of the peninsula. Beautiful area, but I cannot imagine how people can afford to live there. Rumor has it Leyton Hewitt (pro tennis player) and his wife live in one of the homes on the hills.

Sunday we again went to Narrabeen Baptist and had a wonderful Sunday morning worship. It was different than Mother’s Day as the praise team did not perform, but three ladies from the congregation led the singing. It was also the first time I got to hear the head pastor, Leon, preach. Wow. Good stuff. Very expository and straight from Romans 9-10. Not your “baby” preacher that one, even though his is my age (33). I also think that hearing the message in a foreign accent just gives me an additional reason to concentrate. He is at a conference this week, but we talked (at the morning tea after the service) about getting together sometime for lunch or something. We met some more families, and my head is swimming with names. I hope I can keep it all straight.

Last week during the daytime, since it was a “week off” work, I ran a bunch of errands, did a bunch of laundry, and generally tried to continue setting up the apartment. I think we have everything we need (outside of a new router and the connections to share the printer among the laptops - Note: got those now, too.) and we are pretty settled. It no longer feels like vacation, but more like where we actually live. Far cry from “home” yet, but we’ll get there. Probably in time to leave! I got a couple of picture frames and printed out some of the pictures I have on my laptop and that we took so far. I also added a bunch to my digital picture frame, so you guys are all over the place. Little reminders of home. Clarice shipped a few pictures as well, so we are well stocked. If you email us photos, we’ll print them out and add them to the growing collection!

This week I am supposed to start working again. Without internet, communication is very difficult – and that is probably the most important aspect of this experiment. I sent a bunch of emails when I had internet last Friday (borrowed) and I left a couple of voicemails so people are aware of my struggles, but it is not starting off like I had hoped. I do have a few things I can do from here that I brought with me, but those will run out soon. I hope and pray they get the internet fixed.

Lastly, I hope and pray the last box I shipped from Ohio finally arrives. I sent 2, both priority mail. The first arrived in a week – my slippers, my Bible and a couple of little things. Smaller box, that one. The larger box, the one that is “missing” contains a CD case of about $500 worth of movies and Wii games, one of our Wii controllers, the Wii nunchucks, and my $1200 CPAP machine. The Post Office recommended that I not insure it for too much otherwise it might delay delivery so I only partially insured it as well. I’m a bit nervous that over $2000 of our stuff is missing, and I have not had a really good night’s sleep since I left. We were encouraged last Friday when Paul said some of their boxes –all shipped the same day – arrived a couple of weeks apart with no seeming significance. Still, if it is not here in another week, I’ll be up in the middle of the night calling the US Post Office and trying to track it down. (Note: We did eventually get the box. It was sitting in the warehouse at Clarice's office.)

Well, that was a nice break, but I have to get back to work. Until later!

Jon

A bit more settling in...

Sunday, May 10th:

We decided to try the same church Clarice went to last Sunday, but instead of going to the early service we went to the 10:00 “family” service. Narrabeen Baptist Church (NBC) is about 1.5 miles down the road – close enough that we could walk in warmer weather. For that sake, I hope it is the place we end up calling “home” for the next year.

Since it was Mother’s Day the children we not dismissed early in the service, but sat through several songs and readings. NBC has a lot of families who attend the 10:00 service with a lot of kids and young adults. There was no prolific age groups as I think there were as many older people as there were kids. Probably 120 in the service we attended. Of the 4 praise songs, we knew only one so Clarice is going to have a lot of new songs to learn and teach the Praise Team at Fellowship when we get back home!

Instead of having their head pastor preach every Sunday, it appears they have a rotation set up where different people speak, but the same main study continues throughout and the main pastor speaks most of the time. Again, because it was Mother’s Day a lay leader spoke. He was an older gentleman who had been a missionary in his pre-retirement years. While I sometimes had a hard time following his points, he did preach from the Word and that was a very important thing for both of us. Clarice heard their head pastor last week (he speaks again next week) and enjoyed him very much.

After the service we were invited to join everyone in the other building (they are raising funds to tear it down and build a more permanent addition) for tea and snacks. Everyone was very friendly and came up to meet the “Americans”. We were even invited to have dinner with a few different families once we get settled. We enjoyed the church very much and plan on attending again next week.

After church we went shopping. The plan was to finish getting some last minute items, and to buy a TV so we could use the Wii I brought from the US. The TVs here have different decoders in them so even though the crummy TV here has the correct RCA inputs, the Wii would never work with it. That was fine since it was a crummy TV (granted we have been spoiled by the 60” behemoth back home). We finally ended up with a pretty nice TV that can also be used as a computer monitor. Now we can hook up the laptop and watch TV online, and more importantly if I can find a way to get NFL games over the internet I’m all set! I have to find some lovely friend who is going to get Sunday Ticket with NFL SuperFan from DirecTV. SuperFan includes the ability to watch the games online. Anyone? Send me an email. I’d be willing to pitch in some funds.


Tuesday, May 12th:

I took Clarice to work yesterday so that I could have the car. Oh, we have a very nice Mitsubishi (red with leather interior and sunroof) thank you very much! Clarice freaked about me driving on the left since I was not used to it, but it came much easier this time than when we went to Scotland. I don’t know if it will ever be natural, but everything seems to make so much more sense this time.

I came home, cleaned up, had some breakfast and headed out. I needed to get my Visa entered into my passport, pick up an e-tag for the tolls so we do not have to stop and pay with cash (many places you can’t even pay cash anymore!) and find a good step down converter so we can use our North American Wii with the 220 power here. I got them all accomplished and then some.

On my way home I stopped at an office supply store. I wanted to get a yearlong calendar where we can plan our trips and I can see the “busy” weeks for Clarice and avoid them in the plans. While I was there I picked up an office chair on sale (needed since I’ll be working from home) and a multi-function printer to use for work. Once the stupid internet people get things working I’ll be all set. Apparently it is harder to turn on internet service here than it is as home because I found out today (Tuesday) that it may be another week. Arrgghhh! I have my first online class on Thursday! Paul and Amber said I could wander over and use their connection if I need to, but I am also supposed to start work on Monday and I’d really like to have the internet up before then. I have some things I need to do that I can do from my laptop and upload later, but the biggest thing for me is the ability to communicate with the “outside world”. I need to let work know what I am working on, and let them have the capability to prioritize the things I am working one. Phone is one thing, and I’ll have to be up quite early/late to call, but I really need the internet. Oh well, it will get settled when it does and not before. There is nothing else I can do to speed the process.

The last couple of days I’ve taken long walks around the neighborhood usually ended along the beach. Narrabeen has the longest beach I have ever seen and the waves are relaxing to watch. While there are certainly surfers up here, there are more preferred areas/beaches so the beach is never crowded – plus we are coming on “winter”. I put that in quotes since it never gets colder than mid-60’s Fahrenheit. Actually, since it was cooler and cloudy today there was almost no one out there when I was walking earlier.

I think that’s it for now.

Jon

First Visit to Sydney!

Saturday, May 9th:

Clarice got up early and went for a run while I slept in. This is pretty much a standard occurrence for us on Saturdays, but I used the “jet lag” excuse to stay in bed rather than follow her exhaustedly around town. I may eventually buy a bike to ride with her on her runs…but I digress.

Once we got cleaned up and had breakfast, we took the bus down to Manly and from there the ferry across to Circular Quay in downtown Sydney. Clarice had taken this same ferry on her first tip last spring and she said it would be a good way to first experience the city. She was right. Anyone planning on a visit – this will be the first thing we take you to do.

As the ferry rounds the point, and the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge first come into view, it takes your breath away. I’ve decided that the Opera House, for me, goes into the same category as Tower Bridge in London. Every time you look at it, as it was a beautiful day in the low 70’s, you want to take another picture. I had first thought I would not bring my camera, only Clarice’s little point and shoot. At the last minute I changed my mind and packed it into my Cleveland Browns backpack. Boy was I happy I did. As you can see from the slideshow, the architecture and views of Sydney were just awe inspiring. While I am technically on vacation for the next week or so, it is hard to imagine that I will be living in this beautiful place for the next year. In future posts I’ll enter some pics of the Narrabeen area and it is just as beautiful.

We spent the entire afternoon walking around and taking pictures. The Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are in almost every one, but there is so much to see and do down in that area, called The Rocks because of the rocky outcroppings there where one of the first settlements was established. Most of the actually rocky outcroppings are gone, but the quaintness of the area remains. Lots of little shops and restaurants along with a big outdoor market that is open every weekend. We strolled the shops, bought a few things, ate lunch at a little Italian joint (natch) and generally had a wonderful time. We stayed until sunset, getting some spectacular photos of the Opera House as the sunset reflected off and the colors because very intense. I can’t wait to get back.

It was full dark by the time we boarded the ferry back to Manly (about 5:30 – it is the beginning of winter here). We shrugged off the cooler temperatures (with thanks to a sweatshirt I bought) and stayed out on the deck just watching the beautiful evening. Very romantic.

That was Saturday. Shorter posts, but I’m sure you can tell the pictures will do much of the talking. Until next time…

Jon

The Rugby Match

I left off with Clarice heading to work Friday afternoon. Do you want to hear about my unpacking and taking a nap? I didn’t think so. I was about half settled when the droopy eyelids could no longer be restrained. I slept on the plane, but it was not restful. Add to that I had not had my CPAP machine in days (shipping it to AU) and I needed some more rest because tonight we were going out!

Clarice got home at 5:00 and she had changed and we were out the door by 5:15. The group from her work was supposed to go to an NRL (National Rugby League) match on Saturday, but someone found out that Australia was playing New Zealand in NRL Friday night. Wouldn’t that be more memorable and exciting? Oh, and it was the 100th “Test” between the two sides. So, with my having maybe another hour of sleep, we were off to our first Aussie sporting event. I learned some very important things.

1) NRL and Rugby are 2 different things. NRL is based solidly in Rugby, but the rules are slightly different. The Aussie jersey I have is from the AU Rugby team (the Wallabies). What we saw was the AU NRL Team (the Kangaroos). Important distinction. Apparently you either prefer NRL or “Rugby Union” which is the slightly different form. I’ve never seen it (that I can tell) but Paul follows NRL, so that is what I have at least a brief familiarity with.

2) AU looks at New Zealand sort of like the USA looks at Canada…they are the harmless little neighbor that everyone enjoys making fun of. I think it goes both ways. While the two nations are friendly, when it comes to things like sports they are very bitter rivals.

3) I much prefer the American method of assigned seats. The members of the Sydney Cricket Ground got to go in a find any open seats they could in a certain area. Well, that was us and you try finding seats for 12 together only 30 minutes before the start. Yeah, we ended up in the “end zone”. Oh well, I’m sure Clarice and I will get to more contests this year.

Before the match they paraded old players (or their representatives) and detailed the history of the AU/NZ NRL rivalry and this importance of this 100th Test. It was interesting as person who is passionate about all things sport and as an amateur historian. The other Americans looked at it much like the Aussies…an excuse to drink beer.


As the two teams took the playing field (The Sydney Cricket Ground – where they played the very first Test), the NZ side performed a Haka (I think I spelled that right), a traditional NZ tribal dance. They always perform the dance, and the AU side gathered to watch. Now this bears further research for me. Why do they let them dance right in front of them on their own home soil? I could understand if this was NZ, but the AU were the home team. Here's a photo of NZ performing the Haka. Strange. Anyway…


The game was very exciting. Paul said as we sat down, “This is probably the worst place to watch, but at least we can all sit together.” The first 3 “trys” (like a touchdown in American Football) all happened right in front of us, including what must assuredly have been one of the prettiest tries in the history of this rivalry. One AU player was falling out of the back of the “end zone” right in front of us, and as he was falling tipped the ball over the back of his head to another player who scored the try. It had to have made the AU equivalent of Sportscenter. The first score of the game, and it was very exciting! AU ended up dominating, much to the surprise of many. It was expected to be a close game, but only a couple of late scores by NZ even kept the score reasonably close. I left tired, but very entertained. It was good to hang out with some of Clarice’s work friends, even if most of them will be leaving again in a couple of weeks. Paul and Amber deserve a big THANK YOU for herding a bunch of tourists to such a crowded and chaotic place. Much fun!






That’s all for now! Check back later for the rest of our first weekend Down under!


Jon

Jon's Arrival...

Wednesday, May 13th, 2008.
Sydney, AU

Note: I had to bum internet time from a friend to even post this. Stupid internet people will not be able to get us up and running until next week. The sooner the better! Anyway, I typed a bunch of posts so as I get access I can quickly post them. Here's the first one...


Wow. So much has happened and no access to the internet to share it. This also the first time I have really had to sit down and write anything about our adventures since I arrived last Friday at 6:15 AM local time. There is so much to tell it will take several posts to get you all caught up. Might as well start from the beginning…

Wednesday (Columbus, OH):
Todd dropped me off at the airport around 7:30AM for my 9:15 flight. We had not meant to get there quite that early, but traffic was exceptionally light and we had no difficulties. I pay $3 to use a cart to get all my crap...err…“stuff” to the check-in counter. Being so early on a Wednesday, I have no problem getting everything checked and through security except for the fact I have to drag out TWO laptops and the Wii and place them in individual bins for x-ray. Then I had to pack it all back up again. Oh well, I only had to do it once, right? And I was on my way…

…To sit in Chicago for 3 hours. No problems on the first flight, other than a short 10 minute delay because of weather in Chicago. We arrived and I found out I would have to go all the way over to the International Terminal and re-check in. Great. At least they told me my checked bags would go through automatically, I just needed to get my boarding passes for the Korean Air flights…and go through security again. Crap! Oh, and we landed at terminal 2 so give yourself plenty of time to get over to Terminal 5. Took me a good 30 minutes. After finally getting my boarding passes and dealing with the laptops at security again, I sat in the Korean Air business lounge and polished off free ginger ales and chips. What is it about flying that makes me crave ginger ale? Flying and Christmas – the only two times I really crave ginger ale.
When my flight was called I queued (Aussie word #1) up with everyone else, but since I was business class I got on first. “Wide” seat only in that it was wider than coach. I did I have plenty of “on demand” movies to watch, and the seat folded almost flat. The Koran Air flight attendants did a wonderful job making me comfortable…until they asked in broken English for the fiftieth time, “You want coffee?” NO! Go away and let me sleep! I watched I Am Legend, The Bucket List and Jumper before becoming bored and falling asleep for a while. Fourteen hours later…I landed in Seoul, South Korea.

Seoul/Incheon Airport is very nice with lots of duty free shopping. Maybe I’ll pick up a little something before finding the business class lounge. Oh, wait! No $$ other than about $30 American. I could use my credit card, but it’s not worth the hassle. Let’s get some ginger ale, it has only been a hour since I had one (and probably 20 minutes since I went to the bathroom).
When the time came to board the flight to Sydney, I went to the waiting area only to find that sharing my flight would be the Melbourne A-League Soccer Team! Interesting. I chatted with the guys for a little in the waiting area, never mentioning that I played a lot when I was younger (darn pregnant stomach!) and they shared some interesting tales of playing professional soccer. Most were younger than me, including one lad who had to be 16. I swear! Also on our flight was a class of Korean “high school” students (not sure of their school levels but they were high school age). A handful of the girls giggly asked the team to pose with them for pictures. It was really quite sad, but the team did a nice job of playing to their “fans”, especially the 16 year old. I sat back and laughed.

The ten hour flight to Sydney consisted of my sleeping for a hour, waking to go to the bathroom and down another ginger ale (all free to us special business class passengers) and then repeating the cycle until landing. The plane was older so the seats were not as nice, and while we had movie choices it was not “on demand” so you had to know when the movie was starting to watch it all. The selection was the same as the first flight, however, and I was trying to sleep as much as I could to overcome the jet lag when I landed at 6:15 AM.

We land and my travel adventure is over…not. Being business class pays as we were the first off the plane and the first through customs. Since we were the first flight to land for the day the customs agents were nice and I flew through the process, or so I thought. Australia, because it is an island and has a very unique ecosystem has very strict quarantine laws. You have to declare everything and they are more worried about things that will harm the ecosystem than they are about your declaring the $200 watch you bought in Hong Kong. I was warned about this and everyone told me, “Just declare everything and pay the fine if they give you one. It is much easier.” All I had in my bags was my prescription medications…and Clarice’s two plastic jars of Skippy peanut butter. Ugh. Wonder what they will say about that. Turns out, because they were still vacuum sealed, there was no problem. I wonder what they would have said if they were both open and half-eaten. Customs took five minutes, baggage and Quarantine took twenty-five. No worries though, I am here!

And just in time. As I walk out of Quarantine I see my lovely Clarice for the first time in almost two weeks. Looking back over ten years (end of this month people!), I can only remember a handful of times we were apart this long. Once was last spring’s trip for Clarice to Sydney and Tokyo. Off the top of my head I cannot remember another of longer than a few days.
Our friends Paul and Amber had graciously (and for Amber who does not have a job at the moment waking up at 6:00 AM is above and beyond gracious) accompanied Clarice on her drive to pick me up. Clarice had driven quite a bit locally, but was afraid of the highways to the airport. Turns out she was right as she made a wrong turn (even with the GPS we bought) on her way to Paul and Amber’s and ended up crossing the Sydney Harbor Bridge! Oh well, they were here, I was here…and I was tired.

We dropped Amber off to sleep at home, Paul off at work, and then Clarice and I came back to the apartment to get me all settled. We walked down to the “shops” of Narrabeen (a wonderful bakery, little dime store, bike shop, surf shop, newsstand, post office, grocery store and a few other little shops) and bought some odds and ends to get settled. Then Clarice went to work and left me to settle in, but not until after she got a call from work…

That’s enough for now. I’m sure most of you are as exhausted reading this as I was living it. Friday was not over yet, not by any stretch of the imagination so stay tuned. I’ll get caught up eventually!

Jon

My Turn! (and other stories...)

This may be a long post. If you want to go to the bathroom and/or get a drink and chips, I'll wait for you. Go ahead...

Ok, here we go. It has been a long week since I last posted, and a TON has happened...most of which has been stressful. It took a ton of work (all solo since Clarice is already abroad) to get the house and my stuff (crap) packed and in order. Ashley and Matt came over several times to begin moving her in, so at times it felt like we were going cross-purposes. No worries as we both got done what was needed.

Friday, my last day at LCB-USA, was sad, stressful, and complicated all at the same time. Many people were still trying to get me to do things as if I was not leaving, Tech was trying to rebuild my laptop (long story there...no time now), and I was trying to get as many loose ends wrapped up as I could, but my mind was focusing on all of the packing I needed to do before I left Saturday. Friday afternoon, while I was on the phone with my father-in-law (Jay), my dad called my cell. I didn't click over thinking I would call him back in a few minutes. Just as I hung up with Jay, Todd (the famous bro) called. What gives? My phone is now the main switchboard at Grand Central Station? I never get this many calls. Todd, just getting off the phone with dad as well, informed me that my Aunt Patty passed away Thursday evening. The viewing would be Sunday evening with the funeral on Monday morning. Ok, I'm coming to Ohio anyway, I'll pick up Todd (and 22 month old Everett) and go up to Akron Saturday evening. Wait, all of my nice clothes are vacuum sealed in my suitcases! Who cares? I loved my aunt, and I need to be there to support Uncle Jim and my cousins. (Turns out they were very understanding - and it wasn't about me anyway). I was up late...

Saturday morning I got up and met the storage manager at the storage garage we are renting. Got him paid for a full year, went to North Webster to get 1) a new lock, 2) a check for the storage place (who doesn't take debit cards???), 3) stabil for the gas tanks and 4) something cold to drink. Then, at 8:30 on the dot, Scott showed up. He was kind enough to get up early on a Saturday and chauffer me over to the rental car place...who didn't open until 9:00. Poor guy sat with me while the attendant showed up and got ready to open. Scott - I owe you big time. Go ahead and print this out for future use against me! :-)

After I got the car, I headed back to the house thinking I could finish the last bits of prep, say goodbye to the house and cats, and make it over to the church in time to help prep for the college open house that was supposed to start at 11:00. Yeah...that didn't happen. Around 11:30, when I was finally loaded and the house was locked, I left for the church only to arrive at the same time as the guests. The college open house was a ton of fun and all of the graduates were able to attend at least for a while if they did not stay and eat. Good times, and a rockin' send off were had by all. At 12:30, without stopping to help clean up (sorry Jim, Pam and Jana) I split on my grand journey.

I got a new Ipod transmitter so I could listen during the many hours in the car. I had one before, but it broke. I was going to get a new stereo for the truck that I could plug it directly in to, but then we decided we were moving to Australia. I listen to ESPN Radio most of the time anyway. Me and tunes for an uneventful 3 hours. Well, until I was almost there, but had a "potty emergency" in Marysville. Big "shout out" to the local service station that was kind enough to let me use their non-public restroom. The rental company would not have liked cleaning that car! :-)

When I got here Saturday, Toad (Todd) informed me plans had changed and we were going to drive up Sunday afternoon while Everett took his nap. Marliese had to work Sunday night so she was not able to attend. She also got Monday "off" Everett duty - so that was a bonus for her. Insert sleep here.

Sunday morning we got up and I played with the boy. Much fun! I'm going to really miss the stinker! Pause while I wipe the tears... OK, I'm back. We drove up in the rental car (I extended it a day so we would not put the miles on Todd's ride) and Everett slept most of the way. Changed clothes at "Mom's Bed and Breakfast" and the four of us went to the viewing. It was very nice, and well attended - as you would expect if you knew Patty. I stood out in my jeans and polo while everyone else looked very snazzy and respectful, and I felt terrible about that, but no one cared. I got to visit with a lot of family (including the "old man") who I did not expect to see. I was watching Everett when he found a piano and started"playing". It made me think of when we were so much younger and went to Patty and Jim's. I used to "play" their piano all the time. I didn't stop him - just made him play softer. No one seemed to notice, and I was enjoying the memories. We stayed until the funeral home kicked us out, then we went home for pizza and a movie. (Sorry, Clarice. You missed Pizza Hut!). Todd hooked up the DVD player they had gotten mom for Christmas and we watched The Knight's Tale that we got her for the same Christmas. Better late than never, I guess. Also a great movie...

Monday morning Todd and I, after leaving Everett with grandma and stopping at Dunkin' Donuts, we trekked to the funeral home. From there we caravaned to the church and enjoyed a very nice service. Then we went to the grave-side ceremony, and finally back to the church for a luncheon put on by the church. It was a beautiful day to celebrate a beautiful woman. Some people went over to grandma Nist's, but Todd and I had to get the boy and head back to Columbus. He a cranky when we started out, but after a quick detour to see grandma Clark before I left he seemed to chill out and wasn't too bad even though he didn't sleep a wink.

We got back to Columbus later in the day than we planned, but Todd helped me drop off the car at the airport, the only rental place still open. We came home, watched a bit of TV and went to bed very exhausted.

This morning I slept in. You would think that since I am going to spend my life in planes the next few days I wouldn't want to sleep until 11:00, but I needed it. Clarice called and woke me up (fine since I love her and she was calling from Australia, but I turned off the phone when we hung up). When I finally rolled out of bed, Todd was at work and Marliese had taken Everett out to run some errands. I watched TV that had been recorded the night before, then took a shower. By the time I was ready to start the day, M & E were back. I borrowed her car, went to the mall, bought 2 pairs of jeans and new Reef brand sandals (LOVE 'EM), then stopped at NTB to get her muffler replaced (it fell off Sunday night). Marliese felt bad that I sat there and got her car fixed, but I just called Clarice (nice time for both of us) and read magazines. Not a problem, and when were they going to do it?

And now I sit here, less than 12 hours from one of the greatest adventures of my life. I have every emotion you can imagine: excitement, fear, love, wonder, uncertainty, passion. Whatever happens in the next year will surely change my life.

Jon