Don't Play With Your Food!

For the Kewl Kids :-)

PS: If anyone can tell me who created these I will gladly credit them :-)

Big Yellow School Buses

Yes they are just how they are described in the books that I read as a child :-)

Flying the Flag

One of the big differences between Americans and Australians is the American's fascination for flying the flag (literally). Aside from government buildings, I can can think of 2 addresses in Perth (a city which I consider to be roughly the same size as Dallas). I took all of these photos today - and without any effort at all - and could have added a lot more. Let's face it - there are flags everywhere!

Texas Blue Bonnets

Tuesday Shopping and Cooking

Last night was our cooking night - a simple menu of fresh pasta, bolognese sauce, 2 curries, fresh fruit salad, caramelized fruit kebabs with vanilla sauce and toffee nests along with "J1's Drink" a fruit punch we have been making for years. Easy!

First port of call, the supermarket ..... aaargh - American supermarkets are different to Australian ones. Vanilla is not in a little black bottle near the food coloring - it is in a white box in the spice section. There is no Golden Circle Fruit Punch. But, taking a big deep breath, that is all good. What got me most was that the "Asian section" was about two foot wide and was mainly sushi stuff, soy and the like.

Okay, I do admit that earlier in the week I was overjoyed to discover a whole aisle labelled "Hispanic Food" and another half aisle for "Kosher Food". All of those foods I had never been able to find (tomatillos for example) are sitting there in plentiful amounts. And living in Australia I assumed that everyone had a whole aisle or so of Asian foods but that is not the case. There was NO coconut milk. The shop assistant was waving his hand at the empty space on the shelf saying "it is usually here" but I did notice that the ticket at the fromt of the shelf was for another product completely (maybe he was just trying to amke me feel better). AND there is no curry section .... at all. I asked about that and, after being looked at oddly, I was directed to the spices where I "might be able to find a jar of powder". And lets not even begin on the Thai curry pastes. So much I take for granted.

It ended up being more amusing than frustrating .... especially as Ms Weasley took me to another store that had coconut milk and the Thai pastes (no Indian curry pastes though).

Then the cooking fun began. Miss J2 did the fresh pasta and the two curries. Miss J3 did the bolognese sauce, the fruit salad (except for the pineaple and watermelon becuase you need to have a knife licence to cut them up), the kebabs and the drinks - which ended up being individual mocktails she kicked up the original concept by a notch or two. Me, I got the credit for the cooking (until I pointed out that I didn't really do much at all) and I did the dishes :-)

I had bought J1 some crabs (a personal favorite of his) so he had them - as well as tastes of the others.

In any case, bellies were full and the kitchen was clean by bedtime (well a bit after bedtime but pretty close) and this morning J 2 has taken one of the curries to give to her teacher :-)

Mountaingirl Blogs

Just a random photo snapped while I was getting ready to blog :-)

The Girl's Do Lunch

There are many differences between the US and Australia and schools are just one of them. Maybe I should clarify that it was different to my school (that I left over 20 yers ago).

For a start the kids mainly stay inside all day - no running around without your shoes on happening here.

Next the names - whereas our schools are generally named for the locality (eg Harvey Primary School or Albany Senior High) all the schools I have been past have been named after a person. Miss J3 did tell me who her school was named for but I can't remember - will get back to you on that one.

The other thing is that a cooked meal is made available for the kids each lunchtime - and they are free - no canteen with half a vegemite roll going on here :-) We varied that a little yesterday and (as is perfectly acceptable) went and joined J 3 for lunch - taking our food with us. Becuase we were visitors we got to sit outside in a little courtyard and eat. I had a black bean burrito (big yum) but, taking the advice of both Abz and Miss Weasley, have included other photos instead :-)

J2's Beauty Shop

If a girl is going out she may as well get her hair done by the best - in this case it was J2. Yes I also have some sugegstions for work hair but this is what I wore out to lunch on Sunday.

In case you were wondering what all the fuss is about, this was no ordinary pony tail - it was listed to a particular point that the tail would fall gracefully (with no sight of ringlets or other random curls. There was also some whispy bits that softened the appeareance from the front which I don't think are very clear in these shots.

Many thanks to J3 for the photography.

Dinner Night 1

I thought this would be week of food experiences - and by default it will be but as I am writing this at the end of night two I know I may never eat again - and I still have leftovers from two meals in the fridge.

Last night the family and I got food from Chilli's (a great chain of American resturants). With so much to try I got a starter and a main - now I add that also this sounds large it doesn't mention anywhere that they are designed to share.

For the starter I got a Triple Dipper in which I chose Chicken Crispers, Southerwestern Eggrolls with Wings Over Buffalo. These were served with Blue Cheese, Ranch and Southerwestern (I think) Dipping Sauces.

For the mains I went for a combo of ribs and Marguerita style chicken. Aside from the ribs and the dressings, I had had none of these foods before (hence their selection on the menu).

After eating my fill - and sharing it with others, the photo above is of the leftovers - yes there are a good two more meals here. Can't say you don't get value for money in America :-)

More stories tomorrow :-)

First Spend

I swapped some of the old familiar currency for the strange greenbacks that are all the same color and are made of paper. So what does one buy first when they get to the shores of the good ol' US of A ... well real Coke or McDonalds might seem obvious but I was dehyrated and need REAL fluid.

Now the AriZona Iced Tea was fine but the fake lemon taste was a bit metallic and... well into the bin it went.

The Fiji Water I bought becuase of the novelty of drinking water from the tropical home of the military coup (and it was cold and wet).

The Arnold Palmer Iced Tea was also a novelty buy but the overpowering taste of pear juice (don't even begin to ask me why you put pear juice in iced tea) meant it hit the bin as well. No major loss, I got my water and I spent my first USD :-)

I Made It

Yes, after what feels like six weeks of travel on the back of a camel, I am here safe and sound (and happy) in Dallas, Texas. As proof (in case you need it) here is a shot of me with J3 and J2 (and yes that is a bear on my head - but not just any bear - it's Cheryl :-)!!)

Countdown

7 days to go ....

Art: "Above the CLouds" by black-soul-vampire

Passsion and Purpose

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.

David Lloyd George

Art: "Leap" by Scherbius

Countdown

14 days to go ...

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Countdown

21 days to go ....

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Passsion and Purpose

I dream, therefore I become.

Cheryl Renee Grossman

Art: "Pearl's Ride" by Carole Felmy

Countdown

28 days to go

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Photo Challenge - Aging

Dream On

What I dream of is an art of balance.

Henri Matisse

Art: "Portrait of Lydia Delectorskaya, the Artist's Secretary" by Henri Matisse

Little Conversations, Big Opportunities

I was having one of my little chats today with someone who rang in about being a "wanna be" writer when he announces that his wife is a multi-published author and he himself is a technical writer with a passion for helping other follow the writing dream.

He has given me a heap of advice and encouragement in stepping up from leaving it as just a dream into making it a reality.

Is it just a small world or am I putting all the right vibes out there .... first stumbling across the uni course and now this .....



Photo: "The Author" by kynobau

Real Heroes

It is interesting to watch how different people are reacting to the tragedies befalling Australia at the moment.

Some people who clearly don't meet the guidelines are applying for financial assistance. That doesn't worry me, I just think of them as the "av-a-go" breed, and there is nothing wrong with that. Mind you, when they get angry when we say no, that is another story.

And then there are the quiet lot that are my new heroes.

There was the gentleman affected by the floods who was philosophical about sewerage contamination ("don't worry about that I have cleaned it up") but needed a hand to repair other parts of his house. He was very clear he was only taking this as a loan and, although he wasn't sure how, he was going to give all the money back. It took a good five minutes of reassurance that while he was more than welcome to repay or return any of the money, he was entitled to the help and we didn't expect anything back. You could see the glow over the phone as he realised that he really could keep the money and that the help was genuine.

There was the elderly woman who just needed to talk - about her mother, and her kids and ... well just about anything really. She didn't want a social worker, she just wanted to chat. After being evacuated from her home 3 times in the last two weeks as the fires continue to rage, she wanted something "normal" and at that specific moment, it was chatting with me. I put aside all concerns about timing and joined in with "just chatting".

And then there was the guy who rang asking if we could perhaps help him - he had seen things people aren't meant to see and realised he needed to talk to a counsellor. This was an Aussie bloke who obviously wasn't used to asking for help, or talking about things like "feelings" but he acknowledged that he wasn't sleeping to well and was really going through a rough patch. Hearing just a general outline of his experience made me wonder why he wasn't in the fetal position sucking his thumb.

These are the real people who have really been hit by either the fires or the floods. These are the people that are my heroes for their tenacity, their dignity, their honesty, their integrity, their ability to risk being "real".

Photo: "some help" by Ronaaa

Photo Challenge - Updates

I am personally really enjoying the list of ideas for this year - thanks again xoxo and A'Jay for putting them forward. Okay some weeks are easier than others but isn't that half the fun of the game lol

So ...

This Friday: Aging

Friday 13 March: Mineral

Friday 20 March: Smile

Mirror, Mirror

Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.

Judy Garland

Photo: "A Reflection of Innocence" by gilad

Parsley Seed Head ... After the Rain

Click and enlarge :-)

Rule for Life

Practicing the Golden Rule is not a sacrifice; it is an investment.

Anonymous

Art: "Who Is She?" by Sugarock99

Passsion and Purpose

We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are.

Tobias Wolff

Photo: "Resilience" by zoro-swordsman

Snack Attack

I seem to have been working a lot lately and have had no time to really cook (or shop) for home. And I am so tired of eating take-away.

My solution: blue cheese, grapes, nashi, beetroot and feta dip and corn crispibites for dipping purposes. Unfortunately it cost twice what takeaway does but it was worth it just for the luxury and the change :-)

Now THAT is real food :-)

We Alone

We alone can devalue gold

by not caring

if it falls or rises in the marketplace.

Wherever there is gold

there is a chain, you know,

and if your chain

is gold

so much the worse

for you.

Feathers, shells

and seas-shaped stones

are all as rare.

This could be our revolution:

To love what is plentiful

as much

as what is scarce.

Alice Walker

Photo taken using Miss Kylie's shells :-)

Countdown

35 days to go ....

Art: "Above the Clouds" by black-soul-vampire

Basil

Walk Tall

The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly.

Cora Harris

Art: "Lady of Endurance" by Vian Sora

The Lovely Amber

Going, going, gone .....Amber treated me yesterday "just for being me" (her words). Sigh .... she is an amazing woman ...

Amber is the one who held my hand when I first started the job, by default not choice because I was allocated to the seat next to her. This is the woman who put up with so many "Excuse me, can I just ask you ...." with patience, style and wisdom ... and without snapping at me once. lol.

And now, as the months have gone by, with small conversations started and ended between phone calls I still think of her as a treasure and appreciate having such a blessing in my life.

And she treated me ....

Spider Web

Where it all started .....

Dance Dance Dance

Okay so I have posted this one before, but it just so captures what I feel at the moment, I had to do it again :-)

Photo: "Dance" by shuka4

Yep, I Did It

I have enrolled in my BA (Literature). I don't actually start studying officially until June but there are some novels I can read in the interim. I am going to try and do two units each session (four sessions in a year) which apparently translates through to a full course load. See how it goes, as I am just doing this for fun, there would be no problems in dropping it down to one if it all gets a bit too much :-)

I must have progressed in my personal growth this year becuase even the vague thought of studying used to send my blood pressure soaring and the possibility of a genuine panic attack being imminent. Now all I feel is excitement.

Photo: "Real Student Life" by lesleyx

Bushfire Alert

Okay so they are saying that today won't be as bad as Black Saturday but it is going to be getting pretty close. There are thousands of firefighters (some from interstate or overseas) that have been busting a butt all week to try and minimize the risk for today. Here's hoping the dry lightning doesn't arrive.

If anyone is looking for me, I will be at work, and yes if we need to do another midnight run (which I strongly suspect we will - regardless of the actual fire - there are thousands of people that are evacuating that will need help) my name will be on the list.

Here's hoping that all in the potential path of the fires are safe and sound and that the tragedy of a few weeks ago is not repeated ....

Photo: "bushfire aftermath 6" by arthurking83