Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The Oz Blog continues...
Almost getting up to speed, matching up the days...
Here's some more from the Oz blog.
April 5
10:15 a.m. – Wow. When my brain and my body stops hurting, or maybe even starts working, I’ll recap last night.
11:45 a.m. – Wow. Still hurting. Still not working. Can’t think straight. Would love a Final Four update.
12:20 p.m. – This airport is dumb small, yo. Got a text from Sara that Carolina was up 13 at the break. Bollocks.
12:37 p.m. – Oh thank heavens, my first Virgin Blue flight without screaming kids. I will not be long for this flight…zzzzzzzzz…BTW, hey Roy Williams, give a shit about North Carolina yet?
12:39 p.m – This airport is really a one-room, one-runway place. It’s amazing. Do we have clearance, Clarence? What is taking so long, where are we taxiing to?
2:00 p.m – Do not have a clue how I am functioning at the moment.
2:51 p.m – Back in Brisbane with a 90 minute layover. the Blue Room. Seinfeld, diet coke; I feel like complete dogshit. Must find the number of a good detox joint.
3:53 p.m. – Ok, I knew it wouldn’t last. A screaming kid. Thank you for flying Virgin Blue.
6:45 p.m – More iPod karma – The Beatles’ “I’m So Tired.” How apropos. Hurry up, Skybus, I wanna get back to Clifton Hill.
April 6
9:30 a.m. – Whitsundays wrapup: I wish I had spent an extra day or two there, but all told, it was a great time. Maybe that warrants a return visit??? I vote yea.
I am in need of some rest and some low-key events over the next two days. Body needs to relax and recupe.
4:45 p.m. – Today was a nice educational and cultural day. First stop was the Immigration Museum. That was nice, decently laid out, but it definitely lacked. Australia has had some very, very dark moments in its history when it came to immigration and its ethnic diversity, which were sort of given the brushoff. But all told, it did a nice job, especially with the folks who voluntarily emigrated there – which excludes the prisoners.
Then I added some culture to my day at the Kylie exhibit. I am of the belief that Kylie Minogue is one of Australia’s national treasures. From “The Locomotion” to “I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” she is just terrific. On a serious note, the exhibit was well-placed, it had all of her extravagant outfits, and plenty of her awards like Grammy’s (yes, Kylie has won a Grammy. Don’t hate.), MTV Music Awards, Platinum records, etc, etc, etc.
I also went to visit the Australian Football League Hall of Fame and Sensation. I’ve been to a bunch of professional sports hall of fames and this one is very, very well done. For the diehard fan, they can relive their favorite moments and for folks like me with a very cursory knowledge of the sport, it’s quite informative.
And to wrap up a day of knowledge, culture, and sport, no better place than Oxford…the Oxford Scholar Hotel. If they had a Rhodes Scholarship to eat chips with sweet chili sauce and pound schooners of Carlton, man, I’d be a nobel laureate.
5:02 p.m. – Sara arrives. God, she’s so pretty. Was that out loud? I hate it when my inner monologue doesn’t work.
10:54 p.m. - Ok, to say tonight was interesting was like saying Michael Jackson is a little strange. Sara grilled me on all things, from religion to civics to other stuff that just isn’t the best idea to talk about after a few cocktails. It’s either me just zoning out and staring into her eyes or that fact that I would lose any argument(s) badly, but I just kinda sat there and took it. Didn’t put up a fight or anything.
I don’t get a good read on it and I don’t think it’s a good idea to engage her and anyone when it comes to religion and politics…stuff like that has no gray area. People have too extreme and strong feelings about both. There’s very rarely a situation where the discussions don’t morph into something like an argument or heated conversation. No thanks, I’m having a beer and I’m on vacation. Brain disengaged. I’m of the belief that when it comes to matters of taste and opinion, there is no wrong. Either way, the Melbourne Inquisition is over and I’m going to bed.
April 7
10:07 a.m. – I am not afraid of home. No, I do not plan on moving my flight ahead so I can get home. In fact, I would be a lot more apt to push my flight back so I can spend more time here. By thinking of home, it does not mean that my trip to Australia is a failure. Quite the contrary, it is a resounding success. Home no longer scares me, home is no longer the bain of my existence, home is no longer the cause of migraines, stress, angst, and agita.
11:50 a.m. – Checked ESPN.com, nice to see the World Champs taking it to Mo Rivera again. I’m getting a basketball jones today. I think I’m going to head to Albert Park to play and J on some people.
2:19 p.m. – The three-point line is nine inches farther from the rim, but man, I still have the jumper. International rules can’t stop the funk.
8:35 p.m. – JetStar Airlines is Qantas’ version of Southwest. But it’s also close to my view of the Seventh Ring of Hell. A tight room, strapped in, can’t open the windows, with no way out, and the fucking Bee Gees cranking out “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?” Ugh.
The next stage? Locusts.
9:27 p.m. – So far, no screaming kids. Thank you for flying JetStar.
April 8
12:34 p.m. – Began to rain as we were in the Cataract Gorge. Very nice place. Came back to the hotel to dry off and head off to the Boag’s tour.
3:23 p.m – The Boag’s Tour was awesome! And the beer is unbelievable! Need to export that shit to New Rochelle.
4:10 p.m. – Arrived at the Irish Murphy’s and sculled a few pints. They advertised themselves as “drinking consultants,” so that was good enough for me. If they’re the Accenture of pints, then I really wish I had polished up my resume with my hands-on experiences the previous two weeks. I was over-qualified.
Bizarro Delores O’Riordan from the Cranberries just sat down next to us.
April 9
11:17 a.m. – OK, almost a dead kangaroo on the hood. Holy shit, that was scary. Deer and other animals are one thing, but Skip? I’d be devastated. Lots of dead Skips on the side of the road, though. Sad.
12:29 p.m. – We’re in the Middle of Tasmania. It’s like Kansas, with all the green farms and the sheep.
1:47 p.m. – Just did my first bit of ass-backward driving. And to top it all off, the first 10 kilometers was the craziest, windiest, mountain road I had ever driven on either side… As always, I passed with flying colors. Came up on St. Mary’s, oceanfront view. Untouched. Abso-freaking-loutely spec-freaking-tacular.
Thank god no New Yorkers have seen this, or else. The smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves, the untouched property around Denison Beach…it’s staggering.
4:40 p.m.- Been driving for three hours. We found a roadhouse. I’m going to go cross-eyed.
5:46 p.m. – Another pee break. We’re in Richmond, which is just 20k from Hobart. We saw a nice historic bridge. It was old. I’m shot.
7:21 p.m. – Settled into the Amberly House B&B, one of the nicest accommodations I’ve seen.
10:44 p.m. – We had arguably the best meal of the trip tonight at Pier One. The restaurant was very nice, the view from the outdoor seating was beautiful, and the food was second to none. After a nice hand-in-hand walk back to the Amberly House, the evening drew to a most pleasant close.
to the next step...
I remain your humble and obedient servant...one.
Here's some more from the Oz blog.
April 5
10:15 a.m. – Wow. When my brain and my body stops hurting, or maybe even starts working, I’ll recap last night.
11:45 a.m. – Wow. Still hurting. Still not working. Can’t think straight. Would love a Final Four update.
12:20 p.m. – This airport is dumb small, yo. Got a text from Sara that Carolina was up 13 at the break. Bollocks.
12:37 p.m. – Oh thank heavens, my first Virgin Blue flight without screaming kids. I will not be long for this flight…zzzzzzzzz…BTW, hey Roy Williams, give a shit about North Carolina yet?
12:39 p.m – This airport is really a one-room, one-runway place. It’s amazing. Do we have clearance, Clarence? What is taking so long, where are we taxiing to?
2:00 p.m – Do not have a clue how I am functioning at the moment.
2:51 p.m – Back in Brisbane with a 90 minute layover. the Blue Room. Seinfeld, diet coke; I feel like complete dogshit. Must find the number of a good detox joint.
3:53 p.m. – Ok, I knew it wouldn’t last. A screaming kid. Thank you for flying Virgin Blue.
6:45 p.m – More iPod karma – The Beatles’ “I’m So Tired.” How apropos. Hurry up, Skybus, I wanna get back to Clifton Hill.
April 6
9:30 a.m. – Whitsundays wrapup: I wish I had spent an extra day or two there, but all told, it was a great time. Maybe that warrants a return visit??? I vote yea.
I am in need of some rest and some low-key events over the next two days. Body needs to relax and recupe.
4:45 p.m. – Today was a nice educational and cultural day. First stop was the Immigration Museum. That was nice, decently laid out, but it definitely lacked. Australia has had some very, very dark moments in its history when it came to immigration and its ethnic diversity, which were sort of given the brushoff. But all told, it did a nice job, especially with the folks who voluntarily emigrated there – which excludes the prisoners.
Then I added some culture to my day at the Kylie exhibit. I am of the belief that Kylie Minogue is one of Australia’s national treasures. From “The Locomotion” to “I Just Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” she is just terrific. On a serious note, the exhibit was well-placed, it had all of her extravagant outfits, and plenty of her awards like Grammy’s (yes, Kylie has won a Grammy. Don’t hate.), MTV Music Awards, Platinum records, etc, etc, etc.
I also went to visit the Australian Football League Hall of Fame and Sensation. I’ve been to a bunch of professional sports hall of fames and this one is very, very well done. For the diehard fan, they can relive their favorite moments and for folks like me with a very cursory knowledge of the sport, it’s quite informative.
And to wrap up a day of knowledge, culture, and sport, no better place than Oxford…the Oxford Scholar Hotel. If they had a Rhodes Scholarship to eat chips with sweet chili sauce and pound schooners of Carlton, man, I’d be a nobel laureate.
5:02 p.m. – Sara arrives. God, she’s so pretty. Was that out loud? I hate it when my inner monologue doesn’t work.
10:54 p.m. - Ok, to say tonight was interesting was like saying Michael Jackson is a little strange. Sara grilled me on all things, from religion to civics to other stuff that just isn’t the best idea to talk about after a few cocktails. It’s either me just zoning out and staring into her eyes or that fact that I would lose any argument(s) badly, but I just kinda sat there and took it. Didn’t put up a fight or anything.
I don’t get a good read on it and I don’t think it’s a good idea to engage her and anyone when it comes to religion and politics…stuff like that has no gray area. People have too extreme and strong feelings about both. There’s very rarely a situation where the discussions don’t morph into something like an argument or heated conversation. No thanks, I’m having a beer and I’m on vacation. Brain disengaged. I’m of the belief that when it comes to matters of taste and opinion, there is no wrong. Either way, the Melbourne Inquisition is over and I’m going to bed.
April 7
10:07 a.m. – I am not afraid of home. No, I do not plan on moving my flight ahead so I can get home. In fact, I would be a lot more apt to push my flight back so I can spend more time here. By thinking of home, it does not mean that my trip to Australia is a failure. Quite the contrary, it is a resounding success. Home no longer scares me, home is no longer the bain of my existence, home is no longer the cause of migraines, stress, angst, and agita.
11:50 a.m. – Checked ESPN.com, nice to see the World Champs taking it to Mo Rivera again. I’m getting a basketball jones today. I think I’m going to head to Albert Park to play and J on some people.
2:19 p.m. – The three-point line is nine inches farther from the rim, but man, I still have the jumper. International rules can’t stop the funk.
8:35 p.m. – JetStar Airlines is Qantas’ version of Southwest. But it’s also close to my view of the Seventh Ring of Hell. A tight room, strapped in, can’t open the windows, with no way out, and the fucking Bee Gees cranking out “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?” Ugh.
The next stage? Locusts.
9:27 p.m. – So far, no screaming kids. Thank you for flying JetStar.
April 8
12:34 p.m. – Began to rain as we were in the Cataract Gorge. Very nice place. Came back to the hotel to dry off and head off to the Boag’s tour.
3:23 p.m – The Boag’s Tour was awesome! And the beer is unbelievable! Need to export that shit to New Rochelle.
4:10 p.m. – Arrived at the Irish Murphy’s and sculled a few pints. They advertised themselves as “drinking consultants,” so that was good enough for me. If they’re the Accenture of pints, then I really wish I had polished up my resume with my hands-on experiences the previous two weeks. I was over-qualified.
Bizarro Delores O’Riordan from the Cranberries just sat down next to us.
April 9
11:17 a.m. – OK, almost a dead kangaroo on the hood. Holy shit, that was scary. Deer and other animals are one thing, but Skip? I’d be devastated. Lots of dead Skips on the side of the road, though. Sad.
12:29 p.m. – We’re in the Middle of Tasmania. It’s like Kansas, with all the green farms and the sheep.
1:47 p.m. – Just did my first bit of ass-backward driving. And to top it all off, the first 10 kilometers was the craziest, windiest, mountain road I had ever driven on either side… As always, I passed with flying colors. Came up on St. Mary’s, oceanfront view. Untouched. Abso-freaking-loutely spec-freaking-tacular.
Thank god no New Yorkers have seen this, or else. The smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves, the untouched property around Denison Beach…it’s staggering.
4:40 p.m.- Been driving for three hours. We found a roadhouse. I’m going to go cross-eyed.
5:46 p.m. – Another pee break. We’re in Richmond, which is just 20k from Hobart. We saw a nice historic bridge. It was old. I’m shot.
7:21 p.m. – Settled into the Amberly House B&B, one of the nicest accommodations I’ve seen.
10:44 p.m. – We had arguably the best meal of the trip tonight at Pier One. The restaurant was very nice, the view from the outdoor seating was beautiful, and the food was second to none. After a nice hand-in-hand walk back to the Amberly House, the evening drew to a most pleasant close.
to the next step...
I remain your humble and obedient servant...one.
