meet additions to our family at 14/2 Meriton street...

I've been meaning to introduce y'all for a while now. Forgive me, I've never been good with formalities.

Everyone meet Mr. Snickers. Mr. Snickers meet everyone. He arrived last September, a gift from George and Agnes (Thanks guys!) AND He's STILL alive! Props to Lindsay.


Ms. Bounty. She arrived soon after Mr. Snickers. They are the best of buds.


Celine. The picture does not do her justice at all. She is HUGE. And she's been living in our tree for at least a month. I look for her earnestly every morning. If I ever see that she's not there, I may have to move.


Twizzler
... don't make fun of her. She's self-conscious.


and last but not least....
Steve! He doesn't hang out at the house, (not enough water or fish around), but I see him all the time on my runs past Kissing Point Park. He used to have a girlfriend, (I think--he wouldn't say), but she doesn't come around so often anymore. Cheer up Steve; don't let a silly girl spoil your charm!


Aren't they all just lovely? And we're expecting another addition in a few weeks-- Barney, a bonsai Alpine Wattle tree. He's hibernating at the moment. We're tricking him into thinking its Spring as we speak. Silly bonsai trees...

it's about frickin' time

It happened so quickly that I almost missed it. Well, by quickly, I mean two hours--which is light speed in bureaucratic office time. We went to Central really to just ask someone how to get married--with us being so awesomely foreign and all. Would we be required to translate birth certificates; Would we need to get a special visa; Would we need to learn some Australian pub dance or a poem in an Aboriginal language? Did I need to wear a dress? Could Vincent wear his one pair of flip flops? Blood tests? Letters attesting our relationship from family and friends? You know, that sort of stuff. I mean, shoot, I've never married anyone before--and the more I have to interact with government agencies, the more I realise that they do not follow the same line of logic as normal people do.

Well, it turns out you just have to fill out a one page application saying you intend to get married after one month and one day. Okay. So we turned that in. Just to be safe though, we decided to give the government a bit more notice than just the one month and one day. I mean, what's the harm right? I have to go to Melbourne anyway around that time. Plus, we have to give four weeks notice to the French government--and we all know how the French LOVE efficiency, so we thought giving them a few more weeks to push paper would only be to our benefit.

Therefore, the date is set for Saturday May 9, 2009 at noon.

Of course, only after everything was set did Vincent remind me that I'll be heading Stateside just three days later for almost a month. Oops.

Figures doesn't it.

Anyway, my solution to that sillyness is that Vincent COMES to America with me--so I need your help convincing him. I need everyone to bombard him with e-mails saying how much you miss him and that you'd LOVE to see him, etc, etc. His email is xxc3@yahoo.fr and you can also reach him on FaceBook. Hehe.

Vincent and I have found out what the Koreans do on Saturday nights....and it's the same thing kookaburras do on Fridays!

Can you guess?

Huh?

Huh??

Huh?!

Yeah, I didn't think so. Don't beat yourself up about it though, because it really isn't worth it. And to show you that I hold no hard feelings, I'll tell you.

They play tennis, people, TENNIS!

What a crazy world we live in. I thought Australia was insane enough with its teen-age love affair with vegemite and its un-wavering nonchalance towards living things...that can kill you...in an hour. But no. Koreans and kookaburras love tennis.

And, luckily for us, well--actually, luckily for me, Vincent loves tennis too. :)

He played in two tournaments (one in Manly and one in Strathfield) this past weekend and won all his matches-- scoring me dinner... TWICE along with some oh-so-delicious drinks. And you know what? Because of this, I think I am starting to love tennis too!

So everyone keep their fingers crossed that Vincent continues to play tennis super-duper awesomely. Lindsay needs to eat after all. And who doesn't enjoy a refreshing beverage every now and then?

stop being selfish and donate your over-valued money to people and animals in victoria...NOW

Maybe you know already, but Victoria (one of Australia's states--and not the one me and Vincent live in) is suffering from massive, MASSIVE bush fires. The death toll is estimated at almost 300 so far, and the fires are still ablazin'. It is considered the worst natural disaster to ever hit Australia. So if you can spare a few dollars/ euros/ pounds/ etc, please donate here--just think how much a little bit will go with the current exchange rate!

This is all pretty sad stuff, but some stories making their way to the surface that have at least a little bit of cheer in them. Here's one about Sam, a Koala, who is helped by David Tree, a firefighter.

He said he was in the middle of backburning at Mirboo North when he saw the stricken koala. "I could see she had sore feet and was in trouble, so I pulled over the fire truck. She just plonked herself down, as if to say 'I'm beat'," he said.

"I offered her a drink and she drank three bottles.

"The most amazing part was when she grabbed my hand. I will never forget that."

Mr Tree and his brigade then received an emergency call-out to save a house, but minutes later Sam was picked up by wildlife carers.

She is one of 22 koalas, 14 ringtail possums, several wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos that have been handed into Gippsland carers.

Although Sam now is okay (and really, REALLY famous)--YAY!, thousands of other animals did not escape the huge fires or are suffering many injuries--BOO :( Wildlife Victoria is now taking donations to help care for the injured animals...if you feel so inclined that is.

I know I don't usually plea on the behalf of other humans or awesomely cute koalas and possums, but these fires are apparently REALLY bad. And to be honest, I think I'd be scared out of my mind if I was trying to escape something so big and hot. Not to mention the fact that they think some of the fires were caused by arson and/ or a cigarette thrown out a window-- sigh-- I just think we all can spare a few dollars to help those who now have to live with the mistakes of others.

it's so hot, i've been sweatin' like a koala in victoria...

In Victoria, on a day when it was 44C (~118F), a very hot koala made its way into a barn (or somewhere)and so a nice lady helped him out with a bucket of cool water....

Everyone say "Awww..."






Don't you just want one?!