A Week with Mum

Guess I left off at the part before we headed out to the pub, so let me finish with Wednesday night:


Here we are in our new outfits made from nearly entirely all op shop finds! My entire outfit (excluding a necklace borrowed from Hillie but including the blouse and cami, skirt and sandals) cost $8! And can you tell?? Op shops are great, I don't think I'll ever buy anything new.

The three of us clip-clopped our way down to the pub and definitely got the attention of all the boys. Rosco, Hillie's 'acquaintance' met us there and we placed our orders. The special was steak and although that was why we had picked tonight to go, Rosco was the only one who ordered steak. Hillie and I got grilled fish and chips, and Caroline ordered chicken Parmesan. Rosco got us some garlic bread appetizers and like a gentleman, paid for our soft drinks. We sat in a secluded room away from the TVs and bar. The conversation was great and our food was excellent! Rosco and Hillie are adorable together, and he really makes her smile. :)



After eating, us girls returned home and changed into our jammies. We played a round of Spelldown and drank a pot of tea, then went to bed.

Thursday Hillie had to work at the op shop again, so after breakfast Caroline and I headed out to hunt for more op shops. We traveled about half an hour to the neighboring town of Kerang (pop. 4000) and trolled through a gift store and two op shops, with a break for Chinese food in between. The first shop was homey and highly fruitful, while the second seemed more commercialized and had higher prices. With a little bargain-hunting lust still in us, we drove to Cohuna (pop. 2000) and got sidetracked by this quirky little gem museum, Crystal Paradise. The walls were lined with display cases crammed with every sort of rock and gem, and then the room held a bunch of large tables with polished rocks and jewelry for sale. The shopkeeper stayed close by and answered all of our questions and showed us a gadget that read the color of your aura (I was green, Caroline was purple). But the color can change, sometimes minute to minute, so I'm not really sure what it all meant, but it was neat anyway. :)





We were then shown the back room, which was mainly a studio for meditation workshops but also had a few more display cases and at the front of the room, a long hand-made wooden table that held a series of large opaque crystal bowls. The woman showed us how the bowls 'sing' by catching sound and amplify it as you rub a soft stick around the top. It was amazing; the sound became almost deafening but still beautiful, like church bells. Although we got to try it, the bowls did not sing for us as well as they did for her.

Also on display was this amazing ram's skull that had been found in a salt pan, completely covered in a thick blanket of pure white salt crystals.

We left about an hour later and when we found the town's only op shop, found out that Thursday was the only day of the week they weren't open. :( But we wandered around the town's beautiful little park, complete with a pond and a fountain and a skate park and a really spiffy playground. We sat on the swings and watched the birds flying over the water, then decided to head for home.



Caroline took us on a detour to see Mt Hope, a stunning tower of boulders that overlooks miles of patchwork farmland in all directions. We climbed nearly to the top and watched the sun set to the sound of birds calls and bleating sheep from the pasture below. To stand among such an ancient and powerful creation reminds you of how majestic and beautiful the natural world really is. Your thoughts seem to echo and your mind clears and stills. I could sit there for hours without realizing it.



We had gotten in the car and were starting to leave when we jumped out for a few last sunset pictures, which caught the attention of a flock of freshly-shaved sheep. Unable to resist, I approached the fence as they hesitantly approached me. We stood there, me facing a hundred bleating sheep, for a few minutes before they realized I was not there to feed them and turned tail. But it was enough to satisfy my 'animal craving'. ;)



When we arrived home it was dark, and Hillie thawed some of the potato and sweet corn soup she'd made in preparation for our arrival. It was DELICIOUS!! The secret must have been the bits of bacon. YUUUMMMM... So good.

Friday we had plans to make a big lunch and play cards with Hillie's brother, John, and Rosco. Caroline and I hurried through our yoga routine and then we all ran down to the butcher to get a leg of lamb. Then while Hillie got her hair done, Caroline and I bought some veggies and snacks before returning home and getting the roast and veggies in the oven.

At about 10:30 we headed out to visit a nearby salt pan. I've wanted to see one since my last visit because in my mind, it looked amazing. I could imagine it glistening like water but to touch it and taste the salt crystals would be fascinating. We'd driven past one on the way home last night, but it had been too dark. So Caroline drove me back out and I was super-excited and curious to finally be able to stand on one.



It looked like a really big, dried-up puddle, but there was a definite layer of white over the top. It felt like wet, compacted sand/dirt, and upon closer inspection I found tiny white crystals. I showed Caroline, who was sitting up on the road watching me with her camera, and after brushing off the dirt, I tasted it.

It tasted like nothing.

Maybe it wasn't the opaque rocks, maybe it was the clear rocks that were salt. So I put that one in my mouth next.

It tasted like a rock.

I was beginning to think that this was some nation-wide practical joke, a devious plot to get the tourists to eat dirt. But the pan was still beautiful, and I wandered around taking pictures before getting closer to the one area where the water hadn't evaporated.



The ground became squishy the closer I got to the water, and the mud beneath the thin layer of red topsoil was pitch black. I took a few more pictures and then--for reasons I can't explain--decided to taste the warm water.

SALT!

At last, I can say that I've tasted salt from a salt pan! I continued walking around the water's edge, taking pictures of dead insects and even a dead frog before I was satisfied enough to leave. At the car, I realized that it might not have been a good idea to drink water with a bunch of dead things floating in it. *wince*

We still had a little time before the lamb would be ready, so Caroline took me to Pyramid Hill. Unlike Mt Hope the night before, we could use a walking track to get up the side. But just like Mt Hope, Pyramid appears to be a giant heap of loose boulders, some of which could come tumbling down at any second. It looks so out of place among the miles of flat pasture surrounding it, like it had to have been man-made but the boulders are so huge that would be impossible. Caroline explained to me about volcanic activity and how the different types of rock rise and settle over time, and I suppose it makes sense but to see such a formation up close is simply stunning. Birds swirled over the very top of the mountain and on the way up, I spotted a wallaby! I was too slow for a picture, though. :(

At lunchtime we hurried back home just as Hillie was taking the lamb out of the oven. John was already there and Rosco would be coming shortly (lunch was running a little late) so Caroline and I walked Paddy down to the grocery store for some drinks. The house smelled amazing and Hillie had brought out all her fancy dinnerware. The lamb was carved and the veggies were plated up and Rosco arrived just as we sat down to an amazing meal! Everything was so good!

For dessert, John had brought some home-made Oliebollen, a simple and traditional Dutch pastry made mainly of flour and raisins that has been fried and is rolled in powdered sugar prior to eating. They were delicious but dangerous... I could easily eat a whole batch of those puppies!

After eating, the table was cleared and the playing cards were brought out. We were playing Dutch Euchre, an old family favorite. Rosco and I were newbies so the first round was practice, but as the game proceeded the rules were coming back to me. Fairly confident I could manage without Caroline's help, the game turned serious.

I forget how many rounds we played, but it was at least five and we finished close to four after having broken out the chips and candy. The final round was between Hillie and I, and I actually won! Hillie took it like a good sport, though. ;) It was a great afternoon full of fun and laughter and I'd do it again any day.

Then men left shortly after the game was over, and Caroline and I played three rounds of Spelldown (and finished off the junk food) before watching an episode of Frasier in bed.

I had a GREAT week with Hillie and really enjoyed meeting all of her family. Everyone is so happy and made me feel very welcome. Thank you Hillie, for opening your home to me. *hug*



Tomorrow: back to Melbourne and a three o'clock birthday party for Caroline's coworker!

Rainy Days

Tuesday was a relaxing day, starting off with yoga outside under an overcast sky. The sun came out for a bit while we were walking Hillie down to the op shop where she volunteers, but disapeared again in the late afternoon.

That morning, though, Caroline and I went crazy in the op shop! I can't believe that such a small town can have such awesome finds! I found quite a few gifts (books and knick knacks) and a few shirts. Then Hillie showed us the 'dress up' box, where the more outlandish articles were stored, and I found an awesome yellow cape and a red silk karate robe. :) When other shoppers showed up, and gave me a wide berth, I thought I'd better start behaving.



But things turned serious when Caroline found some really pretty skirts. We could each find a new outfit to wear to the pub tomorrow night! Hillie's brother, John, was meeting us, along with Roscoe, Hillie's boy toy. ;) It was as good as occasion as any to dress up, so why not?!

Caroline and I left with big bags of goodies, including some games. When we got home again, it was time for lunch and writing. Hillie returned at a little past three, and while we were trying to psyche ourselves up for yard-work it started raining.

Caroline made us dinner (roast chicken drumsticks and gravy with roast veggies) and I helped Hillie do some dinnerware-rearranging. The rain continued through dinner and a game of Scrabble (Hillie's first) and throughout most of the night.

Also during the night, Squeakers came to visit me. I happened to wake up and hear movement on the floor behind me, then I felt delicate movement on the doona coming towards the back of my neck. Even as I hoped it was only Chester, I knew it was much to small and silent. I flung the blanket away from me and heard a small thump, followed by some scratchy scrabbles around the baseboards to the door.

Turns out none of us slept very well; while I was listening for Squeakers, Hillie and Caroline were getting eaten alive by mozzies. :(

Wednesday was much the same: too wet for yoga but we ate breakfast and returned to the op shop. It was closed but Hillie let us in and showed us the Back Room. Caroline and I needed shoes to go with our new pretty outfits, and Caroline needed a better blouse. We turned over every inch of the place and left with just as much stuff as the day before! I found three really nice backpacks, too, and some knee-high black leather boots! Caroline found a few really great tops that compliment her gorgeous bohemian-style skirt.

On the way home we stopped at the Pyramid Bakery for some cakes for after lunch, and some chips (fries). Lunch was a combo of leftovers and the crispy, salty, yummy fries and Caroline and I worked on our novels while Hillie caught up with Facebook.

When we got restless, we headed out to do some yard work. After a while of weeding and mowing, we came to enjoy the cake and tea, and Caroline and I got in some more writing.

Now we are getting ready for our night out... Gotta go get dressed!! Pictures will come!

Easter Monday (April 5)

Today was one of the best days ever. Caroline and I did yoga outside under the prettiest country sky... hundreds of white fluffy clouds against brilliant blue, and a clear yellow sun giving off gentle warmth. The birds were fluttering about and singing from the trees.

Caroline drove Hillie and I about an hour east to visit Caroline's 91 year-old grandmother in the Rochester hospital. They have a really nice elderly nursing wing, and extremely friendly and caring staff. Hillie's brother John was already there visiting and flirting with the nurses. ;) At his request, Caroline and I signed a guest as per the ritual for all Aaltje's visitors, and the book held quite an impressive list of names. And above her bed was a large collection of black and white photos of the family, some dated 50 years before they moved to Australia from Holland. We would all hope to feel so loved when we're at that stage of our lives.

At lunch time, we headed out to Dawn and Ap's house for an Easter BARBIE. They live on a 16-acre farm and own 20 horses, a great dane, numerous barn cats, and are fostering an injured Gallah that crash-landed in their back yard. John showed up too, as well as many other relatives and everyone contributed to the menu. Caroline and Hillie prepared some potato salad and marinated chicken, which was added to the grill with a huge spread of steaks, burgers, and hot dogs. There was an immense amount of food: salads and macaroni salad and chips and crackers and dips and fries and crab and breads and later, a delicious chocolate/mint cake and vanilla ice cream. Everyone was so welcome, and I immediately felt welcome. As we ate, I heard all sorts of hilarious stories about John and Ap working on the dairy farm, and I could see a lot of my own grandfather in them both. Everyone was so happy and relaxed, and the weather was perfect.

After eating, Ap took us on a tour of his land. He showed us his new-used car, which seemed to be in mint condition despite being 7 years old--and I had to mention how my own grandfather cares for his cars as well. ;) Then we headed out to the PADDOCKS and the horses took interest and came up to the fences. My 8 year-old tour guide, Jay, told me each of their names and was obviously quite comfortable (and talented) with them. Ap took us to see the irrigation canal and told us how it was dug with actual horse power many years ago, and how the flow control has recently been converted to solar power. Heading back to the house, we walked right through a paddock with 4 very friendly horses, which sent me to all kinds of heaven. I had to practically be dragged away. It goes without saying that I've got a zillion pictures!












Just before we headed out, Ap's wife Dawn (along with Jay and little sister Ella) took us out to see the new colt, who hadn't been handled much and was still just a (white) shadow of his mother. When we got back to the house, the dogs had been released (they'd been tied out back while the food was out) and I tried to get some action shots of a Staffy playing fetch but I'd just about killed the camera battery by that point.

So we said goodbyes and headed off back home, stopping for a while at the cemetery to visit Hillie's father, who'd passed away exactly 16 years ago. It was a beautiful final resting place with lots of flowers and cared for grounds. Very peaceful.

We drove home under a beautifully simple sunset. I can't describe how amazing it is to stand upon a stretch of flat earth and be surrounded by an unbroken sky, to turn 360 degrees and not see a single building... it's just such a powerful feeling that I often forget about, and that some people have never experienced. It's inspiring, uplifting. To remember that you are but a tiny speck upon this magnificent planet, coexisting with so many animals and plants and subject to whatever weather mother nature throws at us... It was a perfect ending to a perfect day. I'll remember it fondly forever.

Side-notes:

1. There are locusts. Like, Apocalyptic amounts of locusts. They litter the road and sound like hail hitting the car. It's amazing.

2. I am peeling.

3. The Australian mosquito sucks. It's bite resembles poison ivy and that totally freaks me out. By they're extremely agile bastards.

Or else I have unbelievably poor aim.

4. I went to the DUNNY last night and scared a mouse. :D I'm totally naming him Squeakers. And coincidentally, as I write this, he just ran out of my room.

Tomorrow: writing and trolling the town. And Wednesday, steak night at the pub!
NIGHT!

Happy Easter!

This afternoon Caroline and I caught up with Tara and her family. Tara lives just down the road from Chris, about 10 minutes from Caroline's house. She currently is staying with her mom and brother, and Tara's friend Lisa and Lisa's family were also visiting. Every Friday night, Tara and her family hold a games night, which I've heard from Caroline can be crazy!fun--plus, Tara downloads episodes of Supernatural as soon as they've aired in the States (otherwise, the lag time between countries is a few weeks if watching it on TV). So we invited ourselves over and got on our way!

We piled in Tara's living room and the 9 of us watched two less-then-stellar episodes in which all hope was lost because it is revealed that God doesn't care about humans or the impending Apocalypse. *eye roll* We we then joined by Tara's brother and Grandmother (and a cat) and ate a lent-friendly dinner of fish and chips before breaking open Scattergories. True to reputation, things got crazy!

The game lasted over an hour and was prefect for my initiation night, as I love word games and you didn't have to do anything embarrassing. :) The Horaks are a loud, hilarious bunch and Lisa and her family are great as well. Everyone had an awesome time and it really felt like one big happy family. I left feeling happy and exhausted. We'll defiantly be doing it again!

Saturday morning was a lazy indulgent one. We lazed around and enjoyed the sunshine and played ball with Paddy, then Caroline had a brilliant idea for dinner: soup! Tomorrow we'd be leaving to go to her mom's house, so it made sense to clean out the fridge and use whatever we could from the garden. We harvested a huge pile of beans and chard and a couple beautiful red bell peppers, and from the pantry some potatoes and tomatoes and onion, and from the freezer corn and beef mince. We only needed an extra can of kidney beans from the store, and as soon as we got home we started preparing the veggies and cooking the beef.

It took a good half hour (during which we also had to entertain a Screaming Sheltie with ADHD) to wash and dice everything, but one by one the ingredients went into a huge steel pot to bathe in chicken stock and spices. We left it meld for a while while Caroline found us another online episode of My Kitchen Rules, and we were enjoying restaurant-quality bowls of beef and veggie soup by the end of it. I loved it! Plus, we had enough for ten extra portions to freeze for later. If I thought I could get it through customs, I'd smuggle one back with me!

Sunday morning we got a proper start on the day. We woke up at 6:30 (daylight savings changed overnight) and we did our yoga routine then ate breakfast and packed for our week with Hillie. The dogs were on to us! They were all-too-happy when they were leashed up and bedded down in the back of the station wagon, watching while we loaded in our own bags. At the last minute, Chris asked us to come by his house and pick up a trailer that he wanted brought to Hillie's house. He helped us get on our way, and after just one quick pit stop to switch the luggage and the dogs (Paddy decided he no longer wanted to look out the back window and jumped the seat), we made it safe and sound to Pyramid Hill.

Actually, we pulled up to Hillie's house right behind Russell and Sheree (Caroline's cousin) and their two children. After Russ fixed Hillie's lawnmower, we all sat around the table. Caroline and I had a late lunch while the others snacked and everyone caught up. My iPhone stole the show for a while, after a brief glitch with accessing Hillie's wifi. It was a great, comfortable afternoon and Caroline's entire family is proving to be wonderful! Which is good, because tomorrow I'm meeting even more! ;)

After Russ and his family left, the rest of the night was spent getting settled and making a tasty, simple dinner of soft tacos. I've got the same bedroom as I did two years ago! We went to bed fairly early but my mind was too active. First it was a Rabid Australian mozzie trying to drain my lifeblood, then the bedside clock was too loud. And I had to pee three times. And play with the phone. Then John and Kristine woke up and we played a couple rounds of Words with Friends.

Eventually, though, I fell asleep and had a few really messed up dreams. And when I got up later for yet another pee, a tiny little mouse and I startled each other in the DUNNY. ;)

Thurday, April 1--MOVIE DAY

This morning we finished Into The Wild and then lazed our way through Conversations with God and Life as a House. I've seen Into the Wild once before, long ago, and it was just as powerful the second time around. I can rave about this movie for DAYS, so just take my word for it: if you want a long film and enjoy exploring another lifestyle, this true-life movie can't be beat.

Conversations with God was originally a trio of books, basically transcribing the author's 'conversations' with God. Even if you're not a highly spiritual person, the film is still enjoyable and simplistic, and is packed with many take-home lessons with which you can enrich your life. Caroline owns all three books so afterward, she brought them out and I am slowly making my way through the first.

Life as a House was another surprisingly good movie, laced with spunky dialogue but based on some truly emotional situations. The character arcs are bold and satisfactory, and the ending is both morose and fitting. Those that enjoy Hallmark movies would enjoy this movie, which I consider to be superior but cut from the same cloth.

And then since we were doing so much introspection, decided to pop in The Art of Happiness book on tape--CASSETTE TAPE, that is. Even though we only completed one of the two tapes, I've got four pages of notes. Narrated in part by the Dalai Lama, the advice within is insightful and exploratory. Caroline and I had to pause after each side of the tape to reflect on what we'd learned. The purpose of living is to be happy, but happiness is not easily attained. There are many secrets that when applied, will positively influence anyone's life.

For dinner we had a warm salad made of produce from Caroline's garden (and added tuna on top):


We sat down to watch some mindless TV after all this serious soul-searching, and skipped between a show about vacation getaways, So You Think You Can Dance, and some show on weird-ass food where the chef made meatballs to look like fruit, a pigeon pie with actual pigeon, and for dessert, edible tableware. The silverware was made of chocolate and dusted with silver, the decorative walnuts were marzipan, and napkins were sheets of icing, and the CANDLES WERE WHITE CHOCOLATE FILLED WITH CARAMEL SAUCE. Guh.

But like St. Patrick's Day, I didn't even realize it was April Fool's until it was over. *whine* That's the curse of being on vacation and losing all sense of time. :)

An afternoon in the CITY

This afternoon we decided to try Sacs Gluten Free cafe, which used to be named Silly Yaks and obviously specializes in gluten free foods, mainly breads, cakes, and cookies. Our ulterior motive is to form a roster of cafes suitable for all-day writing stints. The place has to be fairly quiet, have comfortable seating, a view of something, and have good food at fair prices. We can't feel in the way, either. And it has to be fairly close to home or easy to get to.

So we loaded up the laptops (just in case we got lucky first time out) and after returning the two overnight rentals, headed into the city. We stopped at a couple of Op shops along the way but didn't find any must-haves.

Walking into Sacs, I noticed a sign on the door that forbid the entry of outside food. Sacs stands for Special Allergy Cafe and Store and is has quite a reputation. We sat down and ordered lunch and for a while, we were the only ones sitting down at a table. One by one, customers would come in to buy a loaf of bread or a few desserts (which looked SPECTACULAR), but by the time our meals were served, the lunch crowd came filtering in.


I ordered the gnocchi ragu:


And Caroline ordered a steak and bacon pie:


Both dishes were great and I wouldn't have known either were suited for dietary restraints. In fact, there were several other dishes that I'd love to go back and try. AND DESSERT!!!! Although not really suitable as a writing cafe, I still give it a major two thumbs up!

Since we didn't get any writing done (but wanted to) Caroline took me to the State Library so we could sit for a while there. What an amazing place! The building is HUGE and crowded with high school and college-aged kids, both eating on the front lawn and packed into the many computer/reading rooms. They are doing homework. And being quiet. It's WEIRD.

We checked out the Victorian Writer's Center, a writing group that recently moved into one of the buildings connected to the library. One day soon, Caroline is going to join the group.



After stowing my backpack in a locker (yes, the library has a rental locker room), we passed through SECURITY and made our way into one of the less crowded reading rooms. The room was massive, with a second floor bordering the edge and a huge glass dome ceiling. The center of the room was filled with tables and chairs and on either side, rows of long work stations with power outlets. We found a pair of empty seats next to some girls working on math homework and quickly got to work. It's a great place to be if you need a more disciplined work environment, as the near-silence while everyone around you works puts a you-should-be-busy-too feeling in the air. We stayed for a couple hours and squeezed out a few hundred words before deciding to take our leave in hopes of beating rush hour.

For dinner that night we got set up with leftover fajitas and another movie, Into the Wild. But about an hour into it, Caroline's brother Chris called and wanted us to accompany him to the art gallery where he's been working, while he did some late-night touch-ups. We put everything away and got changed back into presentable clothes, and he picked us up around 8.

The art gallery is located on the second and third floors of an old building that used to be a house. Chris has been doing renovations since before my first visit to Australia and he walked us through all the transformations he's made. His work is incredible (walls and windows removed or installed, lighting rewired, paint, even a huge movable wall that is both functional and beautiful. Caroline and I looked at the questionable artwork on display while Chris worked, and encountered the third floor's resident Ghost Cat.



I do not understand most modern art:



But to each their own, I guess. I think the trick to selling artwork is to have a huge gallery opening and get everyone drunk enough to shell out hundreds of dollars. Who else would spend that much for a 'Golden Vagina' original print??

When Chris was done working we followed him to Grill'd and stole some of his fries as he ate and we talked about the differences between Australian and American culture.

Back at home, we tried to finish Into the Wild but the night was late and we had to save the ending for the next day. *yawn*

*Tracked my Tour today...

Viruses and Cell Phones

This morning a nasty redirected virus continued to plague Caroline's laptop. The problem seemed to originate from downloading a sunrise video clip from Limewire--a file sharing program that John has warned me about countless times. There was confusion as to what the problem was: Internet Explorer, Google, or Windows itself. Windows pop-ups bombarded the laptop, each claiming to have detected a deadly virus and warning the computer would exploded unless a credit card number was provided immediately. It reeked of a scam. But the internet browser had been hijacked, and navigating to a website was impossible. With the aid of my laptop and a thumb drive, Caroline got AVG and Malwarebytes installed, but while each found the virus, neither would dispose of it (for free). We turned to Spyware Doctor, since almost a year ago I had purchased it for my computers and you are allowed 5 installs with your purchase. It went to work on Caroline's computer and in 3 hours had found over 300 nasties.

Also during all this, Caroline began debating over a new cell phone. There are so many choices!! Her current contract expired in three days--should she switch providers as well? What model phone? What type of plan? Internet capabilities was a must, mainly the ability to check email and use Skype. With some basic parameters in mind, we headed out to the shopping mall.

Northland was packed, as usual. We checked out all of the major cell phone companies and gathered information from each. None of the sales reps were extremely helpful. And as soon as you mention the iPhone, that's the only thing they want to sell you. It almost felt like we were shopping for a car! It was overwhelming and frustrating.

To lift our spirits, Caroline suggested a movie night and fajitas. We ran through the grocery store for steak and avocado and on the way home, stopped by an electronics store with the notion that maybe a third party could give us some unbiased cell phone answers. Almost immediately, Caroline found the phone she wanted. Within ten minutes we were headed home again, new phone in hand.

As I ran inside to dump off our groceries before heading to Blockbuster, I ran into Hillie who was just getting ready to leave. She was heading home to Pyramid, located a few hours north. We drove her to the train station to see her off with tentative plans to see her again for Easter. She arrived home safely later that night.

Caroline and I browsed Blockbuster for some shallow movies with pretty boys, but only one in six actually fit the bill. The others were much deeper, introspective movies that also looked good. We had a lot of TV hours ahead of us! Then we ran through another grocery store to get some ice cream, since we still had BROWNIES at home! Might as well go all the way, right?? :)



That night we had fajitas for dinner (made by me, who has never cooked fajitas before in my life) and settled down to watch our first movie, The Narrows. We'd picked it because it looked straight-forward and angsty, but it proved to be a much stronger movie than that. We were surprised by the complexity and subject matter and although we weren't prepared, still enjoyed it very much--more than we anticipated. I give it two thumbs up: the story will suck you in and the ending will surprise you.

Next, after refueling with brownies, ice cream and tea, we watched Mao's Last Dancer--a movie I'd seen advertised EVERYWHERE (on buses, billboards, and video stores) but knew nothing about. I probably wouldn't have watched this movie on my own--I just don't go for true-life stories of any sort, let alone ones about ballet--but I'd recommend this one to everyone. The story is only strengthened by the knowledge that it actually happened, and the on-location cinematography is beautiful. Whether or not you like ballet has nothing to do with the impact this movie creates. It is a story of possibility and triumph, and will definitely give you some things to think about.

Goodnight!