AUSTRALIA DAY!!!

Jan. 26th is Australia Day...and what better thing to do on Australia Day than become an Aussie citizen! That's what Cynthia did, and what a ceremony!! Congrats Cynthia!! The rest of the day was the typical "Off your face amazing race" you'd find on Canada Day...here's a few pics, of some new cool peeps I met that day...

Mais 'ttend minute luh, c'est pas beautiful ca??

This is too funny not to put on this site...especially if you attended gradeschool with me..or speak a few words of French, it's hilar ca!
http://www.tetesaclaques.tv/video.php?vid=42

What do Australia's PM and GOB Bluth have in common?

Even if you are not a fan of the serious "Arrested Development" this is a shocking read. In season 3 as GOB is attempting to argue the fact that Steve Holt is his son he says " I hear the jury's still out on science." On TV it's funny in real life, and when it is the political leader of your country it's a little unnerving...

On February 7th, John Howard(Australian PM) was asked if he supported Minister of Industry,

Ian Macfarlane, who was still out and proud about his scepticism of the link between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
His answer: "The jury is still out on the degree of connection."
Howard returned to the chamber a few hours later to clarify his position, saying he thought he had been asked about the link between the drought and climate change.

When I saw this, I was really sickened and although I've noticed a fairly strong lack of knowledge and caring for environmental issues I was absolutely shocked to find that the PM would make such a ridiculous statement. Not to mention that it is only the last month or so that they are discussing this among other issues such as the massive drought and renewable energy. Just this morning it was announced that people are suffering from more frequent asthma attacks, with the QUESTION of whether it has something to do with environmental changes or not...Seriously!

One positive thing I have seen here is the use of "Green bags" instead of plastics at many retail and most grocery stores.

I hope that anyone reading this is(or finds themselves more and more) concerned about environmental issues and understands their own potential to do something about it.

I'm not the greenest person, in fact my brother Brendan(who most of you know) has really encouraged me to open my eyes, and could help do the same for you.

If you are interested check out his blog at: http://brendanpatrick.blogspot.com/

He's got tonnes of links and interesting facts and figures. CHECK IT OUT!!

My Place...in Newtown(20/01/07)

After much searching, and meeting some of the strangest people, I found a place....
Honestly it was quite trying...at one house I was interviewed while the share mates played risk and were asking me how to capture Ontario.. One girl at another house told me she didn't believe in TV because it was always "like bombarding me with so much like violence and hatred, I couldn't take it anymore"..ok, so it's like better to like block out the world....also as some of you know I have a slight attachment to tv(although here where you get all of 4 channels that's changed a bit)...
Anyways, my new place is in a suburb called Newtown, an artsy gay/lesbian area, which is really cool. I live with 3 kiwis (Nathan, Kat and Carl) they are really friendly, pics to come. It's great, three floors, my own bathroom and balcony,what a change from the hostels!!!! But cost of living is ridic here, I'm paying $162/wk(and that's considered cheap here), I saw some serious dumps for $200/wk...
Soooo glad I have a home!

New Year's Eve in Sydney AU(31/12/06)

New Year's Eve is a pretty huge thing here. In particular,watching the fireworks at the Harbor Bridge/Opera House is a big thing, and attracts massive crowds. We had heard you had to head down early to get a good spot so we headed down about 1:00pm, with some new Canadian friends to meet our German dorm-mates(Climens and Tina see pics) from the hostel...You can drink all you want, but if you have to use the toilets, you are totally screwed as I found out...I completely missed the first set of fireworks at 9pm even though I left for the toilets at 8:15pm and they were only about 100ft. away...it was absurd! The fireworks however were amazing they were all over the harbour and behind us on buildings...everywhere, not to mention they started them off with a Rufus W. tune...it was superb...

Christmas at Bondi Beach (Dec 23-26 2006)

Steve and I moved down to Bondi beach for the cmas holiday, because we heard it was a huge party and it's a beach...We met some pretty cool people and had a great time.. Christmas day was a little dull weather wise, beaches full of people wearing santa hats, apparently they don't really decorate here and only tacky people put up "fairy lights"(christmas lights)...bars shut fairly early and we just ended up watching "Bad Santa" on the tele....man did I wish I was home at that point....mmmm turkey and latkes...

Christmas at Aaron and Patty's (10/12/06)

I was lucky enough to have been invited to a true Christmas lunch with turkey and all the fixins' at my good friend Laura's(b-dot) brother's house, who came to Australia years ago on vacay and never left, and since married a lovely Australian Patty. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures, but fortunately I forgot my camera at their place and they took a couple for me...people in pics are friends of both, Aaron's in the blue on the left here, with Vicki, and Patty's ducking out in the background...thanks for the pics guys..