HAPPY HOLIDAYS

December down under is a thing quite different than what I have grown used to living in the states. Christmas being the all encompassing thing that is projected on your every waking moment and even while you sleep sugar plum fairies dance in your dreams. Here the stores have subtle, tasteful window displays. Myers, the Macy’s of Australia did have a big unveiling of their holiday window displays a couple weeks back. Beautiful decorations of all the usual fake snow, with moving trains, sleighs and trees, excited little ones with presents all around. I think I saw little Cindy Lou Hoo. Christmas music is in all the bigger stores, but not all the little mom and pop places. Most definitely the malls are doing their best to dress up the image of the shopping season. The stores are having sales; the people are running their holiday errands. The major streets in downtown have hung stars and red bells between the over head tram lines. Even my band is doing some carols by queerlight. But the feeling you get in your day to day travels, at least from my perspective, is that the big day we all wait for is months away. There’s no Salvation Army person ringing the little bell asking for your change in every shopping centre. There’s no boy/girl scout troop in the vacant lots selling you a lovely blue spruce or flocked fir tree. There’s no breaking story of Old Saint Nick popping up in the usual places on all the TV stations. Only maybe 1 in 50 houses have any sort of visible outdoor decorations. And I’ve only seen 1 house, ok it’s was just a balcony in a complex on my street, that even had Christmas lights. A single strand of white lights that I’m not 100% sure aren’t there year round anyway. I have heard no carols on the radio stations. There’s no talk of a white Christmas. But the most sobering factor that it’s just not anywhere near Rudolph time is that fact that our days are long and warm and the trees all are full of leaves. The sun is up before me, 6:30am and sticks around till at least 8pm. It has been rainy and grey at times this spring. But the sun peaks out every day and the average temperatures are in the mid 70. Luckily on my 40th birthday it even rose into the low 80s. Now that’s a first for me! I have pulled out the few decorations I saved that made the long voyage over here. They’re scattered about the living room (or lounge in Aussie).

Last week I did get 2 care packages from home. Which were huge boost to my holiday spirit. My mom sent me a host of items from girl scout cookies and grape jelly to tapioca (thanks to Grandma!) and 24 individual packs of Oreos. There was even a new set of sheets, which I greatly needed. The flannel ones I brought just aren’t right on these warm December nights. Phyllis and my friends at URS in Portland sent me more grape jelly (I really love this so 2 is most welcome) some Safeway fliers reminding me what a turkey should cost and a 50’ extension cord (I specifically asked for this, it’s a camping thing) and a book of fortune matches from The Mandarin Cove ( a Chinese restaurant/bar in my old building) with a fortune some one very wise wrote. “We’re laughing at you, NOT with you”. But the sweetest thing of all that Phyllis sent making it Christmas at the push of a button is my new Santa “Sax player” Claus. Just watch the video and you’ll understand so much more!






Since Christmas isn’t sucking the oxygen we breathe out of the air, there’s time to focus on other things. Like this poster I recently noticed in my neighbourhood. As they say a picture is worth 1000 words. This one should give you a little understanding of how much Australia and the rest of the world is looking forward to the change in Washington DC. I wonder if the Australians have ever heard of separation of church and state?

I spent last weekend clinging to one of my winter joys. While satisfying my unique desire to explore the unknown by renting a car and driving up to the Cross Country skiing area, Lake Mountain. In doing so I was able to visit another Australian wonder, this time the Yarra Ranges National Park. I had to pass little towns like Healesville and Marysville (yes all chuckle, I went to Marysville, without a frock or even a baton!) to get up into the high hill country Victoria has to offer. Lake Mountain is about 80 kilometres outside of town. Along a very windy narrow road. A place I wanted to find in good weather so when there’s snow I’ll have a better idea on the path and time it takes. It’s looking good that I’ll be able to still do some day trips up to the frosty white stuff. HUGE YEAH! It’ll just be in July and August while most of you are thinking of how to keep cool. The dead end road takes you to a place with more than 20 kilometres of groomed trails, there’s a rental shop, cafeteria, 4 HUGE parking lots with shuttle buses and a real bathroom. All things Ed, Corina and I never had at Teacup on Mt Hood. With that said I’ll be without the part that always made skiing the most fun, Ed and Corina (and Roger too)! So don’t you guys be surprised if you get a phone call from the slopes next summer!

This particular day wasn’t meant for skiing it was meant for exploring and hiking. Once I wandered the buildings I changed into some more appropriate clothes for 1433 metres in elevation (maybe 4400’) and set out on the Lake Mountain summit loop trail, 4 km and 4 viewpoints to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. At my first stop I just sat listening to the birds, the wind in the trees and the roar of the fluffy clouds passing by. Taking in all the wonders of the outdoors and releasing the tensions of city life. This helped restoring a balance within my body that only the sweet nectar of fresh national park air can do. The next view point was equally breathtaking. But had one more tid bit of detail, a sign marker naming the peaks off in the distance. Some one at the parks service even has a sense of humour. Click on the sign photo to enlarge it and see if you can find what I thought was amusing.

I spent several hours out on the trail. Trying to soak up as much peace and solitude as possible before getting back into the rental and heading for the big city. I continued on my loop drive to Warburton where I found a great little fish and chips shop for dinner. Also along my travels I located a home improvement store where I was able to acquire some camping items Ed always had that I never realized how much I needed. A good hand saw, axe, leather gloves for tending the fire with. Just imagine the looks I got from the people in my apartment complex lugging a big ax into the house in this urban environment. In all it was a GREAT day spent wandering, investigating and absorbing new experiences. This has helped quell my itchy britches for a little while longer.

Monday brought back work and the realization that I can’t avoid turning 40 much longer. The gym and sax practice kept the week busy, before I knew it was the big day. I went to work just as any other day. I got many well wishes from co-workers and several ecards from friends across the US. Thank you to everyone! In the evening I had band practice and it was our last one before the holiday concert. At practice I learned it was another band mates 29th birthday on the 12th. So several of us went to a local bar and had a few celebratory drinks watching my b’day turn into his. I took Friday off of work and slept in a little. The rest of the day was spent making a list and checking it twice for my trip to the Australian island state of Tasmania! I leave for 12 nights of camping on Saturday the 20th and there’s a long list of things to get in order to ensure my days and nights are filled with comfort. Friday evening Michael and Giacomo and I went out for dinner to a nice Italian restaurant to celebrate my old age. Then it was out for more birthday drinks. In all it was a good birthday. I was flush with well wishes from new and old friends. Had my share of birthday drinks and realized 40 really doesn’t feel any older than 39 did! Don’t get me wrong I still wonder how the hell I got so old so fast! I don’t feel 40. I don’t really have any idea on what 40 should feel like. I remember my parents, Aunt and Uncles turning 40 and thinking it’ll be 2008 when I’m THAT OLD! Crash bang boom! 2008 is here! Where the hell did the time go? Time has barely moved since Shelley and I were getting totally smashed in Willimantic and I was turning 21. It seems like only a few years since John and I left Connecticut to explore the US living in a van. Who knows what the next 40 years will bring. All I can hope for is that they filled with more friends like all of you reading my blog now. Thank you to everyone for making sure I felt loved from so far away.

Saturday evening the members of the Melbourne rainbow Band gathered with our friends from the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus to perform Carols by Queerlight in Pahran Market. (Micheal and I at the intermission) The event went very well. This did start making it feel more like Santa was on his way. A large crowd had gathered for this free sing a long and many people were donning the Santa hat and Rudolph antler head gear I’ve come to expect at this time of year. We played the perennial old favourites like twelve days of Christmas (or "boredom" as our sheet music called it), Jingle bells, Hark the herald angel sing. With the chorus and crowd singing along. We played a medley of standard songs, like Frosty and Mama kissing Santa, with Deck the Halls and several others mixed in. There were solo performances from the chorus and Melbourne Gay Youth Chorus (the only one of its kind in Australia). The entire show was broadcast live on Joy FM, Melbourne Gay radio station. I hope some of you braved the dark cold hours of the night to listen in on line. (my band mates, Bob and Adrain Fellow saxophonist. Then Chris and Luke with the chorus behind them)

That's it for a few weeks everyone here is preparing to break for Christmas and New Years. So I have a few Holiday parties to attend. More trips to the gym, band practice is over until 2009. Before long I’ll be soaking the sun from even farther south than where I sit typing this entry. This will be my last update before 2009 arrives. I want to thank everyone that has helped me through 2008, it was a good year. I want to wish Robin Melin a HAPPY 46th Birthday on December 23rd. I want to say I love and miss you to my dad. I hear his voice in my head all the time and take comfort in knowing there’s a part of him inside me. Lastly, I want to wish everyone a VERY WONDERFULLY HOLIDAY SEASON!!! 2009 will bring us many things and I hope for each and everyone one of you. There are many moments of joy and happiness in your lives. Take I love and miss you all!

Until 2009, Brian

Thanksgiving 2008

Today’s entry starts a few days before the big Turkey Day….

The weekend before I spent some time preparing the menu, going over recipes to pick the perfect food items to show off our national holiday to my new Australian friends. I had to make several trips to various stores. Of course one of them being the previously mentioned USA food Store. Where I picked up just a few items this time. A box of bisquick to make the biscuts with for $10, a can of cranberry sauce for $5, plus a few other things and a Whatamacallit candy bar. I had forgotten how much I loved those as a kid.

I spent some time searching my neighbourhood for all the right things needed. Items like a pan that will hold a good sized bird and fit in my oven. Which proved harder than you would think I had to bring one pan back because it was too big. I found another one that with a little manipulation I was able to get into the oven. I ended up taking some pliers and bending the handles down flat. The oven in our apartment is brand new. Which is nice, but it’s only 43 cm wide (about 17”), small by American standards. I think I could fit the entire unit into the oven I had back in Portland. I also spent about 2 hours looking for a turkey! There aren’t giant freezer sections with piles and piles of turkeys waiting for every Australian to come pick out that special one. The grocery stores, Coles and Safeway, in my area don’t even stock small turkeys at this time of year. So I trekked to the 4 or 5 butcher shops along Carlisle Street. (the main strip just a ½ block from my apartment) All of these places are locally own mom and pop shops. Some are more like delis, with some raw cuts of meat. No where did they stock turkeys here either. I compared prices at the 3 shops that could order me one (with a 1 week notice) and placed my order for a 6 to 7 kilo fresh bird at $9 AU a kilo (about $2.70 per lb US). Once I had my lists created, as many items completed as possible, all my things in order. (If you’ve been to one of my dinners you know I like EVERYthing to be in order.) There was a little weekend left for me to do some relaxing.

Sunday (Nov 23rd) afternoon, I took the book I’m currently reading (a gift before leaving Portland by Rob and Michelle Lennox), entitled "The Brothers K" by David James Duncan. Which is about a family of 8, baseball and 7 day Adventists from Camas Washington. 2 topics that I don’t hold a lot of interest for me. However the book is very well written and I’m finding the 600+ pages hard to put down. But I digress…
On a beautifully sunny, windy, near 75 degree day I grabbed the book and head down to the beach. Hoping to find a beautiful place to do some reading along the shore line. My stroll to the beach takes only about 15 minutes. All kinds of people are milling around on this lovely afternoon. Tourist, young lovers, screaming kids, and sweet older couples holding hands are scattered about. Near one of the piers I notice off in the distance there are some paragliding surfers. Tony and I saw some of these while in Florida back in June. People jump into a elaborate harnes thing that goes over the shoulders, around the waist and up between the thighs, with a good size parachute attached to it. Strap a small surf board kind of like a wake board to their feet and let the wind sail them along on top of the water. I watch these guys come very close to the pier and then sail off into the distance again. As one guy did I noticed a lot more of these crazy people doing the same thing farther down the beach. I thought to myself I have to get a closer look and besides this must take a lot of upper body strength which means a good chance at seeing some hot men all wet! As a draw closer I can see they have set up on a small stretch of beach and seem to be having some type of competition. There’s a guy in a tent with coloured flags, a fog horn and a megaphone. All the participants (men and women alike) are wearing full wet suits so maybe the water isn’t as warm as it could be in late spring. The beach is littered with more parachutes and I tried several times to count the people out on the water coming up with somewhere around 30. This looks fun to watch so I plant my butt on the sea wall and enjoy the show for a while. The MC blares into the megaphone that in 5 minutes the leaping round of the event will start. With this 5 or 6 more contestant hurry to get their giant kites strapped on and into the water. There are so many of these people out on the water I wonder how they can sail in all directions without getting their lines all knotted up with each other. It seems to be utter pandemonium. After a few minutes I start to see a pattern develop. The people farthest from the shore are widely scattered and going from the left end of the bay towards the right. Then there was another row of people going from the right to the left. This is more densely packed but in a fairly efficient organized manor. Then there a row that is the closest to the shoreline and these people are neatly one at a time running from left to right in front of the judge’s tables. The MC is back on the Mega phone announcing the start of this time period. They change the flag from red to green and lay into the fog horn. All of a sudden people are literally flying in the air. Each person takes their turn coming be near the tent and leaping off of the surface of the water 20, 30 or even 40 feet into the air. Boards strapped to the feet, kicking them back, trying hand stands, doing turns and some moves I can’t really explain. All to impress the judges. I tried to get a movie clip for the blog but it was just too difficult to get a still set of images with the wind so strong, not to mentioned the shear awe of watching all of these people at once made it difficult to do more than just stare. I must have sat there for 30 minutes or more watching in amazement. I couldn’t tell you who was winning. In my book they all got awards for skill and expertise beyond words.

After this amazing display of fun I wandered a little more down the beach road and found my book reading space. A little bench in the middle of some dunes between the roadway and the beach. A quiet spot without a lot of foot traffic where I could still watch the adrenaline junkies and have enough solitude to read. As the evening wore on I found my way back to a restaurant along the beach for some dinner, to get out of the sun and wind, but let’s not forget the real driving force here a glass of vodka. Shortly after dinner I wandered home and before you know it Monday morning was at hand and I had to work all 5 days while my American counterparts were looking at the short work week of thanksgiving.

Monday evening the gym, Tuesday evening Sax practice, Wednesday evening the gym again, Thursday something a little more exciting! I picked up the 7 kilo (14lb) fresh turkey from the butcher shop and left them my thanks along with $60, ($40 US). Has anyone reading this blog paid $40 for a turkey EVER in their lives! My guess is probably not! Typically, Australians eat turkey and seafood for Christmas. The clerk mentioned that at Christmas the price goes up to $12 to $14 a kilo! What I had forgotten is that turkeys aren’t native to Australia. They don’t gobble through the forests looking for grubs in the leaf litter here. They all get shipped in, from you guessed it, the good old US of A.

After taking Tom the turkey home and putting him in the fridge I was off to band practice. We only have 3 more rehearsals until the Christmas concert on Saturday Dec. 13th. Taking place at Prahran Market and we’ll be joined by the Melbourne Gay Chorus. The whole show is to be broadcast live on Joy FM 94.9. The gay radio station here in town. They do broadcast on line so if you want to listen in check out their website at http://www.joy.org.au/. Keep in mind we’re 19 hours ahead of the west coast and 16 hour ahead of the east coast. 8:30pm Saturday night here is 4:30am in the east and 1:30am Saturday morning in the west. (if my math is right).

Friday evening I ran through all of the recipes one more time making my list and checking it twice. Another trip to the store for the freshest fruits and vegetables. Then a little time for Brian, which means I went out for a drink… After all it is Friday night and I had 2 days of cooking ahead of me.

Saturday morning I’m up at 8am and off to the store for the last few items. Back at the house around 9am to start prepping the menu items. First it’s chopping all the items for making the stuffing from scratch (there’ no Stovetop stuffing and not even a generic brand I could find) I had surfed the web for a few recipes and remembered Grandma’s sausage stuffing with "Tom’s" organs…. After sautéing up some onions and celery with spices. I open up the turkey and realize there’s only the neck, no little bag of internal organs. I'm not sure where they went but they weren’t there. I boiled up the neck with some pieces of fat I cut off and made a nice broth which I saved to use on the turkey when I cooked it. Michael (my flat mate) was up now and very helpful. He takes direction well and was trusted peeling potatoes and sweet potatoes along with making the shrimp stuffed devilled eggs. All ingredients in a bowl and put it his 1984 food chopper turn it on and POOF a bang and a big cloud of smoke. We broke the darn thing. Michael justified it by saying it hadn’t been turned on in 2 years, luckily there was no fire and the smoke alarm didn't go off. The picture doesn’t do the scene justice. This thing was really smoking. It smelt like burnt plastic and metal. It was good for a laugh and we were able to salvage the devilled egg batter. The prep cook day ended about 3pm with a nice pumpkin pie. Nice because I burned the crust a little and the pie dish was more of a deep dish apple pie plate then a pumpkin pie plate, not to mention this is the first time I used the new oven. Any cook knows too many variables and things just don’t always go as planned.

The rest of Saturday afternoon was actually spent in bed napping so I could go out again that evening. My band friend, Andy, (See Numurkah entry) had invited me to come along with him to a private party that was taking place as a warm up to “Beyond” A big leather party that happens 3 or 4 times a year in a warehouse in the central business district. This was my 1st private party invite and I didn’t want to miss it. But going out on Friday night and up early cooking all day left me wiped out. Unfortunately, I’m not 21 anymore no matter how many times I say at least I’m NOT 40 yet, I really needed the nap. I got up around 8 and got ready to go. Stepping out on our little balcony I caught this beautiful sunset. Being the good little boy my mother always hoped I’d be (but never was as a child) I was home by 1am (skipping the big warehouse party that went until 9am) and back up at 7:30am prepping Tom for the oven. Dinner was to be served at 2pm and there were still several hours of cooking to be done. Around noon the first guests arrive on schedule and in true “I am my father’s son” fashion I put them to work. There were appetizer plates to be put together and I still had to get a couple things in casserole dishes so when the turkey was done they were ready to go into the oven. Right on time the turkey was done and I pulled it out of the oven. The room quickly erupted in Ooohhs and Aaahhhs (As any good cook would expect) 1 golden brown turkey done and now back to the remaining dishes. I learned that I can fit 3 casseroles in the oven at once. But which ever one is on top will burn. I also learned the Australian marshmallows melt instead of puffing up and browning. Good thing there was only one other American that knew what dishes should taste and look like. So I scrapped off the burnt Durkee freeze dried onion from the green bean casserole and placed some tinfoil under the sweet potatoes. Then dinner is served. (They’re several more dishes on a small table behind the photographer.) After all of the guests had filled their plates I went to fill mine and would you believe it BOTH drumsticks were still there! I pointed out that people fight over these legs of savoury tender dark meat back home. The only thing I forgot in all that preparing was to open the can of cranberry sauce! Which I didn’t remember until I was at work on Monday. The guests gobbled up turkey, potatoes, Bisquick biscuits and so much more. We drank wine, beer and my beloved vodka. We laughed, we cried (tears of joy) and we even dropped a bouquet of flowers all over the kitchen floor. (a hostess mishap). The guests from left to right are Brian (back of his head, not me another one), Giacomo (my Italian friend that reminds me of Sven), Jock (Michael's’ boyfriend) Sam (the other American) Peter (stuffing his face) , Ian ( a friend of Michael’s he used to live with), Peter and Darrin (Darrin was a friend of Michael’s that used to live in Byron Bay and Peter is his boyfriend) Then my flat mate Michael is seen just barely on the right. A couple others showed up later but by then I was done cooking and taking photos. I had moved on to the drinking part of the afternoon. Once our stomachs had settle enough to fit more food in I served up the best dam pumpkin pie ever seen outside of America! You must understand that Australian’s eat pumpkin like any other squash they roast it, put in curry stir-fry, grill it or, boil it and mash it like potatoes. But no one in the room except me and Sam had ever had it in a pie. Like with all my dinners the guest lingered all afternoon and as they departed each took a little bag of goodies for them to enjoy later. Around 8pm when the last guest departed, Michael and I practically fell on the floor in exhaustion. By then most of the cleaning had been completed and everything in our home was back in its place. I was in bed at 9pm and this is after falling asleep in a chair out on the balcony.

The holiday, in all, was a GREAT one. Michael was a HUGE help throughout the process and many times during the party came up to me and asked what he could to do help. This was our first dinner party in our new home and I hope it is the start of many more to come. I think a new tradition has been started here and I invited the guests to come back next year for more turkey. The only draw back to the entire event was that I had to work the next day and couldn’t properly enjoy all the leftovers. I was able to save some stuffing from the bird and some dark meet for my lunch the next day.

Monday morning came too quickly, as it always does. Dragging my but out of bed at 6:30am was tough. All morning at work there was a little piece of happiness in my heart, knowing that I had my lunch leftover waiting for me in the fridge.

This so ends my first thanksgiving in Australia. I hope you all had a fabulous time with your families and friends. You were thought of many times through out my day. You are all welcome and now officially invited to attend Thanksgiving Dinner Australian Style next year.

Next up on the horizon is the previously mentioned Christmas concert with the band, my 40th b’day (arrgg can we skip this part PLEASE), the company Christmas party on the 19th and my departure for my next big adventure. On December 20th at 7:30am I get on a auto ferry for a 8 hour ride to another part of the land down under. 12 nights, through Christmas and New Years, camping and travelling all around Australia’s Island State… that should be a big enough hint for you all to guess where I’m going. So stayed tuned for future updates to Brian’s Travels Down Under!


Happy Birthday to Michael Gustafson, on the 5th (I think that’s the right day)