Down under we celebrated Thanksgiving a week later then you, on Sunday December 6th. Michael and I had 8 friends over to our place and I cooked a $85, 15 lbs fresh turkey. It was the largest one I could get from my local butcher. I could have picked up a smaller froozen bird at the grocery store for about $50 but cooking 2 just wouldn't have fit in my Australian sized oven. This year I knew a few more Americans and was able to con them into cooking the classic side dishes. Leaving me with just the turkey, gravy, stuffing and 3 pumpkin pies. This years festivities included some of the guests from last year and a group of new friends like Iral, Dean, Adam and Max and David (2 American's that just moved here a few months ago) So the tradiation has been started. Like so many of you we talked, laughed and ate WAY too much food. By evening time when the guests had all left and the kitchen was cleaned I was just a lump on the sofa.
The next week just flew by and before I knew so did being 40! All of a sudden I was 40 something. The day was spent at work. Where I shared a pumpkin cheese cake with my coworkers. It's the tradiation, at least in my office, that the birthday person brings in a treat to share. Last year I resisted this custom. Still hoping to hang on to the events of Portland where all the people that loved you in the office would take you to lunch. Not all was lost because my friends Dean (in the blue shirt sitting on the sofa, on the left side of the photo) did take me to lunch in the city. Thanks! Dean. In the evening I went to the gym after work (I know I am getting old!) then Iral and I had a nice dinner at an italian resturant with a view of the Yarra river and the city skyline. To top the evening off we went to the casino and paid them to entertain us for a little while. The big highlight of the day was when Phyllis called me and I got to catch up with her for a few minutes. It was almost like I wasn't 10,000 miles away. I need to thank all those people that wished me happy birthday. The new friends I have here made my tranistion much easier and the old friends I have around the world still bring me joy from so far away.
Part of the reason I kept my birthday calm this year was the Melbourne Rainbow Band had thier Christmas Concert, "Carols by Queerlight" the following night and I need to be at my best to perform well. The evening was a lot of fun. The band of 35 musicains where accompanied by the 60 people strong Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Choir and about 400 people attend the free concert. The evening was wonderful. Mother natured cooperated by not doucing us with buckets of rain like last year and kept us near 75 degrees all evening. Perfect weather to play a night time concert. Hopefully some of you braved the long, cold, dark night and tuned into JOY fm for the live web broadcast.
That's the big things that have been keeping me busy. I've been doing a lot of the same things you have trying to get ready for Chrsitmas. But this morning I bought the last gift! I have 2 packages to get in the mail and I'm hoping they make it to the states before the big day. There are 2 more weeks of work until the office shut down on Christams Eve. Then I'm off work until January 11th. WAH FREAKIN HOO! It's customary for a lot of business to close for 2 full weeks in Australia. So in the middle of summer you're forced to take a vacation. I know that many of you are say... Oh boy that's a rough life! But since it's a forced leave and we are also forced to use our vacation time or take it without pay. I am short a little time so I'll be taking 1 or 2 days without pay.
Last year I spent the holidays in Tasmainia camping. This year I'll be home for xmas and then heading up to Cairns, The Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef for 6 nights at a gay resort over New Years Eve. Now that's a rough life! When I get back from that trip I'll still have 6 day before returning to work. So I might take a few and go camping. You'll have to tune in next year to find out what happens.
Happy birthday to Robin Melin on the 23rd. Merry Christmas and a Happy 2010 to everyone!
Maybe someone will make a New Year's resolution to visit Australia!
Take care and enjoy the holidays I miss you all!
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