Priceless

Conor and I went to the park this afternoon. We brought our frisbee along and tossed the disc back and forth for about twenty minutes. (We were practising for our return to Bella.) We walked around the park on our way home, stopping for two six-packs ($36 AUS). After a quick cat nap, Conor departed for a late afternoon jog. While he was out running, I searched for a house in Baltimore on the internet. It is now time to cook dinner, spinach ravioli in a garlic cream sauce, and I am enjoying one of our expensive beers as I sit on our couch in our tiny, clean apartment - thinking to myself, "What a wonderful way to end the weekend..." 

We both left work late on Friday evening. I arrived home at about 7:30, and after a quick shower, our friend Jenn scooped us, and our sleepover supplies, up. We spent the night in Mitchelton at Jenn and Dan's beautiful home. Dan cooked us a lovely lamb curry. We drank a few bottles of wine while relaxing on their new deck. We watched a slide-show of the photos from their recent wedding - (a failed attempt to prove to Conor that we must have a professional photographer at our wedding). Although the photos were beautiful, I fell asleep on the living room floor and missed out on brownie sundaes.

The following morning we went for a drive through New Farm, stopping for brunch at The Little Larder. The four of us shouted out random things Conor and I need to do before we leave Brisbane. We managed to make a list of four things we still need to do in the next four weeks. After getting dropped back at home, Conor and I changed our clothes and got the bikes out of the garage. A long ride was definitely in order - fresh air for our hangovers, exercise for our very full bellies. 

We rode about thirty minutes to a park and sat with our friend Thom while we watched his partner Anika play netball (No, not basketball. Netball.) After the game we rode back into the city and rejoined the two of them for coffee and cannolis. The coffee was terrible. The cannolis were wonderful. 

After another quick shower, Pete and Kirsty were at our door. The four of us headed out on the town in their new pick-up truck. We scored a fabulous park at the Story Bridge Hotel (SBH) and after only a twenty minute wait (and one MT Brewery beer each), were seated in the noisy dining room. Oddly enough, visiting the SBH was on our list of things to do before departing Oz. We had a wonderful meal of oysters Kilpatrick, soup, dips, kangaroo, steak, and a Tasmanian Pinot Noir. I will miss dining on kangaroo. We finished the night with dessert at Free Style - the most overpriced and delicious dessert chain in Brisbane.

At 12:06AM I set my alarm for 5:45. And after a short (six and a half hour) day at work, and a game of frisbee, I am completely exhausted. 

Conor is making dinner. Again. Now that I work afternoons and evenings, it is difficult to find the time and energy to prepare dinner. Conor has done an amazing job over the past few weeks. It should be my turn to cook tonight, but since he looks to be enjoying chopping garlic and onions, I might just sit on the couch and have another bottle of pricey beer.

It's been a while since I have included a recommendation or survey in my post. Here's a fun little diddy Conor enjoys more than most males I know. And Australians enjoy more than Americans. The Nutbush is a dance done to Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits. Some may call it the unofficial Australian Anthem.

If you love Tina, check out this video:

If you love to line dance, check out this instead:

The Final Countdown

Well, once again, or perhaps still, we are busy. We returned from our 32 days on the road almost three weeks ago now. In another 33 days, we depart Brisbane (Friday, August 13) for Los Angeles. Our time in Brisbane (and Australia) is coming to an end. This is the final countdown.

The remainder of our journey with Pete and Caitlin was amazing. It became incredibly difficult to find the time, energy and service for blog-writing and posting, however. We have posted close to 1,000 of our photos on-line at: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/home?tab=yq Although I took notes along the way and documented our daily adventures in my journal, it might be easier and more exciting for you to view our photos and captions, than my scrambled time-line recounted on tomorrowmostlysunny. It would also be less tedious for me. In my last weeks as an Australian citizen (for tax purposes anyway), I have become selfish with my time.

We spent our morning lounging around our Paddington apartment. We slept in, made smoothies, folded laundry, grabbed a take-away coffee from a local favourite and wandered around the cute, quiet neighbourhood on our way home. We met with four of our friends for a mid-day brunch at Sassafrass, a Brisbane breakfast institution. Post-avocado on sour-dough and extra-large cappuccino, we gathered back at the apartment and planned a weekend trip to Mt. Tamborine - one last group getaway before our departure.

We spent the remainder of our day riding and walking around the city, visiting the art museum. After stopping at the local market, filling up on olive oil, fresh bread and basil and feta spread, we returned home to watch the sun set over the city from our balcony. And now I sit, typing, listening to the new National album, sipping a G&T, while Conor makes ravioli and salad. 32 days left.

Maybe today doesn't sound so busy, but you see...

Conor returned to work the day following our return to Brisbane. I enjoyed a few days of solitude before returning to French Twist. I am currently a casual employee, working across stores. Although I am no longer under contract and managing the store I opened over a year ago (sniffle), I am still working a fair amount, with one weekend day spent running around the cafe. We are no longer saving for our month long road-trip. We are now saving for a house and our wedding.

After months of debate, Conor and I have decided to return to the States in August. Unfortunately, we will no longer be living in the beautiful NW. Conor's company has asked him to assist with the opening of the Reston, VA office. Fortunately, we managed to meet his company's request halfway (no, not in Nebraska or Kansas), and will be setting up shop in Baltimore, MD. We look forward to reuniting with our pooch and good friends, Annie, Jamie and Adam along the Chesapeake.

We are busy planning and saving for our next adventure. We are busy laughing, eating, drinking and saying our "see you later"s to a number of amazing friends.

In 32 days I will no longer be reporting the weather from the future. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back home soon.