So Many Things I Didn't Know Before The Trip!!...Did You Know This?!!

      *Yawn*...Please forgive me today. I am exhausted! It was a long, involved, and awesome 'virtual' 'Date Night' trip this time! :-] ...And I know you already know where we went. My clue was kinda...Ummm...obvious! LOL Yes, we went to Australia!! :-)
       If info about other places bores you...click away now!! LOL I learned some things I didn't know and...tired or not...I just have to share!! :-] ...I'll do it in a "Did You Know" list. For instance...
 Did You Know...that Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere,...that it comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans,...and that it's the world's sixth-largest country by total area?!

             ...and that the name Australia is derived from the Latin australis, meaning "southern"?!!...and that because of it's size and isolation—it's often dubbed the 'island continent' and variably considered the world's largest island?!!...I didn't know that!
          You probably knew that "Aussie" is a common colloquial term for "Australian". But...

Did You Know...that the country has been referred to colloquially as "Oz" since the early 20th century?! Hmmm...does that have something to do with the people being referred to as 'Aussies'?!! Or is that just an American error?! :-) (You can go over to Wikipedia to read more about it HERE) I think it's fascinating!...and either way, I didn't know that!

Did You Know...that Australia is the flattest continent?!...And that The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies a short distance off of it's north-east coast?...Or that 'Desert' or 'semi-arid' land, commonly known as the "outback", makes up by far the largest portion of land in Australia?!

Did You Know...that nearly three quarters of Australians live in metropolitan cities and coastal areas, and that the beach is an integral part of the Australian identity.
?!!

        Are you beach-lovers drooling right now?!...^_^

Did You Know...that Australian forests are mostly made up of evergreen species, particularly eucalyptus trees in the less arid regions?!...The little fella in my header photo probably knew that! ^_^

Did You Know...that Australia has strong international teams in cricket, field hockey, netball, rugby league and rugby union, having been Olympic or world champions at least twice in each sport in the last 25 years (or more now) for both men and women?!...Okay, so I 'did' know this! That's because me and hubby are such sports nuts ourselves! We've watched some Australian games...lots of them over the years! :-]

Did You Know...that although Australia has no official language, English is so entrenched that it has become the de facto national language?!....Okay, yeah...I kinda knew that too! But sometimes I have 'a time' trying to understand how they use some of those 'English' words just the same!! LOL {I'm sure they feel the same about American English words! ^_^}

Did You Know...that Australia has the greatest number of reptiles of any country, with 755 species?!...and that Australia is also home to many dangerous animals, including some of the most venomous snakes in the world?!!...YES!!!! I knew this!!...*cold shiver*...A lot of their animals scare me!!...But not all of them...

Did You Know...that among the well-known Australian animals are the monotremes?!...If you're asking yourself: "What are they?"...you're asking yourself the same question I asked myself while we were visiting there!! ^_^...And I found out too! :-) Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young!...Two monotremes are the platypus...

        ...and the Echidna! The  long-beaked Echidna, which eats worms...

        ...and the short-beaked Echidna, also known as the Spiny Anteater...because of its diet of ants and termites...

       The only surviving examples of monotremes are all indigenous to Australia and New Guinea!...So fascinating!...They have some famous animals I know you've heard of...like the Dingo...

          A host of marsupials, including the Kangaroo...

     ...the Koala...(That's him in the header photo.) :-) ...
      ...and the Wombat...

         Then there are some famous birds, like the Emu...

        ...and the Kookaburra.

       What I know you 'didn't' know is that I've been in love with Australia for many, many years...long before this trip. I know when it started too! It was somewhere around the year I graduated High School. I came across the book The Thorn Birds. {It might have been a recommendation, after much conversation, from my beloved English teacher. I can't really remember, but that's likely.}
      I didn't read the book until around 1982 or '83. In fact, my then 'new' hubby and I used to read it to each other in the evenings for entertainment. :-] Then one night when we were just about to turn off the T.V. and  get ready to do our reading, a commercial preview came on for the mini-series!! It was gonna come on T.V.!! We were so excited...even though we were only about 3/4 of the way through the book at that point! We scheduled a 'speed-up' so we'd be finished with it before the mini-series started! LOL Ohhhh! Young people!!! ^_^
     I remember that from the very first episode, when I heard the music and saw the beautiful scenery, I was hooked!! :-] ... That was...what?...28 years ago!!!...and even though I wouldn't re-read the book now, or engross myself in it like I did then....I was OBSESSED!!!...I still love the music from the movie. LOVE it!!...I'm not even sure if there's anything 'Australian' about it really. It was a compilation by James Galway and Henry Mancini I think!...It almost has an Irish lilt to it to me...

    If you want to here music that 'is' native to Australia though, you can listen to the Didgeridoo being played HERE. :-)
      Something else I love about Australia is the attractions...the Melbourne Docklands...

      ...and the Sydney Opera House!! 

      I LOVE water!!! :-) So does hubby...as long as he doesn't have to swim in any that he can't stand up in!! LOL
      And lastly....Yeah! It's coming to an end!... ^_^ ....And STOP CLAPPING!!! LOL...I love the food of Australia!...

          And seafood is a prominent staple food, due to Australia's long coastline. And I love myself some seafood!! {Hubby?!...Not so much. I told you about that allergic episode in Maine! O_O}

      I'd be lying if I didn't admit though, that some Australian foods puzzle me!...Well, it's not the food that puzzles me. It's the fact that people are eating it that puzzles me! ^_^ Like....Kangaroo meat...

       ...and Vegemite! O_0

       I mean...Vegemite is described this way: 'It's made from used brewers' yeast extract, a by-product of beer manufacturing, and various vegetable and spice additives, and it's salty, slightly bitter, and umami or malty – similar to beef bouillon.'...Uhhh....Breakfast food?! O_0 Kinda puzzling!
      I was gonna try to be an adventurous 'Date Night' participant and try some, but I didn't want to end the night in a queasy state. That's too long of a flight home to be queasy on before you get started!! LOL {That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!! ^_^}
      That's also the reason I'm gonna pass...this time...on Bushfood, or Bush Tucker as they call it...

      I don't know if my wimpy digestive system can take native Australian food. I think they may be a people of stronger countenance than me!! :-] I mean...I saw this lobster-ISH Balmain Bug and I got a little light-headed. LOL

       But hey! I'm 'good' with the Australian meat pie and fish and chips!! ^_^ And...
Did You Know...that the Granny Smith variety of apples first originated in Sydney!!!! :-)

        This is my favorite apple ever!!!! In fact, I'd give up apple pie making all together if I couldn't use Granny Smith apples to make them with!! :-) We've been old friends since I was a kid!!
      Yes! Australia....I love you!! And hubby does too!...We'll be back...definitely!!!! :-)


Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

Where Are We Going For 'Date Night' Tonight?!!

      It's been such a rough couple of weeks, with earthquakes, hurricanes, my niece getting shot, and now my dad talking about having to go in for another procedure to alleviate pain...*sigh*...Where should we go for 'Date Night' so we can relax?!...Let me seeeee?!...
       I'm kinda sorry we already went to France and Brazil! They would've been perfect locations to have been over the last couple of weeks!...We could've gotten away!!...I know where it's NOT gonna be!! It's not gonna be to the Dominican Republic!!
      "Why would you say that, Wug?" you say...I'll tell you why! Because we don't want to be anywhere near this!!!....

       See in the bottom right hand corner...It's another hurricane!!...'Katia'...*shaking my head* Another 'monster' out there just toodling around. Nobody knows for sure where she's headed! They've done all kinds of models trying to figure out where she 'MIGHT' go...

    (Sorry for the bad photo. I took it of my computer screen) All of the different colored lines show multiple different paths 'Katia' could take! And if you notice, track models tend to steer her AWAY from the U.S. East Coast!....Or so it seems now!!
    The Virgin Islands Daily News says that she's likely to miss them, so I was thinking that maybe that would be a good 'Date Night' destination. But they said that even if she does she'll probably bring rough sea conditions to the territory.....That's out!! ^_^
      The U.S. Tropical Storm Map is gonna help me with our 'Date Night' plans though. (It's an interactive map. You can click and drag or just click up and down on the left hand grade bar) That's how I knew the Dominican Republic was off the list. 'Katia' is heading a little too close to her for my tastes!! LOL
          That would also take Bermuda off of my list!

        And Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica!!

        Oh Boy!!....Also Venezuela!...

          And Columbia!!! O_O

     Awwwww! Let's just take South America completely off the 'Date Night' map!!!!...And while we're at it, let's take some U.S. States off of there too! No Florida, New Orleans, Georgia, or any East Coast States what-so-ever!!! {I still have a headache from trying to wait to see what 'Irene' was gonna do on the East Coast!! O_0}
        Africa might have been good. But we just recently went to 'virtual' Ghana a little while ago!...So, what's left?!!.....Ohhhhh! I know! :-) Here's a clue....

     I'll tell you about our trip tomorrow! :-)) ... I'll also tell you about how the header photo, and these, fit into it...

          ...tomorrow....! :-) ... But here's a little musical hint too!


 {Oh Yeah! I almost forgot!! The latest Giveaway item is on the right hand sidebar now! It's a beaded crochet flower dangle necklace. You can see some more photos...and rules to enter...HERE.}


Poetry

Poetry, the gift of words,
that help you say whats in your heart;
that puts your thoughts of life together,
but pulls emotions all apart.

Poetry, your quiet friend,
that gives your voice a place to land;
that gives the things you'd  never say
a way to jump out from your hand.

Poetry, done to a beat,
a beat of words, said right in time,
without confusion of the music,
but just the rhythm and the rhyme.

Poetry, phrase harmony;
the way a noun and adverb meet;
the way they line up line-by-line,
and all Not needed they delete.

Poetry, the passing thoughts,
and all the others I hold dear,
of all the people and the places
that I've  written down right here.

Poetry, the gift of words,
and putting them together too;
Without the pen and paper
what in the world would my mind do?

Irene's Aftermath and Giveaway Winner Announced

         I love jamieshelman's 'tongue in cheek' illustration (Fear of Irene) of how all of us on the east coast of the United States were feeling when hurricane 'Irene' was coming. We were all hunkering down with our flashlights...and batteries...water...food 'GALORE'...and reading material, games, and entertainment...just in case we were inside for a while.
       We prepared for the worst, and hoped for the best. And as it turns out, fear of Irene...was warranted! O_0...I hadn't intended to do this post today. My intended post was of some wonderful things I recently found on Etsy. (Maybe I'll still do that tomorrow.) But when I saw, in an online report, that there were, as of August 28th, 44 confirmed deaths I was flabbergasted!! Last I had heard there were only 10!
      Then I went to my local online news source, WWLP22News, and saw these photos from up and down the coast!! *smh*
Hatteras Island, North Carolina...

Annapolis, Maryland...

Lusby, Maryland...

The Georgetown section of Washington...

 Virginia Beach, Virginia...

 Boonton, New Jersey...

 Kinnelon, New Jersey...

 Brooklyn, New York...

 Town of Keene, New York...

 New York City's Central Park...

 East Haven, Connecticut...

Boston, Massachusetts...

Providence, Rhode Island...

          And then there were all of these photos of the damage in Vermont, which was where 'Irene' headed after she left our area, when we thought she had pretty much lost her steam. Well....we were wrong!!!

Berlin, Vermont...

 Killington, Vermont...

 Mendon, Vermont...

 Waterbury, Vermont...

 Rochester, Vermont...

 Pittsfield, Vermont...

        It's almost unbelievable to me, considering that we were thinking that 'Irene' had been, for the most part, a 'dud'. That just goes to show that sometimes you can be pretty tunneled visioned if you wanna be. And I think a lot of us wanted to be. :-(

      There are highway sections closed, cars and homes under water, and there's even some water restrictions for people in the Shelburne Falls area, near us. Apparently 'Irene' caused electrical damage to water pumps and wells, and that's left the town with a limited water supply. 
       WOW!! A lot more people are having problems than we hear much about! :-( ...Some other photos of some of the damage is  here...if you can stand looking at any more! :-( So, I wanted to take a minute to acknowledge that I am aware of the problems and suffering that people are going through. And that I wish I could visit every one of them to lend a helping hand physically, or to give some spiritual and emotional support...I know it doesn't feel like it now, but things 'will' get better!
       Hopefully knowing that they're not alone, and that lots of people are sending good thoughts, will be of some comfort.
       And since I don't want to totally leave this post without some good news for somebody, I'll tell you who won the crochet scarf Giveaway....I didn't get very many entries this time....

       ...Does that mean you guys don't want my 'babies',or that I need to find another way to do my Giveaways?! If you have some suggestions I'm open. I've still got plenty of scarves, afghans/blankets, and crocheted jewelry and poems I could give away!! :-) {Imagine having to coax people to take your stuff...for free!!! LOL}...Oh Yeah, the winner!! ^_^

       It's you again Cindy!!! :-) {CinLynn Boutique's Blogspot} I have your address, so unless you tell me you don't want it, it'll be in the mail to you soon!! :-) (I'll post the new giveaway tomorrow!)
       Okay, I'm off to finish some studying for my meeting tonight, and then I have to plan for a trip! :-) {Friday 'Date Night'!} What are you doing today?! And do you have plans for the weekend?!


Weekend

Weekend Folderol;
Lollygagging, having fun;
Makes working up to Friday
worth the paperwork you've done.

Your job, all week, came first,
but now it's time for a little jaunt;
or to lay around the house
and just do nothing, if you want!

A little this. A little that.
A bit of fun had out of doors.
A little weeding in the garden.
And a little bit of chores.

Some weekend folderol,
all alone or with your friends.
Or some chit chat with your neighbors,
new acquaintances or kin.

A Weekend that's all planned,,
or simply finding things to do;
Because every Monday will be back
and you'll need something to look forward to!