Baking Update.
The apple bars were not quite the same as Sherry’s, but they turned out pretty tasty! Phew!

And Jay’s Buffalo Chicken Dip, while more spicy than normal, turned out great! I overheard someone say “it’s just divine”. Guys want the recipe for poker night. Everyone agreed it would taste awesome with a cold beer (yup). Imagine what they would think if we had Frank’s here…

Hunger Games.
I have talked before about how it seems that everything you encounter here could kill you. Spiders, snakes, sharks, jellyfish, octopus, frogs. Jay heard a story about someone who died after gardening because he got gum tree sap under his fingernails. What the heck? Even trees can kill you. So yes, I am a little jittery. This morning I was sitting at my computer, finished my mug of tea, and I heard squeaking. It sounded like it was coming from under my desk. I have a giant empty box that I have been meaning to get rid of under there, so I instantly thought there is some sort of critter in there that wants to eat me for breakfast. I asked my cube neighbor, Matt, to come take a listen. He was like, “yep, sounds like there is something in there.” Well crap, now what? All the girls in the aisle were bracing for battle, putting their feet up. Then I had a thought. I squeezed the opening on my tea mug, released the hot air, and the squeaking stopped. Lordy….why do these things always happen to me? The good news is that everyone got a good laugh. They said I shouldn’t be so nervous. My response was that sometimes I feel like I am in a set of The Hunger Games…everything is trying to kill…apparently even coffee mugs…

And the box is now in the dumpster.

Colored Hair.
I haven’t entirely figured it out, and this might be an incorrect broad generalization, but it appears to be perfectly socially acceptable to have crazy colored hair (green, blue, purple, and that unnatural bright red). I don’t have anything against it, but I am always surprised to see as many people out and about sporting the attention-getting locks. And these people aren’t just rebellious teenagers…they are grown adults, as well. No worries, mate.

Tim Tams.
Delicious.

Mr. Australia.
Jay’s department at work did a Secret Santa exchange today. The theme was definitely very Australia. Aussie flag flip flops (thongs, as they say down under), Tim Tams (see above comments), and Aussie flag boxers. Ladies, the moment you have all been waiting for. I introduce to you…Mr. Australia!

And the runner up for the 2013 Mr. Australia pageant goes to….

OCD Blogger.
I told my Auntie Shell something today that I thought I would share with the rest of you. As with most things that I take on in my life, I have fully committed to writing this blog. At first I thought this will be a nice way to keep a record of a few fun memories and to share our experiences with friends and family back home in one efficient document (I can’t help that I live and breathe process improvements). Then it became a therapeutic release for me to make sense of all of the craziness in our lives and try to maintain a sense of order when I felt that things were out of my control. I also used it as personal entertainment during Lily’s meals. But I realized that this blog has kind of done a 180 on me. Now I think, “we have to do something fun so the people who read the blog will have something worth reading.” As I think about things that I want to write about I pop open a blank blog page and jot down notes so I don’t forget to write about it when I have more time. Is that a problem?? Do they have a 12 step program for this? I am truly crazy, aren’t I?!?! Well, whatever you want to call it, thank you. Thank you for making me get out there, try new things, and make the most of this situation.