Byron Bay

We had a good couple of days. We spent Wednesday in and around Byron Bay. Had a wonderful breakfast on the beach. Spent the "hot hours" of the day at the pool and then headed to the beach in the later afternoon. The waves here are big and beautiful. We had a great time walking along the beach and jumping waves. Took several short hikes up to some terrific lookouts. The scenery is just gorgeous-- the water has so many shades of blue and green. The wind and waves are very powerful. Spent some time watching hand gliders.

We went into the town of Byron Bay to do some window shopping. The highlight of the day was on the drive home. We pulled into one of the overlooks to view the night sky. There had to be millions of stars in the sky. Away from all the city lights the stars are so incredibly bright..

Then it was off to the Gold Coast where we are staying at Surfer's Paradise. This is a major vacation spot with tons of people. Caitlin and Connor have found that surfing clothes are their style-- so they are now properly attired in Australia surf wear! We have been to the beach several times and the waves are enormous. Both Connor and Sean get knocked around quite a bit. While no one really goes out too far, the girls and I stay a bit closer to shore.

The beaches here are very safe with whole life saving teams on the lookout, flags that signal where it is safe to be in the water, and designated areas for swimming and separate areas for surfing. In the evening we head down for movies on the beach. Tonight was XXX2. The big folks watched while Shannon built sand castles. It was great fun.

Not sure what we will do tomorrow-- so many choices and we have only one day left in Surfer's Paradise. Then it is off to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Our love to all. Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon

OZ Post-christmas

We had a good Christmas evening watching Christmas shows and movies on TV as a family. Today is Boxing Day-- a big holiday for Australians. This year has a bit of a somber feel though as it marks the first Anniversary of last year's Tsunami. This has been the focus of the news and there are tons of prayer services etc. Going on throughout Asia.

We took off early this morning to stop by the Big Banana-- a real tourist attraction in Coffs Harbor. Took our obligatory pictures and then headed off to Byron Bay. Along the way, we were pleasantly surprised to see lots of wild kangaroos just laying about in the fields on the sides of the road. It is just amazing to see so many of them just out and about in the wild We stopped in Little Italy just to say we did!!

We are actually staying in Ballina about 20 kilometers south of Byron Bay. As we got to Ballina, we spotted several large Australian pelicans. And then more and more of them as we drove through. These are ENORMOUS birds-- the largest flying birds in Australia and lots bigger (maybe 2-3 times the size) of the brown Pelicans we have seen in Florida.

We are now settled in at a very nice resort. Plan to do a bit of resting and relaxing at the nearby beaches for the next couple of days. This is big surf country with huge waves to the delight of the surfers. By the way, Shannon's arm is coming along well. She can just about extend it all the way when asked to do so but she is still very hesitant to use it. We made big progress when she decided to sign the names of all her classmates on her splint-- I think she started writing the names before she realized she was using her right arm. That should loosen things up a bit.

With the Christmas holidays now over, we will go back to e-mailing every couple of days. Love to all. Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon.

OZ Christmas

Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Our Christmas Day is quickly coming to an end. Santa managed to find us in Australia which made one of us VERY happy. He left us a note detailing the trouble he had finding us--having to check Cincinnati, Rochester, Singapore and then finding us in Australia. He appeared to do much of his shopping in Austalia so we got many fun gifts.

We spent part of the day at the beaches of Coff's Harbor. Then found a terrific restaurant that was serving a traditional Aussie Christmas dinner-- turkey with all the fixins. We felt it was the Thanksgiving dinner we missed when we were in Phuket, Thailand.

We then went to an interactive sea animal park. All of the animals were rescued from the waters in and around New South Wales. Each has injuries that would not allow them survive on their own in the wild. The park has just started a rehabilitation program that will take some of the less injured and help prepare them to be released back into the wild. We started at the dolphin pool where we all could pet the dolphins-- but you can only pet them on their bodies as the top of their head is very sensitive.

We got to feed penguins, sea lions, seals, and snapping turtles. We got to talk to each of their trainers and learned a lot about all of the animals. We then got to watch a sea animal show-- most of which was very interactive. Both Cailtlin and Connor got to go on stage to feed the dolphins. At one point, several sea lions came up into the audience and gave everyone kisses. Now granted the park on takes in a limited number of people but the sea lions literally kiss everyone who wants to be kissed. While nearly everyone gets one kiss, the sea lion that went up to Shannon kept giving her kisses-- she must have gotten eight kisses or so- the whole audience was roaring. He just didn't seem to want to stop. We hope we caught at least one kiss on film but it happened so fast and the multiple kisses were so unexpected, Sean's not actually sure what got captured on film.

Everyone got a professional picture taken shaking the flipper of a dolphin-- they turned out great and will be a terrific memory of our Christmas down under. We hope you all have a special day enjoying time with family. Tomorrow we are off to Byron's Bay. Byron Bay started as an old "hippie town" to use Aussie lingo, but now it is an expensive artist community.

Speaking of Aussie lingo, we are starting to get with the program-- mosquitos are "mossies", truck drivers are "truckies", and Christmas is "Crissy" as in "are you excited about Crissy" which took Connor a bit by surprise the first time he was asked. All are now accustomed to "G'day," "no worries" and "Good on you" which translates to "Good for you." Thanks to all who sent Christmas e-mails. We enjoyed receiving them and reading them on Christmas evening-- a nice way to bring a bit of family to Australia. Love to all!! . Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon

Christmas Eve

It is now 5:00 Christmas Eve, Australia time. In a normal year we would be just sitting down for 5:00 Mass at Our Mother of Sorrows before heading to my Mom's for Christmas Eve. Instead we are heading to Coff's Harbor having spent a wonderful day in Port Stevens.

They say today is a " scortcher". In Auusie terms that's a day above 40 degrees Celcius-- to be exact today is 45 degrees-- that would be about 113 degrees. We are glad to be in the air -conditioned car. Thankfully, while it was toasty in Port Stevens, it wasn't 113.

This morning was Shannon's Christmas gift which took the family to an Aussie Aminal Park- we saw tons of native Australian animals and many not in cages. And yes, we were able to see and pet Kangaroos and Koalas. The Koalas are softer and more cuddly than any stuffed animal koala we have ever seen. We learned that all they do is sleep and eat the leaves of the eucalyptus tree. These leaves are very low in nutrition so they pretty much sleep most of the day (about 18 hours) and wake only to eat. Petting the Koalas was the highlight for Caitlin (and for Deb).

The Kangaroos are suprisingly soft-- almost velvety and they are so gentle. The kangaroos-- about 25 or so, were not in any kind of a cage--just "hopping about". We saw big ones almost as tall as Connor and tiny little babies. Several moms had joeys (baby kangaroos!!) In their pouches. But unlike the picture perfect postcard that has the babies head up in the pouch, these were mostly head down which makes perfect sense since they are in the pouch to nurse!! The things you learn!!

Connor (and Sean) were especially taken with the Kangaroos. Shannon, on the other hand, was taken, early on, by a yellow haired goat she affectionately named Goldie. And Goldie was equally taken by Shannon following her around like a puppy dog. So yes, in the midst of all the Aussie wildlife Shannon was most taken by "Goldy" the goat. Life is strange sometimes!! We also saw long necked turtles, pelicans, blue tongued lizards, wombats, camals, emus and. ostritch The Emu is the largest bird in Australia and has three toes-- not to be confused with the Ostritch, the largest bird in the world which has only two toes. This would make a great Trivia Pursuit Question.

It certanly will prove to be one of our more exotic Christmas Eves. . We will miss spending Christmas Eve with extended family, but we were thinking about you. Have a wonderful time celebrating and enjoying each other. . Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon

OZ Dolphin Cruise

We are now in Port Stevens, the "Dolphin Capital" of the world. We went on afour hour Dolphin Watch cruise and as they promised we saw lots of dolphinsswimming all around the boat. We got to see some really close to the boat. Theyare such beautiful and graceful animals. Caitlin was in her glory.

Sean andConnor went swimming in the bay and tried their luck at a boom net that wasattached to the boat as we drove back. They loved it except that Connor thoughtthe water was too cold. We shouldn't have that problem as we head up to the GoldCoast. We have heard the water is like bath water.

After the cruise, we drove to a nearby national park hoping to spot some Koalas but no such luck. We went to agreat restaurant for dinner-- we all had Fish & Chips except for Shannon whoisn't a seafood fan.

By the way, we took Shannon's soft cast off today per thedoctor's instructions. The arm looks good although it is still a bit bruised andvery stiff. Her soft cast went up to mid upper arm keeping her arm in a "L"position since she broke it. She's trying hard to move it but her elbow isstiff. The Doctor warned it would be stiff for about 3-4 days.

With all thewalking she did today, she did slip her arm back into the splint/sling afterseveral hours (also a suggestion from the doctor). She should gain her strengthand mobility back over the next couple of days. She has been such a trouperthrough the whole ordeal. Our goal is to have her in swimming condition by theGold Coast.

Hope everyone is ready for the holidays and that Santa will be goodto all. Signing off... Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon.

OZ - Blue Mountains

We spent the last two days in the Blue Mountains. They get their name from the fact they look bluish. The blue haze comes from the oil of the eucalyptus tree which is also called the Blue Gum Tree.

We stopped to see the famous Three Sisters Rock. Legend has it that three sisters from one aboriginal tribe fell in love with three brothers from another tribe. The tribes went to war and a witch doctor turned the three sisters into stone until the war was over. Only the witch doctor died before he could turn them back. Hence the Three Sister's Rocks.

The kids and Sean went on a sky cable car ride between two mountains. They said it was beautiful. We then took the world's most vertically inclined train deep into the valley. And when they say vertical, they pretty much mean straight up and down. At the bottom, we took a hike through the rainforest which was beautiful.

We then drove several hours to Port Stephens. They call it the Dolphin Captial of Australia. There are supposed to be lots of Koala Bears.

Here's hoping the next few days will be filled with animal sightings. Hope everyone is finsihing up the last of the Christmas preparations. Hardly feels like Christmas to us but we are having a good time.

We'll keep you updated onour journey every couple of days. Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon.

where's the photo

rumor has it that some outrageous photo is posted on this blog - but I can't find it.
The latest here is Xmas in the southern hemisphere. Please update.
From, Esquire magazine

Christmas Card Pics

i had 4 different Christmas cards this year. Here's one you may not have received.

Xmas in the other/southern hemisphere

Thanks to Deb for pulling us into their adventures ------ I can almost see the flying foxes.

We are in a deep-freeze here; it seems like the end of January instead of the solstice.
I have poinsetias in the fireplace so I can pretend there's a blazing fire, but the grapefruit may have frozen in the front hall -------- I brought them in but can't bear to check.

Here's a haiku:

In the winter night
The summer sun lies swaddled:
Gold hidden in straw

Peace to one and all, nsm

OZ News, 2

We are having a great time here. Yesterday Sean and the kids went to the Sydney Aquarium where they saw tons of sharks, ferry penguins and a corral reef-- should get then ready for our adventure at the Great Barrier Reef. Today, after work for me, we went to the Maritime Museum and then onto an Aborigini Concert of Didgeridoos-- an Aboriginal horn-type instrument. It is a long horn with a very deep sound. It is made from a branch of the Eucalyptis Tree which has been hollowed out by termites. The termite nest is shoved out and filled with hot coals to kill remaining insects. The music was wonderful and was accompanied by a panoramic slide show of sights in Australia.

After that it was back to the Botanical Gardens to watch the flying foxes. We went just before dusk and there were thousands of them. The foxes are actually very large bats with a wing span of about 30 inches. Their bodies are reddish and the faces look like foxes. We even saw mom flying foxes flying about with tiny babies clinging to their bellies!!

Connor and Sean are really getting into Australian Rules Football and watch it every evening. I think the sport is nuts. They wear no pads or helmets and as best I can tell there are no rules!! Tomorrow we head to the Blue Mountains then its on to Coff Harbor for Christmas.

December 26 will mark the one year anniversary of the Tsunami. It marks very sad event for Asia although reconstruction efforts throughout the region are progressing well. And thanks to all the world donations, there is an early warning system under development in most countries Only a few more days till we can take Shannon's splint off-- she can't wait.

More to come later. Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon.

OZ Report

We arrived in Sydney, Australia yesterday. We arrived in time to see a beautiful full moon rising up over the Sydney Opera House which Shannon mistakenly refered to as the Oprah House!!

Spent the evening wandering along the Harbor. Today, we took the Ferry to Manley Beach-- ate lunch watching hopeful surfers trying to catch a wave!! Met up with one of my folks here who took us to the Botanical Gardens where we saw hundred's of flying foxes and wild cockatoos flying about. We then took a walk around the Opera house to see it up close.

We will be here till Wednesday and then we head up the coast. It is just beautiful here. Still feels a bit odd to have no cold and snow about at Christmas time. We will miss seeing you all this holiday season.

We plan to send an e-mail every few days to keep you posted on our travels. We all send our love. Deb, Sean, Caitlin, Connor and Shannon.

Builder Deb

I just returned home from a trip to the Philippines where I had one of the most extraordinary experiences in my career and I wanted to share it with you. The purpose of my trip was to participate in Anniversary activities to celebrate our 70th year of business in the Philippines. Our organization decided to take the money that would have been spent on anniversary dinners and public relations events to fund the construction of homes for the homeless. They supplemented these P&G funds with the entire organization donating one day's salary and cancellation of the fancy holiday event they typically have.

Working with a charitable organization, they arranged to build 70 houses for homeless families-- one for each year P&G has been in business there. These houses would be constructed in a way to create a small village in a desperately poor area in Manila. As part of my role, I got to present the first completed houses to 16 homeless families. To see their tears of joy as they accepted not only a new home, but the promise of a better life, was beyond words. I had a hard time holding back my tears. I then spent the rest of the day working with our entire Pilipino organization helping to build homes.

Working side by side with members of families who will receive future homes, we built cement walls, laid stone flooring and painted. Seeing these new brightly colored homes rising up just a few feet from the thousands of cardboard shacks and filth they live is today is beyond words. This contrast of the horror and hope that exists in our world will be with me forever. In my travels throughout Asia, I have seen first hand the depth of poverty that exists in our world. Unlike in the US, the poverty is not neatly tucked away in city sections. In countries like India, Indonesia and the Philippines, it is everywhere.

Seeing the poverty firsthand is far worse than can be imagined-- far worse than cameras can capture. But yesterday I was able to see the hope that can be brought to these people. As you have time over the holidays to reflect, be thankful for all that we have been blessed with, say a prayer for the poor of the world and when you have the opportunity to give of your time, talents and resources, take it. Every little bit, no matter how small it may seem, can make a huge difference in the lives of the poor.

Have the happiest of holiday seasons. My love to all of you. Deb

Bur Officer . . .

It's a good thing you didn't have on your Christmas card disguise.
Perhaps your inner Tao is telling you to slow down, or maybe to keep an eye on the time.
Or even, get hold of a watch.
can't feel sorry for you altho I'm trying. I ride with one of the all-time bad drivers and I keep hoping I'll be there when Officer Friendly pulls him over.

"He knows when you've been bad or good, so . . . " Read "Boondocks" today.

What's with the blue paint? It looks very unhealthy. Maybe you're tired of hearing how handsome you are but the so-called golden years are fast approaching.

You need St Christopher in your car. I wonder who your Santa is? hmmm: not me. nsm

I should walk on the wild side

So there i am, looking to turn left while 20 cars are looking to turn right. All i have to do is pass 3 or so cars and i can get in a left turn lane all by my self.

Good thought but bad plan. I'm not sure if the biggest mistake was crossing the double yellow line or crossing the double yellow line 100 yds from a police station.

In either case, a cop was part of the 20 cars waiting to turn right.

$87 ticket later, i was on my way.

Just 24 hours later, i get a $50 parking ticket at 9:20 for parking in a spot where there's no parking after 9:00.

That may be topped because 3 hours later i see a strobe flash and realize i just had my picture taken by a speed camera.

life is fine and dandy down here.

B

responding to old question

the Liverpool Xmas movie was a Murray/Volo production; you can't have missed it.
Much news coming in from around the world: Sha, Shannon, Eileen, Deb, Maureen . . .
the rest of us better get on the circuit.
Wish I could be the middleman (woman) for everyone's Christmas greenery. At the farmers' market - Princess Pine Wreaths (my favorite) for $5 - 3 big pointsettas for $15 - bunch of winterberries for $4.
No tree; we'll use our Norfolk pine even tho it's still pretty small.
No kangeroos or koala bears up here, just more of you-know-what. Brian was disappointed that we didn't get 2 feet of it the other day. The thrill will be gone by February, Brian.

Saw the restored version of "The Third Man" last nite: great photography; still in black&white, I'm happy to say. Try your library to borrow it. Buona notte, Mama

is it really 54????

It was warm and sunny on our wedding day; we left New Rochelle without even wearing a coat.
Nice snapshot, Clare. We have you to thank for so many photo memories. How I miss that hunk of a guy sitting next to me . . .

That's the wonder of it all. Neither JJM not I could ever have imagined the 8 of you on Dec 8th, 1951. And now look at all who have been added to the clan!

Best wished in return. May our children's children achieve a world at peace; we blew it.
Mom,

Happy 54th, Mom and Dad!

On behalf of all of us, near and far, Happy 54th wedding Anniversary!

I took this picture just a couple of months ago on a warm night in Ra-cha-cha. Doesn't seem that long ago!

Now it's 15 degrees and many inches of snow on the ground!

Here's to many more years of good health and wonderful memories!

#2 - Arizona

I also got hold of maureen - Dec. 7th - after trying several other times. "The party is on the phone" was always the message. She'll start work at Lifetime next week and is looking at houses in a town whose name I have already forgotten -------- it starts with an S.
It was good to hear her voice.
snow, snow, and then some more - snow. January-cold out there and I have to go meet with Mehasen. Imagine not only being from a snow-free climate, but also being blind!!! I brought a little ball of snow up to her apartment last week, just so she could feel it.
Brian is having exams so we haven't caught a glimpse of him. He's finished next week but when we asked, he hadn't thought about how to get back to Virginia ---------- and it hadn't sunk in yet (we could tell) that he would be at Taylor's for the month between semesters.
That's all for today, except: Contact your Congressperson ! Ban any and all forms of torture..
The vote may be tonite or tomorrow. con molto amore, Santa Lucia

First AZ report

I spoke with Maureen last night. I told her the snow had stopped and that it was safe to come back to VA. she laughed.

The only thing that has disappointed her about AZ is that she had to wear a light jacket while having dinner on the deck at 9:00 pm.

Her house closed in VA and she's looking for her new home outside of Phoenix.

That's the news.

B

in like a lion in winter

after a fairly mild fall in VA, we may get some snow today. it will be in and around but i don't know ifit will hit.

it was quite chilly on saturday when i rode my bike to check the mileage of a loop i planned to run. i was going to run it the same day but my toes and fingers were froze.

So i ran it yesterday when we got into the upper 40's.

~15 mile sin 2:14:22. it was a bit better than 9 minute miles. i wouldn't have made it another 11 at 9 minute miles but i think with more trainig i can break 4 hours for my marathon - february 19.

And if i keep up the training, who knows, i may be able to be one of my nieces in the Charleston lake road race next summer.

Maureen has moved to Phoenix. i'm sure she's enjoying life today if she sees the weather headed VA's way.

That's the news for now.

singapore folks

has anyone heard from singapore?? It's been quite a while, it seems to me.
I'll e-mail and try to rouse someone.
The Xmas movie from Liverpool was definetly an "indie" film, according to Brendan's definition.
No further comment.