Aussie Water?

Must be something in the water Down Under ... but Michael's hair has really taken off! Looks like a glam rocker ... Spinal Tap-ish.

Night at the Cisco party

Michael continues to work hard Down Under. Sometimes that means you have to attend the client parties ... here's the latest from Michael:

Patrick and I went to the Cisco Networkers party. This is the party they throw for all the attendees to this event, who are primary nerd males. With a big room full of guys, it was...well you know.



The nice thing about a party in Australia is they always use real glassware, not plastic cups. I don’t know how they do it but it is “way too expensive” in the U.S.



I got the chance to meet some local Australians at the party and they are very friendly. I think they liked my hair.



Patrick and I checking all the photos we took. They only place with decent light was the bathroom.



So that’s just about it, just another night in Melbourne.

Post Cards from Down Under

Note from Michael:

Kind of looks like any other city, doesn't it. It doesn't feel that different here. It is much like being in Canada, like home with a slide European influence. That and everyone calls me "Mate" here.

Patrick noticed that the Australians weren't as obnoxious as we expected. Perhaps they are more so out of Australia or perhaps more polite in Melbourne?


I tried calling you on Skype, but I am not sure if my microphone was working, so there may be no message. I had a good flight, Things are nice here. Patrick and I went out for dinner last night and we tired Kangaroo. Not the best meat, but it was worth a try. We did try a couple good local wines. I need to start taking pictures of the labels. I did have a lamb salad for lunch that was good. It is nice eating here because all the menus indicate whether a dish is gluten free or vegetarian. So it makes it easy for me to pick something out. We are right downtown, nice location. It was really warm yesterday. It is suppose to start cooling off, but it was nice to walk around with just a t-shirt on after sundown.

More Postcards from Paris

We have WiFi again! Rex will probably Skype you when he gets back from downstairs.

I thought the class was great! Rex said he liked it too, but I'll let him tell you about it. He has an assignment to make one of the deserts and take pictures to send back to them. I've volunteered help and our kitchen. So you're in for a treat; if we remember everything. Actually, I'd made one of them before, so it was good to have a refresher on the method.

There were only four of us in the class with a wonderful young teacher. Rex fit in very well.

One couple came at the end because they thought that it started at 4 instead of 2. We gave them all the leftovers because we were sorry they had missed so much.Rex told the teacher that his mother would have liked the class because they use so much butter.

This morning we rode on the boat. Rex got sort of bored but held up well.
We walked back from the class and sat out a thunderstorm in a cafe.The weather has been beautiful until 5 or so then we often get some rain. Not bad!

Love, Susan

Post Cards from Paris

Hotel Moderne Saint Germain
33, Rue des Ecoles - 75005 Paris

So, Rex is on his trip to Paris with Neni. They left last Thursday morning. Neni (aka: Auntie Mame) has told the children that for their 10th birthday, her gift to them is a trip to Europe in a country of their choice. So, this is Rex's year and he has chosen Paris. This has been a big year for Rex! Costa Rica last summer, Netherlands in December and now Spring in Paris. Believe me, I dreamed of such things as a kid! (Well, in all honesty, I didn't know a thing about Costa Rica or Central America ... but, I'd always aspired to go to Europe as a kid).

Anyhow, we haven't had any pictures yet but we've had a few skype calls and now an e-mail that I shall post here:

Hi Tiff,

We have not had internet contact in our hotel since we last talked with you. We are in the hotel next door using (with permission) their WiFi.

Rex said to tell you that he had the best fish he's ever had yesterday. He wants you to know that it was served whole with the head and the tail and the fins. My addition is that it also had a lovely lemon bernaise sauce on the side and three purees, potato, briocolli and squash.

We've had a beautiful, sunny, warm day today. After a rather long, but interesting walk, we got to the Louvre. Rex has completed three pages of Math as well as his Louvre assignment, so I think he is doing well.

We passed the war museum yesterday and he said he might be interested. He is also deciding whether to climb or elevator to the top of the Eiffel tower.We have our cooking class tomorrow afternoon so have the morning and all day Wednesday.

Love, Rex and Susan

Label GMO Foods

I'm sure you'd rather hear how we are all doing right now ... what with Rex in Paris with Neni and Michael getting ready to take off to Australia for a job while I hold down the fort with the girls. But, I thought I'd share a pressing issue with you. Yes, I have food issues! Check out the video below and get prepared to be involved as a citizen for the safety of our food supply:






Thanks to a trio of hard-working, all-volunteer Millions Against Monsanto organizers, Trish Wright, Erica Gray and April Reeves (along with local organizers), Rallies for the Right to Know are happening in more than 20 locations across the country this Saturday, March 26, 2011.

Typhoid Mary

So, there has been this nasty virus ripping through the school like a tornado, randomly touching down on families leaving total destruction in its wake or leaving people completely unscathed. I watched kids go from having a completely normal activity level to clutching their heads and stomachs and barely able to stand. This was usually followed by a high fever and a racking cough that would keep the kid out of school for many, many days. Sometimes this would evolve into a secondary infection like bronchitis or it would just go away.

My kids seemed to pass untouched by this virus. I heard from a mom that it was confirmed to be Influenza B. I understand from our local microbiologist (Thanks, Alan!) that this is actually a good thing as Influenza A is the kind that morphs into other things and can keep coming at us. If we've had the less mutant B strain already, then we are likely immune to it.

Amira seemed like she was fighting of a little cold last week. She had a sniffle and a cough. I kept her well rested. There was no fever or other aches and pains. I figured we'd dodged that bullet. On Friday after school she wanted to go home with a friend and play. I had been making her rest and go to bed early the prior two days, but she seemed to be doing really well and I didn't want to be overprotective and have a resentful whining kid on my hands. I let her go home with her friend.

Not only did Amira have a date with her friend after school, but I'd arranged to go out wine tasting with some friends that evening. And the dad of one of Rex's friends offered to watch all three of monkeys so that his wife and I could go out. How generous!

Needless to say, I had a great time (while poor Michael was off in Las Vegas slaving away for the family). I visited New Clairvaux for a tasting with my grown up friends. Imagine, a little wine (not whine) and adult conversation. It was fabulous! We didn't even stay out late.

When we got back to pick up the kids around 9:00P.M. Amira was complaining of a sore throat and her face looked a little flushed. My friend asked if she felt feverish. I felt her and she seemed fine. I guess I was in denial. I took the kids home and popped them into bed. At 3:00A.M. Amira woke me up to tell me that her head hurt, her stomach hurt and she felt dizzy. It looked like someone slapped her across the face and she was pretty hot and feverish. Way to go, mom. Once again, I have to pardon myself so I can get down to that trophy shop to pick up another "Mother of the Year" award. Honestly, they must have a stock pile pre-engraved just for me. I've earned them on so many occasions.

I guess I just totally exposed this generous family to infection. Also, I was supposed to drop the kids off at grandma's house in the morning as I was to attend a memorial service for my neighbor, Howard, who just passed away. That deal was off. If I exposed anyone else to this it would be unforgivable. So, all plans were off that weekend. No funerals. No skating. No clothing swap. Amira crashed on the couch for two days feverish, sweating, no appetite, sleeping or eyes at half mast. I looked around wondering which of us would go down next. Clearly we had not escaped this tornado!

The good news is that the fever is gone now and she is officially bored and home from school and driving me crazy. She still has a hacking cough. So, I will keep her home another day at least until we both can't stand it. My goal is to have her completely well by Wednesday. Rex's class is having a poetry dinner at school. I've invited my neighbor, Eunice, who has to be climbing the walls of her house now that her husband is gone. But I want to make sure I don't expose her to any unnecessary nastiness.

In the mean time, lots of elderberry, broth, tea, rest and other little immune boosters for us! No sense leaving the door open for another gust.

I wish the rest of you good health!