My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 8

Thursday 31st October 1996

Durango

Today we visited Mesa Verde National Park, which feature ruins of numerous cliff dwelling homes and villages built by the Ancestral Puebloan people, sometimes called the Anasazi. From my friend Wikipedia:-

Ancient Pueblo People or Ancestral Puebloans were an ancient Native Americian culture centered on the present-day Four Corners area of the United States, comprising southern Utah, northern Arizona, northwest New Mexico, and a lesser section of Colorado. They lived in "houses" called pueblos in which they lifted up ladders when enemies attacked when they came near. The cultural group has often been referred to in archaeology as the Anasazi, although the term is not preferred by the modern Puebloan Peoples. The word Anasazi is Navajo for "Ancient Ones" or "Ancient Enemy".

Archaeologists still debate when this distinct culture emerged. The current consensus, based on terminology defined by the Pecos Classification suggests their emergence around 1200 BC.

This was fascinating, to see where these people lived, and how preserved some of the dwellings actually were. It was a freezing day.....I remember that so well!

We spent the day here and the afternoon walking around the gorgeous western style town of Durango. I loved seeing the shop assistants dressed in their fancy clothes all ready for Halloween. It is a big big big thing in America....the ladies wore old style saloon girl clothes with the bustieres and the frilly skirts, they looked amazing.

We were so excited to be going back to Muldoons tavern for Halloween. We spent the early evening getting ready in our hotel, painting our faces and putting on our costumes. We had the most amazing night..everyone was dressed up - I was a witch and I'll always regret losing my witches hat!!


Don't forget to check in tommorrow for some Halloween pics!

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 7

Wednesday 30th October 1996

Grand Canyon to Durango

We left the Canyon around 8am and drove through the Navajo Indian Reservation. Lunch at Kayenta. Did amazing photos at the Utah/Arizona Border.

Drove through Monument Valley and the Painted Desert. I fully expected John Wayne to ride up on his horse and say "howdy"!

I loved Monument Valley. I thought I'd just stepped out of a western movie.



The road was so straight and we actually knew we were going to be passing another Contiki bus going the other way and when we did, we held up a sign saying "HELLO!".

Driving through Utah, in the distance I could see mountains completely covered in snow.

3.25pm Into Colorado, the land here is used for farming. It's very cold!

4.00pm Stopped in Cortez, Colorado and had a hot chocolate with a friend at a genuine Americian truckstop! I think it cost me $1.72. For both!

McDonalds restaurants are very popular here. There was even a McDonalds in the middle of the Navajo Indian Reservation.

4.35pm Driving through Colorado onto Durango, there is snow everywhere but blue skies as well.

We arrived at the Country View Lodge and they had already made dinner for all of us. At night our entire tour group went to Muldoons tavern where we drank and danced! Headed to Denny's for a late night snack then back to the lodge very late.

I can't believe we drove through 3 states that day - Arizona, Utah then Colorado.

Diary Entry
Wednesday 30th October 1996

2.10pm Driving through the desert in Utah, listening to Pink Floyd sing "Wish You Were Here", it's very relaxing. I still can't believe that I'm in America. Sitting next to Grum, he stole a pillow from the Canyon, so he's sharing that with me and it's very comfy.

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 6

Tuesday 29th October 1996

Grand Canyon

There is nothing I could really say to describe the Grand Canyon and do it justice. The photos also don't really show how amazing it is..you just had to be there...

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 5

Monday 28th October 1996

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

We left Vegas very tired after no sleep the night before! Stopped at Hoover Dam for some photos.....had lunch at Taco Bell.

Shopped in Kmart at Kingman for our Halloween costumes!!

When we arrived at the Grand Canyon it was dark and cold. It had been snowing heavily.

Dinner and a few drinks during the evening.

I will never forget when we opened the doors to our cabin, the room was so toasty and warm as they had put the heating on in anticipation of our arrival.....the feeling of walking out of the cold and the snow and into the warm room was very inviting and cosy.......

Vegas Photos

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 4

Sunday 27th October 1996

Los Angeles to Vegas Baby

We began our contiki tour at 7am driving out of Los Angeles and heading towards Las Vegas.

On the tour were 47 of us, plus our driver Gary and our tour director Jeff. We had 42 aussies, and the balance of travellers were from Japan, Korea and Germany.

I remember it was cold. We arrived around midday and had lunch in Caesars Palace. They had these amazing white statues everywhere that moved and changed, and this indoor sky that changed from night to day. I can't really explain it but we were inside and the ceiling was blue skies, then they would change to sunset then darkness with stars...

We walked around for the afternoon and it was freezing....we checked into our hotel and had dinner at Excalibur Hotel and Casino .The bus trip of the Strip at night was amazing..the colour, the lights..

We split into groups but came together for a show called Splash at the Riviera Hotel. We visited the Graceland Wedding Chapel where Elvis sang for us....was he real? Of course he wasn't...or was he????

This place never stops. Night and Day become one. Once you go into a casino, there are no windows so you could be inside for 24 hours and not know whether it is day or night. We walked the Strip, looking inside the casinos and got back to our hotel after midnight.

We spent the early morning hours in the hotel bar, drinking, playing games and listening to a man playing the piano and singing. There was a group of 10 of us, just chilling out.

My favourite memory is of walking outside and watching the Vegas sunrise.

Tune in tommorrow for some Vegas pics. The journey continues......

Two years in the shed

I'm so tired and behind with everything at the moment. You should see my "to do list" I plan to publish in November..it will scare the pants off you.

I've recently started working 3 days a week. And I totally take my hat off to full time working mums as I don't know how you do it and run a household at the same time.

I worked yesterday and the day before, and went straight from work to collect the kids from school then into town for dancing. The Hubbster was working day then night shift so he wasn't home. We got home around 7pm and the dishes were still in the sink and the clothes were not hanging on the line.

I always thought the housework fairy came in and did all of that while mums were at work? Where the hell is she?? Did she lose my address? Doesn't she work out of town?

Today is my day off, as I am back at work tommorrow and I have a course on Friday. I was looking forward to today, just to regroup, to pay some bills, do the washing, sort out "stuff" and just have some peace.

That's what I like about living on our farm. I can come home here and it is blissfully quiet. I can sit on the lounge in my butt imprint and watch Oprah and eat a muffin. For an hour. Which is probably not a good idea because my work pants are getting a little tight.

I had no idea Oprah caused weight gain??

We celebrate another milestone today as it is two, yes TWO years living in our shed. I can't quite believe it. Hopefully before the tween turns into a teenager, we will have our house.

You can read about our 12 months anniversary here

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 3

Diary Entry
Saturday 26th October 1996
Spent the day at Universal Studios. I came for the rides and stayed for the rides! We had multiple goes on Jurassic Park, Back to the Future (the best one) ET, Backdraft.

Caught a shuttle bus from our motel to UStudios with a bus driver called George. He was a hoot with an excellent sense of humour. He kept cracking joke along the freeway (while I'm thinking - keep your eyes on the frickin' road), like this: "We are now going through East LA - with 50 000 gang members living here, when they start rioting and start shooting people I'd rather be somewhere else like on vacation in New York". He was so funny.

Drinks tonight in the bar, meeting other tour members..they are mostly Aussie (god help America), we all got along famously. They all drink like fish so I'm in good company. My writing is a bit scrappy because I'm quite drunk at the moment. And happy. It will be an excellent tour....

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America Day 2

Before todays post, I wanted to share what Kerri wrote in her diary after meeting me for the first time at the airport. Reprinted with thanks from Kerri....

"You'd never read about it. There I was sitting at Sydney International Gate 34 waiting to board, when a girl walks past and sits behind me. Readying to board I turn around only to discover she has a contiki travel document pack. Me, completely amazed (and for once not lost for words) introduce myself only to discover, yes, Michelle is doing Contiki Southern (to New Orleans), staying at my hotel and would you believe is actually moving to my town when she gets back! What can I say ... Amazing!!!! And so it begins ......."


After a delicious breakfast of poached egg, hash brown, toast and tea in the hotel restaurant, Kerri and I set off on the free shuttle bus for....The Happiest Place on Earth...


Disneyland.

We were very happy indeed to be there. We could have stayed all day.

In fact, we did stay all day!

Diary Entry
Friday 25th October 1996
Spent 9am to 5pm at Disneyland. What a magical wonderful place. The rides were outstanding especially Indiana Jones and Space Mountain. We rode the Disney train around Disneyland, Splash Mountain and the Pirate Ride were excellent.

We met two other Aussies in the teacups, how cool is that?

I love this place....

Had tea in the restaurant, the meals are so huge here. Early night, in bed by 9pm.

My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America:

Today I start a month long series entitled My Roadtrip: An Aussie in America. As today is the 14th anniversary of the beginning of my trip, instead of the usual nostalgia I feel and the longing to go back, I thought I would blog....my trip.....I know I know, it's a tad self indulgent but my friends know I'm obsessed so you can share (suffer) with them.....joke.

What I plan to do is beginning today, I shall recreate my trip somewhat, using photos, location information and actual real life diary entries (yes I know you're impressed). It will be that good.

My Americian readers may recognise some landmarks, scenery and experiences and I hope if some of you haven't been to America, you will share with me the excitement, wonder and fascination that I felt...

Please note:- I will not change the diary entries...they will be authentic, and slightly embarrassing at times, because I was very excited to be in America and we did alot of *ahem* partying.......you get the picture. Enjoy!

14 years ago today I went to America. I had dreamed and planned and saved for years, booking the trip 12 months in advance. I had recently began writing to an Americian mother who invited me to stay with her and her family. She wrote to me "we will get to know each other over the next 12 months"...so I incorporated a visit with her in my planning......

She lived in Hannibal, Missouri the boyhood town of author Mark Twain. So the deal was, a three and a bit week contiki tour from Los Angeles across the middle of America, down to New Orleans..where the tour would continue on to New York. I, however would fly to Atlanta then onto St Louis where my friend I had never met would collect me!

Was I excited? Was I scared out of my mind....? Oh yes. I remember not wanting to walk through the boarding gates at the airport to board the plane. "I'll just turn around and forget I ever had this stupid idea"...to travel to America alone. What the hell was I thinking?


But I walked and I went and I never looked back again.

Some background info: when my trip was finished, The Hubbster (fiance at the time) were moving to another state where we didn't know anyone. Here is the importance of meeting Kerri...as you will see.

Diary Entry
Thursday 24th October 1996 1.45pm
Siting in the plane waiting to take off. I was feeling very anxious, but I have just met a girl who is doing my tour (also by herself) and we can help each other get through LAX (Los Angeles International Airport).

And she lives in the town I'm moving to! This must be fate. Her name is Kerrie and she is as relieved to find me as I am to find her. I feel more relaxed now. Here we GO!

Got through LAX easily. We met up with 4 aussie guys from Sydney on their first overseas trip as well. Ordered a shuttle and got to the motel at midday. Jumped on a tour shuttle and had a look at Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the mansions to the Stars.


I don't really look like a tourist..do I?

The only crazy thing we saw was an FBI shootout in a carpark. Seriously. No joke. They had the vests on and all. Welcome to America.

Had dinner and some drinks in the restaurant and bar with some other aussies. Feeling very relaxed and happy.

Out of the mouth of babes

The following post was too good not to write about. It shows just how insane my kids (life) are.

Today after school, I dropped Miss D (aged 9) at nanny's work to spend the weekend with her. She helps with the RSPCA dog adoptions thus they have a busy weekend ahead. That left me with Mr C (aged 7) and Miss T (aged 5). I like to refer to these two as my bad combination.

I mean, without Miss D there bossing them around, they actually get on really well. But they also get into mischief together like eating Tim Tams from the fridge and running off whilst chewing or spraying the guineas with water while I'm not watching.

Anyway, whilst getting back into the car after buying some wine, as one does on a Friday afternoon, I viewed Miss T licking the bottom of Mr C's shoe. Naturally I wanted to know why the hell she would do such a thing so the conversation went like this"-

Farmers Wifey: did you just lick the bottom of his shoe?

Miss T: umm yes I did.

Farmers Wifey: why on earth would you do that? It's disgusting..

Miss T: acourse (because) he told me to.

Farmers Wifey: but you shouldn't do everything he says???

Miss T (getting teary): but he said he'd kick me in the nuts if I didn't.....

The explanation went a bit like this:

Farmers Wifey: first of all, you are a girl, so technically you don't have testicles. Secondly you don't know where his shoe has been so don't lick it. Thirdly I'm not giving you a kiss until you clean your teeth.

Of course all the while thinking to myself "who the hell are these children and what happened to the normal ones I had last week??"

My Intervention

I've recently noticed that a couple of bloggers have posted about their blogging taking them away from the other things they have to do in their lives. I am finding this as well.

I have a crazy To Do list that...well...frankly is not getting done. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a To Do list, doesn't it??

So I'm going to do a two part intevention.

My first issue I have a grievance with is that I find I am not visiting the blogs I follow....I follow *ahem* around 160 blogs, but dammit, you guys rock and I just can't help myself so there.

So I have decided not to post for the rest of the week, and the time I use for blogging I shall instead be visiting your blogs and reading and commenting and stalking. So be prepared for Farmers Wifey to comeavisiting and remember I love an Irish Breakfast with no sugar or milk.

The second thing I am going to do is to post my To Do list on my blog for the month of November, and see exactly what I can get done.

I'll cross things off as I go, and I appreciate that there will be things I just won't get to, like stripping and staining the old antique dresser I have, or learning to play Brown Eyed Girl on my guitar so The Hubbster can actually identify it...but I am going to give it all my best shot.

I find at times I need a good kick in the motivation rear as I can be quite lazy at times, and would much prefer to be watching reruns of Supernatural than cleaning out the fridge.

You get my point.

Perhaps if I post my To Do list on my blog, I shall be shamed into admitting that I am not the best at time management.

Remember, there are some dodgy things on my list that may not make alot of sense to you, but to me, they are little things that I just can't get to.

I'm actually quite excited by this two part revelation.

It doesn't mean I won't be twittering though..which I find quite addictive.

It's a Beautiful Day, Don't Let It Get Away

It was such an amazing, warm sunny day yesterday, we just had to get outside...

We decided on hot chip sandwiches with lemon and some time at the new climbing frame in the park. I lounged around on the picnic rug in the shade while the kids did their thing.....

Dad - 11 years today

This morning I took the kids to The Coffee Club where they enjoyed pancakes with icecream and maple syrup and I really enjoyed chilli chocolate cake and a cup of English Breakfast Tea.

Quite the contrast to this day 11 years ago when I sat on the back steps of our house, cuddling my two beagles, after receiving the phone call about the death of my Dad.

The world turned, and people went about their day, oblivious to the inner chaos that I felt. I always wonder about that, how one can be in such pain and everyone around them just doesn't feel it.......

But life goes on, doesn't it....

For our babies lost

I lit my candle at 7pm for my lost babies as part of the International Wave of Light coinciding with the International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day