Look Michelle, you can eat this magic, little tree

This week has been a challenge. I've been Mum by myself. Today is a snow day. I am going back to bed. I will post more, later.

We are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matress money

Hello hello!!

I am having a very wonderful weekend and I would like to tell you what I've been up to. The Browns are away. All of them, so I have had all weekend to do as I please, and believe me, I have.

I went and spent some quality time getting to know my local library. It was a very worthwhile experience and I came home with some entertainment for the weekend. Spent most of the night reading and watched a movie with the dogs. Friday nights are different here.

Yesterday was such a lovely day, the sun was shining and it was just cold enough, and the snow was so pretty on the ground, I decided to go to the park. As in, Central Park. Hannah was meant to come into the City with me (she's another Aussie Au Pair), but she couldn't, so I went by myself. I ate a giant pretzel in the Park, went for a walk, found the soup nazi from Seinfeld, took the subway to Chinatown and went to Times Square again. I did consider going to the wax museum, but I'd rather do that when I'm with someone who can take photos for me. I like New York City, but I still don't quite understand the method of the subways. It doesn't matter, I got to where I was going with no problems.

A tip for if you're ever in Chinatown, if you're browsing in a shop, don't touch anything. Interestingly, nearly all the shops in Chinatown are owned by Indians, and as soon as you touch something, even if you're just moving it to see the shirt underneath, they put it in a bag and ask you what else you want to buy. It's good to bargain though. Since every shop sells the same stuff you can generally get a decent price on things, particularly if you buy more than one thing. And they have guys that sell watches out of their coats on the street corners. They're easy to avoid, there's plenty of people to hide behind, failing that just look at them blankly and say, "No English" and walk away like you're about to miss your train. They usually hang out near subway entrances.

Grand Central Terminal is something else. It's really big and there are billions of people and it smells. So does everything south 43rd street it would appear. The buildings are so tall and so dense it kind of traps it all in. It also keeps the heat out because the sun can't shine through. It's very cold, and when a wind picks up you definitely know about it.

A couple of people from church got together at Anna's place last night and we just sat around and had a chat. Once I got home, I couldn't go to sleep so I rang home and watched What About Bob? Then I made macaroni and cheese at 2 in the morning. I ate about 3 forkfuls and got tired and went to bed.

Today I have to go and do some shopping and I'll go to church tonight and people will probably come to my place afterwards. Everyone's keen to do something after church because it's President's Day tomorrow and they don't have to go to work.

That's all for now. Let me know what you've been up to.

You got it, dude!

Another week, another blog. Don't you love predictability?

My week has been one of highs, lows and in-betweens. Mainly in-betweens. I just keep plodding along.

I'll spare you boring details and just talk about the exciting things happened. Numero uno is *drum roll please* I GOT APOLOGETIX TICKETS!! Yes, all you ApologetiX fans can be super jealous of me on March 17th because I will be boogie-ing down with them in New City, New York, a mere 45 minutes from my dwelling place. I'm 10 excited!!

The second is that the Brown's seem to spend a fair bit of time away in the early part of the year, giving me a fair bit of time off. I can go with them to Maine for a weekend, and I'm thinking about it, see how we go. I get this coming weekend off (Presidents' Day you see), spring break and then there's all the time they're away in the summer holidays. I'm making some plans, but nothing is set in stone yet.

And the third ties a little to the second. There's the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum, opening some time this year (I reckon June). Ken Ham, the founder or something of Answers in Genesis is a member of my church back home. I did think of going to Kentucky at some stage once the museum opened to check it out, and going to church back home with Ken's extended family (in particular, his mother) means I have a contact there. Well, as it turns out there's a guy at church, Greg, who is trying to organise a road trip to the museum, and he's read many of Ken's books and would like to meet him in person. So, ta da, I have people to go with to the museum! We just have to wait for it to open. And if by some miracle Dad is reading this, Greg is an engineer.

Margaret also gave me permission to go to the young adults Bible study on Wednesday nights, so I'll get to meet more people, see them more often, get out of the house during the week. It's great.

Happy 18th to Kirsty (who never reads my blog) hope your birthday party was a blast, even though you didn't invite me :P:P. Happy birthday party to Nicola for this coming Saturday. And hi to everyone else. Take care and keep away from Gladstone!!

Who Knew Ironing Boards Didn't Float?

Did I mention Nick at Nite plays two episodes of Full House every night? They do, followed by Roseanne, followed by Fresh Prince of Bel Air, followed by something that's too late for me to be bothered watching. Home Improvement is on everyday, as is Spin City and channel 48 will gladly show a low budget film every day beginning at 10:30am (Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey was on, but I was enertaining a guest and didn't watch it all).

Today is Groundhog Day (the 2nd of February). For those of you who have seen the 1993 Bill Murray movie entitled, "Groundhog Day" (that wouldn't surprise me if it showed up on channel 48), the actual Groundhog Day ceremony is relatively accurate. Some old guy pulls some rodent out of a box and if there is a shadow then there's 6 more weeks of winter, and if not there's an early spring. It's more or less a load of garbage, since the weather does whatever it wants, and it's all based on an old German superstition that involved candles and a badger. I can think of plenty more fun things to do with candles and a badger than predicting the weather.

Regardless, since the making of the movie, attendance at the real Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has increased astoundingly. That's the yanks for you.

That's about all I have time for today. We're still waiting on some big snow, the kids want a snow day, so I'm hoping the groundhog/woodchuck/german badger decides to reveal its shadow and allow winter to live on for another 6 weeks. The clouds look promising for snow.