I shouldn’t be on this right now, because I have to go to work. But I decided to catch the later bus, so now I have 15 minutes to write about something that just came to mind. I visited one of the blogs on Sirdar’s blog roll, A Spot of T, and there she has a comment about one of the featured sites at WordPress. I agree with her — some of them are great, some not so. But the one she talks about is fantastic — Reusable Bags deals with the ever growing problem of plastic bags. It was good to read that San Francisco has decided to ban large supermarkets from offering them to customers (I hope eventually that includes all stores). Here in Australia there’s a great trend to people using cloth bags — the two larger supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, have their own bags, each version proudly stamped with an environmental message. It’s a common sight now to see people carrying them around, and so much easier to load your groceries into them than getting plastic ones. My guess is the plastic bag manufacturers aren’t too keen on the trend however.

It reminded me of something I discovered during a trip to Italy a few years ago. I went into a supermarket in Trento and when I got to the checkout, discovered that if I wanted plastic bags instead of the standard paper ones (and who would choose plastic over paper anyway?) I would have to pay for them. This was their way to try and encourage shoppers to do the right thing by the environment.

Well, my 15 minutes is coming to an end — better think about going to work. I know what I would rather be doing. 🙂

Well, I just got back from the morning visit to feed the chooks and cat. I went up at 6:30am just as the sun was starting to show. Considering it is winter, I was quite comfortable in my shorts and t-shirt. Such a difference from the West Virginia winters I loved.

Anyway, as I headed up the short walk, I came across quite a few people who were out walking — be it for exercise or perhaps just to enjoy the fresh morning air. Friendly bunch as well, which is always a pleasant touch. I say that because one thing I have noticed since moving back is that Australians (and I know I shouldn’t generalise) don’t seem to be as friendly as I remember back before I left in 1998. Maybe it is because I lived in a society where it is considered good manners to say hello and smile, which Americans do tend to live by. I know that some Aussies suggest that it’s all fake, this American “have a nice day”, but to be honest, I think they really are wishing you that. I think I am a good judge of character and I never really got the feeling that it was being said for the sake of making me feel good — it was more a wishing me a good day or evening etc.

Okay, back to the sights I saw this morning. As I approached the front gate, I could see something sitting on the letter box — not junk mail, something more significant than a pile of paper. It was a sulphur crested cockatoo, and it was just sitting there looking at me. It must be a local because it seemed tamer than perhaps one might expect. It didn’t get agitated as I came nearer, though I did tread softly so as not to upset it. It was after all, there first. So that was a good sight to come across. 🙂

Next, as I entered the house there was a rather large spider making its way out the door — and let me tell you, I didn’t stop to say hello, I was happy to leave it go on its way. I don’t know what type it was, and I hoped like hell that there weren’t any of its family or friends in the house. I’m not a huge fan of spiders and all things crawly, but if you live in Australia, you do have to get used to coming across them on a regular basis.

So I survived that encounter and next task was to feed the kids. Galore, this rather large persian cat was sitting impatiently on the window sill outside the kitchen. As soon as she spotted me, I heard a “thump” and then her bell. I assume that was her jumping from the window sill to the floor. As I opened the door she made a beeline for the plate her food is dished out on. But, alas I hadn’t filled it, so she gave me *the* look. Suffice to say she was happy once the plate was filled. The chooks were happy to see me as well, though I believe it was for the feed in the container more than for my company. One egg had been laid since yesterday afternoon.

Out of the pen and just as I was about to walk back upstairs, this bush turkey came rushing around the corner — gave me quite a fright. There seems to be a flock (is that what you call a group of bush turkeys?) of them living in the neighbourhood. You can tell when they have been around, because your garden will be disturbed — they like to scratch and look for insects. They are quite friendly and seem undeterred by human presence.

So — that was my morning experience — many sights. 🙂

I’ve been relaxing and watching nothing too exciting on the idiot box just now. I saw something that reminded me of when I was a kid growing up in semi-rural Queensland. That got me to thinking about the old days, those ones when it seemed so less complicated. Maybe kids don’t feel the pressure that I envisage them to be experiencing? But back to my title tonight — refreshing sounds.

Friends of mine have gone to Vancouver for a conference (actually, I think it’s just a good excuse to go touring) and I am taking care of their “kids” while they are gone. The kids consist of 4 chooks (for those unsure, that means chickens) and a persian cat called Galore. So this morning, when I was dragging myself out of bed, I could hear them clucking up in their pen. My friends live two doors up the street, and on a quiet Saturday morning you can hear just about any noise. That sound brought back those boyhood memories of when I lived in the burbs of Toowoomba, and our own bunch of chooks would be making that same sound of a morning. It was like a greeting and also a demand for food. It was a good feeling. So up I went to be met by Galore at the door waiting for her tucker. The chooks like to come out of their pen and scratch around the back yard — good to keep the pests at bay as well as giving them some freedom to wander, but not too much freedom, as I didn’t want to be chasing them around the neighbourhood. So as the kids were feeding and exercising, I made a cuppa and sat and enjoyed the nature and the early morning. Once again, I drifted back to some 40 years ago as a kid.

That was a great memory.

So now, the family I live with are bringing back another one for me. You may or may not know that I live with a family recently arrived from China, and it’s been a learning experience for all of us — as they adapt to life in Australia and as I adapt to the “interesting” cooking smells and of course, a language I neither speak nor understand. The memory — is that they are standing around the piano and singing songs — Bao Guang (dad) plays the piano so well — and has never had a lesson, nor does he read music — it’s all by ear and memory. So right now they (Bao Guang, Kaye (mum) and their 2 boys, Daniel and William) are singing the songs from the Sound of Music. The memory for me is of old times, back when TV was just new and the entertainment options of today just weren’t around. It reminded me of when my grandparents would have us down at their place and they would turn the radio on to listen to a favourite program. The enjoyment that families had as they did activities together.

Good memories 🙂

Listen to a computer-generated podcast of this posting

So, here it is Good Friday in Australia. If you’re a religious person, then Happy Easter. If you’re not, then Happy Spring if you are in the northern hemisphere; if in the southern, then Happy Hot Day. 🙂

Most workers (apart from the usual essential services people) have the day off, and most of the stores are closed. It’s the same on Monday. So, I get a 4 day weekend which is quite nice I must admit. Today I am doing absolutely nothing — apart from getting some emails up to date, posting this blog, and maybe even posting to my wordpress blog. It’ll be a hot day here (seems to be like that every day lately) so I’ll no doubt be looking for somewhere cool.

So, at this time of the year people reflect on things that affect them and their surroundings. For me, Easter was always a time to be thankful and a chance to think about the future. Lately I have been trying to do things for others, because that’s what does it for me. Money and material goods don’t give me the blast that I get from volunteering etc. A couple of weekends ago I attended the national conference of Amnesty International Australia, which was held just up the road at my workplace, the University of Queensland. It felt good to be interacting with people who shared similar concerns about human injustice and suffering. I came away with hope for the world, something that escapes me a lot when I see the idiocy of the Iraq war, the Bush regime etc.

I also joined an organisation here called SOWN — Save Our Waterways Now. It’s a local, community-driven organisation that is very mindful of the importance of the environment, in particular the waterways, which, if you know anything about the environmental situation in Australia, is a very important issue. So, sometime soon I am joining people from all walks of life, young, not so young (my group LOL) and heading down to one of the local creeks and planting some trees…a way to stop erosion and beautify the landscape.

Well….I think I’ve got my message across…be mindful of others, and protect your environment….

Amazing…I seem to fall into the same routines. For example, my blogging — I started blogging quite a few years ago as a part of a project I was working on in my Masters program (educational technology). I had created an online class and wanted to incorporate some “cutting edge” technology into the curriculum. Blogging was not well known by the masses (unlike now) but because I dabbled with technology I certainly could see a use for the technique. So, I signed up for a blogger account and lo and behold my first blog was born. It worked quite well actually, and I was rewarded for my hard work at the end of the semester with an A+.

But I digress…the point I am trying to get across is that I became enthusiastic about the technology, and really got into the whole idea of interaction over the web. But somehow, I managed to lose my touch with the blogging and the results of my enthusiastic efforts sat on a server for almost 2 years. Then somehow I got in touch with that inquisitive, creative side of me that comes and goes constantly, and I was back blogging.

This time it was to document some of my experiences of living in the USA. I found it quite theraputic — quite often I would sit in the my fav coffee hangout and blog for hours at a time. There’s something peaceful (for me anyway) associated with sitting and enjoying the morning with people coming in to fill up with some coffee or tea, especially on a cold winter’s morning. Those memories flood into my consciousness at times — especially of late, with the hot and steamy weather we have been experiencing.

So, the blogging continued for some time, but when I looked at the blog just now, I again was reminded of how on and off I am — how I get off the track so easily, by the fact that my last post to it was in March of 2006. Admittedly, 2006 was a tough year, with lots of personal issues to deal with and eventually, a move around the world again. I started blogging again and I am sure I mentioned in that first post my intention (desire) to post more regularly. Not to be!

So…I decided tonight that it was time I got serious with this blogging — I religiously read my fav blogs each evening, my way of relaxing. I read the thoughts of Sirdar, Bravus and others…and I get so much enjoyment from them.

So…stay tuned for more regular posting (hopefully). 🙂

An interesting blog I subscribed to a while back is Amit Agarwal’s Digital Inspiration — each day I receive an email highlighting his posts for the day. There’s always something of interest. I enjoyed the short posting titled “Can Your Mom Spell B-L-O-G-G-E-R?“.

There’s also a cartoon from Blaugh that goes with it:

I was checking out Sirdar’s blog this morning and saw that he had found a link to a site where for a few responses to questions, a blogger could find out his/her bloggng personality. I think mine is a pretty good match of who I am.

Your Blogging Type Is Thoughtful and Considerate

You’re a well liked, though underrated, blogger. You have a heart of gold, and are likely to blog for a cause. You’re a peaceful blogger – no drama for you! A good listener and friend, you tend to leave thoughtful comments for others.

What’s Your Blogging Personality?

Friday early evening here and I felt the need to post something — been a while since I posted something here. I spend so much of my time reading my fav blogs, and never get back to my own. I like blogs — the chance to see life through another person’s eyes and fingers. I have come across some really interesting ones of late…but more about them later. For now I want to stick to the subject that is close to my heart right now…friends and their impact.

Since I moved back, I’ve come to realise the value of friendships, be they local or spread around the world — which mine tend to be. I received word a couple of days ago that a good friend of mine, back in the USA, has been diagnosed with cancer, and it is in the serious stage. This really knocked me around — Jack is this giant of a man, but as friendly and generous as can be, and not much older than me. In the time that I knew him (when I lived next door to him), he and I became good friends — we’d joke about some of the local “characters” (aka the busy bodies); we’d challenge each other to mow the grass faster and better; when it was time to shovel the snow, we’d always share a smile and work as a team. I shared many an hour with Jack on my days off, when his Aunt would twist my arm and force me over for a cup of coffee with her and Jack, both of whom became like family to me. It indeed was a difficult task the day I had to say goodbye — but thankfully I have been able to maintain that contact, though I still miss those times I shared with them both. You’re constantly in my thoughts, Jack!!

Friends…real friends are hard to come by. I’ve had many people come and go in my life — but few that I consider close enough to share my hopes, dreams and disappointments with. Today I received a call from my best friend ever — Donna, who lives some distance from me in southern Australia. I met Donna back in 1990 on my trip to Europe and we just clicked — we’ve been great friends ever since. She has the best sense of humour, and I’m guaranteed a lot of laughs when she’s on the line. At the same time, I can talk to her about the issues worrying me, about the future etc. She is attentive, she listens and she offers her thoughts and advice. That’s the sign of a close friend — one who makes an effort, shows empathy, and hangs in for the long term. Thanks Donna — you’re a treasure!

As I think about people who have been there for me, who continue to be so, my mind comes to Eleanor. It’s hard to describe her — let’s just say that Eleanor is this hard working person who came into my life when I moved to Madison Avenue, and who impressed me with her energy, in looking after her own children, her Mom and Dad, and her extended family. She not only does that, but she also reaches out into the community to help those less fortunate. Eleanor and her husband Jim had a HUGE battle with the education department relating to educational opportunities for their daughter, and they did so with professionalism, never resorting to the dirty tactics that the department did.

Eleanor was always there when I needed someone to talk to about issues going on in my life. Thankfully I was able to help her out with some IT skills, so I felt it was not all take, more that it was give and take, a sharing of energies. Even now, with everything associated with Jack’s health challenges, Eleanor still found time to email me and say she was thinking about me. That, in my mind, is the sign of a true friend, and I am lucky to have her in my life. Thank you Eleanor — from the bottom of my heart.

Of course there is one other person, and that person (if reading this blog) knows who I mean. I won’t go any further except to say that she was perhaps the only person who really knew me — who really understood me and I am saddened not to be in her daily life. Enough said. *sigh*

Time to post these thoughts. More later about some of my favourite blogs…..