Bloggin' From A PC

A QUICK RECAP

Because this computer is giving me trouble, and because its almost out of battery, I will keep this post brief. Also, I cannot get the pictures to show in the correct order, so I have numbered them, but they do not appear sequentially. Here is what I have been up to.

1.


Went to see Daniel (cousinnephewcousinsecondcousinthriceremoved) play soccer, they didn't win, but the "Man of the Match" certainly earned his title, well done Daniel.

3.


Beautiful Western Australia, as we begin to land in Perth, I am shaking with excitement. Special thanks to the lubly Christiane for picking me up at the airport. (And a happy birthday)


2.


A lovely little lunch with Andrew (far right) Daniel (middle) and Tahlia following Daniel's game.

5.


From left to right this time, Stephen Caruana (in the sling) Bob & Shafen, I have missed these boys somethin' seriously fierce.

4.


Stephen broke his collarbone playing Aussie Rules Footy, this happened at about the same time my plane touched the ground. Christiane and I went and picked him up from the hospital that evening, and Stebie C put he and I up in this hotel for the night. The hotel got robbed while we were sleeping, Stephen heard it, rather exciting.

6.


This is Northam, the old stomping grounds from 6 years ago, Almost nothing has changed, minus a lot of good people have left, I just can't understand why....


Expect a more 'fleshed out' post in a few moons.

NEW PHONE NUMBER

HELLO LOVES:

I NO LONGER HAVE THE SAME PHONE NUMBER AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE, REGARDLESS, CALLS OR TEXTS OR MESSAGES OR ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THAT NUMBER WILL NOT WORK UNTIL I RETURN TO THE STATES.

MY NEW, AUSSIE PHONE NUMBER IS:


0404310575

DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL OR TEXT OR WHATEVER

Some Follow Up Images

This was a wonderful sight to see as I got off the plane in Sydney. Only football fans... I couldn't help but think about how wonderful this was, but how this sort of raucous behavior would never fly in U.S. Airports. Also I couldn't help but love the fact that the four guys, for whatever reason, didn't have a fifth man (for the "H" in Ghana of course!) but were resourceful and made themselves up so that they still got their message across... wonderful.





This is a very dark image of where I am staying with long time family friends Suzie Lucas, Tay & Luke Cornell (they also have a son Travis, whose room I'm staying in while he is in boarding school.



This is the Lucas/Cornell porch



This is the nationally famous Monty, he is a frisky pup and is still kickin' at 10+ years of age



This is the lovely little patio where I sit and drip sweat after my morning run.




This is one of the many things that I have missed terribly, the beautiful aroma of Eucalyptus, It feels so good, I can't even describe it.




This is a courtyard at Sydney University, where, on Tuesday I went to an Economics class with Luke.



And this, my friends is the real reason I have returned to the beautiful country of Australia, Brownes, Chocolate Honeycomb Supashakes, god they are great.

In my younger days I used to sport a rag

WEST WEST YALL

I have been thoroughly enjoying my time so far here in Sydney, but before we get into that, there are a few people to be thanked and times to be remembered in Los Angeles.

I had the extreme fortune of meeting up with the ever-radiant Jessica Ashley Nelson, who, with her two friends Kami & Rachel flew in to L.A. just a few hours after I did. There we were all picked up by an extremely funny, generous and entertaining man by the name of Christian (he is Kami's brother) We all went for a quick bite at Porto's Bakery where I had a Potato Ball & a Feta Sandwich. From there we moved the three girls into their new apartment overlooking the Warner Brothers Studio area. After getting their things moved in, and a little grocery/liquor shopping, we set up shop at the Grills where I ate my last (half) meal, a delicious burger crafted by Sir Christian. Christian got me to the Airport (a little buzzed) and in time for me to secure an empty seat next to me for my 14 hour flight. Of course the plane was delayed a half hour so I sat and read my new issue of Good Magazine (which is one of the best magazines I've picked up in a very long time). Upon finding my seat I plopped down & slept for 5 hours. When I did wake up the plane was dark and everyone else around me was asleep, so I began to watch some recent Indy favorite (the title slips my mind presently) but after about 30 minutes switched to American Gangster, which was an extremely good choice. Perfectly entertaining, Denzel is the undisputed king of suave and bad-ass. (Unfortunately the real Frank Lucas was a skeezy, sleazy slime ball who was a little obsessed with becoming rich, and perhaps even a bit of a dog... but a very clever dog nonetheless). Following this film, I took another 5 hour nap, and spent the remaining few hours reading and looking out my window.

When I landed in Sydney I had a surprisingly quick and easy time passing through customs. As I exited the customs area I could hear drums and shouting so I rolled my one suitcase and carry-on luggage down the terminal to see four men, topless with painted faces and the lettters "G" "A" "N" "A" painted on their stomachs, they were holding a sign that said: "BE THE 'H' IN GHANA" I watched as they welcomed (with bongos and chants) the Ghana soccer team.

Minutes later I found Luke & Suzie and we departed for some tea and back their beautiful Home in Willoughby NSW (its sort of like a borough of Sydney, equivalent to Brooklyn or Manhattan in New York.



A very bustling Porto's Bakery in Los Angeles (Glendale)




My Potato Ball at Porto's



The Oakwood Estates Lobby. This is where Jess & Rachel are living for a month, Its pretty nice... actually its ridiculously swanky, I saw Sean Jean Puff Daddy Puffy P Diddy Sean Combs Diddy get turned away at the door.



This is everyone moving around and moving in.



This is a very dark image of Jess's living room, where we watched Coyote Ugly.



This is one of Jessica's Pools.



This is the view from the pool/bbq area of Jess's new place.



This is (from left to right) Kami, Jess, Rachel & Christian, they were absolutely terrific to spend the day with, couldn't have asked for better company, I thank you all very much, especially Christian for picking me up, dropping me off & feeding me... I owe you.

(the next post will include images of Sydney, The Ghana Guys, & Monty)

Ahhh

I have arrived in Sydney, I am staying in the beautiful home of long standing family friends Suzie Lucas, Luke, Travis & Taylor Cornell, oh and Monty lives here too*.

I will be making a post this evening with images from my time in L.A. With Jessica, Kami, Christian & Rachel who so kindly spent time with me during my 11 hour layover in Los Angeles.

I will also upload images from my time so far in Sydney, I've had nary a moment of boredom or rest, things are going swimmingly!

(See hyphen for picture of Monty)

A BETTER BLOG

BRYN MICHAEL ANDERSON



I can't say that it was my suggestion that influenced the creation of this blog, but I'd like to think that I had a small hand in it. Regardless Bryn Michael Anderson is going on an amazing adventure this summer (you can view his itinerary here) And if you want to see what will truly be an AMAZING blog, please just visit this blog to use my link on the right (BRYNJA!)

THIS TIME TOMORROW

CONGRATULATIONS JEFFUS

YOU DID IT.



This is the card I made for Jeffus, he is graduating from River Falls High School on June 8th, I won't be here, so I am taking this opportunity to publicly congratulate my little brother, upon successful completion of secondary education. The card is written in Stralian, can you translate it?

IT IS TIME FOR

I've never been one much for the YouTube "videos" that are just a slide show of photographs set to music. In fact, as a rule I'd say they are a massive, boring waste of time

As is often the case however, I believe there is an exception to the rule. In this case, the exception comes from an indescribably amazing duo known to the world by their last names of Simon & Garfunkel. These two men, capable of amazing feats & fights also happened to be, perhaps the most unfortunate and unphotogenic men in the history of modern music. So while viewing this collection of photographs & listening to the beautiful melodies they weave so well, please appreciate the sort of uneasy feeling of suppressed memories of early adolescent awkward (that in the case of our boys Artie and Paul, seem to have lasted into adulthood)

MARTHA ISERMAN.



I recently had the pleasure of getting acquainted with this terrificly skilled and engaging artist. This is the work of Martha Iserman, a painter/printmaker/drawist from right here in Minneapolis Minnesota! She seems to be as energetic and dynamic as her work, totes rad.


ALEX DRAGULESCU.



The above image is an example of something called Spam Architecture. In this case, a model of a home, designed by interpreting & translating patterns in the text of spam mail. This stroke of genius courtesy of Alex Dragulescu, do visit his website.


MARK KHAISMAN.




The above image features back-lit portraits created from layers of packing tape. This is the work of Mark Khaisman, a Philly based artist born in the Ukraine. His work ranges quite a bit in subject, always in this medium.


HAND TYPE BONANZA.



An elderly sketch from when I first got the Panda Bear Album.



Some sketches for my friend Dan's "Big Gay Dan" tatt.



Smells like teen angst.