Don't judge a book by it's cover

Remember looking through the library at your elementary school pulling out each book just slightly so you can peer at the cover to decide if it grabs your interest? Remember when an adult caught you in that act (because we know all adults have eyes all over their head -sorry for the horrid image!) and wisely told you not to judge a book by it's cover?

If we have been told time and time again not to judge a book by its cover than what about the infamous book so many are involved with today : Facebook?

Facebook goes against this age old advice and rather encourages you to judge a book, in this case a person, but its cover (a profile). Now, it is true you can Facebook stalk a person and climb through hundreds of their pictures to discover that they are images of skydiving, bungee jumping and cliff jumping to deduct that they are an adventure seeker. But what if you are told that at any given point one picture can be pulled out of context, pushed into the public eye, and hold you accountable for any public assumptions that may follow. As an educator I have images of my times in classrooms, working at day care, babysitting alongside pictures from New Year's and family camp. So, I don't have anything to hide. I am a fun loving, adventure seeking, educating girl and I feel my Facebook reflects that.

Throughout an American collegiate experience how many times are you told to keep in mind that Facebook will be used as a deciding component of whether you are worthy enough to receive the position?

So here is the catch : Facebook has been in Australia for just one or two years shy of American and yet my mates haven't been threatened with the Facebook warnings and furthermore haven't heard of any companies using Facebook as a tool for evaluating employees.

Is it only a matter of time, are individual's privacy more respected, or does the Aussie culture not care about Facebook and the plethora of information it provides?

Cheers, from a Facebooker

p.s. picture thanks to weheartit.com

Another piece of the puzzle

A couple more pieces have fallen into place in this puzzle of Australian culture. I warn you they may seem backwards but all the corners fit.

I was asked this weekend on my sailing excursion how I feel Australians are different from Americans. I gave it some think and one response included that everyone is more relaxed here. Meaning : one of my classmates turned in a assignment an entire week late (did I mention it was 60 percent of our grade?) something that wouldn't fly at MSU. But here is the puzzler: if the people are more relaxed then why is wearing PJs outside of the apartment such a no-no? (this includes track pants in public, which you are guaranteed at least one comment inquiring if you are going to the gym)

Want another?
It is starting to get colder as the leaves change. This morning it was only 50 degrees at 8:30 am and 70 degrees by noon in comparison to the 105 degree weather in February. My roommate started singing the infamous Christmas carol to reflect the temperature change " Oh the weather outside is frightful..." and I am sure you know the rest. So here is the puzzler: If their Christmas is in the middle of summer here and often includes bbq on the beach then why are there not more Christmas songs about Xmas under the sun?
(warning: I already asked if there are Aussie Christmas songs and if there are, not any that my roommate acknowledged)

So there you have it, some backwards looking pieces that are indeed still a fit into the Western Aussie cultural puzzle.

Cheers, from a puzzling gal

p.s. picture thanks to weheartit.com

Sail Away With Me Hunny

Dearest Catamaran,

It is surprising how through my fifteen years of sailing experience I haven't met you yet.


I am glad Mallory was kind enough to introduce us!

For you see, Mr. Catamaran, it's blissful gliding over the Indian Ocean while watching a regatta take place.

And if I may say so, a bit luxurious with the sun reflecting off my skin and sharing some capsicum dip on Turkish bread.

It's sailing moments like this, that the cool breeze is a taste of home.
I am reminded of Lake Walloon and my favorite sailing companion : the Hobie Cat.

I hope you weren't jealous when little Captain Jack
snuggled up stealing the show

and the camera (smile).


In case you thought you were sly, I thought I'd point out that I caught you
listening to my conversation with Mallory about our dreams of log cabins, Haiti, simplicity, ten thousand villages and coffee shops.

Feel Free to sail away with me again
Cheers, from a happy sailor

Here's to all you Mothers

To all the new mothers in the world
(shout out to : Jenny & Nicole)

to the mothers who are no longer with us,
(Thanks for everything Grandma, who would say to this picture, "that's just bad")

to the mothers who have been through it all,
(The Alices of the world)

to the mothers who take you by surprise and become a part of your life
(gratitude to the Lauras of the world)

to the women who aren't mothers but sure have your back
(to the Janets in our lives)

to the mother's who deserve some added celebration
(to Mrs. Drzewicki, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Pettit, Mrs. King, Mrs. Carino, Mrs. Fletcher, my Aunts)

to all mothers,

and to my mother:
Happy Mother's Day!

Cheers, from a daughter

side note: here in Aussie land Mother's Day (also the second Sunday of May)
is spent sharing a meal and appreciating family.

p.s. all photos thanks to weheartit.com

What a beautiful day for football

Welcome to Aussie Rules Footy also known as AFL.
Teams : Freemantle Dockers versus the visiting team, Richmond Tigers

Now, these men train three times a day so you can imagine
what sort of muscle definition they have.
Not that I minded of course (smile).

(image thanks to fanfooty.com)

Take player,Matthew Pavlich the Docker's captain since 2007,
for example weighs 101 kg. Roughly 230 lbs.
And, as you can see, Footy isn't an easy sport on the body.

Now, the object of the game is to kick (and only kicked) the football into the goal post. Each side has four goal posts (sorry only three pictured here). If the ball is kicked inbetween the middle two is worth six points where the outside two are only one point.

All smiles since the Freemantle Dockers managed to get the most goals.

Now, a major difference between Footy and other sports is how fighting is left to its own devices. Notice that the yellow shirted refs, are only observing?
Little is done about bantering between teams.

The atmosphere of the footy arena consists of the an college American football arena's student section. Except, the entire arena is at the spirit and noise level of student section.
Let's get rooooowdy!

Cheers, from a footy lovin' gal

ANZAC Day

(This photo thanks to perthnow.com)
On the 25th of April, at dawn, commenced the
Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. (ANZAC) day celebrations.

This picture taken at King Park's ANZAC Day Dawn Service highlights the anniversary of the first major military action fought by
Australian and New Zealand forces combined during the First World War.

Why Dawn? It was the time of the original landing of the ANZAC troops on the Gallipoli peninsula in hopes to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies to capture Constantinople.
Turns out the attack on Gallipoli was full of ANZAC heavy casualties and ultimately unsuccessful.
Instead of burying such defeat, ANZAC day was created to remember the sacrifice of all those who have served in the war.
Today, it seems that ANZAC day has turned into one of the most important national holidays.
Imagine millions across the nation waking up at five to find their way to a Dawn Service.

After an early morning, we stopped in for some coffee and then retreated back to my apartment for our planned festivities : an ANZAC day brunch.

What can I say? We do things with class!

Impressed? Everyone did their part!
The brunch officially started at 11:30, with food and people trickling in and out until three in the afternoon. What a way to celebrate.

So, for those of you who are curious what the American equivalent would be, I'd say its a combination of the Fourth of July and Veterans day.

Cheers, from a day of remembrance

My Old School Love

I may not be very good, but there is something so old school about bowling that I adore.

Bowling is classic.
Something about admiring black and white photos of Marilyn and James only inches from a jukebox while drinking a glass bottle of coca cola with a straw....

Bowling is simple.
Lace your primary colored shoes up,
pick up a filthy, oiled bowling ball
and just go for it.

Bowling is for all ages.
Two birthday parties were going on in lanes 7, and 4.
The gals in lane 7 were preteen and in 4 the gentleman was adorned with peppered hair.

My mates and I, in our early twenties, traveled to Rosemount Bowl in North Perth.

Paid 20 AUD each for two games and footwear.
Then proceeded to have a smashing good time trying to psych
each other out.
And yes, I had original coca-cola from a glass bottle with of course a red lined straw..


Through the neon light and rotating disco ball the only difference I could see were that the lanes were more narrow.
So there you have it :

Bowling is international.

Cheers from a 123.

P.s. Fun fact... the word Jukebox is derived from the Gullah word
"juke" or "joog" meaning wicked or rowdy.

P.p.s photos thanks to google.com and weheartit.com