(Source: theamericanprospect, via barackobama)
I brought along my video camera to the Barossa Valley wine region for a day drinking excursion the other week with Lou and Andrew….and this is the result.
I’ve had a craving for a double-shot Caribou iced skim latte FOR WEEKS. I’m fairly certain that I could get something comparable here, but this craving is so specifically Caribou that I’m not sure I would get my fix.
Mitt Romney said at last night’s debate that he wants to provide “relief” to the middle class. Based on what his tax plan would actually do to middle-class families, we’re not sure that word means what he thinks it means.
Obligatory Post-New Years thoughts: On reflection, I would have to say that 2011 was one of my better years. Minus the brief period of time right after the Goon Serpents left (during which I was jobless and having Northern-Southern Hemisphere seasonal depression issues) and the fact that I’ve missed Ronnie an indescribable amount, I was very content. I met a lot of awesome friends from all over the world, I went to a lot of amazing places, I got the chance to get to know my family better (and, more importantly, they were generous enough to take me in for so long), I had a couple of pretty great professors (and one completely useless one, but let’s just forget about her), I got to meet new family members (well, not really new…but new to me), and, thanks to modern technology, I was still able to talk to/drink with/plan trips to Narnia/gossip with everyone I love for free.
I’m trying to prepare myself for leaving Australia, since I’m sure it’s going to race up on me. I can’t tell yet whether I’ll be happy to go back to America or if I’ll be upset to leave the life that I’ve grown into here…I guess probably both. I’ve really only had one bout of homesickness while I’ve been over here on the other side of the world (during which I was craving a solid road trip in my beetle, shows at First Ave, hangovers on Gram’s floor, synchro, trivia Mondays, and a typical day of chatting around the island in the Singer kitchen), but I’m pretty sure that once I get back I’ll be thinking about all of the Australian things I’m longing for. It’s quite a double edged sword…I’m always missing something from somewhere.
I know it sounds strange, but the trailer parks in this country are top notch (and often set in primo locations), and I’ve been thinking about spending my future retirement in a camper driving around the coasts of Australia. We’ll see if I can pull it off.
Anyway, a list of the first adventures I’m embarking on for 2012:
Southern Flinders Ranges
Stony Creek
Coober Peedy
Uluru
King’s Canyon
Kata Tjuta
Alice Springs
Auckland
Paihia
Bay of Islands (Urupukapuka Island)
Hahei/Coromandel Region
Rotorua
Whakahoro
Tongariro
Wellington
Sydney
Adelaide
Kangaroo Island
Hawaii (Oahu, Big Island)
Las Vegas
Myrtle Beach
Philadelphia
NYC
Minneapolis
Adventures with Roo: Climbing a giant non-rocking horse and the National Motor Museum.
One thing I can’t wait to indulge in when I get back to America: Black and white film. Seriously, it’s 12x as expensive here (not an exaggeration).
Oh, and a serious road trip during which I will use said film.