this anti-drink driving billboard brought to you by the beer related billboard next to it.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
drink driving (brewed by beer nuts)
this anti-drink driving billboard brought to you by the beer related billboard next to it.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
killin' it
for real. meet matt. he's 13. he can ski real good and tackled this run just after getting this quick shot so he could brag to his friends. i can barely stop so certainly would've met death. oh, i may not have mentioned that it was difficult to see 1 foot in front of your own face.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
mt. bully bully pt II....
So, we're back. And done with friday. But i should probably recount the last few days so that you can see what else this continent has to offer besides plants that will kill you and trillions of square feet of dirt. 82,697,593,651,200 sq ft. if you're counting.
TB and i left for the mountain on tuesday afternoon. It started out sunny, but late into our drive it became wet and very windy. Probably not the best conditions for driving to an unknown place. Tina's been to buller but not me. I can hamfist my way around an area if i have a general sense of the surroundings. If i know which way is north, no prob. But here it was dark and raining and in an area that had limited cell reception. We would have to wing it.
Once underway, we had a little time so we'd spend the next few hours listening to the radio. Australians, despite being extremely proud of all things Australian, love two things: American classic rock and Pink. Not sure in which order, but turn on the radio and you will know each intimately. (if you weren't already)
We had some good fun laughing at road signs along the way.
After a few hours we made it to a little township called Mansfield where we met Marianne; a friend of our hosts Michael & Amy. The resort at Mt. Buller is a pretty small village. It has a ski resort and lots of places to stay, but because of the resort's size private vehicles aren't allowed at the top during the winter. Vistors park in lots all over the mountain and then catch resort shuttles the rest of the way up. These are generally a clusterfuck to deal with so we parked in another small township just at the base of the mountain called Merrijig. Being further from the mountain would allow us to get back on the road a little easier when we left. [That and the storm had gotten pretty crappy so we would've had to stop to put chains on the car. There was also a rather large tree in the middle of the road just inside the gate to the mountain. -t]
Marianne's husband, Pike, was going to pick us up in Merrijig to take us the rest of the way to the resort. We killed some time at the Hunt Club hotel. We drank a few pots (not pints) and generally shot the shit. The power went out twice. Once Pike arrived it was time to continue up the highway.
We finally made it to the house Michael, Amy, Pike and Marianne were renting. Apparently it belongs to some Aussie pro skier/snowboarder chick named steph hickey. Piece of work this girl as the walls were covered with pictures of herself and medals. The house was situated pretty close to the lifts though - about 100 feet! Gotta give it to steph.
The weather wasn't the greatest the first day but i did manage to get some time on the slopes.
The few days we spent on the mountain were awesome. We shared the house with two families and their kids and no one got on each others nerves. Amazing!
Although Matt apparently had some bugs that Tina was all too happy to pick out [ah, that 'bug' was gum. -t]
Besides Pink and classic rock Aussies love tomato sauce
They also love huskies
No. I haven't started listening to green day. I just have bed head
And here are some more tidbits from the trip
All in ALl a great time up on the mountain.
TB and i left for the mountain on tuesday afternoon. It started out sunny, but late into our drive it became wet and very windy. Probably not the best conditions for driving to an unknown place. Tina's been to buller but not me. I can hamfist my way around an area if i have a general sense of the surroundings. If i know which way is north, no prob. But here it was dark and raining and in an area that had limited cell reception. We would have to wing it.
Once underway, we had a little time so we'd spend the next few hours listening to the radio. Australians, despite being extremely proud of all things Australian, love two things: American classic rock and Pink. Not sure in which order, but turn on the radio and you will know each intimately. (if you weren't already)
We had some good fun laughing at road signs along the way.
After a few hours we made it to a little township called Mansfield where we met Marianne; a friend of our hosts Michael & Amy. The resort at Mt. Buller is a pretty small village. It has a ski resort and lots of places to stay, but because of the resort's size private vehicles aren't allowed at the top during the winter. Vistors park in lots all over the mountain and then catch resort shuttles the rest of the way up. These are generally a clusterfuck to deal with so we parked in another small township just at the base of the mountain called Merrijig. Being further from the mountain would allow us to get back on the road a little easier when we left. [That and the storm had gotten pretty crappy so we would've had to stop to put chains on the car. There was also a rather large tree in the middle of the road just inside the gate to the mountain. -t]
Marianne's husband, Pike, was going to pick us up in Merrijig to take us the rest of the way to the resort. We killed some time at the Hunt Club hotel. We drank a few pots (not pints) and generally shot the shit. The power went out twice. Once Pike arrived it was time to continue up the highway.
We finally made it to the house Michael, Amy, Pike and Marianne were renting. Apparently it belongs to some Aussie pro skier/snowboarder chick named steph hickey. Piece of work this girl as the walls were covered with pictures of herself and medals. The house was situated pretty close to the lifts though - about 100 feet! Gotta give it to steph.
The weather wasn't the greatest the first day but i did manage to get some time on the slopes.
The few days we spent on the mountain were awesome. We shared the house with two families and their kids and no one got on each others nerves. Amazing!
Although Matt apparently had some bugs that Tina was all too happy to pick out [ah, that 'bug' was gum. -t]
Besides Pink and classic rock Aussies love tomato sauce
They also love huskies
No. I haven't started listening to green day. I just have bed head
And here are some more tidbits from the trip
All in ALl a great time up on the mountain.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
mt. bully bully
That would've been a more predictable name for the mountain. But perhaps locals thought that there were already enough places named in baby talk.
Today we're in Mt. Buller. A smallish mountain resort about 3 hours north east of Melbourne.
We got kinda snowed in today so we're watching movies, drinking hot chocalates with frangelico and shootin' the shit.
i've got some pics to down load and will put more words to computer screen in a little while but i wanted to drop a quick line.
more in a bit.....
Friday, August 21, 2009
Return to Narnia....
...Or so I thought that was what the man was saying.
I asked a man on the street where Footscray was. "Was it near Collingwood?" He said, "Narnia Yarraville". After running this through the Google translator app on my hand held device I was able to locate my destination. the man was saying, "nah, near Yarraville."
A few days back the lil' lady and I returned to Melbourne. She, for some quality office time. And me? To research the job market. Just in case Melbourne needed a "driven and motivated to working with others in a team environment towards a mutually constructed goal" guy. And to a lesser extent we came back to paint the town red.
Upon arrival, we grabbed a taxi to the famed Yarraville district. A quiet and small shire to the west of downtown Melbourne. We were really burnt and so after flying through the night, we pretty much sacked out right away. [that is, right after i dragged jay to my favorite breakfast spot in the southern hemisphere. baked eggs with chorizo and feta at the corner shop. -t.]
Returning to Melbourne has been a goal for a awhile. It's a great town. It's a worldly town. And we love it very much. So much so, we wanted to share it with our friends jason, nannette, allsion, and chris.
We coordinated a trip again with these folks because we had such a great time with them at the end of last year when we all went to Thailand.
The kids were only going to be here a short while so we did a mini road trip through the Yarra valley and got a little thirsty so we stopped for some grape juice.
Then we went here
CP and Nano had a quick rest.
And i thought that was a great idea so i tried to sit down too but someone pulled the chair out from under me...
Then i shopped around for a new ride
As did Tina
[the minor 1000 is my new fave. i will learn how to drive for this cuteness. -t.]
And after a great 2 days of eating, drinking, drinking, then eating, the kids set off to check out Sydney. we'll miss them.
Friday night me and tina went to watch a game of footy. Picture grown men playing "hot potato" wearing the same clothes that they might have worn while at the age "hot potato" was still relevant.
The crowd seems to love this.
Our friends Jade and Paul showed us a great time.
Thanks kids.
Today we're heading back to the queen victoria market. where i hope to try some bum burners this time.
The market was as expected; full of crazy people all trying to shout over each other and occupy the same space. we started off with a turkish delicacy called a borek. These are what taste buds were invented for.
They fry a lot of things in Australia. 50% of them are just unnecessary, 45%... well its probably for the best that they are fried, and the other 5% are things that are so good, they're worth traveling the globe.
After our borek, we loaded up on supplies for the week. A main objective was to get stuff to make shepards pie. So we made our way to the meat section.
If you haven't been to large meat market its either something you love or you hate. Between the people crawling all over you and the hawkers screaming in your ear, its an experience that draws you in or sends you into panic.
As for Tina and me, i'm glad we're back here in Melbourne. I'll keep posting blurbs to keep you friends in the loop of our trip. keep on checking the link as we'll both be posting stuff about everyday.
See you all soon.
I asked a man on the street where Footscray was. "Was it near Collingwood?" He said, "Narnia Yarraville". After running this through the Google translator app on my hand held device I was able to locate my destination. the man was saying, "nah, near Yarraville."
A few days back the lil' lady and I returned to Melbourne. She, for some quality office time. And me? To research the job market. Just in case Melbourne needed a "driven and motivated to working with others in a team environment towards a mutually constructed goal" guy. And to a lesser extent we came back to paint the town red.
Upon arrival, we grabbed a taxi to the famed Yarraville district. A quiet and small shire to the west of downtown Melbourne. We were really burnt and so after flying through the night, we pretty much sacked out right away. [that is, right after i dragged jay to my favorite breakfast spot in the southern hemisphere. baked eggs with chorizo and feta at the corner shop. -t.]
Returning to Melbourne has been a goal for a awhile. It's a great town. It's a worldly town. And we love it very much. So much so, we wanted to share it with our friends jason, nannette, allsion, and chris.
We coordinated a trip again with these folks because we had such a great time with them at the end of last year when we all went to Thailand.
The kids were only going to be here a short while so we did a mini road trip through the Yarra valley and got a little thirsty so we stopped for some grape juice.
Then we went here
CP and Nano had a quick rest.
And i thought that was a great idea so i tried to sit down too but someone pulled the chair out from under me...
Then i shopped around for a new ride
As did Tina
[the minor 1000 is my new fave. i will learn how to drive for this cuteness. -t.]
And after a great 2 days of eating, drinking, drinking, then eating, the kids set off to check out Sydney. we'll miss them.
Friday night me and tina went to watch a game of footy. Picture grown men playing "hot potato" wearing the same clothes that they might have worn while at the age "hot potato" was still relevant.
The crowd seems to love this.
Our friends Jade and Paul showed us a great time.
Thanks kids.
Today we're heading back to the queen victoria market. where i hope to try some bum burners this time.
The market was as expected; full of crazy people all trying to shout over each other and occupy the same space. we started off with a turkish delicacy called a borek. These are what taste buds were invented for.
They fry a lot of things in Australia. 50% of them are just unnecessary, 45%... well its probably for the best that they are fried, and the other 5% are things that are so good, they're worth traveling the globe.
After our borek, we loaded up on supplies for the week. A main objective was to get stuff to make shepards pie. So we made our way to the meat section.
If you haven't been to large meat market its either something you love or you hate. Between the people crawling all over you and the hawkers screaming in your ear, its an experience that draws you in or sends you into panic.
As for Tina and me, i'm glad we're back here in Melbourne. I'll keep posting blurbs to keep you friends in the loop of our trip. keep on checking the link as we'll both be posting stuff about everyday.
See you all soon.
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