Tsk, Tsk

Hello blog. Hello ridiculously snowy northern hemisphere. Here in Australia we do not feel your pain, we only feel heat and refreshing breezes. On our dinner table are crayfish picked straight off the murky ocean floor by a mate of Josh's and succulent, sweet blue crab. Yum! The weekends have been filled with body surfing at the beach - sometimes with painful and scabby-kneed results. Josh finds it funny when the wave idly tosses me onto the shore and all he can see is my legs flailing helplessly in the air. He always waits to make sure my head resurfaces, laughing all the while, no doubt. I make my retreat, stumbling, defeated back to the safety of our dry towels and wonder if maybe I'm getting too old for body surfing and how long it will take to get all the sand out of my swimsuit and bodily orifices. The air is filled with dragonflies drifting aloft on the evening sea breeze as the sun casts it's warm glow across the Indian Ocean in a final farewell to another day then quickly and quietly sinks below the horizon as if to say, "See you tomorrow. Goodnight." Then it's off to start the day over again in another part of the world.

Missouri is in our hearts and minds for more than one reason. We watched True Grit last night and Josh said it made him want to go back to the States because some of the scenes reminded him of my parents backyard. Nostalgia certainly set in for me while watching the movie. Not only were the scenes familiar, but I was reminded of my grandpa George, who, my mother often remarked as I was growing up, loved western movies. I thought he would've liked True Grit. Coincidentally, today I got a letter from Texas. It was from my aunt, not the Texas ranger from the movie. It brought glad tidings and pictures of a soon-to-be new family addition - my cousin's son. Which brings me back to Missouri. A baby was born this week in Boone County. Welcome to the world Carissa Lee! Then, of course, there's the snowfall which has blanketed so much of the United States in recent weeks. Photos of my parents snow-plowed driveway and crisp, white lawn play on repeat as my screensaver at work. I keep hoping the more I watch the screensaver slideshow that the feeling of icy, cold snow will wash over me and save me from the oppressive summer heat. That, combined with the chilly air-conditioning at work, might actually be working.

My gin and tonic is working its magic. Hello weekend. Here I come!