“In Indiana, when there are four people, there is euchre.” Moire just pointed me to a lovely introduction to the game of euchre. I resisted euchre for a long time, always claiming that it was too confusing or that I was too stupid to learn. Finally in high school I had a boyfriend whose family were euchre-mad, and they insisted that I learn. Within a year I was a euchre-fiend. Oh yes, I know the joy of being “in the barn” on a warm summer evening, sipping bad beer and swearing I’d get up after one more hand. I’ve been in arguments that were only settled with reference to the high holy book: “Hoyle.” In college I even entered a tournament with my friend Kel but we lost when our oh-so-complicated table sign system fell apart. (I shall never forget the horror of triumphantly throwing down my final card of the game expecting Kel to trump it, only to see her throw down an off-suit nine. “I thought you had the bower!!” “I forgot the sign!!” *sigh*) Imagine my surprise on one of my first dates with the Snook when, apropos of nothing, he said, “Do you know how to play euchre?” (My inner monologue: “I will marry this guy.”) Years have passed and I now know that Australian euchre is a little different from American Midwestern – their deck runs from sevens to aces; they play to eleven points (using sixes and fives to keep score); a common house rule is that if you order up a suit for your partner, you have to play alone. It’s still basically the same. (Though the Snook adamantly refuses to use my favorite house rule: “Partner’s Best.”) We’re getting older now and we don’t play very often. I should try to find an online version…

Go the Waratahs!
Teaching my little brother the intricacies of rugby at Aussie Stadium. At least he’s awake!

Scenes from the Arrivals Gate

Me: What’s taking so long? Their flight landed ages ago.
Snook: You do realize that if a bunch of Amazing Racers come running through, I’m abandoning you.
Me: Dude, if any Racers come through I’m totally abandoning them too. We’ll leave a note.

I forgot to mention the other airport excitement: We saw Sir Bob Geldof. He strolled off in the company of two Emirates stewardesses. We couldn’t figure out if they were assigned to escort him to his limo or whether he’d just picked them up while disembarking, all rockstar-style. And then I had “I don’t like Mondays” stuck in my head the rest of the morning…

Well, it’s been 48 hours of living with a jet-lagged four-year-old. I think the cat was the first to crack. At first, Dr. Amy Jones was loving the idea that – finally – here was someone who’d play the “chase the laser pointer” game with her all day long. By the afternoon of the second day, she’d taken to actively hiding from Joey lest he discover her and invent a new game. (We freaked out for ten minutes when we couldn’t find her and she wasn’t answering, thinking she’d gotten outside, when she was just cowering behind the sofa bed.) The rest of us are holding up fairly well though. Friday we walked around Victoria Park and Sydney University. Saturday we went down into the city to see my shop and then to go up Sydney Tower. After an afternoon nap, we went down to Circular Quay to walk around the Opera House. We took the ferry across to Luna Park where Joey rode a couple kiddie rides. Then we took the ferry and train over to Newtown for dinner at Mama Maria’s. The little one was conked out at that point… which meant he was up looking for his Easter basket at 6am. (I totally scored with the Hot Wheels Easter set though.) Today they’re heading out to the big Hillsong church service at Darling Harbour while we heathens have a much needed shower and rest. Onwards and upwards…

Far above Sydney…
Sitting in the sunshine atop Centrepoint Tower with my Mommy. It’s a beautiful day!

They’re here!
Having fun in the sun at Victoria Park.

Woohoo! Rent Podcasts. (As in, podcasts about the musical Rent, not podcasts that you rent.) I’m getting the lot. No interview with Adam Pascal yet? I’m waiting…

Less than 24 hours til the Garbericks arrive… They should be getting ready to take-off! We’ve done all the major tidying and Annette’s taking care of the rest today. I just need to do a few more loads of laundry, go to the grocery store, and clean out the litterbox. I’m excited and stressed beyond belief. This is the first time one of my parents has visited me since I left university six-and-a-half years ago. It’s the first time Mom will see my house and get to meet Rodd’s family. It’s the first time they’ve been out of the country. It’s gonna be huge!

My sister just e-mailed me a pic from her first ultrasound. Baby Carbo is doing well, all the right number of parts so far and a good strong heartbeat. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go cry at the momentousness of it all. My own little Sissy having a baby…!

Awww, Carissa Gaghan – everyone’s favorite moppet Racer – is doing recaps of The Amazing Race this season. The really funny bit is that Eric and Jeremy are her favorite team. I guess when the sexual “innuendo” goes right over your head, they’re just cute, doofy guys. (And hey, Tricia, Bill Gaghan will be running the Boston Marathon with you!)