Ghost Gums, Old Glory

Back in the U.S.

I've been back in the US for a little over a week. It was a quickly thrown together trip, at the last minute, but I needed to be here to take care of some family issues. I was able to spend quite a few days doing as little as possible, and that really helped me to get over the jetlag. No danger of me driving in the wrong lane anymore! (Sorry, Mom).

It's 4th of July weekend, and it's the first one I've spent Stateside in many years. I'm slightly surprised and disappointed not to see more decorations around. As if there's not a lot of pride in being American anymore - that really saddens me. Tomorrow is a cookout with the family, which means chili dogs! YAY!!

I grew up here, and coming back is not very fun. There's nothing to do that I haven't done a thousand times before, and I don't gamble, so have no interest in the casinos. The best part, for me, is that it's less than 3 hours away from NYC on Amtrak. Always has been the best part, now that I think about it.

One day last week we went to Captain Scott's Lobster Dock for some seafood. The New England roadside staples - clam strip roll and lobster roll. It's well known, if you're local, but I never see it mentioned in any writeups on the area. The salt in the air, the gulls wheeling overhead and the ducks begging for scraps - just a perfect backdrop to the freshest, tastiest seafood around.

This is the view from the dock, can't you just smell the salt air? 

Meanwhile at home, Buffy has doubled in size and weight. She's 15 kilos (33 lbs.) so I guess I won't be cradling her in my arms when I get back home. And I don't think I need to mention how sad that makes me. Funny story: I went to the pet store to get a few toys for my fur babies back home. The cashier looked at the pile on the counter and asked me how many dogs I have. I may have gone a little overboard.

Still Fresh and Funny in Australia: Blackface

Yes, blackface.

You might understandably think this was a clip from a 60's tv show - but this aired last night. In 2009.

The show was a live reunion special for Hey Hey, It's Saturday, a popular and long-running program here in Australia that was canceled a decade ago. During their Red Faces segment, which is similar to the American version of The Gong Show, six doctors performed a choreographed number in blackface and afro wigs pretending to be the Jackson 5. Thankfully, one of the judges hit the gong shortly into the number.

The amazing thing is that, as the show tells us, in 1989, the same group doing a very similar act won the competition! So, in 20 years, we've gone from this offensive form of comedy being wildly popular to ... still being wildly popular with slack-jawed suburbanites. The studio audience booed the judge who gonged them.

Sure, there are culture differences, but it's not like they don't have black folks in Australia who would get pissed off by this. Judging from the comments I've read, that makes me a "precious American" who's too politically correct. Host Daryl Somers apologized (to Harry Connick Jr., who was a musical guest) later in the show, noting “I know that to your countrymen, that’s an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show.” Well guess what, Daryl - I am one of YOUR countrymen, and I am beyond insulted.

Warehouse Shopping

Saturday we went to BJ's , one of those member's only warehouse stores, like Costco. Can I just say how much I LOVE shopping at warehouse stores. Costco is coming to Australia, but it will be years yet before they open in Perth (if ever). We always get the short end of the stick when it comes to things like that. On the east coast they have Krispy Kreme (!) and Starbucks, while we have, well, none of that. Not that I'm a big fan of Starbucks, but I might sell my mother for some Krispy Kreme. Being a child of the south, I grew up with them, and that HOT FRESH NOW neon in the window definitely gets a Pavlovian response from me.

Back to BJ's... I got a little carried away, and I had to be very creative to get it all into my rental car. I like to know Mom and the boys are well taken care of, and I feel if I do it, I can be sure it's done.

 

We had 3 buggies, as you can see. Mom posing proudly in front of our haul, and Trey feeding his face. Growing boys need lots of food!

 

 

A tight fit! The trunk is also totally packed. I had to pack the groceries around him... it was either that or strap him to the roof, and he didn't think much of that idea!

Our story so far...

I'm two-thirds through my trip back to the US, and today is a day of rest. It's been go-go-go, as usual, trying to pack in everything into 3 short weeks. I woke up today with my eye red and inflamed, and I felt it was a message from my body telling me to slow down. So, I'm vegging in the hotel room, napping and relaxing. And updating the blog!

My flights were especially painful this time, as I didn't build in a layover. I think I was so excited to find a good fare, that I wasn't thinking clearly. By the time I landed in Orlando, I had been traveling 36 hours. CRAZY! I definitely learned a lesson, I won't be doing that again. My genius hubby suggested I go to the beach and watch the sun come up, to help reset my body clock. It worked like a charm.

Ahhh...

Last weekend we went to NYC for a day. We went to Lincoln Center, for the Midsummer Swing concert. Great music, and so many people dancing and having a great time. Mom even got into the mood of the evening, and had a few dances!


OOh, a slowdance!

A shot of the dance floor, and stage. We were sitting just to the right of this. A shot of the crowd...so many people!

Next, we went to Dizzy's Jazz Club, where we had catfish sandwiches and enjoyed an amazing jazz set. I'm not sure which we enjoyed more - that catfish was sex on a bun!

Our hotel was in the perfect location, steps from Lincoln Center, and steps from the club. Unfortunately it was also tragically hip. All style, no substance. I wasn't too bothered, we were only there to sleep and shower, and it was fine for that.

This perfectly encapsulates this hotel. The bathrobe had a Frette label, but it was ripped under the arm. Wha??? Oh, and you could take it home for only 95 dollars!

Next day, we prepared to leave, and there was a movie filming downstairs. None of the stars were in evidence, just crew and equipment.
I've tried not to name and shame the hotel, but you might be able to work out where we were...

Other than all that, I've been spending time with family. Mom moved recently, and I've been doing some things for her around the house. I guess I overdid things slightly, hence the need for a day of rest.

More later...we'll be taking the high-speed ferry over to Block Island later this week.

Finally!

Would Abraham Lincoln ever have imagined a Black man taking the oath of office on Lincoln's own bible?

Barack Hussein Obama is the visible representation of the United States to the world. I like to believe that it raises the estimation of the US in the worlds' eyes. Something that is sorely needed, after the previous disastrous administration. 

I must admit to my fear that my fellow Americans would never elect an African American to the highest office in the land. I am happy to say that I underestimated my countrymen... I have never been so proud to be American.

America can be difficult to understand, for those who aren't American. In all the world, America is unique, in so many ways. There has been acres of print written about the Inauguration, quite a lot of it a waste of space. One person here even said that Americans yearn for the monarchy we (foolishly?) overthrew. I think he's just jealous, Aussies can't be arsed to do the same thing.

I stayed up to watch the festivities - it was broadcast here simultaneously. 5 hours, until 3:30 am. Then, I went to a lunch on Wednesday where we watched President Obama's speech all over again. 

Now the festivities are over, and the hard work begins.

"Miss Minnie Goes to Washington"

I'm still processing the Presidential Inauguration, but I had to share this video. Minnie Kennedy, a 92-year-old retired teacher and civil rights activist from South Carolina, witnessed Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech in 1963 and was in Washington again to watch President Obama's speech. I was so moved watching this, and I hope it touches you, too.

Here's the link, I can't seem to embed it - video