Wild 'roo sighting: check

On the exciting list:

• Ruthie and I saw our first 'roo a couple days ago.  Technically, it was a wallaroo [or at least I think it was, since it was black], and there were three of them.  Hoppity hop.
• Through Ruthie's charm, and courtesy of a slow day at the Victory dealership, I think I might have a free day-long test drive on a Victory one day soon.
• We've mostly learned the rules to driving on the left, including possibly figuring out Melbourne's stupid go-left-to-turn-right-in-the-middle-of-an-intersection rule [no, not like Jersey, where it actually wraps you around to a light].
• For as much as we lack the sports fanatic gene, we both can admit to actually kinda liking rugby and footy.
• I get to start a new job soon.

On the not-so-exciting list:

• The rental real estate market is f'n competitive.  First off, they only have open houses for 15 minutes at a time, which is weird to me [although I can understand it from the agent's point of view, I guess].  So today, with that 15-minute window, two of the houses we checked out had about a dozen couples crammed in and wandering through.
• The house Ruthie thought she really wanted turned out to be a bit disappointing on the inside.  Still put in an application, but we [or she] will try again Monday.
• It's rather shocking how much of a difference in price there is between the city and the suburbs.  If I wasn't so opposed to commuting, we could have a sweet pad in the 'burbs.
• Apparently, unless you're rich, car shopping is depressing.  Fingers crossed we have some returns on inquiries tomorrow for a private sale.
• I have to go back to work soon.

-EP

Let's look a gift horse in the mouth

So, once upon a time, it was easy to travel outside the borders of the United States because the dollar was strong [at least in most places].  Suddenly, however, Ruthie and I find ourselves worrying just exactly how much we're going to get screwed by the dollar dropping in value.  In the time it took for us to fly across the ocean, the exchange rate dropped the US dollar by about a tenth.  Sure, that's not much, until you apply it to our living quarters allowance, and suddenly you're talking about $300 in difference in allowance per month.

Am I really complaining about this?  Yes, I guess I really am [read: I am totally aware that I could have way worse things to complain about - but I don't, so I'm grateful].  Never before have I been really concerned with what's going on in DC.  Sure, there was talk about a shutdown months ago, and I was a little annoyed.  But now, I'm overseas, in a country that I can't really afford on my own, and there's talk of what the impacts of a default might be and how the Government will pay its non-essential employees [me]. C'mon guys - get it together.  Meanwhile, the Aussies need to stop their inflation. 

In other news, Ruthie and I have now spent two days house hunting and car shopping.  You might think that shopping for these two things in a foreign country might be less tiresome.  You'd be wrong.  I'm exhausted.  And we haven't even bought anything.  We saw two apartments and five neighbourhoods yesterday, and a huge used car lot today, and we haven't even begun to make a final decision.  Well, Ruthie's pretty convinced about the neighbourhood in which we're living, but we'll see if the houses/apartments are available and not total crap.

For the LOST nerds out there, we flew across the ocean on flight 108 [if it had been 815, I might not have gotten on the plane], and we drove into Melbourne on Hume Highway. 

Also, on the way into Melbourne, we got asked if we were Canadian.  We giggled and tried to explain that the difference between Americans and Canadians is the "eh".  I don't think the girl at McDonald's got it. 

Yes, we stopped at a McD's.  It was at a highway service station, and we needed fuel [both food and petrol].  There are also 7-11s on just about every corner in the CBD [I'm actually drinking a Coke Slurpee now], and Subways about every other block in the CBD.  Oh, and Domino's, too.  We've only tried the McD's so far - we'll see how the rest compare to back home eventually.  And for the record, my nuggos were a little over done, but it's not like I never had that problem in the States.

House hunting resumes tomorrow - maybe car and phone shopping, too.

-EP

PS. Ruthie made noises about possibly writing a blog post earlier today.  I'll believe it when I see it ... [fingers crossed]

I can't turn off the AFL game

About 32 hours ago, we left my parents' house for Philadelphia International Airport.  About an hour ago, we checked into our hotel in Sydney. 

For whatever reason, I feel like the shorter of the two flights - Philly to LAX - was the lesser of the two evils.  Don't know if it was the extra commodities of Quantas on the international leg, or if there was more room in the seats [the personalised TV screen was definitely a plus, though], but despite the total length, it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be.  Of course, in addition to getting some naps in, I watched "Paul", "The Adjustment Bureau", "Limitless", and "Unknown."  Not a bad stretch of movies to kill some time.

The weirdest part of the whole journey would probably have to be the part where we actually left security at LAX to re-check-in for Quantas. 

The scariest part of the whole journey I would have to break into two categories.  The prize for financially scary [thank goodness for the allowance provided by the Gov't] goes to the $1000 charge to check the additional 5 bags [first 4 were free].  Yup $1000 - but, honestly, I expected more.  Like I said, there goes our $1000 travel allowance.  The prize for actual physical scary goes to driving on the other side of the road.  And I'm not even driving - Ruthie, with her 1 week of driving in England has at least some experience on the left side of the road, so she took the wheel to get us from the airport to the hotel.  Ruthie doesn't think the lanes are narrower, but I beg to differ.  It's definitely going to take some getting used to for turning at intersections. 

I honestly expected to have a "KEVIN!" moment [movie reference, anyone?], where we realized we'd forgotten something huge.  Fortunately, it was only a minor thing, as Ruthie forgot her Kindle.  Sure, she's bummed, but she made up for it by buying a few things at the airport Borders.

I have long been expecting the reality to set in when I was on the plane.  Be it a self-fulfilling prophecy, or not, when the coast of Australia was just barely visible from the plane window [I selfishly took the window seat on both legs of the trip], the moment finally came.  A bubble of excitement just kinda erupted in my chest as I realised how crazy and awesome this all is. 

We've checked into the hotel, and while Ruthie enjoys a relaxing bath, I've found myself a sudden addict to Australian-rules Football [AFL].  I have no bloody clue what's going on, but it's pretty fascinating. 

Oh, and the view from the hotel is of the opera house.  Sweet!

-EP

I feel like I'm missing something

T-20 hours


You know when you're about to go on a trip, and you've got a list of things you need to take, and you've double checked that list, but you still feel like there's something missing?  Something you're forgetting? 

Take that list of things you need to take and multiply it by a year - or by 9700 miles, if you'd prefer - and that's about what I feel like right now.

Guess it's time to adopt the "no worries" attitude, right?

Did I mention T-20 hours?

My turn to be giddy

So yesterday was Ruthie's last day in the office.  Her supervisor told her she was "giddy".  Today, it's my turn.  Never has cleaning been this much fun.  I've archived and deleted all the files on my computer.  I've transferred the two laptops and desktop off my property to someone else's.  My cubicle is empty save two boxes.  And I'm smiling.  I don't think I've ever smiled this much while trapped within these walls. 

Speaking of boxes, Ruthie and I have three that we're taking to the airport.  I've seen the occasional box come down the luggage conveyor belt before - never before did I think I would be one of the people sending a box on an airplane with me.  Also never before did I think I would be one of the people who needed a cart because I've got eight bags' worth of stuff with which I'm travelling.  I wonder how many people at the airport will look at us and judge, thinking that we have five suitcases and three boxes and expect that we're only staying for like two weeks in Sydney.

Back to the subject of my last day, T-30 minutes until the "party" begins.  Technically it begins at 3p, but it doesn't look like anyone is leaving yet.  By party, I mean I'm totally riding the coat tails of my boss's goodbye party.  What's been kind of surreal is to hear people discuss the party, gift, and plaque they're giving me as if I wasn't here.  Sure it's super difficult to actually say anything around my cube without being overheard, which is why I'm pretty sure after a while some people just gave up, but that doesn't make it any less odd for me.  Wait, I lied ... looks like people are getting ready to go.

Aaaannnnd ...... I'm out!

-EP

Butch up

Because Ruthie wears her emotions on her sleeve much more than me [at least around me, she does], she's been preemptive-ly pining over the people and pets we're leaving behind.  To each time she whines about missing Ponyo, or worries about getting terribly homesick, I respond with something along the lines of "Butch up". 

Perhaps it's because I'm finally able to see the results of us moving and/or we are finally down to the wire [complete with all the last-minute insanity that implies], but it is finally time for me to take a dose of my own medicine.

Much to the pleasure of my mother, I'm actually going to miss my parents.  And in all honesty, they're probably at the top of my list.  I will also miss the cats, but not nearly as much as Ruthie will.  And I will definitely miss my friends, but there are three events in particular I'm bummed I will not be able to be around for: one wedding and two births.  Not that I'd actually be there witnessing the kids being born, but it would be nice to visit the newborns. 

To that end, I gave my mom a lesson on Skype last night, and I know at least one father-to-be is all about Skype [they probably both are].  So thank goodness for technology.  But still ...  Skype can only do so much.

Oh, and if you happen to be reading this and want to connect on Skype, make sure to let me know.

One thing I absolutely will not miss: the job I'm leaving behind.

T-3 days until lift off.

-EP

Not "goodbye", just "see you later" ...

Yes, I realize the irony of pining over my motorcycle, when I will see it sooner than I'll see any of my friends.  However, this is Two Fools and a Bike, and it feels like so much went into getting this motorcycle shipped over the past several days.  All the research about requirements and regulations and Ruthie's phone call and today with draining the fluids [much more difficult/involved than I imagined] and then getting it loaded into the crate [my dad took several pictures of that process that I'll share later, too] ... *whew*  I've been told I'll see my motorcycle again in 45 to 60 days.  We'll see if it actually takes that long to make it across the ocean, or if it ends up taking much longer ...

But here we are: Ruthie and I with half of a house.  No bed [air mattress tonight, despite original plans of living with my parents starting tonight], down one dresser and three pieces of living room furniture, and now one completely empty front room.  I don't think I took a picture of the room with everything laid out, but half [maybe more like a third?] of our all the stuff we own was packed neatly into 2.5 crates.  I've never seen professional packers/movers work, and let me tell you, I am totally impressed.  The dude with 20+ years of experience was like a whirlwind of brown paper and tape - Taz without the destruction [hopefully, right?].  One room full of stuff totally packed in 2 hours, and the entire truck loaded with stuff, furniture, and the motorcycle in just over 3 - maybe 3.5 hours tops.  [As an aside, the dude told me his largest job was 35,000 pounds: a 5-bedroom house that took a full week to pack and 35 crates when all was said and done.  And for reference, I estimated 3,000 pounds for our shipment - and was allowed to ship up to 18,000.]

So we'll see how chaotic the next couple days will be.  If it's anything like today felt to me - I will be so exhausted by the time we get on the plane that Ruthie's drug-induced coma will have nothing on me.

-EP