Too Long Between Drinks

[Picture of Dude going out to dinner with me on Saturday, January 10. He was invited!]

That title has heaps of different and accurate meanings. First, it has been too long since I updated my WendEmail blog. Second, it has been too long since I've seen a lot of my friends in the US. I need a fix. Facebook ("FB") is not making it any easier - though I am enjoying using it to find out what others are up to, it's actually making me feel a bit removed and very far away. Third, I've been not drinking this month. I'm more than halfway done. My dad just posted a comment about Shiraz on FB and it made me want one.

I suppose I could, it's just my own silly game, this non-drinking for a month. No doctor put me up to it. Yet, I hate to lose....

I'm remembering back to the first WendEmail's that I sent out. (Even before the word "WendEmail" was invented by my fabulous friend, Les.) When I first moved to Australia and when Alan and I were living at Ben and Angela's house in Five Dock. Pro was in his doggy quarantine, and everything was so new. I feel like an old hack at it all now. I have fully adjusted to Aussie life. I do feel like I couldn't move home.

That's probably because I could visit home for 5-6 weeks if I wanted to and few Australians would bat an eye at the thought. Australians go overseas and take their time doing it. Their jobs are fine. Their bosses are fine. Their bank accounts deal with it. It is actually expected. Yep, this is home.

Some of you have made it over here. Kudos! A little hint to you all whether you've been or not; Alan and I cherish our visitors. We love to show off our Sydney. Our Sydney is probably different to everyone else's Sydney. That's the neat part about a big city like this. No one appreciates it exactly the same way.

Some of you considered coming here for my birthday party. Maybe just for a second. Then your American brains said, no, you couldn't. Work and kids and money and time and other places to go and "we'll get there someday."

Most importantly, I didn't really expect you to come. Not for the party. But I do hope I re-watered the seeds of travel down under into your plans over the next few years.

I might have some work to do in Colorado later this year. Of course, if I'm coming that far, I'll be stopping off in Scottsdale for a day or two. I will probably go to St Louis to see Douglas for a spell (can't remember ever being in St Louis - should be fun). Maybe you and I can catch up in one of those three places.... It's certainly closer than Sydney. :) I'll keep you informed.

This afternoon I went to lunch in Balmain with a group of musicians, comedians, producers, record agents and support people (PR/marketing people like me). It was a nice lunch - they are very nice people. I will now change out of my nice clothes and put on some painting gear. I'm painting my office and it needs a second coat.

I'll be more diligent in writing here. If you do want to get updates, you can subscribe. It'll only email you if I update the site.... Bye for now! WLC.