Tears in the eyes

On Friday morning Jimmy and I both get up to go for a run before work. The difference is he goes for a long run and I go for less than half of his run (we usually meet at the end). Last Friday was different though...I decided since I had the day off because of the public holiday I was going to go with him because I could have easily made an excuse not to go. Anyways, the alarm went off at 5:45 a.m. and we both got dressed and headed outside. He looks at me and says, "It is sprinkling a bit." A perfect excuse not to go...but we went anyways. We starting running, not being able to see anything but just ahead of you because it was pitch black outside. As we are on our run I start thinking to myself, who in their right mind goes for a run at stupid o'clock in the morning? Jimmy does...and now me! Idiots. That's besides the fact. We get to about half way through and start running up this hill, still half way asleep I'm not picking up my feet very well as I'm running. Knowing that the sidewalks here aren't always level, I should have known. Now you all know what to expect next right? Jimmy is in front, me following, and all of a sudden I catch my foot on the sidewalk and my body is literally thrown forward like I'm sliding into home base (mind you..on concrete). I sit up from laying face down on the ground and start crying automatically. Jimmy turns around and comes to assist my clumsy butt and asks if I'm alright. I stand up fast and say, "Let's just keep running." He's like, ok. We keep going for another 4 1/2 Kilometers or so and then we get home. The good thing about this fall is that through this (in American terms)4 1/2 + mile run (props to me!), I wasn't thinking about whether my knees were hurting or not because my entire left side of my body was stinging. I was able to see the damage after we got back....open skin on the hand, strawberry on the arm, scrape on the hip, and scrape on the knee. I did a good job. I took some pics so you can see how clumsy I really am...

Bondi Beach

Jimmy suggested over the weekend that I come with him to Bondi for the day on Sunday and walk around the shops and such while he is in his conference. I did just that. He asked me as we were getting out of the car if I needed any shopping money. I almost had a heart attack when I heard that. I was great and all, but I declined. He after all is providing everything for me at the moment and letting me stay at his house. I think that I can pay for my own clothes. Anyways, I really wasn't planning on buying anything, but I failed. I went to breakfast by myself...which I'll be honest...didn't like doing but you gotta eat sometime. After breakfast, the first store that I walk in has a buy one get one free deal on everything in the store. I did actually try to find Jimmy a pair of shorts (32 now instead of 34...damn triathlons), but there wasn't anything good in that size. So, I ended up buying two pairs of shorts. Very cute. After that I shopped around a bit more but had a lot of time to kill. I ended up going to a bathing suit store where I got a suit for $30! Now I just needed a towel and sunscreen. When I was all set I made my way on the beach and while I was looking for a spot I look over to the right and all I see is BOOBS. I had to triple take, but sure enough this girl was completely topless. She was acting like it was so normal. I texted Jimmy and asked him what the deal was and he told me that is normal at Bondi Beach. It apparently is the beach to be seen at. The entire time I was at the beach I didn't hear one Australian accent which was weird to me. When I left I saw two more girls with their boyfriends and the guys were helping the girls take off their tops! I know what you are thinking and no I didn't join in and go topless. How awkward! It was a different world that's for sure!

Girls day out

Jimmy had a conference to go to on Saturday and Sunday, so he dropped me off at my friends house in the morning and we went shopping. Megs and I went and had some breakfast and coffee and then off to the train station to catch it into the city. We shopped around all day long and she showed me a great deal of Sydney. It was nice because when I came with Jimmy to do all of that tourist stuff, we were sort of rushed in that I had to leave the next day. So we started shopping and I was doing good until once we both stepped into that shoe store. From then on it was all over! We ended up buying the same pair of shoes just in a different color. Since we bought shoes, there was a deal that you could get 20% off of any handbag in the store. We took advantage of that deal. We continued on our way and made our way to a department store where Steve Madden shoes were available. Again, another deal. Buy two and save. So, Megs bought a pair and I did so we could get the deal. We then made our way down Macquarie Street and down to the Opera Bar. Overlooking the Harbor Bridge and having some afternoon drinks was great. After that we went and had some sushi and then headed back to the house to get ready for dinner. That night us girls, Jimmy and a few friends went to a Mexican restaurant and went out after for some drinks at a local pub. It was a really fun day. I finally felt like I had a friend out here and it felt somewhat like home. I did do some damage though...

Friday night

Friday afternoon Jimmy and I drove down to Sydney, again, to celebrate his sister's Graduation. Alice graduated from Uni (College) to become a Pharmacist. It is definitely something to celebrate! We went to a Greek restaurant right across from Darling Harbor and ate dinner with his entire family, even bub came along (Mary). It was a fun time and I think his family is finally starting to see the real side of me. I sort of had a laughing attack at the dinner table (don't worry it was really loud in the restaurant). By the time I stopped laughing, his sister, Alice, and his sister-in-law, Catherine, were starting me up again. They just thought it was hilarious. You know how I am...when I start laughing I usually can't stop. Anyways, after dinner we went to his parents house to stay over. Jimmy and Alice exchanged gifts and his parents gave him his presents...more riding gear...woo hoo! Oh and you can't forget the couple of books that he will read within probably a month. What is it now Jimmy? Your 3 books to my one? And I'm only half way done. On a better note...it was a great night.

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

Last Wednesday was Jimmy's 28th Birthday. I made sure when he came home the night before I had all of his presents wrapped so that he would want to open them right away. But you know how it is in my family, you always wait until your birthday. At 6 a.m. we woke up and he turned on the light and sent me to fetch his gifts for him. I laughed because it was like watching a little kid in a candy store. I ended up buying him a baseball hat that I know he wanted, a singlet for riding, and some riding shorts. I finished making the cake that afternoon when I got home from work and let me tell you it is definitely better than it looks if that is even possible! I took him to dinner at a local Japanese restaurant but we made sure to save room for that delicious chocolate cake. It was a good day and I'm glad that I got to spend his birthday with him. Oh!!! First thing...the cake had to be put on a baking tray because the mud cake called for chocolate to be poured all over the top of it. Secondly, I might look a little buzzed in this picture but Jimmy didn't like the Sake at the restaurant so I felt like I needed to "man up" and drink it myself. Woops. :)

St. Patrick's Day

It is definitely another world here. It was St. Patrick's Day today and I don't recall seeing anyone wearing green. It is just so different from back home. They had celebrations on Sunday for the holiday, but there weren't any people heading off to the pub at 7am in the morning to celebrate all day long. I was going to pinch Jimmy because he wasn't wearing green, but since that isn't a tradition here I don't think he would like that too much. Anyways, tomorrow is Jimmy's birthday. I already made the Chocolate cake...we are going out for dinner and the presents are wrapped. He thinks that he knows what one of the gifts are...he probably does. We will see tomorrow morning. Oh, and I'm making him wait until tomorrow to open the gifts.

Another Triathlon

We had an easy weekend and just stayed in Newcastle for the first times in weeks! It was so nice. Saturday we went and ran errands...went to the mall and we went our separate ways for a while. That was nice to have some girl shopping time to myself. I actually bought a black top that was originally $48 and got it on sale for $25! That is a deal especially with the prices here. Anyways, we came home and made a nice Carb infested dinner- Spaghetti and garlic bread (always the night before a triathlon) and watched a couple of movies. Well, let me restate that. Jimmy watched a couple of movies while i dozed off on the couch for about 30 minutes of the first movie and almost the entire second movie. Like father like daughter huh? Oh and the best part was...i woke up wanting to know what happened when I was asleep. The next morning we rode our bikes down to where the event was being held. Jimmy completed the triathlon in 90 minutes and then we went to go get some fish and chips. After 1pm on Sunday afternoon, we both hung out on the couch all day, ate some more, and then went to sleep. Kinda sounds like a weekend I would have back home huh? Unfortunately back to work on Monday. Although there are some exciting things happening this week...St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, Jimmy's Birthday on Wednesday, dinner with friends on Thursday, and back to Sydney on Friday- dinner with his family to celebrate Alice's graduation (Jimmy's sister), and shopping in Sydney with Megs on Saturday! Woo hoo! Girl's day out on Saturday I can't wait!

2 Months

Yesterday it was exactly 2 months since I have been here. I can't believe how fast it went! I got to work today and was put on another project so I get to go back for at least another couple of weeks. Jimmy and I spent the weekend in Sydney...basically got the entire tour of Sydney. We caught up with some friends on Sunday and were still there at 8 pm...made for a long drive home. As for the exciting news, it is almost 3 months exactly until I come home for 3 weeks. I can't wait!

Strawberry Muffins

James and I got back from a long weekend in Sydney on Sunday (I drove back the entire way) and we didn't have a morning tea snack for the week. We had some left over Strawberries from Friday and so we looked up a simple recipe online and substituted Strawberries. I was a little skeptical because I have never really seen Strawberries in muffins before, but they turned out really well. I have to say though, they are more like biscuits or as Jimmy and the rest of the people in Australia would call them- scones. Yummy!