2:39pm
Today is the kind of Australian day that Canadians have cause to be jealous of. I woke up at noon, put on my bathers, and went for a swim with Alex. The sun is feeling generous today and the only clouds in the sky are tiny, wispy, pretty ones. There is so much colour in my face (daddy would be happy to hear). I ate lollies for breakfast.
The preparations for the big party are ongoing. Arron and Angela prepared an elaborate feast this morning. It's interesting watching Arron cook, he just looks like a chef. I took the washing down from the line and did the dishes. I feel good about doing housework here.
Alex and his best friend Nick are splashing enthusiastically playing with inflatable pool things beside me. Steven is busy selecting classic rock songs to play on the stereo. "Thunderstruck" right now. He's very adamant about his rock n roll. The boys are splashing my book. Maybe I'll close it and get in the water. 2:48pm
9:22pm
The party is in full swing, as they say.
I decided to hide in my room for a minutes and write some of it.
I just had a conversation with Robert's grama about music. She was putting Charlie Pride songs on the jukebox and arguing the evils of rock music. She asked me who my favourite singer was and I said Melissa Etheridge. I really didn't expect her to know who she was. She got this comically shocked look on her face and said, "Isn't she a...funny girl?" It was all I could do to keep myself from laughing out loud. She then proceeded to tell me a story about the time The Eagles (who she's a big fan of) came to Australia on tour and she really wanted to see them until she found out that Melissa Etheridge was opening for them. She didn't go because she didn't want to hear "a funny girl" sing. I thought about Aileen asking me to sing later at the party and almost said "well you're going to hear one tonite!" but bit my tongue. "I just don't agree with her lifestyle," she said, "so I won't listen to her music." "Well, that's too bad," I replied, "because she writes really good songs, she has a great voice, and she's an excellent musician." That didn't seem to make much difference.
Robert and I are acting peculiar with each other, like two people might act after an unsatisfying one nite stand (that is just a metaphor!!). He's been gone so much, I hardly see him. I'm glad I don't have the pressure of trying to be attracted to him around this frustration. I'm glad our relationship evolved to its present point before I got here. If I had made it to Australia when I originally intended to, Feb 2000, this arrangement could've been potentially disasterous. I'm having a lot more fun than I would be if I were thinking of Robert as a sexual being.
Despite the stories in the last two paragraphs, I'm having a fantastic day. Really. I'm not actively missing anyone. 9:39pm
to Sunday, November 19, 2000
to australian tour diary
oz = can
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