You're Thirteen, You're Beautiful, and You're Mine

- I've got some harsh tan lines. On my face. A pasty rectangle on each cheek. Whoops! The one day I neglect to wear sunscreen to the beach. . . I plan to lay out on my balcony tomorrow (New Year's Resolution: get a hot tan), so I expect to be back to normal soon.

- Monday morning is going to be rad as heck. In Australia, Monday morning is Super Bowl Sunday. (And this is the first Super Bowl ever in which an Australian will be playing.) Have convinced at least one friend to skip work to come watch the game in my living room. Will pick up chips (crisps!) dips and soft drinks tomorrow. Then as soon as that's over there will be UFC 94 which I'll have downloaded and ready to go. Monday is going to be a great day for violent American sport.

- Becoming a baseball fan has had the major unintended consequence of withdrawal in the off-season. I am dying for the World Baseball Classic to start in March. I'll of course be rooting for the South Koreans, again. If they get eliminated then Team USA, and if they get eliminated then Australia. (Except that Australia will be eliminated in the first round.)

- I've also become kind of addicted to Lemon, Lime and Bitters, (heh that entry is in the middle of a bitter revert war right now), a fantastic traditional non-alcoholic mixed drink popular down here. Why order alcohol at a pub when there's LLB? I've got this plan wherein I make an enormous jug of the stuff using a full two liters of calorie-free Sprite Zero as the base and drink it while watching television. Perhaps for the Super Bowl? (I will not be sharing.)

- Just booked another plane ticket today. Getting back to the USA on April 30, spending a week in Boston, then going to North Carolina for 26 days of weddings, firearms, barbecue, and minor league baseball.

- Also, am hoping to get to go on one more holiday within Australia. Trying to decide between Melbourne and Uluru/Ayer's Rock. Leaning to Uluru. That trip will be after my temp assignment, for which, as usual, I await, anxiously.

- My always sober flatmates are planning to rent The Wizard of Oz and watch it with Dark Side of the Moon while smoking pot. I am seriously considering smoking pot for the first time in my life because I love all those things. This is kind of momentous.

- I've been here since June and only now have I discovered Jimmy Barnes? I am furious with every single Australian that I've met because of this lapse. What classic Barnsey should I be listening to? Or should I just download his entire discography? Why am I listening to anything other than Barnsey? Is there some sort of biopic I should be hiring from the video shop? Speaking of the video shop, they just sent me a text message to let me know that I get one free new releases rental since this is my BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL MONTH!

Australia is so nice to me!!