Two Months Of Outbackin It

 Two months have passed now since I first stepped foot on Glen Helen Resort. The busy season is here, and all of the staff are doing their best to hang in there. It's mentally and physically exhausting, but I think we're getting used to the idea of being dull boys named Jack (All work and no play makes Jack...?).

Aaaanyway, it rained tonight! I noticed in the middle of the dinner rush when I was taking some plates out to the wash room. I was first confused, and then angry, thinking I must have just been crapped on by 3-4 of those nasty piwi birds. I was amazed and grateful that it was rain, and not poop. I stared at the night sky for a few seconds, and then dove back into the dining room of hungry guests. The air was dry when I finished up for the night. I want more rain!

My free time has been filled with hours of ukulele playing and dabbling in the creation of drinking glasses from beer bottles. I haven't done much with the drinking glasses lately, though. I've learned that I really just like the 10 minutes it takes to score and break the glass, and not the 40 minutes it takes to sand down the edges of each one. Haha! I've promised myself I wouldn't break anymore until I've sanded what I have. Hence, the reason I haven't touched the project in a few days. I'll get back to it soon!

The ukulele playing is going really well. It was a great buy, and I'm so happy to be playing music again. I've been working on a Jake Shimabukuro piece, along with some Fleet Foxes stuff. I've found that most of the online ukulele tabs are chords only and very vague, so I've started tabbing out a few by myself.

I have a new baby neice, and I'm an aunt for the first time! Her name is Hannah Grace Lerch, and she's an adorable, little peanut! I am very much looking forward to meeting her as soon as I'm back in the States. =)

Life here is same-old, same-old. I've been here for two months, and have barely explored the bush beyond Glen Helen. I'm hoping to take the staff car out this Sunday and check out some of the nearby attractions. I find it funny that people ask me advice on these places every day, but I've never been to any of them. lol

The Best 4th of July There Ever Was - Aussie Style

One might think that celebrating independence from Great Britain while in one of her countries is a bit insulting or out of place. However, it seems Aussies are more excited about the excuse to light fireworks and drink beer than they are offended by my location-inappropriate celebrations. It just so happened to turn out as the best 4th of July ever!

I attribute much of its greatness to the spontaneity factor. Most of it was unplanned, and things just happened. Going to town that morning wasn't on my to-do list, but it ended up being both productive and relaxing. I didn't plan on grilling a BBQ for 60 people when I came back from town, but it was fun, and also my first time BBQing anything myself.

And though we did plan to set off fireworks that night, no one could have anticipated how awesome it would be.

 

 

Post-fireworks, we sat around the fire at Jim's place for a few more hours. "Shooting the shit" is probably one of the oldest past-times there are, and it's still one of the best.

Spontaneity FTW!