A few words, finally

My intention back in October was that I would write all about my US trip. So now it’s six months later and the last I wrote was about being ready for Game Fanatic’s birthday.

I do have intentions of writing a bit about my holiday but today I am going to try to just get back into writing again after so long.

Yesterday I bought a pair of Crocs for the first time. I’ve heard many claim wonderful things about Crocs. I don’t know if I would agree but my goal was to replace some thongs that had broken after a couple years of use. I’d been rather frustrated with my efforts to find anything equivalent and then remembered some local markets have a store selling Crocs and Skeechers. (?) and thought they might have something that is suitable. Most of the shoes hanging there weren’t great but there were a few that I liked but didn’t have the right size. Then I found one pair that felt really good to wear. They didn’t require any work from my toes to keep it on and were low stress for wearing. They were pricey but I think they are worth it. At least they have worked well in the one day I’ve worn them, I can only hope they are as durable as the last ones I had to make it good value for money.

Yesterday I was at the library and I decided to finally tackle reading the book Twilight. It’s not that I have been against reading it to date but just hadn’t gotten around to doing it. I really would have liked to get the ebook but our library doesn’t have an electronic version. Alas I am stuck with a 10th anniversary edition of the book that also includes a reimagining of the book. Last night I started reading and got about a third of the way through. I probably could have read through the night but forced myself to close the book and put it aside at one point. So far, I am enjoying it. It’s no great literature but it is engaging and it’s certainly better written than some of the crappy teen fiction I’ve been reading on Wattpad lately. It’s kind of funny because I’ve read some Twilight wannabe books in the last year so now I can compare the original story. After I finish the first book I will likely watch the film. I may update once I finish to comment further. Unless what I have said is all there is to say. :D

Speaking of books, I also recently read The Paper Magician which I’d gotten on sale for my Kindle. I did enjoy some aspects of the story and I might have called it pretty good but the writer had some huge issues with the setting, which is supposed to be early 20th century in England. But it read more like a modern high school setting in many cases. There was never any sense of the social norms for that time included. I find it really shocking the editor failed to flag and correct this before it was published. There are at least two books that continue the story which I will eventually read once I steel myself for further inconsistencies.

In May the Scientist and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. While we were together well before we got married, this is the official date. We didn’t have much of a honeymoon back then due to work commitments so we are doing a bit more of a celebration now. We have a holiday to Thailand booked for five nights and we have splurged on a nice hotel on Koh Lanta. We’ll be leaving the boys on their own for the time we’re gone although there will be family and friends to provide support for them. I’m really looking forward to those days with just us in May. It will be our first real holiday on our own since we came to Australia. We could have gone for more days if we’d gone to Bali but it’s so crowded there and much of the population at any time includes a large percentage of Australians. It’s actually cheaper to go there than to go to other capital cities domestically. Koh Lanta is a lot quieter although it’s also a bit of a tourist area. Our room will have a private pool and there is also a private beach on the property.

Several days ago I had the “pleasure” of being stung by a bull ant. We’d seen it in the house earlier and I had collected it in a container and taken it outside. An hour later I felt something crawling on my leg and it was this creature. About the time I noticed it I was stung. My theory is it was the same ant getting revenge for being flicked onto the ground. The sting was really painful at the time but once it settled down I didn’t notice it much. Well until the next day when it started to swell and become itchy. I was okay until I gave into the temptation to scratch. Then it got much worse. Fortunately the itchiness didn’t last too long and now it’s just a small mark near my ankle that hasn’t completely healed. At first I didn’t think it was a bull ant but then the following night another one crawled up my leg and I caught that one and photographed it. It was clear that it was a bull ant. I didn’t have a bad reaction so guess I am not allergic. That said it was the first time I’ve been stung by one so I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again.

I’m hoping to write about the following topics with regard to my US holiday:

• The journey from Perth to DFW in Texas
• Road trip from Dallas to NC
• The wedding/new family
• Revisiting Charlotte after 20+ years
• UNCG reunion
• Road trip from Charlotte to PA
• Family in PA
• Road trip from PA to Indianapolis
• Visit with my cousin and family
• Road trip from IN back to Texas
• Hanging out in TX
• Journey from DFW back to Perth

I don’t know how much I will cover buy hopefully I will touch on everything above since there was so much that happened and so many people that I met and was reunited with after many years.