Sorry for the Delay!

Here you go!  12 new blogs of lots of adventures over the last few weeks.  See, we really were busy!  I wasn't forgetting to share on purpose, I promise.  :)

Scroll down and start with "Paying it Forward" and so you can read them in order. 

Happy Reading!!

Jimmy Buffett Concert at the Opera House Jan. 24

You might remember several weeks ago when I informed you all that we found out Jimmy was coming to Sydney and then we were able to get 4 tickets.  That special day finally came last night! (actually it was January 24th but I finally got to post this)  After several days of traveling I was busy trying to get caught up around here and Luke was doing the same at work, though I know he was preoccupied with his excitement. 

This Buffett concert would be very different for many reasons; the Opera House concert hall only holds about 2000 people, this was an indoor concert, Aussie’s don’t really tailgate for games, concerts, etc., and I was Luke’s “group.”  In the many, many years Luke has attended Buffett concerts, he has gone alone or always with a big group of friends so I was hoping he would have just as much fun with all of these changes.  He did!!  J Our friends Kyra and Sam came with us.  It was Sam’s birthday so that gave us another reason to celebrate! 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Luke’s love of Jimmy Buffett and his sincerity in being a Parrothead, please see the pictures below!  I found this parrot costume at a Halloween store 5 or 6 years ago.  It has been worn on a plane, in a taxi, in a golf cart, in a van, and numerous other vehicles, and has now attended its 6^th or 7^th Jimmy Buffett concert.  This costume not only brings joy to Luke, but also fellow Parrotheads who insist on having their picture taken with him.   

We had planned on taking the ferry over but we walked up to a little store to buy a couple of beach balls, leis, and glow stick bracelets first.  So we ended up just taking a taxi down to Circular Quay.  I have to say that some people didn’t even seem to notice as we walked around while others looked a little confused.  Very few Australians seem to know who Jimmy Buffett is but the ones who do are just as big of fans as we have in the US. 

The first best part was when we got to Circular Quay, a highly touristy area that you have to walk through to get to the Opera House.  Luke stopped to have his picture taken with the 2 street performers playing the didgeridoo.  Then as we walked along I heard a child shout out, “Look!  A PENGUIN!!”  Really????  I mean, they HAVE parrots in Australia and you called him a penguin??  Anyway, another child asked Luke for a balloon.  Some touristy people even just took his picture and they probably had no idea why.  Good stuff! 

Once we got to the Opera Bar (where we were for New Year’s Eve), we started seeing other excited Buffett fans.  Then the pictures immediately began!  If you’ve been to one of these concerts with Luke you know what I mean.  It is so funny how many people get their picture taken with him but many just want his picture by himself.  I really could have made thousands of dollars last night if I would have charged for photos!  I like to become the photographer and encourage them to get into the picture, too.  A man with a professional looking video camera came over to film Luke and then had us stand up to be with him.  The guy had Sam say something since he was the only Australian with us.  If you make it to the show in April, watch the video if he has one rolling because we might be in it! 

We made friends with several new people within minutes of arriving and we saw them throughout the evening and at the concert.  A guy with an Oklahoma State University shirt was wandering around so we invited him to hang out with us.  We thought our good OSU friends would approve of that decision!  We met a man who was there with his whole family.  His 79 year old father came over and showed us his t shirt from the 1988 concert when Buffett was last there.  He also showed us an article from then and was very excited to be there again.  They said they had 3 ½ generations of Parrotheads with them…the man’s daughter is 6 months pregnant and she had a shirt that said, “Future Parrothead inside!”  With the limited amount of people in the Opera House, we probably talked to or saw the majority of them ahead of time.  It was a memorable part of the evening!  Buffett hasn’t performed here for over 20 years and many of these people either saw him then or have made the trips over to the US to catch a show. 

Once we all went inside, more people spotted Luke and requested pictures.  Luke’s new name became, “Hey, Parrot!”  A woman with a professional looking camera came over to us and said she was taking pictures for Jimmy himself.  We’ll see if they show up anywhere!!!  The Opera House allowed everyone to take their beverages from the bar to their seats which isn’t usually common.  Jimmy even announced to the audience to have a “designated drink go getter!” for the night.  I’m sure this was a unique concert that the Opera House had never laid eyes on before!!! 

Our seats were 12 rows back in the center.  No complaints about this view!  Sam and Kyra were in the upper box close to the stage so they also had a great view.  My new friend, Emily, was able to get a ticket right before the show so everyone was loving life.  With the venue being so small, there really wasn’t a bad seat in the place! 

Another major difference is that not many people were standing up.  If they did stand up they only did for a short time.  This created a small issue for us because we were singing and dancing the entire time as we like to do at all concerts we attend.  The people behind us only asked us to sit down once.  The man and woman next to me were probably in their early 40’s and were all dressed up…as in dressed up for the REAL opera!  If the beach ball came to them they wouldn’t touch it or they would push it over to us to hit.  I asked him numerous times to stand up and dance with us and he looked appalled each time…I might have asked a few times too many.  J  Then when “Cheeseburger in Paradise” came on they stood up and sang and looked happy but immediately sat back down after.  Weird!  I guess if they only came for that song they got much more than they bargained for!  Luke and I also just stood in the aisle a few times so we could enjoy without worrying about it. 

All in all, it was a memory that we are so glad to have.  Buffett mentioned that he will be making the trip back next year.  YAH for us!  J  Here’s the article from one of the papers.  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/music/jimmy-buffett-performs-live-at-sydney-opera-house/story-e6frexl9-1225993678047

Pretty much sums things up, huh?

It’s these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes.

Nothing remains quite the same

With all of our running and all of our cunning

If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane

***I typed this up Tuesday morning.  Last night (Wednesday) was Jimmy's final show in Sydney for Australia Day but it was at a different venue- the Horden Pavilion.  It was reported that during the finale at the end of one of his songs he fell off the stage and hit his head leaving him unconcious for 5-10 minutes.  He is in the hospital in stable condition.  The news is being very vague but they are saying it might have been from the lights on stage.  I'm sure you are hearing the same info.  Scary!  We wish him a speedy recovery. 

My parrot!

Playing the didgeridoo

Again again with another

Outside the Opera House after we picked up the tickets

Sorry you keep getting this view but we love it!

Darren and Fritz- True Australian Parrotheads

We hung out with them a lot throughout the evening! They had tickets to all 3 shows. 

1988 Australia  Buffett concert t shirt

The front side

The man who was there with 3 1/2 generations of Parrotheads

Awww, good parrot!

New OSU friend 

Emily and me

Sam, Kyra, and us

Kyra and me

He couldn't even make it back from the bathroom without getting stopped for more pictures.

A real New South Wales license plate

Sam and Kyra - Love them!!!!

Luke being interviewed

The preparty is much different than our usual Buffett concerts but it was still fun!

We love the Australian Parrotheads

My parrot flew away

Great seats!!

Very small concert venue than we're used to

Not only were beach balls being tossed around but also blown up kangaroos!!!! :)

Kenny Rogers is coming to Sydney!  Not sure if we'll make that one!

The Great Ocean Road

After an eventful night we were ready to get a new day started.  We left the bed and breakfast and went into town for a little brekky before we headed out again.  We decided to walk around the shops for a little bit because it was very cloudy and drizzly.  We were afraid of the views we were going to have with this weather. 

We’ve both been looking for good hats over here.  We’ve learned that we really need to wear a hat because the sun is so brutal.  Luke’s been wanting me to get a big, floppy hat, but the ones I’ve tried on have not looked right.  We finally found one for me and also another hat so I am set for the beach and for any day of the week for wandering around with a protected head.  J

As we drove away from Apollo Bay we noticed that the ocean views started to dwindle and we were now driving by land, bush, and farm areas.  The sun came out and it became another beautiful but very warm day.  Every once in a while the ocean would come back into view but this Great Ocean Road was an interesting one for sure!  Luke was a little worried about the time because it was still going to be awhile before we got to the Twelve Apostles and we had to return the rental car by 5:00pm then head to the airport for our flight back to Sydney.  Oh, good old patience!!! 

We realized that there would have been no sleeping options had we kept driving last night so even though I was traumatized at the bed and breakfast, we were still glad we had stayed.  I found it very interesting that along this road we saw the following animals at some point: horses, sheep, llamas, koalas, cows in all colors, birds, big kangaroos, and a large lizard that might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time!  The ocean views are hard to beat but I also enjoyed seeing the rural area of the bush with familiar animals and some new wildlife all living together. 

When we approached the Twelve Apostles, Luke was really getting stressed out on our crunched time so he decided we should call the airlines and push back our flights.  We called and that wasn’t an option unless we wanted to book a whole new ticket.  So knowing this we took full advantage of our views of the Twelve Apostles and didn’t waste any time. 

The Twelve Apostles are one of Australia’s most famous landscapes.  As you’ll see in the pictures below, the large rock pillars sit by the shore.  There are now only eight remaining.  We discovered that in 2005, one of the Apostles collapsed into the sea.  So Luke was actually able to see something different when he saw this same view 10 years ago.  Pretty crazy!  I would definitely recommend this drive out to see these sights!  We spent as much time as we could taking pictures and then we were on our way again. 

Luke took the “short cut” back to Melbourne.  It was only shorter because it didn’t go back on the same windy roads of the Great Ocean Road so we had a straighter shot back but time was still going to be an issue.  You would think we get some kind of crazy thrill out of “living on the edge” sometimes! 

We called the car rental place and they said we could just return the car to the airport location.  This was perfect!  We even got back early enough to take an earlier flight home.  What a great way to end a very adventurous trip.  This was my first real vacation out of Sydney and I can’t wait to see what adventures the next will bring. 

The first one in the water is the one that crumbled in the sea.   

Gotta love the signs over here.  They tell it like it is!

Beautiful sights!!

Check out my new hat!

"Luke, Are you Awake?!"

I’m not sure why but I woke up about 2:00 a.m. with the TV still on and I could hear music pumping loudly somewhere close by.  The TV happened to light up for a second and I noticed something on the ceiling.  Oh, God!  Not again!!!!  There it was- a big, black, hairy blob with legs again!  I had a clear view of it directly across from me so we had a stare down for a little over an hour and a half before Luke woke up from what I thought was a loud whisper and he thought was just a loud question.

I have included the two emails I sent to our families and Luke because I thought it would make me feel better to type to them on my phone in the middle of the night as I watched the mammoth spider.  I also thought I might come up with a plan to take care of this without waking up Luke.  Below I  wrote “US Open” instead of “Australian Open” as Luke pointed out…big deal, right!?

Email #1: 2:10 a.m.

I really need to scream right now but can't! It is 2:10 a.m. Staying in a "bed and breakfast" in Apollo Bay way past Geelong - kind of - not sure I would call it a B&B on a normal day.  Can't wait to write the blog from today's adventure. (I know. I know. I'm behind. I have 6 to post!!!)

Anyway- we left on the TV when we went to bed watching the US Open. I happened to wake up and there is another giant spider on the ceiling directly in my eye sight across from us. Luke is snoring away and I'm having a stare down with this thing hoping he doesn't budge from that spot so I can fall back asleep. I need him to be in that exact spot when I wake up.

Thought I'd write instead of YELLING and waking up Luke. By the way, it's not making me feel any better. Not sure what kind it is either except really big and black. Ugh!!!!!! I took a picture on my phone but my camera is over by it. Flash didn't seem to bother him.

On a positive note we saw koalas in the wild today!

Ok- I might be having a mini panic attack but I'm going to keep the tv on and attempt sleeping. Say a prayer that it stays glued to that spot on the ceiling or that it is really just for "looks" out here in the Bush and for pretend.

Reporting back in the next several hours! Goodnight! Wish me luck.

Freaking Out in Silence,

Lisa

Email #2: 3:40 a.m.

Update...3:40 a.m.

Lisa & Luke-2   Large Hairy Spiders -0

Luke rolled over and I took the opportunity to whisper loudly, "Are you awake???" He then he opened his eyes and saw our friend on the ceiling.

We had a little tag teaming after making a plan of Luke grabbing his shoe and standing on the bed. I tied up my tennis shoes and assumed a good stance!! :) He hit him and it slowly went to the floor all balled up so I stepped on him.

Whew! Sweating!!!! But glad that's over.

Thanks for listening.

Lisa

As I said in the first spider blog, I am not usually afraid of spiders but this is ridiculous.  The odds of this happening to us again in a matter of weeks and in a completely different area far from our home is crazy!  We were already not a fan of this bed and breakfast and this just solidified our feelings about it.  We can laugh about it now because it ended up being a funny experience that we’ll always remember.  Just picture Luke standing on the edge of the bed with his big shoe in his hand and I’m over to the side with my shoes and socks on in a good squat, ready for action.  Luke about fell off the bed laughing at me!  And add this as another learning experience about finding a place to sleep for the night in an unknown town IN ADVANCE. 

This was my view from bed except the blings were closed and there was a giant spider on the wall!!

UGH!!!!