I have mentioned the Todd River before; it is a long and wide and dry river bed that cuts through The Alice. You can't miss it, really. It is water-less almost all of the time, filling only after some really determined rain.
So naturally, what better place to have a regatta?
The Henley-on-Todd Regatta is an event so distinctly Alice Springs, it really just wouldn't fly (or float?) anywhere else in the world. Lucky for me, I left the hotel early enough on Saturday in order to see the bulk of the event.
Basically, the afternoon was filled with all different kinds of boating events, and teams and individuals compete with their "boats." The boats are basically metal frames roughly suggesting a boat, draped with banners and carried by the crew. Some of them are relatively tame, like the kayaking, which is the smallest boat manned by one person each and amounts to just a really awkward foot race. But you haven't seen awkward 'til you see the rowing Eights. Eight people stand in the frame of the boat in single file and hurl themselves along the river bed as fast as their feet can carry them; all well and good until someone in the middle wipes out and the people in the front don't stop and every one gets dragged into the coarse Todd sand... such good times. Another good one is the "Maxi-Yacht", which is teams of 8-10 carrying a considerably wider boat, but still hurdling along the same sandy expanse of river. There were some pretty spectacular collisions at the turning buoy in that one. And then there's the bathtub derby: 4 people carry a bathtub with someone in it up and down the arena (the two smart teams put a kid in theirs; the third team collapsed, including the adult in the tub).
The big end event is an all out naval battle, pitting three tricked out boat-trucks against each other. The weapons include hoses, water and flour bombs and flour cannons, and they all just chase each other around the river bed until the time is up. The winner is decided by applause, and you'll be happy to know that the pirates in their ship "The Nauteus" totally won. Apparently, it's the first time in recent memory that the Vikings haven't won. Which is cool. Because the vikings were wankers.
So this event has been happening for 47 years now. Only once has it been cancelled... due to water in the river.
Unbelievable.
(check out my pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030328&l=7838a&id=173701181)
Showing posts with label Alice Springs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alice Springs. Show all posts
Monday, September 1, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Riding around in my automobile
While it is terribly exciting that I am going to be travelling around Greater Australia and, in only two weeks, New Zealand, it is becoming ever more apparent that there is a lot to see and do around the Alice. On a recent day off, I got in Toby-car and just started driving around, taking roads I hadn't yet taken and venturing out of the city limits. Every time I passed a sign for a roadside attraction, I slammed on my brakes and skidded into the parking area. It was fantastic! Totally the way to travel!
My first stop was at the grave of John Flynn. Now, when I stopped, I had no idea who John Flynn was, but given the size of the sign, I figured he had to be someone important. What an incredible man! A religious minister and doctor, he saw that there was serious need in the remote stretches of the Outback for healthcare and communication, and single-handedly started reaching out to all of the people who lived "out bush" as they call it. What began as one man's ministry grew into the Royal Flying Doctors Service, an internationally renowned and ve
ry active program that gives care to remote inhabitants and, if necessary, provides transportation for those people to get to a hospital. You cannot concieve how big the outback is until you're here. Actually, I am here and I still can't wrap my head around it. Thousands and thousands of square miles of desert fill the interior of Australia and you might be more than a 20 hour drive from the nearest city and hospital. Crazy. John Flynn made incredible strides in connecting the interior of Australia. Quite remarkable.
My next stop was at the highest point on the Stuart Highway. That might sound boring, but not when you consider that the highway runs the entire height of the country, from Adelaide straight up to Darwin, around 3000 kilometres, I believe. It's especially hard to believe that it's the highest point when you look around and all you can see is flat desert except for the soaring MacDonnell Ranges to the south. But there was a sign that proved it, and a weird lookin' kind of monument, so I'll trust their word.
The next attraction was one that I was actually on the lookout for. Ladies and gentlemen, I stood on the Tropic of Capricorn! How cool is that? Aside from the fact that I myself am a Capricorn, it really put in perspective how far away I am from home. And how close I am to the tropics. It was a pretty special moment. And Australia really knows how to do weird lookin' monuments, eh?
My last stop for the day was the Warburton Memorial. Another weird one. This one is in memory of a Mr. Peter Egerton-Warburton, who, with his plucky family, travelled across the nigh on endless desert from 100 kilometres north of Alice Springs to Roebourne in West Australia, from April 18, 1873 to January 26, 1874. Well done there!
My first stop was at the grave of John Flynn. Now, when I stopped, I had no idea who John Flynn was, but given the size of the sign, I figured he had to be someone important. What an incredible man! A religious minister and doctor, he saw that there was serious need in the remote stretches of the Outback for healthcare and communication, and single-handedly started reaching out to all of the people who lived "out bush" as they call it. What began as one man's ministry grew into the Royal Flying Doctors Service, an internationally renowned and ve
ry active program that gives care to remote inhabitants and, if necessary, provides transportation for those people to get to a hospital. You cannot concieve how big the outback is until you're here. Actually, I am here and I still can't wrap my head around it. Thousands and thousands of square miles of desert fill the interior of Australia and you might be more than a 20 hour drive from the nearest city and hospital. Crazy. John Flynn made incredible strides in connecting the interior of Australia. Quite remarkable.
My next stop was at the highest point on the Stuart Highway. That might sound boring, but not when you consider that the highway runs the entire height of the country, from Adelaide straight up to Darwin, around 3000 kilometres, I believe. It's especially hard to believe that it's the highest point when you look around and all you can see is flat desert except for the soaring MacDonnell Ranges to the south. But there was a sign that proved it, and a weird lookin' kind of monument, so I'll trust their word.
The next attraction was one that I was actually on the lookout for. Ladies and gentlemen, I stood on the Tropic of Capricorn! How cool is that? Aside from the fact that I myself am a Capricorn, it really put in perspective how far away I am from home. And how close I am to the tropics. It was a pretty special moment. And Australia really knows how to do weird lookin' monuments, eh?
My last stop for the day was the Warburton Memorial. Another weird one. This one is in memory of a Mr. Peter Egerton-Warburton, who, with his plucky family, travelled across the nigh on endless desert from 100 kilometres north of Alice Springs to Roebourne in West Australia, from April 18, 1873 to January 26, 1874. Well done there!So the moral of the story is, when you're driving around the Red Centre, make sure you stop and check stuff out! It's a pretty cool place.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
To market, to market
Every other Sunday, or every "fortnight" as they say around here, there is a big market at the Todd Mall (a pedestrian street in Alice). It is super super fun and everyone comes out for it. There are stands lining the street selling all assortments of jewelry, hats, jumpers (Australian for sweater), and art. A lot of the wares are hand-made by local artisans and are distinctly central Australian, using materials that are found in the Northern Territory (or "Territ'ry" as it's pronounced. It is truly a highlight of life here in the Alice.
One of the best parts of the Market is all of the food stands! Vietnemese, Thai, Chinese, Sushi... so much to choose from! So naturally I went for the German sausage. Delicious! I had one a fortnight ago (heehee), and it was delectable, so it made sense that I head in that direction again this week. I ordered the spicy sausage and put spicy mustard on it, just like last week, but apparently, I grabbed the "spicy English mustard" by mistake (or maybe on purpose... I don't know). Anyway, one bite, and my entire face was on fire! I thought that my nasal cavity was going to implode and my eyes were going to pop; tears were jumping from my sockets cartoon style-- it was intense. I am ashamed to say it, but I had to wipe off the mustard in order to finish it. I can handle spicy, but that really made me want to die. My face hurts just thinking about it.
The only way to recover was to get myself a frozen mango.
Best. dessert. ever.
It's really just mangos frozen and mushed up into sorbet and served in a cup. So simple and scrumptious.
So, when you all come to visit me in Alice, make sure it's during a market weekend, ok?
One of the best parts of the Market is all of the food stands! Vietnemese, Thai, Chinese, Sushi... so much to choose from! So naturally I went for the German sausage. Delicious! I had one a fortnight ago (heehee), and it was delectable, so it made sense that I head in that direction again this week. I ordered the spicy sausage and put spicy mustard on it, just like last week, but apparently, I grabbed the "spicy English mustard" by mistake (or maybe on purpose... I don't know). Anyway, one bite, and my entire face was on fire! I thought that my nasal cavity was going to implode and my eyes were going to pop; tears were jumping from my sockets cartoon style-- it was intense. I am ashamed to say it, but I had to wipe off the mustard in order to finish it. I can handle spicy, but that really made me want to die. My face hurts just thinking about it.
The only way to recover was to get myself a frozen mango.
Best. dessert. ever.
It's really just mangos frozen and mushed up into sorbet and served in a cup. So simple and scrumptious.
So, when you all come to visit me in Alice, make sure it's during a market weekend, ok?
Sunday, August 3, 2008
A Town Called Alice
I mentioned a little bit ago that I went to the Telegraph Station for Liam's birthday party, but really, it warrants a little bit more than a side note in a post about kangaroos. (Really, I think I need to stop posting about kangaroos so much, but they are so darn fascinating!!!)
Now, as some of my more dedicated readers may have caught in the aforementioned side note, the town of Alice Springs was born at the Telegraph Station. It was established in 1872 as a stop along the Overland Telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. Stops on the line existed solely to boost the strength of the signal as it travelled along the line, so the operators would sit in the station and listen to the messages coming from Darwin and Adelaide and resend them along to the next stop. It was a boring life.
The Telegraph Station sits right on the shore of the mighty Todd River, or rather, the occasionally mighty Todd River. It is bone dry most of the time, just an expanse of flat sandy river bed, but when European explorers came to establish the station, they happened upon the river shortly after several days of rain.
Now here's the good part:
The men saw a particularly turbulent bend in the river and assumed it to be a spring; in actuality, there was an underwater cave that filled and emptied about once every 5 minutes, not a spring at all. So, in an attempt to suck up to their boss back in Adelaide, they named the spot after his wife, Alice. After years of good intentions, Alice passed away before she ever made it to the town named for her.
So Alice Springs is named after someone who never went there, and for a spring that doesn't exist.
(Cue Linda Richman: Discuss)
Only in Australia, friends.
Now, as some of my more dedicated readers may have caught in the aforementioned side note, the town of Alice Springs was born at the Telegraph Station. It was established in 1872 as a stop along the Overland Telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin. Stops on the line existed solely to boost the strength of the signal as it travelled along the line, so the operators would sit in the station and listen to the messages coming from Darwin and Adelaide and resend them along to the next stop. It was a boring life.
The Telegraph Station sits right on the shore of the mighty Todd River, or rather, the occasionally mighty Todd River. It is bone dry most of the time, just an expanse of flat sandy river bed, but when European explorers came to establish the station, they happened upon the river shortly after several days of rain.
Now here's the good part:
The men saw a particularly turbulent bend in the river and assumed it to be a spring; in actuality, there was an underwater cave that filled and emptied about once every 5 minutes, not a spring at all. So, in an attempt to suck up to their boss back in Adelaide, they named the spot after his wife, Alice. After years of good intentions, Alice passed away before she ever made it to the town named for her.
So Alice Springs is named after someone who never went there, and for a spring that doesn't exist.
(Cue Linda Richman: Discuss)
Only in Australia, friends.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A desert wiffin a desert
Yesterday I had the morning off from the hotel, so, at Alison's recommendation, I hoofed it over to the Alice Springs Desert Park. Now, as a brief side note, I have been using Bill Bryson's book In a Sunburned Country as a travel bible; everything I do or plan to do, I check to see if Mr. Bryson did it, too, and to see if he had any pithy remarks about it. This is the conversation he had with his travel companion, Allan, on their arrival in the Alice:
"And what is there to do for two days in Alice Springs?"
"Quite a lot," I said encouragingly, and pulled out a brochure I had taken from a rack in the motel. I flipped through it. "There's the Alice Springs Desert Park, for one thing."
He inclined his head a fraction. "What's that?"
"It's a nature reserve where they carefully recreated a desert environment."
"In the desert?"
"Yes."
"They've recreated a desert in the desert? Have I got that right?"
"Yes."
"And you pay money for this?"
"Yes."
He nodded contemplatively. "What else?"
All hilarity aside, though, it was fantastic park. I got there just in time for the "Birds of Prey" show (as did dozens and dozens of other people: school kids, tour groups, etc.). It was incredible! There were galahs, black kites, whistling kites, a black breasted buzzard, an owl, butcher birds and an uninvited eagle circling off in the distance. The buzzard was definitely the coolest; it's one of two birds in the world that instinctively uses tools to eat. When it finds an emu egg, it picks up a stone in its beak and hurls it as hard as it can against the egg until it cracks and it can eat the insides. Very cool.
As soon as the bird show was over, I ran over to the nocturnal house to beat the crowds. There were so many animals! I saw bilbies, malas, quolls and countless other desert rats and marsupials. And the reptiles! Tons of snakes, skinks, legless lizards, thorny devils and anything else you can imagine. I probably spent an hour in there, visiting all of the animals over and over again. They didn't have an echidna on display, which was a bummer, but apparently there's one living in the back yard, so maybe, if I bide my time, I'll get to see one in the wild.
After the nocturnal house, I wandered around and found the kangaroo and emu paddocks. I actually got to walk around with the kangaroos, but they were pretty lethargic and wouldn't come say hi. But the fact that I was allowed into their pen is probably a point for the cute and cuddly, yeah? I don't know. The emus were separated from the path by a couple of fences, but it was still neat to see them. I think I am going to try to find some in the wild when I am down in South Australia, 'cause apparently that's where they all hang out.
In hindsight, I really only went to look at the animals, and didn't spend to much time in the "environment" parts. But it was still really cool. Probably would have been nice to go there with company, but what can you do, eh?
The worst part is that as soon as i turned on my camera, the low battery light flashed, so I only ended up with a couple of pictures of the kangaroos and maybe one or two of the emus. Ah well.
Peace.
"And what is there to do for two days in Alice Springs?"
"Quite a lot," I said encouragingly, and pulled out a brochure I had taken from a rack in the motel. I flipped through it. "There's the Alice Springs Desert Park, for one thing."
He inclined his head a fraction. "What's that?"
"It's a nature reserve where they carefully recreated a desert environment."
"In the desert?"
"Yes."
"They've recreated a desert in the desert? Have I got that right?"
"Yes."
"And you pay money for this?"
"Yes."
He nodded contemplatively. "What else?"
All hilarity aside, though, it was fantastic park. I got there just in time for the "Birds of Prey" show (as did dozens and dozens of other people: school kids, tour groups, etc.). It was incredible! There were galahs, black kites, whistling kites, a black breasted buzzard, an owl, butcher birds and an uninvited eagle circling off in the distance. The buzzard was definitely the coolest; it's one of two birds in the world that instinctively uses tools to eat. When it finds an emu egg, it picks up a stone in its beak and hurls it as hard as it can against the egg until it cracks and it can eat the insides. Very cool.
As soon as the bird show was over, I ran over to the nocturnal house to beat the crowds. There were so many animals! I saw bilbies, malas, quolls and countless other desert rats and marsupials. And the reptiles! Tons of snakes, skinks, legless lizards, thorny devils and anything else you can imagine. I probably spent an hour in there, visiting all of the animals over and over again. They didn't have an echidna on display, which was a bummer, but apparently there's one living in the back yard, so maybe, if I bide my time, I'll get to see one in the wild.
After the nocturnal house, I wandered around and found the kangaroo and emu paddocks. I actually got to walk around with the kangaroos, but they were pretty lethargic and wouldn't come say hi. But the fact that I was allowed into their pen is probably a point for the cute and cuddly, yeah? I don't know. The emus were separated from the path by a couple of fences, but it was still neat to see them. I think I am going to try to find some in the wild when I am down in South Australia, 'cause apparently that's where they all hang out.
In hindsight, I really only went to look at the animals, and didn't spend to much time in the "environment" parts. But it was still really cool. Probably would have been nice to go there with company, but what can you do, eh?
The worst part is that as soon as i turned on my camera, the low battery light flashed, so I only ended up with a couple of pictures of the kangaroos and maybe one or two of the emus. Ah well.
Peace.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Slacker Speaks
I can't believe it's been a week since I've updated this! So so soooo much has been going on, I hardly know where to start. I guess I'll try to pick up where I left off.
Thursday the 17th
The flight was great! While waiting for take-off, I looked out the window to see a glorious rainbow arching over the southern sky. I love rainbows. When I got to Alice Springs, Uncle Timmy was waiting right inside, looking very much like himself, which is to say great. Getting into "Uncle Timmy's Jeep" was like coming home. Granted, it's not the same one he used to have (the black one was totalled some time ago in England, I believe), and it's a different color (white), and the steering wheel is on the right side, but it was still just right, the way it's supposed to be.
He took me back to the house to drop off my stuff (sans the duffel that was, at this point, still MIA), then took me on a little tour of Alice. It's a nice small town; we live about 10k out, but you can park downtown and walk any where. Then, we came back to the house again and hung out until the kids got home. While waiting, I was looking out the window when what should I see but a kangaroo hopping across the face of the hill out back! Hurrah! My first sighting!
The rest of the day I spent jumping on the trampoline with my little cousins and hanging out with Timmy and Alison. (I love living here, by the way.)
Friday the 18th
Fridays are Alison's day off, so when she got back from running the kids to school and stuff, she came and picked me up and took me down town. We did some cleaning up at her dental practice, ran some errands and caught up with a friend of hers for lunch, who gave me some much needed career advice: work mornings in hospitality and get a job clearing plates at the steakhouse. She was very specific.
While down town, we also stopped in to Flight Centre, a travel agency, where I met my new friend Daniela. She helped me figure out my first big adventure! Right now, the plan is to leave in late August for Cairns (in Queensland, on the Pacific coast, a little ways north of the Gold Coast), go from Cairns to Sydney for a few days, head from there to New Zealand South Island for a 7 day tour, fly back to Sydney for a few days and then head back to Alice. I'm pretty stoked, myself. I hope it pans out!
After we got home, I started calling around to hotels for jobs and got a few nibbles, so I ran around with Uncle Timmy filling out applications. I also called the steakhouse (Overlander's), and set up an interview for the following evening. That evening, more trampolining, more hanging out. Just good times.
Saturday the 19th
Saturday morning, my duffel finally caught up with me. Joyness! I took a celebratory shower with my towel and bathrobe and razor and soap and shampoo and conditioner and loofah. I was pretty excited.
Afterwards, I learned to drive. Driving in Australia is startlingly similar to driving in the States, surprisingly enough. I mean, the driver's side is on the inside of the road, the difference is that the driver's side is on the right, so you drive on the left. But it makes pretty logical sense to me. The biggest challenge is the blasted turning signal. It's on the right side of the steering wheel, so every time I want to turn left, I inadvertently turn on the windshield wipers. Oops. I haven't accidentally drifted over the line or anything, haven't hit any kangaroos, so I think I'm doing alright.
Exciting fact: the car I'm driving is named Toby!!! For those of you who don't know, Toby was the name of my most beloved light blue '97 Mercury Sable. Sigh.
I had my interview around 5pm; the "interview" consisted of "So, when can you start? Tonight?" I said I could start Monday, which seemed ok with them. When I got home, Alison's brother and (beautiful pregnant German) sister-in-law and mother were over for a bar be que. We ate and drank and enjoyed a bonfire and generally had a good time. Around 9:30 I left to go meet my friend Daniela and her sister and cousin and various others at Todd Tavern, a local watering hole. It was lovely going out, and I even managed to stay awake past 10 for the first time since I left the States. All in all a great day.
Sunday the 20th
I decided to go to the 11am Mass, but got there and found out it was at 9:30. Lucky for yours truly, they have a 5:30pm, so I resolved myself to get back there later.
Before I had left, I had a phone call from the head of housekeeping at the Comfort Inn Outback for another "interview". This one when something like this: "Can you be here at 8am tomorrow?" Seriously. That's how easy it is to get a job here. That's two, count 'em, two jobs and I had been in town for 2 and a half days.
The rest of the day consisted of a lengthy nap and watching TV until I went back to church. It was an exciting drive for several reasons:
1) a kangaroo hopped across the road in front of me
2) the DJ said, in regards to the hottest curry in the world, "You could come out unscathed, but you could also come out very very scathed," which I found hysterically funny.
3) I heard "Neverending Story" on the radio.
Mass was nice, very Mass like. When I'm far away from home, I always find Mass very comforting. I like hearing the same songs we do, and knowing that thousands and thousands of miles away, they're hearing the same readings. The pastor was at World Youth Day, so when he comes back, I'm going to see about getting involved in reading or singing or something. There's also a potential opportunity to get involved with Prison Ministry, which would be cool. I'll let you know if it pans out. That about wraps up Sunday.
It's past my bed time! The rest of this update will have to wait for another time.
Join us next time for "Jo's first day!", "Jo meets a kangaroo up close!" and the long-awaited "Jo opens a bank account!"
Peace.
Thursday the 17th
The flight was great! While waiting for take-off, I looked out the window to see a glorious rainbow arching over the southern sky. I love rainbows. When I got to Alice Springs, Uncle Timmy was waiting right inside, looking very much like himself, which is to say great. Getting into "Uncle Timmy's Jeep" was like coming home. Granted, it's not the same one he used to have (the black one was totalled some time ago in England, I believe), and it's a different color (white), and the steering wheel is on the right side, but it was still just right, the way it's supposed to be.
He took me back to the house to drop off my stuff (sans the duffel that was, at this point, still MIA), then took me on a little tour of Alice. It's a nice small town; we live about 10k out, but you can park downtown and walk any where. Then, we came back to the house again and hung out until the kids got home. While waiting, I was looking out the window when what should I see but a kangaroo hopping across the face of the hill out back! Hurrah! My first sighting!
The rest of the day I spent jumping on the trampoline with my little cousins and hanging out with Timmy and Alison. (I love living here, by the way.)
Friday the 18th
Fridays are Alison's day off, so when she got back from running the kids to school and stuff, she came and picked me up and took me down town. We did some cleaning up at her dental practice, ran some errands and caught up with a friend of hers for lunch, who gave me some much needed career advice: work mornings in hospitality and get a job clearing plates at the steakhouse. She was very specific.
While down town, we also stopped in to Flight Centre, a travel agency, where I met my new friend Daniela. She helped me figure out my first big adventure! Right now, the plan is to leave in late August for Cairns (in Queensland, on the Pacific coast, a little ways north of the Gold Coast), go from Cairns to Sydney for a few days, head from there to New Zealand South Island for a 7 day tour, fly back to Sydney for a few days and then head back to Alice. I'm pretty stoked, myself. I hope it pans out!
After we got home, I started calling around to hotels for jobs and got a few nibbles, so I ran around with Uncle Timmy filling out applications. I also called the steakhouse (Overlander's), and set up an interview for the following evening. That evening, more trampolining, more hanging out. Just good times.
Saturday the 19th
Saturday morning, my duffel finally caught up with me. Joyness! I took a celebratory shower with my towel and bathrobe and razor and soap and shampoo and conditioner and loofah. I was pretty excited.
Afterwards, I learned to drive. Driving in Australia is startlingly similar to driving in the States, surprisingly enough. I mean, the driver's side is on the inside of the road, the difference is that the driver's side is on the right, so you drive on the left. But it makes pretty logical sense to me. The biggest challenge is the blasted turning signal. It's on the right side of the steering wheel, so every time I want to turn left, I inadvertently turn on the windshield wipers. Oops. I haven't accidentally drifted over the line or anything, haven't hit any kangaroos, so I think I'm doing alright.
Exciting fact: the car I'm driving is named Toby!!! For those of you who don't know, Toby was the name of my most beloved light blue '97 Mercury Sable. Sigh.
I had my interview around 5pm; the "interview" consisted of "So, when can you start? Tonight?" I said I could start Monday, which seemed ok with them. When I got home, Alison's brother and (beautiful pregnant German) sister-in-law and mother were over for a bar be que. We ate and drank and enjoyed a bonfire and generally had a good time. Around 9:30 I left to go meet my friend Daniela and her sister and cousin and various others at Todd Tavern, a local watering hole. It was lovely going out, and I even managed to stay awake past 10 for the first time since I left the States. All in all a great day.
Sunday the 20th
I decided to go to the 11am Mass, but got there and found out it was at 9:30. Lucky for yours truly, they have a 5:30pm, so I resolved myself to get back there later.
Before I had left, I had a phone call from the head of housekeeping at the Comfort Inn Outback for another "interview". This one when something like this: "Can you be here at 8am tomorrow?" Seriously. That's how easy it is to get a job here. That's two, count 'em, two jobs and I had been in town for 2 and a half days.
The rest of the day consisted of a lengthy nap and watching TV until I went back to church. It was an exciting drive for several reasons:
1) a kangaroo hopped across the road in front of me
2) the DJ said, in regards to the hottest curry in the world, "You could come out unscathed, but you could also come out very very scathed," which I found hysterically funny.
3) I heard "Neverending Story" on the radio.
Mass was nice, very Mass like. When I'm far away from home, I always find Mass very comforting. I like hearing the same songs we do, and knowing that thousands and thousands of miles away, they're hearing the same readings. The pastor was at World Youth Day, so when he comes back, I'm going to see about getting involved in reading or singing or something. There's also a potential opportunity to get involved with Prison Ministry, which would be cool. I'll let you know if it pans out. That about wraps up Sunday.
It's past my bed time! The rest of this update will have to wait for another time.
Join us next time for "Jo's first day!", "Jo meets a kangaroo up close!" and the long-awaited "Jo opens a bank account!"
Peace.
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