cross country skiing

this past wed, we went skiing. this was only my 2nd time. as with snowboarding, it seems i’m on a once a year trend which means i have to take a lesson every time to remember things like … how to stop.

i def find this easier than snowboarding. it’s harder work b/c i’m not falling all the time – better workout. i’m definitely ok with just trudging along & going up or across the trails. going down, and they’re very small bits of ‘down’, is a bit freaky. i sort of know how to stop. i was practicing that the other day and feeling slightly confident although there’s no way i’d go on the harder trails. i’m not comfy w turns.

it was sort of fun being in the snow. i like snow (just not cold) and this day was great. sunny, warm. wasn’t even wearing a coat (just 4 layers & a scarf). i’m still not sure how much i like skiing though. i think i like sitting in the lodge drinking more than being on the slopes (and this lake mountain place doesn’t really have a lodge).

oh… and yes, jen…. the blue sweatshirt is my JU one.

nyc over time

cool nyc photo site which compares pix from the 1930s to recent day. read about it here or go see it at the city of nyc museum.

links

found this very cool site tonite via banksy’s site. it’s for a recording artist, bill harvey. the site is very very cool. a great illustration how musicians can use the net & how flash can be cool.

thanksgiving in august

thanksgiving is a north american thing. the aussies only know it from american tv. last year i was thinking about having a thanksgiving dinner but never got around to it & it’s warm in november. there is the whole ‘christmas in july’ concept b/c thats when our winter is so i modified it to ‘thanksgiving in august’ and had a little bit of a dinner last wknd.

i made cranberry sauce, 2 types of sweet potatoes & pumpkin pie. we also had roast veggies, mashed potatoes, turkey, apple pie, choc pud, mulled wine, beer, dips, whipped cream, and probably more.

i wasn’t sure how the traditional thanksgiving goods would be accepted but all went well. one style of sweet potatoes are gone but there’s still some w marshmellows in the fridge. several times i was asked ‘is this a main or dessert?’ due to the perceived/real sweetness of the dish. i was prepared for this but it did really drive home how amazingly sweet some of these dishes are. in general, i think american food is sweeter than stuff i eat here. i knew that from the occassional candy bar i pick up at the american food store but the question struck me as funny and normal at the same time.

i’m not sure why but i’ve been up since like 6a. tired now so if that doesnt’ really make sense, just ignore it.

a dirty shame

as part of the melb intl film fest, we went to see a dirty shame, the latest john waters movie. i was thinking it was new but when i finally got around to looking online, i found out it came out last september & is on dvd already.

so go rent it… it’s great. it’s a waters classic. the pull of good (the neuters) vs the pleasures of evil (the sexually liberated who celebrate their fetish & go out ’sexing’) in the small town burbs of baltimore. the sex addicts are awoken to this ‘carnal liberation’ when they have a concussion. as usual there’s lots of waters regulars (mink stole, patty hearst, cameo of rikki lake). for about 5 minutes it becomes an amazing zombie movie. i want to watch it again just to hear all the cool terminology for oral sex.

sydney & caines

united is offering sydney & caines for U$1549 from LAX if you book before aug 16. good for the first part of september & first part of november. that includes flight btwn the 2 cities & hotel in both places.

shoes

this wknd i bought a pair of crocs. had never seen them before but tried a pair on & ended up buying 3 pairs. the big selling point for me was the colours AND that there’s no leather of any sort in the shoes. after i wore the shoes for a day, i went back & bought more. they rock!! they are VERY comfy. i was on my feet a lot this wknd & they were great. and they look cool.