That was the shortest 30 days of my life! Nancy was here for the month of July and I dropped her at the airport on Friday for her return "home" - the time just flew by and now we're apart for at least a month or more. Not that she's not needed at home, the kids are still rattling around the house and Nancy needs to whip them into shape, get them prepared for college coming up in September or, in Kevin's case, a potential relocation to Columbus, Ohio to be closer to the Everyday Sunday situation. My initial reports from the homefront were less-than-stellar cleanliness was found upon arrival (shocking!!)
We got the chance to spend some "tourist time" with Pierre and Leslie the weekend before Nancy's departure and wnt to Stradbroke Island for the day. Stradbroke is off the east coast of Brisbane and generally is reached via a ferry - which is what we did. Pierre is driving a 4WD Toyota and Stradbroke has some nice beaches and trails that are accessible if you have the moxie to traverse them.
We did, of course, see some of the Australian flora and fauna - like some Kookaburra birds - and we were a bit breathless when Pierre decised to try and climb hills that appeared fit for "real" 4WD vehicles, not our Toyota Prado. We stopped and had a picnic on the beach, took some time to set in the sun and read (these winters are brutal - I had to wear a long sleeved shirt part of the day!) and then headed back home about dark.
It's cruise season again and my weekend "neighbor" has started to show up on Friday evenings with a quick unload and reload on Saturdays. I took the picture on Saturday AM from the front door of our apartment building - pretty strange.
Well, I have to admit, this post isn't very profound but I didn't want to delay getting something out again. I'll try to save some brain cells for something that'a bit bit more insightful soon - hang in there and thanks to those who have been kind enough to respond with comments; they are greatly appreciated!!
So – I’m officially missing my first Michigan summer ever. For the last 50 years of my life, a summer in Michigan has been the constant, with all of the associated elements like swimming in a fresh water lake, sunsets on the beach (with a nice marshmallow roast to go along with it), thunderstorms and the wonderful fresh smell that follows them, fresh fruits & vegetables from the Farmer’s Market as their seasons come and go (blueberries, strawberries, peaches, asparagus, green beans, corn-on-the-cob), crickets chirping and cicadas humming in the night when you leave the doors & windows open. I certainly have a lot more empathy for friends and family that have moved away and now only get a chance to visit this experience occasionally. I now know – more than ever – that Michigan summers are among the best in the world. I guess I won’t take setting on the deck with friends, with one of Nancy’s homemade waffle cones full of ice cream, watching the sun go down for granted again – I’m really missing that right now.
Nancy has been gone for a couple of weeks now and I am feeling pretty alone. Work is keeping me busy and that generally takes my mind off of how quiet it is most of the time. I’m back to my “routine” of bachelorhood – shopping for “one”, doing the laundry whenever there is enough of a load, dishwasher loading and unloading – and it’s darn quiet around here most of the time. The big event on the horizon is a move into another apartment (my lease is up on this one) and all of the “fun” that will attend this exercise. My current apartment is furnished; my next apartment isn’t – and that will create some extra effort to get organized. The good news is I have a “blank
palette” to work with, the bad news is Nancy won’t be here to help and I’m not a real “artiste”. So, I need a refrigerator, washing 
machine, bedroom suite, living room furniture, dining room furniture – you get the picture. I do have a coffee machine, a set of glasses, a sharp kitchen knife, a pizza stone and a few other essentials but I am getting a bit anxious about the move. So – if you think have any spectacular ideas for me – I’m all ears. I’m thinking pretty modern (the apartment lends itself to that style) but casual since the design lends itself to being open to the outdoors.
I’ll be getting in to the new apartment on September 1st (3 days before the anniversary of the death of Steve Irwin – local hero) and the big “Riverfire” day of the Brisbane River Festival. I should have a pretty spectacular view of the fireworks as a barge will be firing them off right in front of me on the river. If only I owned a chair to sit on and view them!
