A few Aussie-isms

Yesterday marked the last day of class for the semster and we all went out for a bit of a celebration. Over the course of the night, we talked about all of the Aussie-isms that I've learned (or at least heard) since I arrived... a few of many (more) for your sampling:

Whoop Whoop: I want to live in the heart of the city, not way out in whoop whoop.

Hard Yakka: If you want to succeed, you have to be willing to put in the hard yakka (work).

Cuppa: Hey Ed, are you busy or would you be interested in a cuppa? (cup of tea etc.)

Esky: Make sure you close the esky (cooler) tightly or all the ice will melt.

Arvo: Do we have to do it this morning, can't it wait until arvo. (afternoon)

Goodonya: Goodonya mate! (good one, well done)

Troppo: Oh oh, Ed's lost it... he's gone troppo! (gone mad from overexposure to the heat)

Have (take) a slosh: Whew, I'll be back in a minute, I have to go have a slosh. (go to the bathroom).

....and my personal favorite....

Bob's your uncle: Hey, just concentrate, get this done and do a good job, then Bob's your uncle (no problem, you're all set)

I Gotta Get a Grip!

About a month ago, I discovered that Hungry Jack's, which is in Indooroopilly, sells ice cream cones for 30 cents, 30 Australian cents, so roughly 23 US cents. So every day on the way home from work, I'd pop in there and get a 30-cent ice cream cone, at about 9:30 at night. Then I realized that Hungry Jack's is open on my way to work as well ... so I started to get them a few days here and there in the morning also, about 8:30 in the morning. Well, one day when the 'night girl' gave me my cone, she had hurried through the process of making it so she could get out and get home, and it was not quite the cone I was used to. In my mind I heard myself saying...."awwwe, now look at that! She didn't put enough ice cream in it, it's all leaning off to one side, the top isn't even pointy - c'mon man!" THEN ... the other day, the person gives me a cone, that I watched her make, and it was perfect and I said OUT LOUD, to her ..."wow - thanks - that's the best ice cream cone anyone's made me here in a month!"

I thought to myself on the way out of the mall, "damn man, I'm critiquing the ice cream girls and the levels of perfection of a 30-cent soft-serve ice cream cone - I gotta get a grip!"

University of Queensland 3rd-Year Students

University of Queensland 3rd-Year Students
Originally uploaded by ed_roth.

Well, today was the last day of class for this particular course and for my stint at UQ. There is still plenty of grading to do and I will be participating in their final experiential exams, so it doesn't feel 'over' yet, but no more class work. I've been teaching almost non-stop since January so I am ready for the break. Karen, Eddie, and Heather get here next Friday (8 days from now!) and Chrissy will get here two days later on Sunday - I can't wait to see everyone - hard to express that so I won't really even try. Just try to remember that toy you really, really, really, really, really, wanted for Christmas ... and attach that feeling to people.

University of Queensland Graduate Music Therapy Students

University of Queensland Graduate Music Therapy Students
Originally uploaded by ed_roth.

On a far more pleasant note...
Today was the last day of class for the courses I'm teaching with this group of students. I'll see them again in a few weeks at the final exam, but today was the final class meeting time, which of course brings on mixed emotions. Just a fantastic experience with a brilliant group of people.

Indonesian Judge in Schapelle Corby Case

Indonesian Judge in Schapelle Corby Case
Originally uploaded by ed_roth.

The judge's response to Schapelle Corby's mother, who stated something along the lines of "those judges will never have another good night's sleep" after what she obviously feels was the wrongful conviction of her daughter.

Schapelle Corby Conviction

Schapelle Corby Conviction
Originally uploaded by ed_roth.

O.K. - for those of you outside of Australia, or at least in the U.S., I don't think you've heard too much about this (or anything as far as I can tell by reading the NY Times and Detroit Free Press headlines). But the gross oversimiplification is something like this:
In October 2004, Schapelle Corby, a young Australian, was going on holiday in Bali (Indonesia) and when she went through customs, they discovered 4 kilos of marijuana in one of her bags. She was arrested, tried, and was convicted last week for which she could receive a maximum penalty of execution. Well, despite what many (not all, but many) see as at least reasonable doubt because of so many holes in the prosecution's case, she was convicted anyway and sentenced to 20 years in Indonesian prison. It has easily been the biggest story in Australia for... I don't know, but several weeks now and it has sparked such outrage in some Australians, that they have called the Red Cross and another similar organization and demanded the money they donated in support of Indonesia following the tsunami, be refunded to them. I cannot include all of the details, as there actually are some people, some Australians included, who believe she may actually be guilty - Read in the Brisbane Courier Mail for a more complete description and analysis of the story.

Whoops

O.K. - for the RBF people - I screwed up yesterday's posted times.... no really I did! Those were times from a few runs ago. The actual stats for yesterday's run...
5 miles
54:01
10:48 pace

Hey, if I ran 2 miles further than I origianlly posted, you know I'm going to post the update! :)

Kangaroos Ahead

Kangaroos Ahead
Originally uploaded by ed_roth.

Now here's something you don't see every day (unless of course you live... HERE!)
This was taken maybe 10 minutes from Dave & Karyn's house as we took a nice leisurely drive on Sunday morning. I felt like the scientists in Jurassic Park who were desperately peering through the windows of their automated dino-tour searching for dinosaurs. Searching through the trees and open grassy areas did not yield any kanga (or dino) sightings. How great would it be to see them though outside of a zoo? I've been told that they are somewhat similar to deer in the U.S. - they are just ... around - in both rural and some suburban areas. How much would my 3-year-old love it if she saw a wild kangaroo?!!

And welcome to all of you from the Running Blog Family who have temporarily migrated over from our Two Fools Running site. For you... the stats from today:
5k
34:01
I'll take it - I haven't run in a week.