I was interviewed this morning by Macquarie's new online television program. The interview itself took about two hours to put together and should be up on the site in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, please read this e-mail I received from Becky Robertson, an Aussie-American woman who coordinated the effort.

Enjoy,
Jason

Jason,

thanks so much for today.

I remembered a couple experiences from the early years which reminded
me 'I wasn't in Kansas anymore...'

1. at my first 'sausage sizzle' I couldn't believe they used a piece of
plain white bread --I mean we have hot dog Buns...why couldn't they get
it together to make a size specific piece of bread?!

2. small pakages. Little teeny jars of peanut butter. We bought Adams
by the gallon. My mother buys 10 lb boxes of detergent--here we get
little teeny ones.

3. I was really shocked at the first b-day party I gave for a 4 year
old. when it was time for cake and ice cream, the kids asked for just
ice cream 'and just wrap my cake up and they like to take their cake 'to go'....I was so offended!

4.'Bring a plate' is a common request when you go to someone's house
for dinner, but it's very imbarrassing if you do, because what they
really mean is to bring a plate of something (pot-luck).

5. When it was fancy dress party,I dressed up my daughter in her
prettiest 'frock' , but when we got there everyone was in animal and
pirate costumes...

And the point is, that these are great reflections of just how much we
take our world for granted--and why we all need to get out and see
(interact with) the world a bit more..

thanks again for today.

Becky
www.mqtv.mq.edu.au

Posted by Jason at 05:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Not that I’m comparing myself here but I’ll bet if you asked any writer what kind of mood he needs to be in when he gets down to work, he’d probably say he needs to be inspired. I’m sure there are plenty of other conditions also that need to be just right but, above all, I’d have to guess inspiration is tops. My parents left yesterday and Halloween’s on Tuesday. You’d think the words would be just pouring out of me right now but they’re not. I’ve got more than enough free time tonight but, for some reason, I’m just not feeling it.

Maybe it feels like something’s missing. I’m not sure. Perhaps my mind’s focused on just getting through finals and the next month or so but I’m not sure that’s it. My opinions about traveling and being abroad versus being at home are becoming more erratic all the time and I’m doing an excellent job of confusing myself. It’s as if I’m convinced I need to choose exactly where I want to be when I know life doesn’t work that way. Settling back into life at home will be tough but, as much as I plan on enjoying my last couple of weeks away, it will be good to be back.

Yesterday was a fantastic early morning buffet breakfast at the Marriott before Mom and Dad left followed by a 40-minute ferry ride across Sydney Harbour to Manly Beach. I also got to finally cross something off my Australia to-do list: attempt to surf. Now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself in front of a bunch of strangers in wet suits, I don’t need to worry about that anymore! I enjoyed filming the lesson more than flopping around in the water, anyway.

My day at the beach was beautiful. My buddy Andrew met me at Manly Wharf and gave me an excellent tour around a gorgeous community. (I wish I had a better superlative to describe but my words are failing me. Just imagine clear, blue ocean everywhere with palm trees and sushi restaurants dotting the coast. Magnificent.) Last night, I met up with some friends at a pub near Darling Harbour and then I made my way home from the city slightly after midnight. Perhaps the most productive thing I’ve done today was choose a Halloween costume. It’s pretty ironic that I’m going to dress up in Australia since Halloween’s only beginning to get popular here and I haven’t done anything for this holiday in years. I think it might have something to do with a particular Halloween I had years ago where I dressed up as a doctor and then got sick. Irony surrounds this holiday for me, I guess.

Seeing a couple of green shirts in my closet this morning, I decided I would dress up as a leprechaun for Halloween. When I went looking for an inexpensive pair of green thongs to wear at parties, I discovered such ugly shoes in my size are hard to come by and so calling myself a “giant” leprechaun might be more appropriate.

Happy Halloween!

Posted by Jason at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)