OMG! It's Christmas!

Treasury Casino at Christmas
Originally uploaded by thesleepydumpling

Yes, it's that time of year where we're all shocked to find ourselves in December again. The Christmas decorations have gone up, the cards are starting to arrive in the mail from very organised people, it's getting hot and stormy and the kids don't disappear off to school in the morning and leave you alone until 3pm.

I took this photo the other morning on my way in to work the sky was just lovely and the tree and Treasury Casino looked so good, I whipped my camera out of my bag (I take my camera everywhere) and snapped off a couple of shots.

I was in the US this time last year. San Francisco on the 5th of December, which was awesome. Mythbuster territory. It was clear and cool and rather delicious.

I spent Christmas in Michigan, and was lucky enough to have a white Christmas. Christmas in the US is absolutely magical, they really know how to do it over there. It's like one of those Christmas specials you see on TV - all warm and fuzzy and merry. I'd happily spend every Christmas in the US, no problem at all. Mostly because I hate Summer.

So who is coming to the BCCLS Christmas picnic next Sunday? The email went out to everyone a couple of weeks ago, but if you need the details, email me. I'll be there, and I hope to see lots of other folks there.

Go Away Summer

It's hot today. I'm not happy about that.

You see, I am a creature of the cold. I LOVE the cold. I'm happiest when my nose and fingers are nippy, the wind is blowing and I'm having to keep moving to keep warm.

This time last year, I was in the US. Lapping up the tail end of their autumn, in Wisconsin to be exact, where it was cold and windy. The lakes were starting to freeze, bits of snow were falling, sleet was around most days and one had to really rug up to go outside. It was delicious.

If I had my way, I'd be over there in the US and Canada for six months of every year. I'd head over about late October (ready for Halloween) and come back at Easter. That way I could enjoy Brisbane's gorgeous crystal clear and cool winter, but avoid the sticky, humid, breath-stealing summer. I'd have a white Christmas every year (oh boy that was fun last year, I was in Michigan) and be back here to enjoy jacaranda season. I'd get to see all my lovely friends over there, but still come home to those that are here in BrisVegas.

I'm trying to keep myself cool by remembering the delicious cold over in the US. Tramping around the streets of New York City, with my purple gloves on, watching the squirrels scamper through Union Square. Walking across a frozen river on a covered bridge in Frankenmuth, Michigan, all rugged up with gloves, scarf, woolly hat and my nose turning red in the cold. Stamping in snow in Chigago, making snowmen and hitting my friend Melissa on the butt with a big snowball.

This is the picture I have on my desktop wallpaper here at home at the moment:



Yes, those are my feet, in Chicago snow.