I'm having some grilled prawns from the barbie (you were expecting me to say "shrimp," right mate? Well, they call 'em "prawns.") and a steak a'course. From where? Outback. Yeah. Bastardized version of a fine country's cuisine: But Yummy.
Hey, in Australia, "Jack in the Box" is called "Hungry Jack." Dazzler!
I've mentioned briefly from time to time that I spent the summer before high school at the 1988 World Expo in Brisbane, Australia as a performer at the U.S. Pavillion. I was a dancer (no, not that type!)
I wrote a little diddy about it on Our Story, winning an honorable mention, so noted during the Mommyblogging panel at BlogHer. The prize? More bath stuff! Whoot!
During that trip, I enjoyed trying on a bit of a new persona. I was on of the younger dancers and certainly one of the less "popular" ones. But, walking around the Expo, I was "famous."Well, not really. But I thought I was because I was wearing "U.S.A." on my back. Clearly, I was up myself. When I met cute Aussie boys, I flirted. I couldn't help myself: the accent is too darn cute!
Nope, I didn't make it to the actual Outback, although I enjoyed my time on the East Coast. I rode a horse up Mt. Warning and explored a huge mall. (My chaperone accidentally broke the main door handle to the grand entrance.) I went to a glass castle of Macca's (McDonalds) and traveled by boat under the Harbor Bridge. I saw a play at the Opera House and cuddled with a koala. I watched dingoes with glee and crocodiles with suspicion. That experience was the bee's knees.
Today was nothing like that trip. No, today was one of those days where if any of my childless friends were to visit, they'd run from my house in horror, never to procreate.
Is it wrong that Spliggle can whomp and wallop the Cat?
Most of the day I heard the Cat chuck a spaz as Splig happily scratched, poked, or hit his older brother. Splig's gleeful dominance and the Cat's whingitude were loud. And today one of my clients had a bunch of super-duper-pooper-urgent updates for me to complete. If I hadn't responded to her email within five minutes, she called our customer service rep to tingle me on my cell.
While doing said updates, Spliggle broke cackleberries on the floor. He smeared cream cheese on the front of the fridge. He crushed graham crackers into the family room carpet. Husband's work shirts were used to cover up the evidence of a spilled sippy cup.
Finally, he scratched the Cat and bit me as I held him in his chair for time out. He did his quince. I was ropable.
Anyway. Since me blokes were tough today and I was flat out like a lizard drinking, I needed to have a celebratory dinner to pat myself on the back with a hardy, "Onya!" despite the fact that I really didn't do a good job today. I suppose I did in the "got the urgent updates for my client complete" realm since I was on task from go to whoa, but in the mommy and house-cleaner realm, I haven't got a zack.
But now that Splig is sleeping peacefully and the Cat is happily playing some games, I am eager to delve into some take away food. And there will be imbibing too.
Hooroo for now, Mates.
Help on the Strine by The Australian Slang Dictionary Pardon for being a bit of a drongo in attempting to place a few er these words 'round. (I do a much better job in Spoken Aussie English than written, that's for ridgie didge!)
Comments (1)
Your Australian experience sounds like it was wonderful! How fortunate that you were able to travel and perform at such a young age. And I love the slang!
I sometimes reflect on what I did in my previous lives, contrasted with my existence today. Not what I thought it would be... not bad, just unexpected.
Posted by Donna Mills
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October 21, 2006 7:59 AM
Posted on October 21, 2006 07:59