3/28/05

Hello - One of the biggest pieces of news is that my daughter April is having a boy!!! His name will be Duncan Michael Laughlin. Guess during the sonogram - he rolled over and "showed" it all!!! Of course Michael is thrilled and I am now looking at baby stuff. Also Rodney son's fiancee is having a girl a few weeks before April so we will be baby inundated the month of August. Busy year for our youngsters and the other son will be getting married. Shopping!!!!!!!!

Well the last time I wrote I was still working for the pest control company. I eventually quit after about 2 to 3 weeks as the company was so disorganized, so behind, etc., that I couldn't bear it!!! Also I was never out of there on time and wasn't being paid overtime. Again another thing was the Office Manager was trying to use my "skills" as an OA without my approval or pay. So again I am unemployed though things are still lively here in the "Down-Under". I also several weeks ago got a position as a receptionist at a Legal Office with the chance to become a PA to one of the Partners in 3 months. That job just lasted 1 day and I was shocked when I was "let go" due to the fact that I wasn't dressed in a pin-striped suit!!! Yes I know some people will say that there were other reasons - but that is the reason they gave me. I even offered to come to work the next day in a suit, but no go. They offered to pay me for 6 days work which I will take, but consider it "hush" money as the reason is as illegal here as in the States!!!! Lesson learned and I guess I will need to go shopping as I only own one suit. I had been warned by a friend of Rodney's that they are a lot more conservative here and that suits are a must, but silly me....Hard to imagine me in one but I will go shopping. Only thing different here is that the suits are all very dark - no colors really as in the States. I've been people watching now. I just received this from my husband - definitely fits but I'm a fighter and will just pull my boot straps back up and give myself a wedgie:

"Competitive Salary": We remain competitive by paying you less than our competition.

"Join our fast-paced company": We have no time to train you.

"Casual work atmosphere": We don't pay enough to expect that you will dress up; a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.

"Some overtime required": Some every night and some every weekend.

"Duties will vary": Anyone in the office can boss you around.

"Must have an eye for detail": We have no quality assurance.

"Career-minded": Female applicants must be childless (and remain that way).

"Apply in person": If you're old, fat or ugly you'll be told that the position has been filled.

"Seeking candidates with a wide variety of experience": You'll need it to replace the three people who just quit.

"Problem-solving skills a must": You're walking into perpetual chaos.

"Requires team leadership skills": You'll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.

"Good communication skills": Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do it

Grocery stores are still a mystery to me as far as foods are concerned. I am learning. Funny every time I and Rodney shop, we run into another American who has lived here for years but still misses things like Bisquick, Butterfingers, etc. It really is interesting and all of them have care packages come from home with items they really want!!!! My daughter and her family are putting one together for me. Yeah!!!! I also plan on making myself one when I go home in August for DM's birth. I also only have 1-1/2 cartons of cigarettes left - so guess it will be time to quit soon. I really will try as I promised!!!! Have "no smoking" life savers that I brought with me - so hope will help.

We have decided to use Friday nights as date nights. Just to get together, talk, "finger" things out, etc. We occasionally ask people or friends of Rodney's to join us We've met a young couple here that the woman is American and her hubby is Aussie. We went out to dinner and I hope we can get together again.

My cooking is good and bad. Rodney is really good with my experiments as I need to actually learn how to cook again from scratch. I didn't inherit the ability to just throw something together and it is tasty like my sisters and Mom do. I can bake up a storm though which they will find out during the holidays. I really miss a lot of our "fast" food boxes that you add water, throw meat on top, stuff in oven for 30 minutes and woo hoo - dinner is ready!!!!

Rodney and I considered taking Belly Dancing lessons after going to a Turkish restaurant in Dickson one Friday night for exercise, but I'm the one that chickened out. I have lost 10 pounds so now weigh 145 which I haven't been since trying to get back into the AF several years ago where I had to lose about 30 pounds. In other words - I feel like I look damn good!!!!! Rodney has no complaints. I usually am about 154 so will work really hard to keep my weight down. The military is at a stale mate and have a really funny feeling that I'll have to let my retirement go and I hate to - but I can only fight so much from here. I can nag - but with e-mail - it can be blown away!!!!!

Rodney in the mean time bought a really good bicycle and is now riding to work and back which is about 15 k's each way. I'm really proud of him and he is losing weight - I can see it in his belly. I can't wait until my roller skates get here. The sidewalks are wonderful and from what I've see with very little rocks so I may not kill myself yet!!!! We have found out that my stuff has arrived and is in Melbourne in quarantine. We hope to get it soon. They tried to get hold of the States to get a packing list (I thought one would have been with it) but of course no response so they contacted us and we have faxed them a copy. I'm hoping in a few weeks. Like Christmas - I don't remember everything that I had packed up.

Well again things are different here when renting - we have an inspection every three months by the landlord and the agency. So very different from the states. We have a wooden floor in the main room of the house and it has become a pain to maintain and keep clean. It has no protection on it, so we have to be extremely careful who, what, when, where and how on the floor. You can't even use a bucket and mop on it. We have bought some heavy throw rugs to help. Another new adventure.

We went to a store in a small town looking for picture hangers, etc., and as we were leaving, we saw a (what I call) 2nd hand furniture store. We went in and found chairs for the kitchen table that will arrive sometime from the States, a wonderful bookcase, an office chair and a beautiful floor length mirror. Very good prices. Ohhhhh - also some glass end tables for the living room. We are slowly getting a home together.

If any of you have seen the recent pictures - Rodney shaved his head for charity. Quite a shock to get used to but my daughter thinks it makes him look younger and I kind of agree.

The dogs Datsun and Kelly are a joy and a pain. We took them for a walk the other day and introduced them to the lake. Datsun saw some ducks so took a flying leap, expecting, I think, to land on ground, and I wish you could have seen his face when he landed in the water. Rodney lost the leash but Datsun did turn around and swim back. Kelly has gotten his first hair cut and is cooler and soooooo cute -- okay I'm prejudiced. I'm a cat person so never thought I'd really care for a dog!!!. I've been told that it will take about 18 months for his true color to come in. Silky's are born with black and brown hair but changes as they age. Datsun and Kelly really like each other - but God forbid if food gets between them!!!! Dog Fight!!! Datsun now sleeps with us while Kelly sleeps on a blanket by my side of the bed. Potty training is the same as with all kids but Dad I wish I could offer them a dime if they go correctly!!!! Dad had to do that to me or my twin when we were learning and it worked!!!!!

During Canberra week, I got to see how hot air balloons are put in the air and landed. Pictures on the website. I have never been that close to this adventure and it was sooooo exciting. Maybe next year I will be brave enough to go up. Rodney got his dream of going up. The weather was great though there were a few windy days. After the balloons are up - everyone involved gets in their cars and "follows" to help to land, but with the wind you never know where they will land. Very interesting and a little stressful - especially when the balloons are over the water!!!!

This last week - Easter week here has been interesting. Last weekend was a three day with Canberra Day and then a 4 day weekend with Easter weekend. Rodney took the rest of the week off, so we go some things done like clearing out the garage - a little trying for Rodney as a lot of the stuff was Doris's from a while ago. He is getting better though.

We took last Sunday and went up to Tumut on the back road via Wee Jasper which goes to the Snowy Mountains. We took a picnic basket with us and enjoyed and good lunch of chicken, cheese, juice and salad. We also stopped in the forest on the way and "went for a walk"!! It was beautiful but the mosquitos (mossies) were horrible. We came home on the main highway from Melbourne, stopping in Gundagai to see the "Dog on the Tuckerbox". There we bought "Granma's Cordial", which is a syrup you put into water to flavour it without carbohydrates, and some natural soap.

Well this is about it - Rodney introduced me to a wonderful town yesterday called Gold Creek with wonderful shops, so tomorrow my goal is that - yes I need to get an Aussie driver's license and go to this town again by myself to look around (MEN!!!!). I also will continue to look for work though I will be much more cautious. Take care until April - the month, not my daughter.

ME

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