Solid

We were sitting down enjoying our morning coffee and we started talking about CDs that have withstood the test of time. Here's our list in no particular order (more will be added!):

1. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
2. Collective Soul -Collective Soul
3. Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
4. Buckcherry - Buckcherry
5. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
6. Michael Jackson - Bad
7. INXS - Kick
8. George Michael - Faith

Billy Elliot

Last night Amber and I went to see the musical Billy Elliott: The Musical co-written by Sir Elton John at the Capital Theatre here in Sydney. It is a story about a boy who is taking boxing lessons because it is what boys are supposed to do. in reality though, he has absolutely no wish to participate in the sport. At the end of one class his teacher has to get going so he leaves the keys with Billy Elliot to give to the teacher of the next class. Billy obliges but only after realizing that he doesn't know who the teacher is let alone what she looks like. The next class turns out to be a ballet class. He "accidentally" ends up participating in the class and it is revealed that the little boy has a natural talent. You might say that, for a straight kid, he has 'perfect' technique if you know what I mean. (Wink, wink). To get the rest of the story you'll have to go see the show.

Over all it was a great story done in two acts. The first act was a more coherent story and the second act was decidedly more Tommy-ish in style with a whole plethora of well done dance numbers. The show is well worth seeing.

Before the show even began Amber and I learned a little something about child labor laws in Australia. It turns out that there were about 4-5 different children playing the character of Billy Elliott. Apparently labor laws here allow children to only preform about one show per week.

Mr. Muggles

I'm going to create a mental picture for you and then I'll explain where the heck the thought came from.


Picture being the family pet. Let's say you are a dog and your name is 'Mr. Muggles'.

Your owner, we'll call him Fred, is talking to you. He's saying, 'What a good little dog. Oh, do you know how good you are Mr. Muggles? Oh, who's the good doggie? Do you want a treat? Huh, do you? Treat?" as he mashes your head.

Your tail is wagging and all you hear is, "Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Mr. Muggles, Blah, Blah treat, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Treat?"

The point:
I was in cycling class last night and the teacher at the front of the class room was giving instruction. I could not understand one word of what she was saying. I understood, "Begin, Faster, slower, and thanks for coming in." If I were Mr. Muggles I would be wagging my tail thinking 'treat'?

The lesson:
Here in Australia I still have to realize that I am in a foreign country and that, even here, language barriers do exist. Cheers!

My First English Breckie

Today I had the first English Breckie of my time here in Australia. It was the usual pouched egg, ham, fried tomato, and toast with a log black (aka cup of coffee). I have to say that it was delicious.

Eagle-Eye Needs Glasses...

Two days ago Amber and I decided to explore one of the movie theaters here in town. Our quest led us to a movie theater located in Chinatown down by the Hay Market. The of movie choice was ‘Eagle Eye’. It started off okay but then the first big bang ‘em up chase scene happened. At the end of this particular the scene FBI agents played by Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton (?) stepped out of the totaled car seemingly concerned only with what time it was. By the end of the movie, Billy Bob was subdued by a US Army Predator and Rosario survived a fall unscathed after falling into a lake of liquid nitrogen. She had to help the airman who had fallen with her because he had broken his leg.