Yet another episode from Tia

Hello everyone,

I know I have been slack again about writing but nothing and everything has been happening in the past few months. I think my friend Bec put it best when she said that I am too busy living my life to be recording it. But I am trying to keep a record. I have even tested out a few programs to test ways to put photographs on my web site for everyone to view. I have not found the one I like the best yet, but it is being worked on.

So starting from the middle of August this update:

I went to the Big Winter Sleepout again with Girl Guides. As much as the girls love it and as much money as it makes Mission Australia, I still have a hard time being a fan of this sleep out. Mainly because the Taronga Zoo depresses me, it is way too small for so many animals. The girls had a great time, a lot of money was raised, and there was excellent publicity for both the Guides and Mission Australia.

That same weekend I had a cocktail party at my house. We had about 15 to 20 people over. It was a beautiful night for mingling, singing, dressing up and making alcoholic slushies (we were given a slushy makers for a house warming gift)

And my white bean dip was a hit:

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White Bean Dip:

2 Cans Great Northern White Beans
3 or 4 minced or pressed garlic cloves
3 T of Cashew or Almond Butter
Juice from 1 lemon

Blend in food processor and add liquid from Beans as necessary.
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It was pointed out to me that bean dip is a very American thing. What can I say, I am an American.

A couple of weeks after that I went to see the Vagina Monologues at a local Uni. I saw this a few Valentine's ago at Michigan, but it is a production that is worth seeing again. Just a quick brief: Eve Ensler travelled around the US and interviewed women of different social, economic, ethic and sexual orientations about their Vaginas. The Vagina Monologues are a number of the monologues that were created by these interviews and they are funny, sad, and interesting. I highly recommend if you have a chance to see a production of the Vagina Monologues that you take the opportunity.

The rest of my August and September went as follows:
Eating at a newly found, very close, extremely good Lebanese Restaurant with friends.
Going to Trivia nights and loosing horribly but laughing heaps.
Playing on swing sets at local parks
Meeting friends for coffee or beer
Fire Twirling (I found a group that practices every Thursday so on the weeks I do not have Guides I go)
Band Practice (I was a singer in a band for a moment but that has stopped for reasons I will explain later)

Also during that time my friend Valeria's dog passed away. Zan was 17 years old. And Zan had been Valeria's pal since she was a pup. I also had a connection with Zan, March of 2001 I spent a week watching her and her best friend, another beautiful dog, I mentioned this I became Zan's friend March of 2001 when I spent 3 weeks watching her I mentioned this here: April 2, 2001 Zan will be missed.

Vocab:

Australian:	American:
Tea Towel	Dish Towel
Shopping Trolley	Shopping Cart
Entrée	Main Dish (that is correct it through me off for a long time)
Lift	Elevator
Pot Plants	Potted Plants
College	Dorm
Sanger	Sandwich

I know this is only 2 of the 4 months that has passed since my last update. I will be sending another update either Thursday or Friday, as some big things are going on at work right now, and I will not be sure enough about any of them until then. Because of this please do not ask me about work until then, as I will only be able to answer: I do not know. And though I am sure I have put this in past updates, everyone will be reminded of the meaning of the word retrenched on Thursday or Friday.

Take Care,
Tia