3 Weeks to Houston

This week marks the end of our fourth month here, and all of it summertime. Aussies love to talk about the weather, and the locals say that this year is the hottest, driest ever. They're probably right - I haven't seen a drop of rain since I got here. They think they have it tough, but I laugh in the face of their heat wave. While the temp soars to 40C (104F), there's not one stinking ounce of humidity. No heat index, no warnings to restrict outdoor activity because of poor air quality. The air here is always clean and the sky is always blue. Nobody's heard of the heat index, and you never hear anyone say "it's 85 degrees but it feels like 99" . Oops -- I'm supposed to tell everybody how awful it is here, so those of us here can keep the good life to ourselves. :-D 

We've been -- I've been -- making lists, lots of them. Lists of what to bring back with us (empty suitcases, to fill up with stuff to take back), what to bring back with us, who to see, and what to do while we're in town . Sharon's wedding arrangements are coming along nicely and it feels strange not being there to be part of the excitement. Can't wait to see the family again!

Things to take with us: souvenirs for friends and family. If there is something in particular you would like from Down Under, tell me now. So far I have requests for UGG boots, Vegemite (to prove it exists), Tim Tam biscuits, and a good looking, single Australian bloke. Not sure that last item will fit in a suitcase but seriously, if you ask for something, I'll do my best to find it and bring it along.

Things to bring back: Salted almonds, Crest toothpaste (Colgate has a lock on the market here), Rotel tomatoes, absorbent coasters, Zest soap (it doesn't leave residue on the shower door), Sweet & Low, graham crackers and makeup (because it's cheaper in USA), Velveeta cheese for queso. I don't like it but everyone else sure does, and it's a great antidote to homesickness. and memories, lots of memories.

Things to do while we're here: Sharon & Lynn's wedding!, eat Mexican food (but watch out for those chips), doctor and dentist appointments, visit friends and family, and shop for winter clothes. I used to wonder about visitors from other countries who went crazy over prices in our department stores. Now I understand their enthusiasm! I bought an end-of-season summer dress off the clearance rack for $65 in a department store because the discount shops sell only the most casual of clothing. That same dress would have made its way to Ross or Marshalls and I could have had it for $15 or less. That's why the empty suitcases. We're going to fill them up with sheets and blankets, some winter clothes, extra tennis shoes, some hard-to-find foods and a few more dishes and pots and pans to make our next place feel more like home.

Four weeks from yesterday is our departure date - April 1st. Our route will be Perth - Singapore - Moscow (refueling stop) - Houston. Can't fully describe how much we're looking forward to seeing y'all, in Houston, Tennessee and California.