Date Night - Sherlock Holmes Edition

Jody has embarked on a "keep Julia happy" program lately, which is very nice, since my parents' visit is over and we have no future plans for me to look forward to.

[January 13th] we went out to dinner and a movie, and our night went something like this:

1. Buy tickets - 6:40 show is sold out, so we opt for 8:45 and dinner first.
2. Find hole in the wall Korean restaurant near theatre. Eat delicious dumplings, drink sake (me for the first time - inexplicably, Jody tries to tell me it can taste like soap if I don't drink it warm), try dishes we can't pronounce - enjoy everything and leave, absolutely stuffed.
3. Visit favourite used bookstore, a few blocks away. Buy American Gods by Neil Gaiman and The Duchess by Amanda Foreman.
4. Watch Sherlock Holmes. This included a pre-movie show, consisting of the bogan* couple next to us mixing their own hi-ball and getting drunk before the previews are over. They talked really loudly and were generally annoying (though not as rage-inducing as the Asian chick who was on her phone in the middle of IMAX Watchmen). Fortunately, 10 minutes in, two girls came down the aisle and kicked them out because the couple was in their seats.
The movie was good, but you can wait for the DVD. The best part was the camaraderie between Downey Jr. and Law - they were an excellent duo.
5. Scrap plan to go for ice cream, as it looks like rain. Arrive at bus stop one minute before our bus arrives.
6. Get in the door just as the lightning starts. Eat brownies and vanilla ice cream.
7. Upload photos and write note while Jody plays with his newly repaired TV. (Par for the course.)

And now, to sleep.

* Bogan: Australian or New Zealander who possesses no class at all. Redneck, white trash.

...And We're Back

Jody and I puzzled over the Blogger templates and he was able to pinpoint the problem... seems that Blogger didn't like my widgets, so I deleted them, but happened to delete the code that pulled my posts onto the page in the process.

Really, I was hoping to use this blog template (vinery) as a starting point so that I could work at making my own original Blogger template - but this will do for now. Better than a blank page staring at you when you visit!

Thanks, Apple!

Two days ago my Mac refused to power up. Strange - it was charging just fine before! I was at work and it did not seem to be a problem with the wall outlet, so I checked when I got home and, sure enough, Jody's power brick worked to charge it up but mine was busted.

I was very fortunate to grab the last open Genius Bar slot this evening, where the Apple tech confirmed, "Your power adapter is non-functioning." And then he ran another test to make sure it was not the battery, his eyes flicking back and forth between my Mac and his. Mine is now out of warranty (it's from the first batch of aluminum 13" models they made in late 2008) but... Mr. Genius said, "I'm going to make an exception and give you a new power adapter."

Yay! Thanks, Apple! You made my day.

2009: A Year of Blessings and Sorrow

2009 has been a rough year for many of us. As I headed back to work today, I didn't want my holiday to end, and I sent up a prayer that I could get through the day. And I did!

On the way home it occurred to me that things can seem easier to handle if we take them one day at a time – and even God took things one day at a time. I'm sure He could have built the entire universe in a day (nevermind how many hours a day really represented – that is an argument for another time and place) if He'd wanted to. Instead, each creation was given time and thought, and a day of its own to come into being. I hope that this year, I can remember that, and get through those difficult days one at a time.

I have been so thankful for the blessings God gave me in 2009. They seemed even more powerful in light of all that was happening in the world, and with my friends and family. For starters, neither Jody or I lost our jobs, and the move to Oz seems to have been well-timed, financially speaking. We have had no major health issues, the worst being Jody's illness post-India. The fires and floods throughout Australia, though devastating to thousands, haven't come near us or our extended family. The red dust storm did hit Sydney, but aside from an uneasy two days fighting my asthma, the worst we faced was multiple passes with a vacuum and dust cloth.

At last, I am beginning to feel at home here. My visa application is in. We found a small, friendly church to attend. When Jody's old ThinkPad gave out, we were able to buy him a MacPro, just in time for the FOSS4G conference. Keeping in touch with friends and family has been reasonably easy; we've received good and bad news swiftly and are rarely out out the loop – even our grandparents are sending us e-mail! My sister came to visit in March, and my parents over Christmas. There has been a lot of tea, and books, and snuggles, and many little packages in my mailbox to make me smile.

I've missed several weddings and newborns since we moved – none in my family, but it's been difficult not to be able to share in the joys of our friends. Graduations, theses, new jobs, new homes, new boyfriends and girlfriends.

My heart breaks for all the losses and rough patches I've witnessed this past year. Breakups, deteriorating health, deaths. Lost jobs, lost loves, lost babies. 2009 has not been kind, and I can only pray that this year will bring more happiness than sorrow.

If you see yourself in one of these lines, know I've been thinking of you, and wishing you good things in 2010.