Things...

     Soooo I haven't updated in forever! But that is because not a whole lot is going on sadly. We spent Christmas with Steve's family in Melbourne which was nice. Lots of food. Then we found out that Steve's granddad had a heart attack just a few days after that so we went up to visit him in the hospital. He is recovering well I suppose, he was staying with Steve's parents but things soured and he left. I suppose it is hard for an older person to come to terms with the fact that they are ageing and can't do things on their own anymore. But at the same time he wasn't the nicest person to have around and he was stressing everyone out, so I think more than one person was glad to see him go. I for one feel very bad for him and his children. But my opinion of Pop has forever changed. I don't dislike him, but he isn't the sweet old man I originally thought him to be. Steve was very upset about his granddad falling ill, and then finding out that he is a cranky old man. I felt bad for him too. No one (to my knowledge) has heard from Pop since he left so I assume that means he is fine, as if something had happened again I reckon we would have heard by now. 
     During the Pop fiasco was New Years. Steve and I spent it at his parents place and just watched TV while trying to stay awake. And the very next morning I had caught the cold Steve kindly shared. But I must've caught a stronger strand because it kicked my butt for nearly two weeks! Earaches, sinus blockage, headaches, coughing, the works! Terribly fun way to ring in the New Year! haha!
    After New Year Steve was temporarily assigned to a new farm, and his schedule has changed a bit. Originally he was supposed to work Sat-Wed with Thur and Fri off. But they scheduled him for 10 days straight with two days off, then a Sat-Wed with 5 days off (starting Wed as Thurs was a public holiday).
Steve was very worn down and sore so he went for a massage on the Friday off. Then was feeling crummy on Sat but went to work anyways....then on Sat night he began running a fever...I gave him meds and monitored his temp all night....for some reason the meds (Panadol (ie Tylenol) and Ibuprofen) weren't touching his temp....he got up to 102F and that was when his work alarm went off at 4am. I refused to let him go into work, and rang up the farm. Then as it was a Sunday and we realized there were no doctors open, we drove to Castlemaine ER and had Steve seen. (Bendigo Hospital is closer but also much more busy!) We didn't have to wait long, maybe 30 minutes before the doctor came in. He gave Steve and exam and then said it was probably Gastro infection because of where he works...Steve was given the rest of his work week off. Which at this point was only Mon and Tues because Wed started his 5 days off. He took the Monday but went into work on Tues in order to make sure they had all the documents they needed so that we still got paid this week. And he didn't have to work Wed because Thursday was Australia Day (like the 4th) and since it was his rostered day off they gave him a replacement paid day off on Wed. We weren't about to complain! lol
    Australia Day was celebrated at Steve's sisters place with her partner and her kids, as well as Steve's parents, Warren (Steve's brother) and his wife and kids, as well as Steve's aunt Susan (Steve's mom's sister) and her partner. There was plenty of meat! Steve was manning the BBQ, and we had some yummy burgers, sausages, chicken kebabs, lots of fruit (yum!) and salad. Then for dessert Steve made a chocolate mousse...and Kaity (our niece) made some yummy vanilla ice cream. Susan brought cheesecake which was awesome and Trifle, which isn't for me but Steve's family LOVES it! I can't remember everything else that was there...but it was a lot of food. 
    We spent Friday just hanging around Steve's parents place, I don't really remember what we did....terrible memory still....it has been super hot miserable weather lately so we have stayed at Steve's parents because their house isn't as stuffy and hot as ours. Our place just gets miserably stuffy! 
    Sat Steve's dad decided we should drive and go fishing. So we did. We drove 3 hours to Lake Eildon and had a picnic lunch. We didn't get to do much fishing as my Steve (little Steve) couldn't remember much about setting up a rod...and Jennie and I weren't much help either...so Steve (big Steve) had to keep setting up all 3 rods..his never was used...then we finally were all (3) fishing and then the wind picked up and it started raining heavily. So we waited that out then decided to eat so dinner...we packed up and moved to the picnic area and then were going to try and find somewhere else to fish, but that never happened...as we headed back up towards home looking for somewhere, another storm much worse than before hit us and it was pouring and the clouds were black....lots of lightening and thunder as well. It didn't matter much though because it was late (almost 8:30pm) and therefore it would be getting dark soon so we just headed straight home. No fish. Maybe we can go again when the weather has cooled down...because it was HOT....
   On a side note...Steve was bending over trying to fill his floater (like a bobber thing on the line) anyways he had his flip flops on and he was right by the water, and the next thing he was on his butt IN the water! He had slipped big time!! It was hilarious! And his bum was filthy the rest of the day...we (his parents and I) all had a big laugh...but Steve was just annoyed! lol But then a little later I (also in flip flops) was moving towards the water to cast my line, and I stepped forward and my feet went right out from under me! And I was on my butt in the muddy shore....but not in the water like Steve! lol So everyone, including myself had another good laugh! Of course when both these events went down, NO ONE had the camera! 
  We got back from the fishing trip so late at night, Steve and his dad were planning on going somewhere more local to fish on Sunday morning but they got out too late and didn't catch anything. I got to sleep til 10am though which was so nice after such a long day. 
  Steve went back to work on Monday, and he has to work the next 10 days straight. I am so annoyed about this because I love having him home...and 10 days straight is a big toll on both of us...but he is working 6am-2pm so it isn't all bad! Poor Steve though...by the time he does get a day off...he is going to slap wore out! I will be happy when he is back on the other farm, as they NEVER make him work so many days in a row! 
   On Monday I officially started my volunteering. I have started visiting a local old folks home. I just sit and have a chat with residents for now, until the coordinator Sarah assigns me to one or two residents permanently. It has been very interesting so far to meet these older Aussies. And they have been happy to meet an American. They say as I am leaving "Oh I will get to tell my son/daughter that I met a young American girl today." which makes me smile. Most think I should have more of an accent though. I suppose my accent is rather generic now...I don't sound Aussie by any means, but some Aussie's say I do! I don't wanna sound Aussie though!! lol But I know if talked like everyone from back home in NC I don't think anyone here would understand a word I have to say....
   When I get angry or nervous I hear my southern accent come out so much! And Steve says he hears it when I talk to family back home. But as I watch TV or listen to the radio, sometimes I look at Steve and go are they Aussie or American because I just don't hear either accent anymore. I can however tell the difference in the accents of Aussies and Kiwis (New Zealand) which at first I thought sounded the same! Much like Aussies can't really tell the difference between an American and Canadian, but I know I can! lol 
   I have decided that I really should update more because otherwise what is the point of a blog? Or the point of a post this long that probably no one will read. It is nice when I look back on them. I have been keeping a blog for almost a year now....I think in Feb sometime it has been a year. And yet not much has changed although I am less tired now than I was last year, which is surprising because I reckon I gained more weight. 
   Speaking of weight, Steve got me Michelle Bridges (an Aussie trainer who I heard about on Aussie Biggest Loser) book Crunchtime and it is a double feature because it also has the Crunchtime cookbook! So it lays out 12 weeks worth of work outs and meals and it also has different bits to do for yourself. So we are going to do that....and see how much weight we loose. We both need to loose a bit...me more than him! I also recently tried boxing which I loved!!! Now I just have to get some of my own gear and then Steve and I can do it together. Unfortunately with just him working it makes it hard to afford new gear of any kind, so we are slowly working it out. 
   My eyesight improved a bit and I am currently shopping around for new glasses and a new contact lens.  I will def be ordering my contacts from the States but my glasses I have to get here....dreading that like the plague as my insurance only covers $250 towards glasses or contacts each year. And I know a new set of frames and lenses (esp after I have them thinned down as much as they can) will probably cost me more than that. grrr! I am putting it off as long as possible though. These ones are still alright just a bit scratched around the edges and the arms are loose, I take them to get tightened and they just loosen right back up. I have had them for about 5 years so I think it is time...esp since the past 18 months I have been wearing them more than my contacts! 
   Well Steve is home, I can hear him bringing in our bins. And this post has gone on long enough. I think that pretty much updates everyone about the last few weeks. Although I didn't mention our weekend away just before Christmas....I will save that for another time. xoxo