Soups, ceilings, and sunrises

The latest news here at the P&O:

The sky is falling! And by sky, I mean the kitchen ceiling.

Just...you know...fell off. Well actually, the upstairs toilet picked yesterday to split in two pieces which caused yummy plumbing juices to fall onto the ceiling underneath which caused this little catastrophe. Poor Katie Skuza had a near death experience just trying to get her bread.

And the shower floor cracked open.

Here's a fear surfacing in my mind. I'm showering right above the kitchen ceiling and all the sudden the floor gives way, I go tumbling through thin air when, all of a sudden, I catch on some sharp piece of wood or pipe or something, so not only do I have to be worried about a gash in my side, I also have to deal with the fact that my rear end is hanging out for everyone who comes into the kitchen to enjoy.

Deep seated fears that didn't exist before...

Wednesday was a national holiday, also known as Anzac day. The P&O celebrated by getting up 5 hours earlier than a school day and marching up to the top of Memorial Hill for the sunrise service. Aside from standing for 45 minutes in the dark and cold, it was actually quite...inspiring. I'm not Australian (....yet) but I felt oddly patriotic. Also, the sunrise was breathtaking.

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Tomorrow is the student ball, with a Turkish theme? It should be a good time. A huge meal and...open bar. I'm sure pictures will follow. Don't get too impatient. 

Shout out to Mama Gay for a moment here. I grew up eating creamy white chili for every birthday of my life and if you don't know what creamy white chili is, just ...receive my utmost pity. Not only is it the best meal ever, it's like having every good emotion in a bowl of creamy, chickeny goodness. It also comes from Taste of Home, but in my mind, it will always be my mom's famous recipe. 

So, in an effort to have a little piece of home in Australia, I made a whole monstrous pot of it tonight. I was craving it like all get out, but I can't make white chili and enjoy it all myself. It's unethical, really. So I made lots and shared it and let's just say it was a big hit. 

Nothing feels better than having people appreciate your cooking :) 

I miss home! The USS Carl Vincent docked in Freo two nights ago. That, ladies and gentlemen, is an American aircraft carrier complete with 4,700 American naval men. 

O.o

We went out that night.

It was so cool walking around the streets of the town because you could pick them out immediately. They wear tennis shoes, they have backpacks on, short hair and none of these short salmon-colored shorts and lots of flannel. Ooohhhh home. I was hit with my first wave of homesickness since being here. 

I mean, then we ran into a group of like 6 of them drunk and I remembered what American guys are like. ;)

I met a guy named Danny from Michigan. We bonded. That's all.

Manders