Dear Mom,

Oh my God, this beach is incredible! You would love it here. The water is so wonderful and the sky so clear. I can't even describe it and my pictures don't do it justice. I can't remember the last time I felt so peaceful and relaxed. Just so content and happy.

We took the train from Brisbane and had a great scenic trip up. I have no idea why anyone would travel another way. We could relax and look around and it only took about an hour and a half. The Glass House Mountains were on the way. Trent needs to come here and we could climb them. They are so cool looking! I couldn't get a good picture, but here is a link: http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/discover.aspx?id=2460.

Our condo is very close to the beach and the shops. We've done a bit of both in the last two days. And even more of nothing at all. We walked along the beaches yesterday and just got a feel for the place. I took a lot of pictures, in fact Ken called me Japanese all day! We had lunch on the beach, fish and chips and my first prawns. It was so good! For dinner, he went to the market and picked up some cheese, fruit, and bread. I broiled (grilled here in Oz) the nectarines and plums, and they were amazing with the Camembert and the blue cheese on the bread. We simply gorged ourselves. And with the Monkey Bay Pinot Grigio it was perfect beach food!

It stormed for a bit last night. Nothing like we have in Indiana, but neat to watch from the balcony. The wind was fairly strong and the lightning lit up the sky over the water. Beautiful!

This morning dawned bright and clear. We were up early and enjoyed some coffee and bananas on the balcony. After we got ready, we walked into town for more groceries and tried to find me a hat. No success on that, but Ken did buy some Mango-Macadamia Nut ice cream bars that are unbelievable! I had that in the middle of the street while he went to the bakery for bread.

We unpacked the groceries and had some hot tea. Then down to the beach! I laid out the towels and just collapsed in the sun. It was the best feeling in the world. Ken walked around and explored while I just soaked in the sun and the sounds and smells. I finally went in the water and it's just special. The beach drops off quite suddenly and so it's nice and deep really close to shore. The beach I was at is protected so the waves aren't overwhelming and you can actually just float a bit like in a pool or something. FANTASTIC!

After a few refreshing moments in the water, I got back out and put on more sunscreen. Ken came by to check on me and we decided another hour would be enough for me. He's scared to death I'll burn and be miserable the rest of the week.

So now we're taking siesta and hanging out in the condo until later in the afternoon. The sky is blue and the temp is about 82. Pretty perfect for me. We've been talking and laughing pretty continuously. It's a good life.

I love you.
Courtney

Pictures of the Day

Rugby League Players
Beautiful Sky!!
This looks familiar doesn't it?
Ken in front of our apartment.

Dear Stori,

Hey Sweetie, I've been thinking about you all day! Hope you are all doing well. Give the kids and Jamey a hug and kiss for me. It's been a quiet couple of days here. Tomorrow we leave for our holiday in Caloundra and I'm really getting excited! Like a kid waiting to go to Disney! The sky today is just marvelous. It's so blue and bright and unbelievable! I'm posting a picture of it. Not a good picture, but it'll do.

After breakfast, I called Mom and Dad. It was so nice to hear their voices. I'm trying to convince them to plan a visit here. It's definitely worth the plane ride. After I got off the phone, Ken and I walked to the shops. It's really hot right now, but feels so nice after the Indiana winter! We walked past a rugby game and stopped to watch for a bit. It's kind of like American football, and basketball and I was completely lost. But it looked like they were having a good time and so we decided to stay for a full game sometime down the road. The season is just starting apparently. We shopped for a few minutes, trying to find an adaptor power cord for my laptop and a hair dryer for me. After those tasks were accomplished, we caught the train back home and ate some sandwiches for lunch. Last night we had roast chicken and vegetables for supper. Ate like freaking pigs!

I had to pick up some shorts and a pair of capris yesterday - it's so much warmer here than I expected. But I love it. We also went to the shop for groceries and it was like Walmart on a Friday evening. Utter chaos and horror! Desperate looking moms and their heathen children screaming at each other sounds pretty much the same in Oz as it does in US. We were both so frazzled we forgot the chicken!

Ken was so sweet, he went back into town later in the afternoon and got the chicken and a really nice New Zealand Chardonnay while I was writing and lazing around outside reading in the sun. What a man! Then he fixed dinner! I did do the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. But I've yet to cook a thing.

I'm gettting ready to go back outside for another read in the sun. I've almost finished the Watchmen book so we can see the movie while we're on holiday. Ken wants to read the book too. It's very good!

I wish you guys were here too. Hope everything is going well, send me updates!

Love,
Court

Dear Dad,

Yesterday was my 34th birthday! It was such an amazing day. I can't remember having a better one in years! Probably since I was a kid and you and Mom spoiled me. Before I tell you all about my adventure, I'll tell you about my trip over.

The first leg was extremely bumpy but not too scary. When I was in the Louisville airport waiting for the flight, a guy sat next to me and called his mom on his cell. Immediately, I knew I'd be stuck with him beside me on the plane. He was complaining to her about how bad the day before was and how he hadn't eaten in 1.8 days. Yep, 1.8. How crazy is that? Well, sure enough I got in my seat on the small plane and here he came. He started talking before the plane even went down the runway! And didn't stop for an hour! He had a mild form of autism or something I'm sure. Everything was very precise and thoughtful and dreadfully boring! He was on to Frankfurt, Germany for his 38th trip. I found out everything about him, his work, and his frustrated wife who wanted him home. I seriously wondered if I could fit out my window and jump! Finally we made it to Chicago.

The trip from Chicago to Los Angeles was very uneventful. I had all three seats to myself and could just read and watch out the window. It got dark very quickly but I could still read my book. I had just under 2 hours to wait for my flight to Brisbane and it really flew by. On that flight I lucked out again and had an empty seat between me and the next woman. And she was quiet! It was very uneventful, we ate dinner, they shut off the lights and we slept. I woke up about midnight Brisbane time and watched movies for a few hours until others started stirring and they turned the lights back on. Rachel told me I would like the movie, The Duchess, and she was right! It was so good and girly! Then out of boredom and not being able to get into any of the other movies, I watched Twilight again. Yes that's 3 times now! I still enjoyed it but was able to drift in and out during it which was nice. It was so cool when the woman in the aisle with me asked if I was coming home from the US. I said no, I'm actually leaving home for the first time! She thought I was an Aussie and she actually was one! It made me feel so good, like maybe I won't stick out like a sore thumb here. We ate breakfast and landed in Brisbane 5 minutes behind schedule.

I was really nervous about going through customs and all that, but it was so fast! No one asked me about my visa or anything, it just all came up when they scanned my passport and I walked out. I was so fast that I beat Ken! But I only waited a couple of minutes before he came in and swept me off to the train. It was a little after 7 in the morning and so sunny and HOT! Sticky hot. I was hot and just nasty after being on planes for what felt like 14 days, and the humidity just wilted me. I can't really remember our train ride or how we got home. But then I took a long hot shower and changed clothes and that helped tremendously.

Ken made me some tea and eggs and toast. It all tasted so good! I knew I was just jet-lagged, but it felt like a feast for a queen. We sat outside on the patio for awhile and caught up. I don't really remember most of the day, but I knew I felt very much at home. Finally at 7 that night, I crashed and slept for about 12 hours.

When I woke up yesterday (my birthday here), Ken brought me a lovely card and a pass for the public transit service. He had coffee made for me and water to help me get over my dehydration. Then he made me eggs benedict. I'd never had it before, but it was so good! There were fresh yellow daisies on the table that he'd picked up for me. It was so lovely. After breakfast we got ready and went down into the city for the day. It was a rainy, cloudy day in Brisbane but still so beautiful! The clouds were probably best for my pasty, white skin! I did take some pictures and will try to post them today. We walked down the center of the city and saw banjo players in front of the Louis Vuitton store! It was so cool. I told Ken that you would like that! It must be an okay place if there are banjo players... We also saw a Border's bookstore and I took a picture for Mom and Mackenzie.

We walked down to Brisbane River and they have a beautiful river walk. We made the decision to stay on the river instead of going through the Botanical Gardens. That's for next time. But along the river, they have mangrove swamps you can walk through and of course the river is right there with its beautiful views. South Bank is really cool too. The kids would just adore it! There's a water feature they've built that has sprinklers coming out randomly and soaking you. They've made a beach in the middle of the city! Imported sand from the Gold Coast and a beautiful pool - again I could just see Maddie and the boys playing so wonderfully there.

We went on to have lunch in a really nice place overlooking the river. It had stopped raining, so we sat outside and the sun even peeked out a time or two! I had the most interesting salad, roasted pumpkin with rocket (a salad green), goat cheese and a vinaigrette topped with roasted pumpkin seeds! The texture and flavors were so well-suited. It was absolutely delicious. Ken had a smoked salmon "damper roll" and chips. Which is basically a sandwich and fries, but it looked good too and he liked it.

After the meal, we came back home and relaxed. We just ordered pizza in and I introduced Ken to the joys of pineapple on pizza. It was so yummy, even if he did have to deal with the internet tech assistance people during dinner. We sat up and talked for hours about everything under the sun. Until again, I collapsed for the night.

Today is going to be a quiet, peaceful day at home. Ken is stretched out on the sofa and we're listening to My Morning Jacket. How cool is that!? We'll be heading down to the shops later on for some supplies and ingredients for dinner. We're doing a roast chicken and vegetables later with a nice bottle of Australian Chardonnay.

I'll talk to you again soon.

Love,
Courtney

Dear Everyone,

This one is for the entire support network. I love you guys and have no idea how I could have survived the last few months without you all. I'm not sure how I could have survived the last few days without you guys! Nina and Trent, thank you so much for taking Elsa. That means the world to me and is such a load off of my brain. She'll be happy there with you guys and the animals. And she'll be a good girl I promise. She's the best dog.

Stephen and Shawn, thanks for the jewelry. I'm wearing a Silpada necklace and Stephen's leaf pendant he made for me and it's helping me stay calm. When the flight was getting a little too bumpy, I just held on to my leaf and my feather. And we flew on...

I just finished eating a lovely meal at McDonald's in O'Hare Airport. And of course, on the flight from L'ville, I sat with a talker. And in front of a teen girl who panics a bit. It was fun! Actually it was, because I kept thinking, "I'm on my way to warm, beautiful Australia. And you aren't!" Knowing my luck, I'll have even worse seatmates next. Karma...

Mom and Dad, you did such a good job letting me go this afternoon. It was such a relief to just get a hug and a kiss and know you were okay. I couldn't have dealt with a crying scene. Thank you. You guys are truly the best parents anyone could hope for. I'll talk to you soon.

I love you all!
Court

Dear Mom and Dad,

There are four weeks until I leave for Australia. I know we've been joking about it so much. "Only four more weeks to hear you bitch at each other." "Only four more weeks of seeing your clothes take over the bedroom." But I am going to miss you most of all. I'll never be able to repay you for taking me in when I left Tony. For dealing with the shit that I've put you through over the last few months, not to mention the last 34 years. And I've enjoyed spending all this time with you. It reminded me of when I was in high school and had so much more fun with my parents than with any of my friends. You guys are still more fun than anyone. Most of the time at least - I really can't say that the Polka show has gotten any better on a Saturday night!

Things are going to be good. I know they will be. I'm going to have so much fun and peace in Australia. All that stuff I've been missing out on for way too long.

Dad, I know you don't understand and just wish I'd settle down with a nice guy and have a job with a retirement package. And I will someday, I'm sure. But I have to do this first. I spent the last 15 years wishing that I'd gone away to college and done something brave with my life. I don't want to spend the next 15 wishing I had taken this amazing chance.

Only four more weeks! There are still things I need to do. I've got to go through my storage building, get my immunizations updated and spend as much time as possible with the family and my friends. It all flies by so quickly. It seems like just the other day, I came in and told you I needed a place to stay for awhile. Then remember when I told you that I wanted to go to Australia, Dad? It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. And you cried. I swear if you had said no, I would have canceled my plans. "PTL," as Mackenzie would say, you didn't.

Dad, I know Mom will check this blog out and email me and everything. But you have to promise to do it too. You have to stay connected to your "darling daughter" during my trip. I'll do my part but you have to do yours too. Promise? You have to tell me how Mom is feeling for real. Mom won't tell me the truth. You have to tell me what brats Gavin and Caleb are because we all know their mothers and Grandma Hedy won't! And you have to tell me what's going on with you. I'm counting on you guys, just like always.

Love,
Court