2011: Year in Review

January:  The year started off with a bang, as we watched the Sydney Harbour fireworks through a beautiful screen of Eucalyptus trees.  I shared my goals with you, and updated everyone on how our beer brewing project was going.  In an unusual stroke of luck, I won free VIP tickets to a band I wanted to go see, and rocked out sans Ethan, who was too tired from kite surfing to make it.  We ended the month with a trip to the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves.

February:  I posted about working in the community garden.  Our friends Scott and Brenda came to visit, and we had an awesome time camping out with them.  We went to a 20/20 cricket game with our American friend Joe.

March:  Ethan and I went to see Social Distortion, which made our ears ring for hours afterwards, but was totally worth it.  We took a big trip to Tasmania, which made us think of Alaska, except with more Tasmanian Devils and convicts.

April:  Our friends Heidi and Dan came to visit, and we went on a long drive around Australia, which I never did end up posting about.  Whoops.  We also went to the Australian Museum after hours, where we drank wine and looked at dinosaur bones.

May:   I talked about eating kangaroo.  Yum (when not overcooked)!  I also talked about the giant bugs and spiders here, and the beautiful but noisy birds.  I was assigned my very own plot in the community garden, and I spent some time working at the Rural Fire Service, which was fun but a long commute.  Ethan and I went to a concert at the Opera House, which included free chocolate.  Yum (always)!

June:  June 15 was my one year anniversary of arriving in Australia.  Wow, time really flies.  I announced my sister's pregnancy and the arrival of my nephew at the same time.  I talked about things I liked and disliked about living here, and made a brief post referring to my city biking adventures.

July:  Ethan's mother came to visit, and we took an extended trip to Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree rainforest, the Atherton Tablelands, Darwin, and Kakadu National Park.  These posts extended into

August:  when we also found out our place in Maroubra was being sold.  I also joked about our dog's misbehaviour on walks.

September:  we moved into our new place in Miranda. I tried to be upbeat, but looking back on the year's posts, it's apparent to me how much happier we were in Maroubra.  Hear that Sutherland Shire? Great place to live, my ass.

October:  I posted about gardening and permaculture, and gave a brief update on our new digs.  My parents came to visit, which I didn't post about until

November:  in which I posted about visiting the Mt Tomah Botanical Gardens with my parents.  I also bought some "new" clothes -- some from the mall, some from the thrift store, and posted a fashion show.

December:  I acknowledged the fact that I hadn't posted much lately and posted about Christmas in Australia.  I actually played in a cricket game, and lived to tell the tale.

Even though I haven't posted much since September, it's apparent that this was a fun and eventful year.  Next year promises to be as well, as we'll head back to the States.  Will my blog readers continue to follow me once my posts turn out to be all about home ownership and American t.v.? Will the world end on December 21st, thus ironically preventing thousands of doomsday prophets from saying "I told you so!"? Only time will tell!

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2012!