Phew.
-J
Monday, October 31, 2005
Here in Pune
Well, I'm here in Pune, in a good hotel, and finally have reasonable net access. As Judi said, my hotel was just to the blasts, probably right at the geometric center, come to think of it, but each was a kilometer or so away. I'd been walking around Delhi on Saturday for about 5-6 hours but returned to the hotel at 2pm. The first bomb went off at 5:30pm so I was really safe. I did talk to one guy at the conference who heard the first blast, up by Connaught Place. I think I probably heard the second one closer to my hotel. The news said that a bus conductor alertly noticed a suspicious package and stopped the bus, evacuated the passengers and then the driver threw the bomb off the bus. Unfortunately the driver was critically injured as were about 4 other people but many lives were saved by the conductor.
I say that I might have heard the second bomb because there were many large fireworks being let off at the same time because of the Diwali holiday.
The pictures of the bombed areas were truely hard to see. Some of the people died horrible deaths. Whoever your God is, I cannot believe he/she/it would want this.
Tim
I say that I might have heard the second bomb because there were many large fireworks being let off at the same time because of the Diwali holiday.
The pictures of the bombed areas were truely hard to see. Some of the people died horrible deaths. Whoever your God is, I cannot believe he/she/it would want this.
Tim
Sunday, October 30, 2005
New Delhi and Terrorism
When I wrote the earlier posting, I hadn't heard about the terrorist attack in New Delhi. I actually first heard about the attack when Tim sent me an email saying that he was alright. Later, I talked to him by phone and he told me that he was safe at the hotel when the bombs exploded, the nearest about one mile from his hotel.
Right now, he is supposed to be at the New Delhi airport waiting for his flight to Pune. Unfortunately, I can't get any information about flights since the airport and airline sites seem to be jammed with people looking for answers.
Needless to say, I'm nervous and scared. I will feel better when Tim is in Pune and better yet when he is back safely in Australia.
-Judi
Right now, he is supposed to be at the New Delhi airport waiting for his flight to Pune. Unfortunately, I can't get any information about flights since the airport and airline sites seem to be jammed with people looking for answers.
Needless to say, I'm nervous and scared. I will feel better when Tim is in Pune and better yet when he is back safely in Australia.
-Judi
Shelter from the Storm
I heard the beautiful song of a Magpie, looked out the window, and there he/she was. This is the second time I've seen a magpie take refuge from the rain on our balcony. This bird is larger than it appears in the photo. Magpies are quite striking looking and can strike physically while guarding their territory. I mentioned before in this blog that one bird had to be relocated after sending 15 people to the hospital! Moments after I took this photo, the magpie was chased off by a much smaller bird.
Tim flies to Pune this afternoon. It seems that everyone at the conference got sick very likely from the lunch served at the conference. Two brave explorers went forth to investigate the kitchen and reported filthy conditions. I think I would rather not know. I hope they have a smooth flight to Pune.
A rainy Sunday. Too humid to paint. Hmmmm.
Cheers, Judi
Friday, October 28, 2005
Tim's Travel
Tim is in New Delhi, India at an URSI convention. On Sunday, he'll travel to Pune for a SKA conference. If you don't understand these acronyms - don't worry - I usually don't.
He would be posting regularly about his adventures in India if he had decent internet access, but he doesn't. Hopefully when he reaches Pune, he'll have more options to getting online.
Some notes on India:
Don't pack shorts for the trip. No one in India wears them. The convention is to stay modestly covered.
Despite the excellent insect repellent I packed for the trip, Tim says he hasn't seen any mosquitos.
Bring enough anti-diarrhea medicine with you for when you get traveler's revenge, and then when you get it again. (Tim hasn't gotten it "again" yet, that I know of.)
Hire a guide to show you around - best tourist sites, best food, best roads (if there are any - must be like New Mexico!).
As for Sammy, Karma and I -- well, nothing of much interest going on. I had to get the dogs re-microchipped since the US chip couldn't be read here. Any more chips and these little guys are going to be picking up the Aussie radio stations!
I went to Randwick to visit my friend, Michelle, yesterday. It took me an hour to get there and over two hours to get home. I got a little bit lost - but saw more of NSW. If you're not in too big of a hurry, getting lost can be kind of fun.
Cheers, Judi
Hope you all feel free to leave us comments - it's fun to get them.
He would be posting regularly about his adventures in India if he had decent internet access, but he doesn't. Hopefully when he reaches Pune, he'll have more options to getting online.
Some notes on India:
Don't pack shorts for the trip. No one in India wears them. The convention is to stay modestly covered.
Despite the excellent insect repellent I packed for the trip, Tim says he hasn't seen any mosquitos.
Bring enough anti-diarrhea medicine with you for when you get traveler's revenge, and then when you get it again. (Tim hasn't gotten it "again" yet, that I know of.)
Hire a guide to show you around - best tourist sites, best food, best roads (if there are any - must be like New Mexico!).
As for Sammy, Karma and I -- well, nothing of much interest going on. I had to get the dogs re-microchipped since the US chip couldn't be read here. Any more chips and these little guys are going to be picking up the Aussie radio stations!
I went to Randwick to visit my friend, Michelle, yesterday. It took me an hour to get there and over two hours to get home. I got a little bit lost - but saw more of NSW. If you're not in too big of a hurry, getting lost can be kind of fun.
Cheers, Judi
Hope you all feel free to leave us comments - it's fun to get them.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
More Wildlife Tails... oops, I mean Tales
So many creatures and so little time... actually, plenty of time, just lazy. Let me retrace my steps and tell you about my most recent walk in the little bush area down the street from our house. Karma, Sammy and I were walking back and getting pretty close to home. I'm very glad the dogs were uncharacteristically behind me, because 3 meters ahead and crossing our path was a red-bellied black snake. We'll call this snake, "Cheney." These are dangerous, venomous snakes which are fortunately timid. If they hear you (so make a lot of noise when you're walking) they will move away from you. This is a good thing. This "sighting" occurred two days after a colleague of Tim's told me that in 13 years he had only seen one snake. I assume this means I'm done for the next 13 years. One more note regarding these snakes, Sammy's vet told me that her clinic hardly ever sees snake-bitten dogs. That statement can be interpreted two ways... Anyway, a nine year old at the dog park this morning volunteered that his friend's dog had been bitten by a red bellied black snake recently. I asked if the dog was alright, and he answered, "Yeah, he's fine! ... Well, he lost some muscle control, but...."
On to my most recent echidna sighting. After being told that echidnas were shy, nocturnal creatures who are rarely seen in the wild, I couldn't help but wonder about the spiny little guy in the street just down from our house. At noon, I was driving down our street and in front of me was an echidna doodling around a gutter for a while until he crossed the street to doodle around that gutter. During his doodling, I was trying to take his photo with my camera phone. I mean, he was just 5 feet away from me! Just when I finally figured out how to snap a shot, off into a rock wall did the little echidna walk. Ugh. I had stopped in the road to watch the little guy and he seemed to care less if I was there or not. I can see why they are easy targets for evil minded predators - and I was totally determined to throw myself in front of any car should one threaten my little bud.
Tim is gone right now, and I am usually comfortable staying by myself. I am, that is, unless the dogs keep rushing to the balcony window in our bedroom barking and carrying on. The first five times I used my flashlight (I.e., "torch" here) and saw nothing outside. After that, besides waking up, I opted to go right back to sleep and let fate have its way.
Last night, however, I discovered the source of their discontent. At approximately 7:30 PM, I was watching TV in the "lounge" room. Suddenly, the dogs started barking and ran out to the balcony (I keep the door open). I figured it was a person or a dog until I flashed my torch up into the tree and saw a small bushy tailed possum! I was so glad to see one since the untimely demise of our last possum friend. We spent several minutes staring at each other and then Karma spent several more minutes staring with him. Finally, the possum slowly eased down the tree and was gone. Oh, and I forgot to mention his noise! Definitely, the "snorer." And when she/he wasn't making the snoring sound the pitch got higher. All the night cries now make sense.
The King Parrot. What a beautiful and friendly bird. He landed on the rail of our balcony this afternoon and hopped along checking things out. I offered some grapes (the Lory's favorite), but he showed no interest. When I brought out the bag of bird seed - alas, he was gone. At least I got the photo above - through the glass so as not to spook him.
An interesting place this OZ. So many creatures that can kill you, but so many charming and friendly creatures as well. It's fascinating.
Cheers, Judi
On to my most recent echidna sighting. After being told that echidnas were shy, nocturnal creatures who are rarely seen in the wild, I couldn't help but wonder about the spiny little guy in the street just down from our house. At noon, I was driving down our street and in front of me was an echidna doodling around a gutter for a while until he crossed the street to doodle around that gutter. During his doodling, I was trying to take his photo with my camera phone. I mean, he was just 5 feet away from me! Just when I finally figured out how to snap a shot, off into a rock wall did the little echidna walk. Ugh. I had stopped in the road to watch the little guy and he seemed to care less if I was there or not. I can see why they are easy targets for evil minded predators - and I was totally determined to throw myself in front of any car should one threaten my little bud.
Tim is gone right now, and I am usually comfortable staying by myself. I am, that is, unless the dogs keep rushing to the balcony window in our bedroom barking and carrying on. The first five times I used my flashlight (I.e., "torch" here) and saw nothing outside. After that, besides waking up, I opted to go right back to sleep and let fate have its way.
Last night, however, I discovered the source of their discontent. At approximately 7:30 PM, I was watching TV in the "lounge" room. Suddenly, the dogs started barking and ran out to the balcony (I keep the door open). I figured it was a person or a dog until I flashed my torch up into the tree and saw a small bushy tailed possum! I was so glad to see one since the untimely demise of our last possum friend. We spent several minutes staring at each other and then Karma spent several more minutes staring with him. Finally, the possum slowly eased down the tree and was gone. Oh, and I forgot to mention his noise! Definitely, the "snorer." And when she/he wasn't making the snoring sound the pitch got higher. All the night cries now make sense.
The King Parrot. What a beautiful and friendly bird. He landed on the rail of our balcony this afternoon and hopped along checking things out. I offered some grapes (the Lory's favorite), but he showed no interest. When I brought out the bag of bird seed - alas, he was gone. At least I got the photo above - through the glass so as not to spook him.
An interesting place this OZ. So many creatures that can kill you, but so many charming and friendly creatures as well. It's fascinating.
Cheers, Judi
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Travel to India
I will be attending a couple of scientific meetings: URSI and SKA 2005. My itinerary is:
Oct 21 - Travel to Mumbai, then New Delhi. Staying at the Ashok hotel. TripAdvisor.Com says:
"This surely must be the worst hotel of this grade, not only in the world, but in the entire Galaxy. I endorse every complaint that has been aired on Tripadvisor. The rooms are a disgrace and the staff's only aim is to prise as much money as possible from the guests by whatever devious means available. Please will tour operators stop sending their customers to this overpriced, unsavory establishment. Given the choice of the Ashok or Norman Bates Motel Motel I think I would choose the latter."
Update: Not true - it's not great but it's not as bad as he/she says.
Oct 30 - Travel to Pune. Staying at Hotel Pride. TripAdvisor.Com says:
"My first room was next to the generator and to be woken up in the early hours (3 am) by the sound of hammering was not welcome. Coupled with the smell of diesel in the corridor I found this too much to take. On request I moved to a higher room and this was far better. The food in the hotel is variable and I would not recommend the meat dishes in the main or italian restaurant. The punjabi restaurant was better though naturally the food is spiced to Indian tastes. I will not be staying at this hotel again."
Update: Well, I just checked in and it seems wonderful to me. We'll see.
Nov 4, return to Sydney, arrive Nov 5. Staying at Hotel Cornwell-Lowell. TripAdvisor.Com says:
"Be glad to be here, be very glad."
Tim
Oct 21 - Travel to Mumbai, then New Delhi. Staying at the Ashok hotel. TripAdvisor.Com says:
"This surely must be the worst hotel of this grade, not only in the world, but in the entire Galaxy. I endorse every complaint that has been aired on Tripadvisor. The rooms are a disgrace and the staff's only aim is to prise as much money as possible from the guests by whatever devious means available. Please will tour operators stop sending their customers to this overpriced, unsavory establishment. Given the choice of the Ashok or Norman Bates Motel Motel I think I would choose the latter."
Update: Not true - it's not great but it's not as bad as he/she says.
Oct 30 - Travel to Pune. Staying at Hotel Pride. TripAdvisor.Com says:
"My first room was next to the generator and to be woken up in the early hours (3 am) by the sound of hammering was not welcome. Coupled with the smell of diesel in the corridor I found this too much to take. On request I moved to a higher room and this was far better. The food in the hotel is variable and I would not recommend the meat dishes in the main or italian restaurant. The punjabi restaurant was better though naturally the food is spiced to Indian tastes. I will not be staying at this hotel again."
Update: Well, I just checked in and it seems wonderful to me. We'll see.
Nov 4, return to Sydney, arrive Nov 5. Staying at Hotel Cornwell-Lowell. TripAdvisor.Com says:
"Be glad to be here, be very glad."
Tim
Harriet Beecher Stowe and Turquoise Sneakers
"So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why don't somebody wake up to the beauty of old women?"
I love this quote - particularly on this eve of my 54th birthday (the "day before the eve" in the States). If you live with a leg in one country and a couple of toes in another - does that mean you can celebrate your birthday twice - one day after the other?
I like Ms. Stowe's quote because she indicates a beauty that can be found in all ages. I might be beauty-challenged as I grow older, but there is freedom in not caring so much anymore. After fifty, you get to sign a release form that frees you from all the silly inhibitions of chronological youth. For example, I just bought some turquoise sneakers, and they are sooooo cool. I pair these shoes with pink and blue and yellow polka dot socks. If I had a purple hat, I'd wear it too. And best of all, I don't care what people think of me. Or, if they think I'm eccentric - all the better!
When you look out at the world, do you feel your age? Most of the people I've discussed this with lately don't at all. They still feel like a younger version of themselves - I know I do. When I talk to people, I expect them to feel like they are talking to someone in their thirties. Only when accosted with a mirror does that feeling slide away, and the dreaded "age reality" strikes. Personally, I find mirrors a lot less important than I used to.
Another idea is that everyone is a mixture of many or all ages. Now, my good friends can tell you that is especially true for me (but I'm a special case). I really do have kids inside of me. But who out there can say they don't feel or act like a kid sometimes? If you're healthy, you will keep your inner kid active; and if you're not, then you better run out and buy some crayons - quick - because you're missing out. One of Tim's best features is that he can be a total kid sometimes.
I was talking to my good friend, Vicky, the other day (she lives in Tucson, Arizona USA) who is a couple of years older than I am. We have shared a lot of LIFE together. She mentioned that she doesn't feel the highs and lows of her younger years.... I.e., the DRAMA is gone. I agree! My life was a carousel (sappy metaphor!) for many years. I must have pumped enough adrenaline for thirty people. (Come to think of it, that's probably true, but make it sixty.) There's a peacefulness that comes from passing 50.
By the way: When it's your birthday you get to chat on about whatever comes to mind. When you have a blog you get to publish it. When you're the reader of the blog - you get to ignore it!
Parting thought:
"Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts." ~Martin Buxbaum
Cheers! Judi
I love this quote - particularly on this eve of my 54th birthday (the "day before the eve" in the States). If you live with a leg in one country and a couple of toes in another - does that mean you can celebrate your birthday twice - one day after the other?
I like Ms. Stowe's quote because she indicates a beauty that can be found in all ages. I might be beauty-challenged as I grow older, but there is freedom in not caring so much anymore. After fifty, you get to sign a release form that frees you from all the silly inhibitions of chronological youth. For example, I just bought some turquoise sneakers, and they are sooooo cool. I pair these shoes with pink and blue and yellow polka dot socks. If I had a purple hat, I'd wear it too. And best of all, I don't care what people think of me. Or, if they think I'm eccentric - all the better!
When you look out at the world, do you feel your age? Most of the people I've discussed this with lately don't at all. They still feel like a younger version of themselves - I know I do. When I talk to people, I expect them to feel like they are talking to someone in their thirties. Only when accosted with a mirror does that feeling slide away, and the dreaded "age reality" strikes. Personally, I find mirrors a lot less important than I used to.
Another idea is that everyone is a mixture of many or all ages. Now, my good friends can tell you that is especially true for me (but I'm a special case). I really do have kids inside of me. But who out there can say they don't feel or act like a kid sometimes? If you're healthy, you will keep your inner kid active; and if you're not, then you better run out and buy some crayons - quick - because you're missing out. One of Tim's best features is that he can be a total kid sometimes.
I was talking to my good friend, Vicky, the other day (she lives in Tucson, Arizona USA) who is a couple of years older than I am. We have shared a lot of LIFE together. She mentioned that she doesn't feel the highs and lows of her younger years.... I.e., the DRAMA is gone. I agree! My life was a carousel (sappy metaphor!) for many years. I must have pumped enough adrenaline for thirty people. (Come to think of it, that's probably true, but make it sixty.) There's a peacefulness that comes from passing 50.
By the way: When it's your birthday you get to chat on about whatever comes to mind. When you have a blog you get to publish it. When you're the reader of the blog - you get to ignore it!
Parting thought:
"Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts." ~Martin Buxbaum
Cheers! Judi
Friday, October 14, 2005
The Phillip Glass bird
In our continuing series....
We've noticed a bird that has only one note - a whistle repeated every second without pause. This goes on and on and on. On waking up in the night, one can think that it's gone but then it's back again. The note does seem to change occasionally - perhaps every few hours - but only by the smallest amount. Hence the name - the Phillip Glass bird.
And we do so look forward to those pitch changes.
Tim
We've noticed a bird that has only one note - a whistle repeated every second without pause. This goes on and on and on. On waking up in the night, one can think that it's gone but then it's back again. The note does seem to change occasionally - perhaps every few hours - but only by the smallest amount. Hence the name - the Phillip Glass bird.
And we do so look forward to those pitch changes.
Tim
Good guests, bad food
Well, the food wasn't bad exactly.... it just wasn't very good. So went our first dinner party in our new kitchen. I cooked Barramundi, which has become one of our all time favorite fish(es?) - the Barramundi tasted great - it just wasn't very, well you know .... attractive. I had also made a lentil and rice salad dish -- that somehow came out in an amount to easily feed one of the local footy teams (rather than six as stated in the recipe). I broke the golden rule of serving an untried dish to guests. Bottom line is that there was a lot of not very good salad. Even the dessert which I had high hopes for - a chocolate mousse layered with whipped cream - had stayed too long in the freezer and came out.... hard. Needless to say I had to encourage conversation during this part of the meal hoping to give the dessert time to thaw. Now, you're probably sick of hearing this from me.... but our breadmaker saved the day. It produced a lovely lightly herbed loaf that everyone enjoyed. Phew.
We invited a lovely young German couple who just got married and were nice enough to invite us to their wedding a couple months ago. Our other guest was from South Africa - one of those "good at everything he does" kind of guys. Sheesh. Before he left for S. Africa, he bought Tim and I each a gift. Tim's was a DVD about Bob Dylan, and my gift was a great veggie recipe book. Considering the dinner, his gift was both thoughtful and appropriate. I'll be sure to try out recipes before I inflict them on my guests.
Do you remember those plastic flute things you used to have as a kid? It had a metal stick in it and it would toot up or down depending on which way the stick was moved. Now think of one of those sounds - either up or down. Now think of that sound playing over and over and over and over and over..... such is the sound a new bird in our neighborhood makes... and it's not a "white noise" kind of sound.... if only I had a bb gun....
Cheers, Judi
PS: Just kidding about the bb gun - a slingshot would be better.
We invited a lovely young German couple who just got married and were nice enough to invite us to their wedding a couple months ago. Our other guest was from South Africa - one of those "good at everything he does" kind of guys. Sheesh. Before he left for S. Africa, he bought Tim and I each a gift. Tim's was a DVD about Bob Dylan, and my gift was a great veggie recipe book. Considering the dinner, his gift was both thoughtful and appropriate. I'll be sure to try out recipes before I inflict them on my guests.
Do you remember those plastic flute things you used to have as a kid? It had a metal stick in it and it would toot up or down depending on which way the stick was moved. Now think of one of those sounds - either up or down. Now think of that sound playing over and over and over and over and over..... such is the sound a new bird in our neighborhood makes... and it's not a "white noise" kind of sound.... if only I had a bb gun....
Cheers, Judi
PS: Just kidding about the bb gun - a slingshot would be better.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Go figure...
Ten years ago I accepted a job in Socorro, New Mexico, assuming my social life would officially be claimed dead. After a life of pretty much loser relationships (abusive, alcoholic, sociopathic, almost sociopathic), I figured that I had given my best shot at finding someone who was both a good guy but who could also put up with "me" (we can discuss this later). I figured going to work at NRAO would keep me safe from finding anyone I might have the least bit of interest in. A radioastronomy observatory, the staff is primarily comprised of geeks and nerds. (Of course I mean that in the kindest way!) Being left handed and strongly of the right brain persuasion, there wasn't a chance of finding a "soul" mate.
Well, God Dang, then Tim Cornwell entered my life. Tim has a combination of deep analytical skills, an incredible memory, a lust for reading about most anything, and a streak of total silly and crazy-ness. To make a long story short, we celebrated our eighth anniversary last week on October 6. That was two days after we decided to get married, scurried around to find rings and a judge and arrange for a couple hours off from work (no kidding!).
WARNING! Gushy stuff coming... I found my life partner in this crazy and wonderful person. He still amazes me with his intelligence and continues to crack me up with his incredible goofy sense of humor. I love the way he loves his kids. I love the way he loves me and has supported me in so many ways. Tim and I aren't "big" into celebrations, so as usual, our anniversary almost passed unnoticed. So I just wanted to post this little note, because I want everyone to know how much I am still in love with this big, crazy dude.
Judi
Well, God Dang, then Tim Cornwell entered my life. Tim has a combination of deep analytical skills, an incredible memory, a lust for reading about most anything, and a streak of total silly and crazy-ness. To make a long story short, we celebrated our eighth anniversary last week on October 6. That was two days after we decided to get married, scurried around to find rings and a judge and arrange for a couple hours off from work (no kidding!).
WARNING! Gushy stuff coming... I found my life partner in this crazy and wonderful person. He still amazes me with his intelligence and continues to crack me up with his incredible goofy sense of humor. I love the way he loves his kids. I love the way he loves me and has supported me in so many ways. Tim and I aren't "big" into celebrations, so as usual, our anniversary almost passed unnoticed. So I just wanted to post this little note, because I want everyone to know how much I am still in love with this big, crazy dude.
Judi
Monday, October 10, 2005
Osama bin Bush
The last couple of months in American politics have been very interesting. It appears that the emperor is now being seen to be quite naked. This morning in my daily quotes from quotation.com, I got the following quotation which seems quite apt:
Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.
Charles Mackay
I hope the country recovers from the Bush/Rove madness. I hope to go back one day. One measure of how bad things are is to ask if OBL could be any happier with Osama bin Bush?
Tim
Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.
Charles Mackay
I hope the country recovers from the Bush/Rove madness. I hope to go back one day. One measure of how bad things are is to ask if OBL could be any happier with Osama bin Bush?
Tim
Saturday, October 1, 2005
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