Volume I: Number VII: 1994
The Down Under Edition
OZ the tour
SYDNEY -– Christmas had a dress rehearsal this year. It came on Elaine’s birthday—July 16 – in the depth of an Australian winter. Overnight temperatures in the Blue Mountains were within a notch or two of the freezing mark. It was an excuse enough for Christmas in July. The Yuletide festival came complete with carols, plum pudding and Santa Claus with an Ozzie accent. This bit of calendar confusion was the topper to three great weeks in Australia.
The official justification for the journey down under was an academic conference. Paul presented a paper to the International Communication Association (ICA) in Sydney. The touring took us far from the capital city. The first stop was the Australian outback – Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. “We didn’t climb Ayers Rock and we’ll admit it” conceded Elaine, “but we walked the base.” The trails winds through caves with Aborigine paintings and two waterfalls on opposing sides of a most amazing big red rock.
Paul came face-to-face with an aggressive kangaroo in Brisbane – and then face-to-chest. After gobbling down one handful of official kangaroo food, the hopping hobo insisted on more. When Paul tried to move on, the kangaroo raised himself up to at least seven feet and spun Paul around in search of that bag of goodies.
The dry season in Cairns was not very dry this year. There was still more than enough for a pair of drenched Canucks to do – including an indulgent evening at Queensland’s most famous seafood buffet. The story weather kicked up large swells and a lot of sand around the Great Barrier Reef. No Kodacrome moments this visit. Maybe next time.
In-laws, Outlaws and Clean Towels
SEATTLE -– No. None on the way. In fact, most of the family visited in 1994. The guest book is bulging with entries from Routledges, Taylor and members of Paul’s extended family (not to mention a friend or two).
There was only 5 days to make the transition from tourist to tour guide – it took only a day or two longer for Oz-style jet lag to wear off.
Elaine’ parents were the first to arrive… but only by a few hours. No sooner had the Routledges’ flight arrived than Paul’s brother Dave and his family rolled into town in their RV. The eight of us piled into a rented van to see the sights around town.—including the Museum of Flight, where they witnessed an early test flight of the second BOENG 777 off the line.
Paul’s parents arrived the day after Elaine’s folks left. It was Mom and Dad Taylor’s third time in Seattle in as many years. They are visitors who have their own favorite haunts! (Paul’s uncle Art also has his favorite Seattle haunts. He blew threw town too.)
Elaine’ sister Suzie and husband Zeke (Ian) were next. The highlight of their visit was a two-state search for sports. Seattle’s pro franchises were either on strike or homeless. The road trip took us to Eugene, Oregon, where we saw the Ducks kick our Dawgs.
We went sailing on our 6th anniversary – thanks to Paul’s uncle John (and wife Sue) in Whiterock, B.C. This west coast thing is such a chore!
Road Map for the INFOBAHN
SEATTLE -– Paul has intuited his way into cyberspace on two fronts. As a Research Assistant in the UW New Media Research Lab, he is exploring the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). He also conducted usability studies for THE VORTEX, an interactive multimedia movie on CD-ROM, form Hyperbole Studios and distributed by WEA.
For her part, Elaine keeps an on ramp to the Information Superhighway open overnight at the hospital as the resource person for the EMTEK computerized charting system.
Reflections
The last year has had its struggles but, in retrospect, they pale when compared to blessings.
Our family did grow. Elaine’s brother Ron married Pattie Charney on April 8. Maybe we’ll see them out here in 1995.
Seattle seems much more like home than it did a year ago – owing to more and closer friendships at work, school and church.
Elaine’s professional life remains intense – Harborview is in the middle of its busiest trauma season in 30 years. Paul is facing his general exams early in the new year. With them comes the realization that the time here at the University of Washington is winding down.
SYDNEY -– Christmas had a dress rehearsal this year. It came on Elaine’s birthday—July 16 – in the depth of an Australian winter. Overnight temperatures in the Blue Mountains were within a notch or two of the freezing mark. It was an excuse enough for Christmas in July. The Yuletide festival came complete with carols, plum pudding and Santa Claus with an Ozzie accent. This bit of calendar confusion was the topper to three great weeks in Australia.
The official justification for the journey down under was an academic conference. Paul presented a paper to the International Communication Association (ICA) in Sydney. The touring took us far from the capital city. The first stop was the Australian outback – Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. “We didn’t climb Ayers Rock and we’ll admit it” conceded Elaine, “but we walked the base.” The trails winds through caves with Aborigine paintings and two waterfalls on opposing sides of a most amazing big red rock.
Paul came face-to-face with an aggressive kangaroo in Brisbane – and then face-to-chest. After gobbling down one handful of official kangaroo food, the hopping hobo insisted on more. When Paul tried to move on, the kangaroo raised himself up to at least seven feet and spun Paul around in search of that bag of goodies.
The dry season in Cairns was not very dry this year. There was still more than enough for a pair of drenched Canucks to do – including an indulgent evening at Queensland’s most famous seafood buffet. The story weather kicked up large swells and a lot of sand around the Great Barrier Reef. No Kodacrome moments this visit. Maybe next time.
In-laws, Outlaws and Clean Towels
SEATTLE -– No. None on the way. In fact, most of the family visited in 1994. The guest book is bulging with entries from Routledges, Taylor and members of Paul’s extended family (not to mention a friend or two).
There was only 5 days to make the transition from tourist to tour guide – it took only a day or two longer for Oz-style jet lag to wear off.
Elaine’ parents were the first to arrive… but only by a few hours. No sooner had the Routledges’ flight arrived than Paul’s brother Dave and his family rolled into town in their RV. The eight of us piled into a rented van to see the sights around town.—including the Museum of Flight, where they witnessed an early test flight of the second BOENG 777 off the line.
Paul’s parents arrived the day after Elaine’s folks left. It was Mom and Dad Taylor’s third time in Seattle in as many years. They are visitors who have their own favorite haunts! (Paul’s uncle Art also has his favorite Seattle haunts. He blew threw town too.)
Elaine’ sister Suzie and husband Zeke (Ian) were next. The highlight of their visit was a two-state search for sports. Seattle’s pro franchises were either on strike or homeless. The road trip took us to Eugene, Oregon, where we saw the Ducks kick our Dawgs.
We went sailing on our 6th anniversary – thanks to Paul’s uncle John (and wife Sue) in Whiterock, B.C. This west coast thing is such a chore!
Road Map for the INFOBAHN
SEATTLE -– Paul has intuited his way into cyberspace on two fronts. As a Research Assistant in the UW New Media Research Lab, he is exploring the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). He also conducted usability studies for THE VORTEX, an interactive multimedia movie on CD-ROM, form Hyperbole Studios and distributed by WEA.
For her part, Elaine keeps an on ramp to the Information Superhighway open overnight at the hospital as the resource person for the EMTEK computerized charting system.
Reflections
The last year has had its struggles but, in retrospect, they pale when compared to blessings.
Our family did grow. Elaine’s brother Ron married Pattie Charney on April 8. Maybe we’ll see them out here in 1995.
Seattle seems much more like home than it did a year ago – owing to more and closer friendships at work, school and church.
Elaine’s professional life remains intense – Harborview is in the middle of its busiest trauma season in 30 years. Paul is facing his general exams early in the new year. With them comes the realization that the time here at the University of Washington is winding down.