Saturday, July 16, 2005

Need Help - Send Horchata!




















To address a previous question from one of our readers – the thigh chaffing has subsided, thank you.

A bit of a stressful week, going through numerous home tours, car lots and various discussions about our envisioned identity here in Sydney. How are we going to get about? By train (apparently Mussolini could do wonders here) or bus? Do we want to look out over the marine preserve, or do we want to look out above the surf break? Not a bad choice in the bunch, but (pending our application approval) we should have a place to call our own soon. Either way, you’re in for a treat.

We’re also experiencing a bit of adjustment with the fact that the sun sets at about 4:30pm here. I remember when I was in school at the University of Oregon, the sorority girls would constantly claim ‘Seasonal Affected Disorder’ as reasons why they couldn’t get their papers in on time, or go on dates with me. I had initially thought that it had to do with hydrogen peroxide withdrawal, but now I’m starting to understand what they were talking about. After basking in the summer solstice of California, it feels like our days have been chopped in half, making it hard to accomplish anything in the evening but an early bedtime.

Peggy and I did go shopping today for a dinner of fajitas and had our first dose of culinary culture shock. It seems that all things Mexican in this country is run by the Old El Paso monopoly. The 4x7 foot section in the supermarket that they reserve for this kind of thing features exactly one brand and one brand only – The Ol’ Paso. Want some fresh salsa? Nope. You get the El Paso mixture of Tabasco sauce, formaldehyde and catsup (ketchup). Like the rest of the items in this dark, back corner of the supermarket, the refried beans were due to expire in March of 2032. The tortillas contain a Silica Gel packet, with the emblazoned claim, ‘Now much softer!’... which was pretty doubtful. If Mexico was ever to send an astronaut on a deep-space mission, we are confident that Ol’ El Paso will be on board. Next week – let’s make Aleutian!

Over to the cheese section, where Peggy was confronted with a wall of monotony in cheeses, not a hue to be found – the entire cheese section was of white cheese. I joked that it was due to Australia’s whites-only immigration policy, which was actually in place here until the 70s… and was summarily shushed by my better half. I guess neither Pepperjack, Bleu, Cheddar, nor the Zesty Fiesta mix has made it across the border yet.

We tried to assemble the fresh ingredients to make our own salsa and found some eccentricities in how Aussies like to name things. We grabbed the capsicums (bell peppers), coriander (cilantro) and Hass (Haas, just misspelled) avocados and started to head for the exit. In glancing at the Australian tabloids, apparently Nicole is appointed royalty and that scandalous Tom Cruise is not allowed to enter the country any more – after their divorce, he’s fallen into that unwanted cheese category.

On the upside, the seafood is consistently fantastic and the prices overall are very reasonable. Australia – come for the white cheese, stay for the prawns!

Oh, and the cell phone deal has been worked out… 011 62 4 13 660 173 is how you reach me from the states (whattimeisit.com before you do, please) and Peggy will have her mobile on Monday. The Pawn Shop / Money Loaner / Cell Phone Unlocker was pulling the wrought iron gate down at exactly 5:01pm before we could retrieve her phone. Stores are open 9-5pm. Period. Consider yourself lucky if anything is open Saturday. Slackers.

Next time – possible apartment and automobile pix!

posted by ncawthon at 7:33 PM