Rest in Pieces

Lois died.

Remember Lois?

A short synopsis of her death (in Hyatt's words):

"She overheated on the way to Dookie. Cracked the headgasket which ruined the aluminum block. She was towed to Wallan, stripped of her registration and is now sitting in the junkyard."

We got a refund on the remainder of her registration (whoo hoo for ~ $250) but unfortunately we won't be able to re-sell her in December which leaves us out $1000. Such is life and sometimes life sucks.

Most importantly, we're on foot. Thank goodness we live in the city and not 2 hours away. We can still take the trams or walk to the few destinations we visit.

A short obituary by me:

Lois, you will not be forgotten. We will miss your squeaky fanbelt, broken backseat window and shoddy paint job. May you be reincarnated as a shiny, black Chevrolet Corvette.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in the name of the Lois Frobose Memorial Scholarship for American-Australian Fulbright Recipients.

Until tomorrow,
~ Buzzard ~

What I learned today...

We recently got our bond back from our previous landlord. You know, the landlord of the ML? To get caught up read this, this and this. I'll wait.

Ok - back to business. So after a long drawn out process of rescheduling the 'court' date about 3 different times, we got approximately $950 back. That's about $750 less than we wanted but at least the issue is resolved and we're through.

The reimbursement checks came to Hyatt and I. Since we don't have the same last name (yet) they had to send half of the money to me and half to Hyatt. The only problem is that they addressed the check to Brandi Frobose. I have a couple of issues with this:

1 - That's not my name.
2 - If the reason for splitting it up is that we don't have the same last name, then why does the check I received say Brandi Frobose? Stupid.
3 - It's extremely difficult to deposit a check made out to Brandi Frobose into an account held by Brandi Buzzard. See the issue?

I made the 30 minute walking trek to the bank, which was rougher than usual because while I was in the states I reverted back to my lazy American self and drove everywhere, and finally got the issue sorted out thanks to the lovely staff at The Bank of Melbourne.

In closing, I've learned that you can do one of the following things if you're ever in my situation:
 A - don't move to another country 3.5 weeks after you get married unless you can magically fast track the name changing process on your visa and passport

-OR-

B - wait to get married until you get back from said country.

C - Confirm with authorities your name before the checks are issued

D - Make friends with a friendly bank teller named Darin who will vouch that you are Brandi Frobose (even though you're really not) and will deposit the check anyway.

I chose to follow through with option D.

Have a great day!

Until next time,

~ FroBuzz ~

Today, I was supposed to run a 10K

Things to do when preparing for a 10K:

-- Go to bed early the night before - tired legs = slow time --- CHECK
-- Consume carbs  > 1 hr before running for energy --- 2 croissants - CHECK
-- Dress for chilly, rainy Melbourne weather (leggings, under armor) --- CHECK
-- Pring off direction to running course --- CHECK
-- Remember to bring shoes and race number --- double CHECK
-- Show up on correct day --- #EPICFAIL

That's right, I got up (and made Hyatt get up to drive me) at 6:15 am. I ate breakfast, groomed, got dressed, double checked directions and we drove the 20 minutes to the Newport Running Club track. It was down by Docklands so that was very cool - got to see a few cargo ships going out to sea.

Walk up to registration desk to check in and old (but very in-shape and intimidating) man tells me I'm at the wrong race.

Scuse me?

"The Sri Chimnoy is tomorrow."
"Ha. Good one. But seriously."
"It's tomorrow, today is the Old Men Running Club practice." (not real name of club but whatevs)
"Omigod."

I start to leave -- "Wait, stay and run with us today. It will be a good practice."

Are you kidding me? It's 7:45 AM on a SATURDAY and it's raining. I'm not doing a so-called "fun practice run."

I am so thankful that I married a patient man who didn't kill me when I got back into Lois and told him the news. I am also appalled at this conundrum because I am so ORGANIZED. Hyatt is always the one who forgets dates/times (he missed his GRE b/c of a similar situation) - what the heck is happening to me? Answer: old age.

So - now I get to repeat the same process tomorrow. Oh joy. Still hope I don't collapse from exhaustion.

Cheers
~ FroBuzz ~

A New Chapter

Hi FroBuzz fans (or non-fans, whatever you wish. Even if you aren't our fans, thanks for reading).

So HUGE, GIGANTIC announcement - we're starting a new chapter in our lives and that chapter is called

Moving to a New Apartment Because Our Landlord is a Crook

Sounds like a page-turner dudn't it? In short, our landlord was illegally subleasing her apartment to us - doesn't sad too bad except she was charging us $300 more/month than she was paying to the realtor. Whoops.

So, she is being evicted and taking all the furnishings from our furnished apartment - leaving us with the stuff we lugged over the Pacific, a borrowed dryer and sofa from Fahri, towels, a clock and some groceries. Life's possessions in one sentence - mildly pathetic.

We think we're moving to the college where Hyatt and I tute! It's on campus and the rent is cheap and includes meals because face it, we eat like horses. Please don't mail us anything in the near future until we are definitely sure of our new address. I know, I know - you're dying to send us DVD's, post -it's, crystal light and mac n' cheese but you'll have to wait until we get settled in to our new place.

Talk to you all soon - hope life is treating you well in the states!

Cheers,

~ FroBuzz ~



My Tute-ing Experience

"My name is Brandi Buzzard. You can call me "Brandi" or "Buzzard" but you may NOT call me "ma'am" or "Mrs. Buzzard"." Capice?

Previously, in the drama of FroBuzz, I mentioned that I was hoping to get a job tutoring (or as Aussie's put it tuteing - seriously, no joke) for a few classes. Well, this week I started tuteing two classes and the introduction above is what I said to my first tute session. I will be tutoring Food For a Healthy Planet which talks about basic nutrition, where food comes from, the people who grow it and agriculture's role on the environment. Basically, this class was right up my alley and very similar to the type of information I post on Buzzard's Beat and Food For Thought. The other class, Water for Sustainable Futures, misled me a bit. The course description gives 'hint' that Australian water issues will be discussed but so far, in the six lectures, Australia water issues have been the ONLY topic. Crap.

So, Monday I walked to St. Hilda's College where I will be tuteing for the whole semester. I arrive shortly before dinner which is complimentary for tutes. I immediately am asked to don a robe like this one that I will wear to dinner. I, along with other tutes, the Vice Principal and some professors, will be seated at the High Table for dinner.

After dressing in the proper attire, we strolled into the dining hall while all the students stood up for us like we were royalty. We sat down at the High Table and looked out over the lowly subjects, I mean students. Ha.

After dinner - which was lamb, yum *sarcasm* - and dessert - which was delicious panna cotta - I headed to my tute room to mold some young minds.

Or should I say mind? Because only one student showed up - yeah, one. He was very friendly but seemed appalled that an American was tutoring him about Australian water laws. Yeah, I'm with you dude. But the hour did go by rather quickly and his facial expressions led me to believe that I was at least making some sense. I'll be attending every lecture from here until the end of the semester so that I am caught up on water issues on the world's driest continent. I'm hoping that I'll get good tute reviews.

Cheers,
FroBuzz

They Found Me

In Manhattan, if you park in the wrong space, in the wrong color lot or park over the line a mere 1/2" you get a ticket from the parking 'police' (those of you at K-State know the term I'd like to say, instead of police).

Well, Melbourne has their own version of the parking 'police'. But in Australia, they monitor the trams, trains and buses. They are the Melbourne transport officers and they travel in packs; hunting like wolves for unsuspecting passengers who disobey the transport rules. To add to the spectacle, they wear long black trenchcoats.  They're quite a sight.

Today, I was taking the train into the CBD (central business district) and four 'police' burst through the doors demanding to see everyone's ticket. They hovered over every passenger, poised and ready to write a hefty ticket ($200) to anyone who is trying to get a free ride or forgot to scan their pass. Fortunately, I'd been warned of their presence and practice by our landlord so I escaped their wrath - however, three passengers weren't so lucky. There goes $600 into the pockets of city government officials - wowsa.

Cheers,
~ Buzzard ~

My Legs Hate Me

Ok – as I mentioned earlier, we went to Target (no Wal-Mart’s here) so we could get bedding, towels – and other basic necessities. Prior to this we needed sustenance – having purchased not so much food for quite a lot of money (food is expensive – I’ll explain later) we were starved and could think of nothing better than….McDonald’s.  A ravenous hunger was building for greasy hamburgers and hot, salty French fries.  We set out hoping to find the golden arches. About a mile later we were standing in the air conditioned Mecca. Salt and grease never tasted so good and the only downside was that free refills, well, they’re not free. Damn.

During our long walk to McD’s I asked for directions to a store that sold bedding. A short, incoherent, homeless looking woman gave us ‘directions’ to Bunnings. Mistake number one? Asking her for directions. She said it was ‘quite a bit of a walk’ but we had walked a large amount already and figured it couldn’t hurt. What was mistake number 2? Taking her advice unaware of the consequences. A mere 20 blocks later we arrived at a sporting goods store and asked if we were near Bunnings because we were looking for bedding.  The salesman looked at me, entertained by my obvious foreign accent and utter lack of knowledge of the area, and said “yeah, there is a Bunnings near but you won’t find any bedding there. Target has bedding – blah blah blah directions, directions, more walking, blah blah blah.” The kind man pointed us to Target – only another mile or so walk away.  Are you keeping track of the distance? Because we most certainly weren’t.

Finally arrived at the shopping center that was home to Target after bypassing Bunnings – what is Bunnings you ask? It’s a hardware store – I’m sure they have some lovely bedding. Somewhere.  We found all our supplies: towels, sheets, shampoo and conditioner (way over priced) trashcans and pillows. At 4:45 the lights started to flicker and then we realized the store closed at 5. Hyatt went to pay for everything while I sprinted to the TeleChoice store to get some pre-paid phones. Phones and internet are pay as you go here and service plans are exponentially different and confusing.

Finally left Northland Shopping Center and proceeded to walk the 3 miles back to the ML carrying pillows, towels and electronic staples (phones, internet modem, DVD player)..…in the rain.

The next morning I started searching craigslist for one of these bad boys.

Cheers,
~ Buzzard ~

Mishaps

No one has said "G’day mate" to me – I’m slightly irritated. TV and movies teach Americans that everyone in Australia says "G’day mate". Not true.

Quick honeymoon rundown – we went to Fiji – it was mind blowingly perfect and gorgeous. See?

(I took those pictures, seriously)

But alas, we left and flew to Melbourne. Got here at 10ish on a Friday night - $60 cab ride to the meth lab which we will be calling 'home' for the next ten months.  **Note: It's not really a meth lab - it just reminds me of one.  I've actually never seen a meth lab but it's what I think would remind me of one if I had ever been in one.** Completely exhausted from traveling, I wasn't expecting to see a meth lab when I opened the door but can't really do much about it.

Anyway, so we get to the methlab and our belongings (carried in a mere 4 large suitcases and 4 small) are:

- clothes for 10 months (not as much as you'd think)

- The Office - all 6 released seasons

- Family Guy - all seasons
- movies

-  laptops

- shoes (i brought more than Hyatt -surprise)

- my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook

- other various books

Notice there are no items in the BEDDING or BATHROOM TOWELS/SUPPLIES  categories?  Our first night we had to use the two paper-thin airplane blankets and our neck-pillows.  Not near as bad as it sounds but definitely funnier.

Saturday morning: shower time. But Brandi, you ask, how ever did you shower without towels and shampoo? My close friends know me as a kleptomaniac at heart. Therefore, we used the shampoo and conditioner I stole from Maria, the hotel maid's, cart.  Furthermore -- we enjoyed our single plush white towel that I lifted from the Sofitel in Fiji (also from Maria's cart).  Mission: cleanliness. Complete. Thank you, Maria.

Question: what do two American students who are fully reliant on cell phone use to tell time without phones or computers.

Answer: they don't.

Morning came when we woke up on our own which was about 7:30-- that's the earliest I've been up on a Saturday in a very long time. First thing on the agenda: find a timepiece.  Bought a snazzy clock at the $2 shop for guess how much?  $9 - ha. Gotcha

After feeling a little more in touch with reality we realized that since we had absolutely no food we had to go grocery shopping. Easier said than done. Australians eat much more fresh food than we do in America so there are a lot of fresh meat and produce markets. Very cool but takes many trips to several different stores to get everything on the list. We also discovered a Safeway (Woolworths type grocery store) - couldn't really buy everything we needed because almost everyone walks and carries their stuff instead of driving. Our seemingly 100 block walk (really only 12ish) back to the meth lab seemed to take forever. That was nothing compared to the walk back from the Target.

But more on that tomorrow - for now I leave you with a picture of my new best friends... Earl and Edwin.

Edwin, Earl and I have been spending quality time together seeing as I've walked about 20 miles (not km) in the past two days. My legs hate me.

Love you and miss you all in America -- we'll chat again soon.

Cheers (that's what the Aussies say) ;)

~ Buzzard ~