Virtually Real

December 11, 2001-Virtual Holidays

We just spoke to the kids in their respective homes. We wished them a Happy Chanukah & sang the blessings as they lit candles. It was really special. We also spoke to Alex as she opened some of the Chanukah presents from us.

Wendy told us about the daughter of a friend of hers is a bit over a year old & I asked Wendy what words she can say. Wendy mentioned a few, but added that she can sign a great many more. Her parents are teaching her ASL (American Sign Language) in order to make it easier for her to communicate. She can now tell them things she still can’t verbalize. I’m sure it cuts down on the whining, crying, & frustration. ASL has been used with chimps resulting in the chimps being able to carry on simple conversations with humans.

Xmas is hyped pretty much here, but it doesn’t seem to be as much as in the U.S. Maybe I can’t take it seriously without being inundated with the piped in Caroles, cheesy TV commercials, & sales people constantly wishing everyone Merry Xmas. Oh, & my #1 pet peeve in West Akron, the wreath around the neck of the carved Indian statue in the park on W. Market St. in front of Fairlawn School. Maybe they have a similar abomination here involving an Aborigine. We did see a Santa figure clinging to the back of a monorail. Out of his rear end fluttered a banner advertising the Oasis Shopping Center.

Virtually Homesick

We walked over to the Lone Star Restaurant for dinner & found what promises to be a good Korean one along the way. The Lone Star here is a clone wannabe of the ones in the U.S. It looks the look & walks the walk, but the differences sneak up where you least expect them. We were welcomed by our server who introduced herself by name & immediately asked for our drink orders. That’s so U.S. & not Aussie. She stooped down by our table to take our food orders. Still aping the U.S. model. I went to the rest room & there he was. The same shirtless, buff stud we have at home was staring down at me from his poster on the wall.

There was country western background music playing in the dining area & all of a sudden it got really loud. Out came the servers for a line dance that was closer to being a product of Ireland than of Texas. I don’t think they’ve done line dancing back home since the first year the restaurant was open. There was a birthday song at one table, & I was really starting to get homesick. David pointed out an old Ohio license plate as part of the wall decorations, & I was on my way to losing it. Then I opened the menu. Of course, they had pumpkin soup. They also had a combo of ribs & calamari. David opted for what turned out to be a delicious BBQ two slabs of lamb ribs. I had a burger. I asked them to hold the bacon, but kept the avocado. The tossed salad that came with David’s dinner wasn’t. It was served on a small oval plate. They had segregated the lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, & shredded cheese from each other as if they were afraid of miscegenation. There were no croutons since there was no stale bread left over from the yummy Lone Star signature bread loaf. Bread, as in most Australian restaurants, was extra. Yes, Dorothy, it’s OZ.

December 12, 2001-Virtuality

There was a surprise presentation at the Friendship Club today. David & I were given the award for being the best-dressed couple at the BBQ two weeks ago. The trophy was an aluminum billy tea can painted gold & mounted on a piece of wood with an appropriate plaque recording the honor. Affixed to the can with rubber bands was a picture of us in our authentic Aussie garb. It will hold a place of honor in our apartment here & later in our home in Akron.

Australia has just discovered ethanol for use in cars. The government cars will begin using it shortly & they see the general public grabbing the chance to join in. They’re all excited about what a boost this will be for the sugar cane industry. There’s concern with the need to plant more cane fields & the impact on the environment. They claim that ethanol has no ill effects on cars, will cut down on emissions, & is used in other countries, notably, the U.S. Did anyone here ever ask why it never caught on in the U.S?

Toby