Week 3 & 4 wrap up

Happy Christmas from Australia...a few days late!! There are signs and banners everywhere that say Happy Christmas, which is just a bit different from our 'Merry Christmas' greeting in the USA. Although every bit as festive for sure! The bonus here is that the day after Christmas is another holiday; Boxing Day. So, we have just completed a very 'merry' and 'happy' few days. More about that later, because I must catch up on our activities since Dec 14...

In the afternoon on 14 December [Yes! Australia is a genealogists dream because they write the dates in that way!!] Jason, Stella and I packed up a picnic bag with wine, cheese and crackers, and doggy treats for a party at the dog park!! I learned that even though the start time was 3:00 PM, no-one ever shows up then!! Not much of anything starts at the designated time down unda'. Jason said that was so hard for him to adjust to, as he is like his mom; we would rather be early than late. Stella ran around for a bit with a friend or two, then by 4:00 one could not count the people and pets!!!! Have you heard of the phrase 'like trying to herd cats?'  It was hilarious to watch all the dogs playing!! Truly, I could not count how many were there and I tried!!! This dog park is known to be the best in the city. There is lots of room for the dogs to run, plenty of benches for the people to relax on, a few doggy bag dispensers and trash cans for those little messes, and a water fountain with 2 levels; one for the people and one for the dogs! It was a lovely day and I met some enjoyable people. This is where we take Stella at least twice a day for her exercise. It never fails that someone greets me with a warm smile and pleasant conversation. Being Jason's Mom has always been great, but now being Stella's grand-mom is fun, too!!!

Had to keep a watchful eye on this table!!

                                           Stella had to be right up front for the doggy treats

                                         A great gathering and the dogs were all well behaved!

So, the next event we attended on Tuesday, 17 December, was the grad night show at Brent Street Studios, where Jason works. Needless to say, Jason had worked night and day...and I mean until 10 or 11 PM, since I got here...helping to get the dancers  and the show ready. In case you have not been following his work, Jason is Head of Contemporary at the oldest performing arts school in Sydney. In addition to that, he runs one of the full time programs there. Read more about his program and his work at http://www.brentstreet.com.au/ .  It has been difficult for me to find the words to properly describe this night: One of the proudest times in my life as Jason's mom...and he has always made me proud!! Absolutely beyond my dreams and expectations!! From the time Jason, Renee, Steve and I arrived,  Jason was 'on!'  (Renee is Jason's best friend, former roommate, choreography assistant, professional dancer and a lovely girl!!!! Steve is another very close friend, professional dancer/actor, assistant to Jason and great guy!) If it was not parents of students, students, whole families of the students, co-workers, professional dancers and performers, Brent Street administrative staff, Jason bosses, other choreographers, former students, it was his friends, honestly EVERYONE there loves this man, my sweet son!! It made me feel so special as they all told me how much Jason has talked about me and anticipated my visit. Thankfully, one lady gave me some tissues as I was overwhelmed with all the glowing remarks they were saying about Jason's work and how much he is respected. Yep, I am even crying as I write this. It was a magical evening!! and the show...WOW!! Worthy of a New York Broadway performance!!! This show always sells out and there was not a ticket available to be bought. Jason pointed out agents, producers and so many professionals who come to this event because the quality of these graduating performers is over the top!!! When I get back to the US, ask me and I will show you the program!! Magnificent evening!!!!!

But that is not all!!! In the middle of all that I just described, Jason, Renee and Steve (and several others of course) are working on submissions of choreography pieces to be considered for use on the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance [SYTYCD] 2014 Summer Season, which premiers sometime in January. Jason was already chosen as the lead Contemporary Choreographer and has taped the first few episodes which show the process of auditioning 100 dancers and eliminating down to the top 20. Jason and Renee (who also dances, teaches and choreographs!) went to a holiday cocktail party given by the  SYTYCD  show where they saw a sneak preview of the first show. Jason said, "Mom, they made me look really good!!" to which I replied, "Of course you looked good!!!!"

Jason and Renee dressed up for a party!!

 Since Jason is a featured choreographer, they did a background story about him for the show.  I am dying for this to come on TV!!!!!! I  should be able to attend at least one live taping before I leave...hoping for 2!!! (When we were at the Brent Street Show he introduced me to one of the producers and a judge.) There is so much work to put together a minute-and-half of a dance piece...choose the music or be assigned it, create the piece in your mind, teach someone to dance it, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, film it, explain it and send it in!!! All done by phone calls and e-mail!! I am talking many hours and there is no pay...unless your piece is chosen for the show!!!!!! I will keep you posted on this for sure!!!

Well, there is much more to tell about our wonderful Christmas...but we are off to the beach!! Jason, Renee, Steve and I...Steve has a car so we can take the dogs with us...Stella and Frankie, Steve's miniature dachshund is Stella's best friend!!! We are having so much fun!!!!! Monopoly game later today!!!!

Merry Christmas to all!!

I know I am a little behind in posting this week...but after all, it is Christmas and I am always running crazy around this time!! Jason, his friend Renee and I have just had the loveliest Christmas Eve!! We played on the Wii, told fortunes, ate til we could bust and drank too much wine!!!  We are settling down for the night and will be up early tomorrow morning to have baked eggs, champagne and fruit salad!! Merry Christmas everyone...I will catch you up soon on the last week down here in the land of Oz!

At the end of week 2...

...I am settled in and being Mom!! Did a little vacuuming, laundry and shopping today, plus several hours of my genealogy work! Today is Jason's last day with his students for this term. They have a rehearsal today for the year-end concert performances that we will be going to see next week. A dressy night out at the theater will be so much fun!! So, next week Jay has administrative work to close out the year and then he will officially be on break for 3 weeks!! He is so looking forward to some beach time...as am I!!! We are planning our Christmas dinner menu, as well!!
I learned a little local Aussie lesson today: I wanted to have salad and pizza for dinner this evening. So I went to to the cute little Italian shop down at the corner and was told, "We make pizza on Thursdays, not Friday's." However, Daniel the owner and a friend of Jason's, helped me make it work!! He had a few 'half-baked' frozen pizza shells with sauce, got me some fresh mozzarella and sent me on my way!! Now all we need are mushrooms and we are in business!!! Jason is picking them up on his way home! Earlier in the day I went to the grocery store and got all the fixin's for salad, but just could not make it back out for the mushrooms. Jason got a good deal from the bottle shop on our wine supply yesterday!! We are ready for Friday night pizza and a movie!!
Guess it is time to fill you in on a little set back I had this week on my daily walking excursions. As I explained on my last blog posting, we did a whole lot of walking last week-end. I was playing with Stella at the dog park on Sunday morning when all of a sudden,  my left knee gave out!! Whew, I had a heck of time getting back to the apartment!! Thank goodness Jason has knowledge of what to do for injuries and a good resource in the way of his chiropractor! There I was icing and elevating, and electric stem treatments...all day for the last 5 days!! We have determined that I have injured my knee in some way (more than likely a torn meniscus). The bad news is that if I went to get an MRI  and x-rays, it would cost a small fortune here. I would be covered if I went in for general illness and treatment under the Australian health system...but not for advance treatments or diagnosis. The good news is that I can now get around again, but carefully. Jason got me a strong elastic knee brace at the chemist and I am taking some good over the counter pain meds.  So, gradually I am getting back to getting out and about daily!! I have walked to the grocery the last 2 days and taken Stella for short walks. Thank goodness for friends!!!! Bette has gone to my apartment in Palm Beach Gardens, gotten my good leg brace [that I used last year when I broke my knee at Edisto Island...but that is another story!!] and she has mailed it to me. It should be here next week. YOU ARE THE BEST, BETTE, AND I WILL BE FOREVER IN YOUR DEBT!!
Now, I am trying to figure out why that happened to my knee!!  I am thinking it all may have started during my frequent up and down trips on the ladder during all that painting and cleaning I just completed. Or was it on my trip over here while I was scooting by someone on the plane to get to my seat...or sitting for many hours flying over the Pacific? Who knows?? What I do know is that I am getting real tired of these reminders that tell me how old I am!!
Following are a few photos of Jason's apartment:

                                                           View from the balcony

Living room from the entrance

Looking toward the kitchen

                                           From the living room looking down the hall (see Stella waiting for Jason to                                                 come  out of the bathroom!

                                            A little study area between living room and bedroom

The queen of the house!!

It was a busy week-end!

We began our day on Saturday with a coffee from 'First Drop' cafe and then caught a bus to the harbor area of Sydney. Jason teaches a class every Saturday morning at the Sydney Dance Company, (SDC), so I tagged along. We got off the bus and walked into the bustling crowd along the harbor. A cruise ship was in port and as we negotiated the crowd toward the restored wharf where the SDC is located, I was amazed at the sights!! Look to the right and there is the Opera House, straight ahead loomed the Sydney Harbor Bridge and to the left is the Museum of Contemporary Art (where Yoko Ono has an exhibition on display!) and beyond that is the historic area called "The Rocks." It looks like I have lots to explore on Saturday mornings!! 
Jason and I had plenty of time to stroll along to the SDC building, a restored structure on an old wharf. Many of the restored buildings are apartments, art studios and restaurants. Beautiful!! 
Then I left Jason at work and he sent me off with directions for a lovely walk along the harbor toward the Sydney Opera House. It was a beautiful day and there were lots and lots of people from all over the world!! To see the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House in person is beyond amazing!! I am so grateful to be here in this place at this time. 
Jason and his friend Stephen met me on the steps of the Opera House and we had lunch at the food court along the water. Then we took a nice stroll through the botanical gardens, caught our bus and went home to take a nap!! We had about 2 hours to rest up and get ready for the evening.
Jason was invited to an end of the year concert at a dance studio/school in Parramatta. (it took over 2 hours to get there; a 30 minute walk, then 1 1/2 hours by train and another 20 minute walk!!) It seems that earlier in the year, Jay had choreographed a piece for a group at this school and they won first place in a competition.  So, Jason (and I) were invited to their final performance. (When we got there we were presented with 2 free drinks, a bar of chocolate and 4th row center seats!) We sat next to some of Jason's friends who are also choreographers, an agent for those in the dance profession and the owner of another dance school. As I had witnessed when Jason was younger and a dancer, this profession is like an extended family. Everyone revels in each other's successes and shares their challenges. All such very nice people and so welcoming to Jay's Mum!!
Needless to say...Mum was quite exhausted by the end of this day!! Jason got us a taxi for that last 30 minute walk home after we got off the train!! AAAHHHHH!!! 
Here are some photos: 

SDC on a reconstructed wharf

A view from the SDC side of the bridge

Walking along the wharf area

The Opera House from under the Harbor Bridge

Other side of the bridge...very busy!

There it is!!

Where I met Jason, on the steps of the Opera House

The food court for lunch

Settling in!

Here in Sydney it is Friday, December 6th.  Jason has gone to the dentist and then off to work for the day. He is teaching a class and working on choreographing a piece for the Australian summer season of So You Think You Can Dance today. It seems that all the preliminary taping has been done for the shows audition process and the

20 dancers who made it through that competition will begin their live performances sometime in February. (10 of the 20 finalists have trained under Jason...Just a little mom note!!)
Today is the first day I have ventured further than the grocery by myself. After taking Stella to the dog park for her exercise and play time with her friends, I walked to the health food store and back. It took about an hour...but with excellent directions from Jason, I did not get lost!! The area of Sydney where Jason lives has 2 main streets that I have become familiar with, Bourke and Crown. It is a nice mixture of homes, apartments, stores, clubs, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, 'bottle shops' [aka, Wine store!]. The area feels very safe and walking everywhere is customary. I especially love the cafes and have 2 favorites already. Things are a bit different here in that no one minds if you sit for hours reading, writing or working on the computer. No tipping for service is the custom, as the waiters and waitresses are  paid for their work by the establishment. There is no sense of hurrying up, so someone else can take your place. Just chill!! Aaah, that feels nice!
The grocery and chemist (pharmacy) are only a block away and we shop daily for what we plan to do or cook. Obviously, one bag to carry at a time while walking makes that much easier to adjust to!! Something else I noticed in this area is that it is very pet friendly. Most people have dogs who are very socialized. It is not unusual for 8-10 dogs to be running and playing in the dog park. Stopping in for a coffee or a bottle of wine with your pet on a leash is commonplace! Stella is quite well known and gets her treats wherever we go! Of course, one does not leave home without a couple of dogie clean up bags in ones back pocket!! Everyone is respectful in that way!! The entire city that I have seen so far is VERY clean!! No trash or litter anywhere!!!
We ended the day by walking (I sure am getting my exercise!! Yeah!!) to a lovely restaurant for dinner. The picture I am posting is of  Jason and I relaxing with a glass of champagne!! So far we have not stopped reminiscing or finding news to share for a moment. Six years apart has a lot of daily stories we must tell!! and we've only just begun!!!

Now in the land of OZ!!

It is now about noon or so on Monday morning. I am sitting in Jason's living room with Stella resting by my side!! Bliss!!!!!  Jason is working today until 7PM and I will have dinner ready for us!! I am still not quite sure what time my body feels like it is...but sure slept well last night and got up about 10AM. Planning to unpack and get settled in today. Stella and I are going to the dog park and for a walk soon as I check in with you all!!
Here's the update on my trip: My 27.5 hour trip to Australia became a 40 hour adventure!! Not so in love with United Airlines and will think twice about using them the next time I come down under. We arrived in Sydney about 8:30PM Sunday evening (Australian time and I have no idea what time it was in Florida) ...the customs process here was very simple, dignified and all electronic. By some small miracle my luggage was there and with a little help from the service people at the airport, I got it all loaded on a cart...pushed it only a short distance and there was that darling blue eyed young man smiling from ear to ear, just waiting to take it all over!!! Jason handed me a cold juice drink and let me have my cry on his shoulder with no complaints!!! Whew, I knew it would be wonderful to see him, but did not expect to break into a sobbing mess!!! Jason said he knew I would, just laughed and kept hugging me!!! A truly JOYFUL reunion!!
Then we taxied about 10 minutes from the airport to his apartment, dropped my bags, met Stella and walked to the grocery store. [Note: That young couple I befriended on the journey who were honeymooning, ended up right behind us in the taxi line!! Looks like we even ended the race together!!] Everything is so convenient and close by!! Jason rides his bike to work, which takes about 8-10 minutes. There is a bus line and train system that I can use if need be...but really, there are cafes and stores all right here in the neighborhood. And that is where I am headed now!! With a map, of course!!!
Love and hugs to you all!!! Will work on sending some photos tomorrow!