Gordon and Sarah's world adventure

On March 18th, Sarah an Gordon will embark on a trip of a lifetime. According to Gordon, the "gist is to fly to Riga in Latvia and get a train to Moscow, pick up Trans Siberia train to Mongolia. Then on to Beijing and six months exploring China, then Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Singapore before heading to Oz for Christmas with some old friends and on to New Zealand to explore and see the relatives there." The plan from there gets a bit more sketchy, but will develop as they get closer.

Gordon has set up a blog and a flickr page for their photos. He's also got a new email address (gorglionelburger@googlemail.com) for the trip so everyone can keep up with them and see where they are.

I've added their site addresses to "My Links" at the bottom right of this page too. 

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Mmmm irn-bru!

Posted via Pixelpipe.

2008 Year in Review

First, Merry Christmas everyone! I sincerely hope your holidays are filled with good times, good health, warmth and love. I'm posting this letter in a couple of spots, so you may see it elsewhere. It's my year in review, highlights and not-so-high lights — in sort of chronological order — sorta.

ILLNESS

2008 was by far the sickest year of my life. It started while we were in NJ visiting over the holidays last Dec/Jan. New Year's Eve was spent with my head in a bucket and not for the usual reason. I had gotten some bug Chris had had the day before, so it made for a very long 14-15 hour drive home New Year's Day. And unfortunately I kept getting sick, for about 8 or 9 months, off and on. I was (mis)diagnosed with bronchitis three times till I finally had to insist on seeing an allergist. Turned out it was asthma related to allergies, not bronchitis. Argh. Doing well now and Chris, though limping from his hip problems, is also doing very well.

LONDON

In early March, I traveled abroad to see Liz and Carol in London for four days. It was fantastic to see them, and they were wonderful to me, taking me all over the city. The hard part was the cold I had had gotten so much worse that at one point I couldn't speak and couldn't hear. It was probably the strangest experience I'd ever had with a head cold, but it makes for a funny story. I just wish it didn’t have to happen then.

FACEBOOK

I resisted, like so many others that I have now pestered about joining, but I got on board with Facebook and amazingly have gotten back in touch with old friends, colleagues, classmates and long-lost cousins — and even cousins I have never met. It's been pretty cool to just follow what your "friends" are doing, see what they post, what their interests are and see what they look like now from photos they add to their profiles. Like I said, I resisted, but now I'm hooked.

BLOGGING

My blog is titled "Blethering on about nothing (as usual)," because basically it's whatever comes to my mind, or it's a video or photo I thought was interesting or amusing ... hell, it’s whatever I feel like posting. Often it's about sports, hockey usually, but once in a while I'll actually post something of value — like the holiday photocard pricing. I got a lot of emails thanking me for that. You're very welcome, and thanks for reading. 

LBI, YEAR FIVE

2008 was our fifth year vacationing in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island and the third year in the same rental house. A few years ago we started traditions like taking Jordyn to a children's play at the local theater (2009 will be Mackensey's first time), making our beach spot outside the Tiki Bar, celebrating my birthday, and going to the amusement park on our last night. But the tradition I think I enjoy the most is watching the sunset together. We all walk to the bay and sit on the yacht club steps watching the show. It never gets old. Unlike me.

KITCHEN RENOVATIONS

We tore out the ugly Brady Bunch oven that had obviously been wired incorrectly — the dials on the front heated up to whatever temperature you set it to (?!!!). With that, the brick walls that housed it were also removed, but that was not really what I wanted gone so badly — it was the 1950s knotty pine paneling that just made me cringe (and still does unfortunately) every time I walk into the room. So down it comes and up goes drywall. We have lived without an oven for over 18 months now. Making Thanksgiving dinner was interesting, we cooked the turkey (breast) in a crockpot. It actually turned out great. Click on the link above to see the progress we've made and check back after the new year to see what's new. We actually have our new appliances, we just need to install them.

JOB

In the three years I have been at the AJC, I have had four different job titles. Currently I am the Art Director of the Sunday paper. I have also moved my desk five times. I'm not complaining, I have a job, I'm just sayin' ...

KINDERGARTEN & POTTY TRAINING

Being so far away from home, I'm missing out on the milestones in the lives of the two most precious people in my life, Jordyn and Mackensey. Jordyn started kindergarten this year. I can't believe it. And I really couldn't believe it when I got her school photo and she looked like she should be starting junior high! Mackensey has grown up so fast that I barely recognize her any more than she does me after months away from each other. Walking, talking, potty training and learning her ABCs. The kid is a riot too, just take a look at this video (below).

ROCKY

Well, as most of you know, we lost our little buddy this summer. It was by far the lowest point of the year and is still a source of great pain for Chris and I. But he had a great, long life, so we decided our Christmas card would pay tribute to him with photos from his 15 years. I also realized it was about time I went through the thousands of photos we have of him, and after editing them down to just slightly under 200, I published a book on Blurb.com called "Rocky, The other white boxer from Philadelphia." 

BIFOCALS

That's right. Bifocals. Middle-age has a head-lock on me now. They're actually not that bad. The upside is that I can now see the when I watch hockey!

JOIN US ON XMAS08

This is a wee site I started for everyone to share stories and photos of their holidays (if you're reading this, you are invited to participate and have probably already gotten an annoying email from me about it). I thought it would be fun to have one place where we could check in and see what we're all doing this year.

MILNECLAN.COM

Yes, I know. I'm a slacker. Truth is, I've just been busy doing other stuff and found other ways to connect (see facebook and blogging above). Since my last update, there have been two new members to the family — Corey and Jason Wimmer welcomed daughter Audra back in March. And my Kiwi cousin Greig Russell and his wife Kelly welcomed their daughter Summer, in July (which is winter time in New Zealand). The baby news continues with Fraser and Arlene Milne expecting another bonnie wee lass in the new year on Robert Burns' birthday (Jan. 25th — c'mon people!).

Well, I think that covers just about everything. Here's wishing you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Cheers,

Joanne

Naughty ... or nice?

Squirrely soccer player