The Twilight Report

Your Home For Snappy Repartee

Chrissy

The Chrissy[1] decorations are out already. In America don’t they usually wait until after Thanksgiving for that? Anyway, it’s not the timing that is unnerving for me, but the time of year. I know I will have to get over this, but this isn’t the time of year that you expect to see snowmen and fat guys in cold weather gear.

(weekend and food stuffs...)

On Saturday I had a tele-conference with Joe, Cicely and Brian about our summer vacation (summer vacation = this December/January). I was making fun of Joe for making a spreadsheet to plan our vacation, but I admitted that the tele-conference was my idea :) Anyway, it was really nice talking to them again. I know I am like el broken record, but I really miss those guys! Inexpensive calling cards are awesome.

It was all rainy and cruddy this weekend. We went down to Wollongong to meet Don at the finish line of his bike ride[2] and to have a picnic. The picnic was cancelled on account of rain and wind and windy rain. Instead we went to this fabulous little mom-and-pop restaurant, where we ate well and had a wonderful passion fruit ice cream dessert. I totally want to go back there to try out the waffle cones.

The other day I had one of the best mangos that I have ever had. I can’t understand how it is that American’s can live without mangos or passion fruit[3]. I mean, I do understand why they aren’t into Vegemite; I love that but I know it is an acquired taste. But mangos and passion fruit... they are just goodness.

In the elevator after a wet and windy day, mum and I were talking about what a miserable day it was, when the old lady who was also in the elevator told us that it was actually a wonderful day for all the people who were born today. She was a “philosopher” as my mum later described. Personally at that exact moment, I could do with a little less philosophising. It’s terrific that someone was born today, and it is super that you are thinking on the bright side of things, but think also of all the people who died today, but most importantly the fact that my shoes are soaking wet and it’s miserable outside god damn it.

Actually, I’m kidding. My shoes were actually pretty dry. My point is that whenever you start getting philosophical in your elevator small talk then lets face it: you’ve gone too far.

  1. Australian for Christmas
  2. the “Gong Ride” or Sydney to Wollongong bike ride
  3. Or for that matter, how I managed to get along without it when I was over there
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Relief

Looks like the Vegemite scare might be a hoax after all. According to news.com.au, US Denies Vegemite Ban. Although “US” denies a lot of things, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I believe them.

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Vegemite

note: for the duration of this entry I will pretend that I am not an American, because that is the only way I could possibly live with myself. I was born an Australian, and still hold Australian citizenship.

Amanda alerted me to the news that the Americans have declared war on Vegemite. Apparently, the cultural imperialists have decided that you can have folate in bread, but not on it. I can sort of understand having a policy banning the commercial import and sale of something; I don’t agree with it in this case, because there doesn’t seem to be a good reason aside from allowing Uncle Sam to turn into a nagging nanny(state). However, according to media reports, Australians entering the states have been searched and had jars of Vegemite intended for personal use confiscated. Other reports have been less consistent. Some say that Vegemite is still being sold in speciality stores in the states, others say the opposite and point out that an on-line retailer of Australian foods in America have ceased sale of Vegemite, some have openly speculated that whole story is a hoax.

I for one hope that it is a hoax, because all though I don’t live in America anymore, the idea not having Vegemite is just too horrible to contemplate. I don’t actually eat all that often, but when I do, it is deeply satisfying, and for my 25 years in the states, it was one of the few Australian things that I had to remind me of home. I sometimes use Vegemite for medicinal purposes: when I have a bad headache or an upset tummy, nothing helps more than a few slices of toast with Vegemite!

The last time they did something like this, Clinton banned Australian lamb. That was an insult, but at least Aussie expats could still have New Zealand lamb, which is arguably just as good. One of the few good things his successor did was lift the ban.

So of course the first thing I did when I got home was have some toast and Vegemite.

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