Y'know, EVERY toilet I've been it has these new flushers that shoot out water straight down...but in the shower the other day I finally saw the counterclockwise movement as the water went down the drain. I can check that one off the list. A side note on the toilets thing: they have 2 settings, one for a number 1 and a second for a number 2. That HAS to come to America.

Two sides of the labor coin:
Live to work
Work to live

Americans live to work, or at least thats what the rest of the lazy world thinks. Most Americans I know are not workaholics, at least not in my opinion, but damn! I be workin' circles around my aussie peeps! Not all of them, mind you. People in management seem to kick ass. I guess its my my job to whip these guys into shape and get them motivated to advance. I was not looking forward to this part of the job when I was going forward with this job, but now that I'm here and I see what is being done and what can be done, I'm game. Yeah, this may sound all corporate but trust me I'm still the same slacker I was in the US. Anyway, we're off tomorrow here. Twin bill out at the Annandale Hotel tonight and Ninetynine at the Hopetoun Hotel tomorrow.

Things are coming together.

-My bike, computer, and other personal effects came in yesterday
-My work visa was approved
-over the weekend, I checked out a place that I'm going to move in May 5. Its in Redfern which isn't known as the best part of Sydney, but its a ton better than the Armory in PVD. I've got my own bathroom, a balcony off my bedroom (shared with other bedroom), and a pool, gym and hot tub on the ground floor. All a 5 minute, no a 3 minute walk to the train. And theres no changing trains to get to work. And its an easy trainride to Bondi. Alas, all of this does have its downside...no cable in the entire facility. Apparently you have to have a powwow and chant to the heavens in order to get cable into multi-unit apartments in this town.
-Saw my first australian band last night. Neon. Very average, with a decent song or two. They just singed to the same label as The Vines. The singer looked like that brat from the Vines and kinda sounded like him too. When I was looking into the aussie music scene before I came down here and I would out The Vines were the aussie band of the moment, I wasn't thrilled. Their cd holds the record for quickest return for cash at newberry comics. At least in my record collection.

More aussie bands tonight and friday, and saturday night has the sahara hotnights and the datsuns. Seen both of those bands already, and being at the tailend of a 4 show weekend, they may get the axe.

Mudgee

Taking advantage of the 4 day weekend (Good Friday + Easter Monday) I made my first trip outside of Sydney. The destination was a small town called Mudgee (population 8,500) about 4 hours drive from Sydney. If you were to drive to a town of less than 10000 in the middle of nowhere in the US, you can bet there wouldn't be all that much going on. Mudgee was a pleasant surprise. As we arrived in town, we went to the local pub and asked some of the locals there how one would book a tour of the wineries. A local by the name of Andrew came up with the idea of him giving the personal tour of the wineries for a price. We haggled abit over price but I wasn't sure we would be seeing him in morning. I was surprised when sure enough at 9AM there he was. He made this huge breakfast of eggs sausages and bacon for us before we started our day. All told we must have hit about 8 wineries. I picked up some decent whites for about $3/bottle and some very good reds that were still a good value in the $10/bottle range. After lunch and one last winery, we made it back into town for some schooners (aussie term for glass of beer) and pool. I couldn't win either game, but darts is more my game anyway. In the early evening Andrews brother and his wife came over from Dubbo, a town 90 minutes away and still further inland. They were cool too. Turns out we all like some of the same music - I was floored when they knew who Spoon was and Catpower. Went out to dinner and then the Hotel Paragon for drinks. I had enough drinks in me that I ventured on the dancefloor. I do not believe I made an ass out of myself, but I was feeling pretty good by the end of the night. Actually talked to a few aussie women. The American accent helps. If I ever make it up to Mudgee again, Andrew has extended the offer to drive to Dubbo and hang out with Emma and Patrick. All in all some really good people.

Right now its monday morning and I'm either sick with a cold or still recovering from saturday night, so I really must be wrapping this up.