4/25/2013

I did not have class or clinic today because it is a public holiday.  Today is Anzac day is celebrated in Australia and New Zealand.  If you remember last year I told you about 2-up the game that is only legal on Anzac day.  Today I was involved in some more Anzac day traditions.  

I left my house at 5:30 to go to the Dawn service at the shrine of remembrance where they remember all the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who have died in foreign wars.  I tried to get pictures but I am short and was far away and thus was unsuccessful.  This video shows the best parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3Ox8x0yjvM 

After the dawn service I engaged in another main point of Anzac day: sport. 

Steph and I went bike riding on Yarra Boulevard.  It is 6km of steep hills.  It almost reminds me of riding in morgantown.  We went one end to the other and had just turned around for a second go when Steph got a flat.  She is very fast and has a great bike but she is not the best on bike maintenance. It took 45 minutes and me redoing it to fix her flat.  At that point it was time for me to go to work and she headed home.  

Next I went to footy practice.  A couple of the players had tight legs and we organised supplies for the weekend.  Other than that it was a quiet morning.  

I quickly biked home and changed in order to meet my camping buddies for pre-camp shopping.   We are bringing enough food to feed twice as many people(or 1.5 very very hungry maddies) The grocery store was only open for 4 hours today so it was super crowded when we went.  Note for future: Anzac day is not the day to do your shopping.  

Interesting fact: I learned from my camping friends that Boston is best place in the USA to find community activities for ANZAC day but not until the weekend.

I came home and got back into the sport part of the holiday as the AFL(Profession Aussi rules football) Anzac rivalry game started.  I watched with Kat and Billy. Well kinda. Mostly I talked and did chores and occasionally watched a play or so.  Essendon beat Collingwood 121-79.  I live close to Essendon and everyone hates Collingwood(because they are loud and obnoxious) so I guess I'm excited? I'm really trying to get into AFL but I'm having no luck.  I care about it more than MBA but less than MLB, (Basketball and Baseball for my extremely sporty sister...but I'm sure you knew that;) which isn't saying very much. 

This evening I did chores.  Brought in the laundry that had been sitting in the rain since last Sunday and started the laundry for this week.  I packed for my trip this weekend and made granola bars.  Well...I tried too.  From an entire pan, I got 5.  The rest crumbled so I have some tasty trail mix :)?

ANZAC day appropriately celebrated!