Just another purge of news...

No pics, but don't worry, you don't want any... Actually I COULD put up photos of our CRAZY Saint Patrick's Day celebrations, which then led into even CRAZIER (mainly due to lateness of night and lack of sleep) birthday celebrations for Tony!!! That was last weekend... which probably contributed to us being sick all week. Actually I've been sick since the week before last, started coming down with a "change-of-season" cold and then it spiked on, like, Monday... I felt like DEATH!!!!! Then I started getting better towards the end of the week as Daniel started getting sicker... We have impeccable timing, have I ever mentioned that???
I had my Brooklyn College audition last weekend, sick, but still got a call-back. Went back later that afternoon and did a whole bunch of REALLY fun drama and relaxation exercises. Of all the auditionees, I was one of about 20 people at the call back. Of that number, I THINK they take about 8... so, we'll see. I should know in about 3 weeks...(about the same time I find out if I won tickets to go see the Musical, Spring Awakening, on Broadway... if I get BOTH it's going to be the BEST WEEK EVER!!!!!!!!)
So, Daniel has been working like a DOG!!!! (I don't necessarily think Dogs work very hard but who's going to argue with The Beatles) Last week was especially hard. Worked all Sunday and then had a week where he had to be at work early every day and stay late most days too.... He was EXHAUSTED come this weekend!!!!!! But the job is looking better and better. He's getting a lot of opportunities and making some good contacts. I'm very proud of him. And, he's really happy, too.
You know, I started keeping this blog a year ago... almost to the day. And when I started this blog, NEVER did I imagine that we would have come this far. We bought some furniture on the weekend and cleaned up our apartment. It REALLY looks like a home now, like OUR home. I think about everything we had a year ago, all that we gave up and sacrificed and now, all that we have gained... in a YEAR... in just 12 months, people. It blows my mind. I am honestly in shock!!!! I am so proud of Daniel, mostly. I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew what would be easy and what would be hard about living in this country and in this city. I knew what the people would be like and how hard it would be being so far from home. But, Daniel.... Daniel had no idea. He just dived right in, blindfolded and trusting. He put so much faith in me, so much trust in me and in our marriage. And, although he hasn't told me this, I guess, in himself as well. I mean, he HAD to have faith in himself and his own ability to kick New York's ASS!!!!! And he has, he IS!!!!!!! He has taken this challenge, this imposable dream, and he's building it. He's working for it and he's making it happen. I am so proud of him, and I guess, by association, I have to be proud of myself for the same reason. We really did throw away everything. Jessica, the girls I used to work with at Steam (only 1 or 2 years my senior) just had a baby. I think about the path Daniel and I were on in Sydney... that could have been us, you know?? Not that it would have been a bad thing, it would have been an absolute blessing (one I still hope to have soon) but it would have meant not being able to do this. Not being able to say in 30 years, no matter where we are, that we went for it. Gung-Ho, All Out, we went for it, and gave it our all. We risked everything for this dream, and we tried. I'm glad I can say that... And I hope that one day, I can say it was all totally worth it and paid off!!!!!!
I love you all, and miss you to death!!!!!!!
We send big hugs, we miss you all!

Three Years and Counting.....

Two days ago, Daniel and I celebrated our Leather Anniversary.
No, I'm not being cheeky. Traditionally, each anniversary has a type of gift associated with it. The 50th is the Golden Anniversary. The 75th is the Diamond Anniversary (although in modern lists, this is changed to, most commonly, the 10th Anniversary - due to a rise in divorce and people getting married at an older age). And the First, Second, and Third are the Paper, Cotton, and Leather Anniversaries, respectively. For our 1st Anniversary, Daniel gave me tickets (made of paper) to New Zealand to visit Esmae and Leroy. Last year, he got me the beautiful cotton dress I wore to our Anniversary Dinner. This year (without even TALKING about it to one another) we BOTH bought each other Guess?. Yes, I'm talking the brand, I'm not asking you to actually guess what we got each other. I gave Daniel a beautiful, black, leather Guess? wallet and he gave me a gorgeous, black, leather, Guess? handbag!!!!!! SSOOOOOOOOOO pretty!!!!!! And totally weird when, of ALL the brands AND non-brands available in New York City, we BOTH pull out the same thing. It was hilarious.... well.... maybe you just had to be there....

So, for those of you who DON'T know how we work it - Each year, in March we celebrate our big, public wedding with a big party or dinner to which we invite all our friends (this will be the one we celebrate with a family dinner with our kids and grand-kids one day) and then, each November the two of us, quietly, celebrate the anniversary of our marriage - almost FIVE years ago.
This year, in homage to our joint background and all the people who COULDN'T be part of the celebration this year (thanks for the e-mail, Kath), we had our dinner at the OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE!!!!!!!! Now, there is NOTHING Australian about this place.... NOTHING. but the atmosphere is fun and, we discovered, they EVEN sell James Boag's (which isn't Daniel's favorite Aussie beer, but it is pretty bloody nice after almost a year of American brews). They have crazy items on their menu like, Aussie Cheese Fries (because you all know how much us Aussies love slathering liquid cheese on our french fries) and Tassie's Buffalo Strips (firstly, Tassie is not a person. secondly, I've never even SEEN buffalo strips or wings for that matter in Australia, and thirdly, even if we DID have them, they would not be served with DANISH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING). SSOOOOOOOOOOOO funny.
But the food was good, the drinks were good and the company was excellent. Our good friends Ben and Iris were there, of course, as were our new best friends, Lauren and Sara. We were then also joined by Daniel's good friends, Tony and Jon. As well as a friend of mine from work, Brad, and his boyfriend. It was a Great night. As all the pictures will testify to!!!!!!

I does love that boy!!!! We really had a great night. No drunken yelling or ranting. Just a few drinks and laughs with good friends. Pictures like this, or me looking adoringly at Daniel, were taken all night long. Geez... anybody would think I actually like him or something!!!!!

Just a lot of talking and laughing.... wish you all could have been there.

Daniel with his good friend, Tony - no longer the crazy Asian guy in background!!!!!

My friend Brad, from work (well, he works at PostWorks, who we rent our offices from) and his boyfriend, Victor... Brad's on the right.
Lauren and Sara - looking FULL of fun and excitement as always!!!!!! hehehe

Daniel and Sara (basically, when we WEREN'T laughing and talking we were taking a LOT of pictures... we went kind of crazy...)
And me with Iris.... then things got a little crazy.....Tony went very crazy with the camera, actually... I guess I probably didn't help things though... I have been known to encourage when told "Don't encourage them!!!"

But all fun must come to an end, and we had to call it a night. It was VERY fun, though. I really do wish you all could have been there. Maybe next year, say around the 13th of March, you could ALL plan a trip to the Big Apple!!!!!

So, from your favorite Married Friends (or kids, as the case may be, Dad, Mum, Deb) we send you all our love - this week, more than ever!!!!! We celebrated our anniversary and did think a lot of that special day, three years ago, that you were all such a huge part of. Thank you. For all your love, support, friendship and prayers over the years. It's all worked. We're still here, still happy and still missing you all terribly!!!!!! Love to you all. Taliesen and Daniel.

It's been FAR TOO LONG

See? This is what happens when daniel asks to put up the next blog.... I wait two and a half weeks and then, give up!!!!
The thing is, HE'S the one with all the news. So, I'll do my best to impart it to you.

Firstly, his VERY exciting news is that he's been doing more crew work with his job. He has been the camera man or assistant camera man on several projects over the last couple of weeks and in the process has met the First Prime-minister of Israel (who was in the US promoting his Biography. Little known fact: his father was saved during WWII by an Aussie), a bunch or actors auditioning for Mama Mia:The Musical Film, Dawn French (of French and Saunders) who was interviewing Jackie Mason, and.... wait for it.... Beyonce Knowles!!!! That's right people, Daniel met BEYONCE KNOWLES!!!! And yes, she is not only as beautiful in real life, but even MORE SO... and charming, and gracious, and down-to-earth... yes, Daniel came home completely smitten. He got to follow her around for a day with a camera, fight paparazzi along side her and accompany her to MTV Studios for the debut of her new song with Shakira.
There is a wall at MTV Studios, where all the celebrities enter, that is covered in these "photo-booth" pictures. MTV has a photo booth and they get all the musicians and celebrities to take their picture in it and the pics go up on the wall. Daniel took his photo with his camera as a piece of memorabilia of the first time he was in MTV Studios (and it was for WORK, no less).
Unfortunately, Shakira was not there that day.... but as a side note, Christina Aguilera was!!!!
AND, if any of you want to see what Daniel was filming... YOU'RE IN LUCK!!!! It was for Sixty Minutes Australia. Below is the link, or search for Beyonce on the 60 Mins site... It aired on March 10, 2007!!!!!

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/sixtyminutes/stories/2007_03_11/story_1863.asp

Anyway, I won't steal ALL his thunder and say EVERYTHING he was going to... Hopefully, he'll have time to write soon.

Otherwise, we are well. It's our 3rd Wedding Anniversary tomorrow and we're having a big dinner with friends... I'll put photos up, don't worry.

Talk soon. Love to you all, as always!!!!!
Taliesen.