Thanksgiving

The holiday season is now well and truly into full swing with summer upon us and Christmas lights adorning all of the houses in our neighborhood. We had a wonderful, traditional American-style Thanksgiving complete with turkey and all the trimmings. (See new Thanksgiving photo album). I made my first pumpkin pie from scratch (out of necessity). Kiwis eat lots of pumpkin and they are in all of the stores, but there is no canned pumpkin to be found! I may stick with the fresh pumpkin method - it's so good.

Rachel leaves us today after her 3 month soujourn in NZ. It's been a great learning experience, she's met kids just like herself from all over the world. We were talking last night about how important it is to travel, see how others live, and to recognize that really all of us, everywhere, no matter what country, religion, ethnicity, or depth of our pockets, are just the "sameunderneath." Kiwis have what they call the "Big OE" or overseas experience. Many kids take their OE during their "Gap Year" following high school graduation. That's probably why 96% of Kiwis have passports. I won't be surprised to see many of her new friends find their way to little ole Sisters, Oregon for a taste of the great American West!

While we celebrated Rachel's farewell with dinner up the road in Ponsonby, Tyler was holding down the fort at the restaurant with yet another record-breaking night. Hour after hour they came, they ate, they downed shots of Cuervo Gold, and they spent big time. Yes!

Bill Clinton is coming to Auckland in February and will be speaking and staying on Prince's Wharf at the Hilton. I sent an invite to him to join us for a burrito and a chat with our ex-pat American family, and got an immediate response from his scheduling secretary. While nothing is confirmed, it sounded like there is just a chance we just might be able to host Mr. President on the deck at Mexicali Fresh. You all know what an unabashed Clinton supporter I have always been. This would rock my world!