WINE AND THE WALLABIES.

January 1

It is hot. I jump in the pool for awhile, but it is still hot. Meanwhile, Kevin is dedicated to watching Dexter. Mia is dedicated to watching the Vampire Diaries. Noah, incessantly, plays call of duty or an equal video. Mom watches Law and Order and I watch The Good Wife. Later we are going to see the Hobbit. The iPads, the laptops and at least two TVs are all going simultaneously. We all have our own device vices.

Mendy and I discussed a book concept last night that she has titled The Tribal Rituals of the American Teenager. The premise is that the rituals have changed over the years in the manner that the rituals are expressed, but the underlying theme is still the same. e.g teenagers desire to go out with their friends on their own and parents are reluctant to let them. It is a ritual that every teenager and every parent has experienced. Also, there is the ritual of the proper clothes, the proper friends and so on. 

These rituals are practiced in Australia, America and I suspect every other country too. Around the world, teenagers have many common characteristics and observe the same tribal rituals. The rituals seem to be independent of time and geography. I will check back with Mendy in a few months to see how the book is progressing.

Yesterday, we visited a local winery. It was perched on hill that overlooked a valley of grass, which was also a gourmet buffet for dozens of wallabies. We stood on a deck and about 100 yards in the distance was a platform where famous singers perform, Mariah Carey was just there. Mom bought some cheese, prosciutto, pate and bread and it was almost like Napa - A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou. It was wonderful.

Tomorrow, the Sunshine coast and then we fly to Sydney.