mX, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

reading the giveaway newspaper mX at Flinders Street Station.

I still haven't seen a MILK bar, per se, in Australia.

Who do you wear your poppy for? I wear mine for:
• my dad, who went to Iraq in 2003 and served during the Viet Nam era.
• my uncle who went to Desert Storm in 1991
• my cousin who was an MP in Kuwait
• my grandmother who served in the US Air Force in the Korean War era, who passed away 11 months ago.
• my Grandfather, who served in the USAF and met my grandmother in the Air Force (they were 1/2 of the first double wedding at their base)
• my distant relative who sacrificed his own life in Korea so that others could get medical help His CMOH citation.
• my other ancestors who served in the US Civil War, Revolution and other wars
• those who served, and sacrificed, so they know that they are appreciated and never forgotten.

Why do you wear your poppy?

Election Day in Melbourne, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

After sitting around all afternoon watching election returns from home, I went with A-ru to some shopping and to the library.

I left him at Melbourne Central and went walking toward the library. A car pulled up next to me, the window down in the afternoon heat. I heard a familiar voice: that of my country's new President-Elect speaking of hope and change.

As I walked further toward the library, I kept hearing his speech, coming out of shops, resturants, cars on a busy Australian street.

After returning books and paying my fine (yikes), I sat in the library café. The barista told me that her colleagues were all huddled around the radio hearing my soon-to-be President speak. I smiled.

When I had finished and went to pay, I realised they were playing a mix of his speeches over drum-and-bass. How amazing, that halfway across the world, people are so excited about my new president that they would play remixes of his speeches in a café to set the mood and entertain their customers.

As I walked back to Melbourne Central, I picked up mx, the free afternoon weekly. The cover, pictured here, captures the sentiment. The banner has been turned into a stylised American flag. When I ran into A-ru again, I was beaming.

After eight long years, our national nightmare is over. The world will love my country once again.

Dead TV: 3, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

A first for me – three dead tvs!

Dead TV: Bogan's Run, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

This dude was taking a dead tv from this collection place. I was really amused by the 2L bottle of half-drunk Coke.

N.B.: Bogan (adj., Australian slang) a redneck. See also: chav, white trash.

Happy Hallowe'en, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

Here's a scary sight of an amazing toothpaste tube (not mine) I found.

That Real-Estate Boom?, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

It's over.

Used to be, people would bid up on apartments in Melbourne. Now, I'm getting phone calls from agents and these lovely text messages telling me the price has dropped. I haven't actually inspected this property, but I keep hearing about it - I'm tempted to go look at it tomorrow (no stalkers, plz, k thx).

Too bad I'm not looking for an apartment any more...

Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

I love the Restaurant trams. I read an article about this thing the other week and the most memorable part? Tram wheels can go square.

The Wedding Photographer, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

She was struggling with tricky light, the wind on the beach, the nouveau riche wedding party and people on the beach popping up into the shot. She interrupted my nap on the beach, so, following my policy of making lemonade out of lemons, I took some photos.

I hope she overcharged for shooting on the beach. She deserved it!

PA150751, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

At NGV Australia at Federation Square.

Exterior, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

The exterior of the remarkable Melbourne Museum.

Towering, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

I've reached a point where I can't stand the thought of an apartment in a heartless building like this. I think a big part of it is the neighbourhood many of these are in - Melbourne's CBD is a relatively cold, hearless, dull place compared to the suburbs.

Armadale Glow, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

Waiting for a tram at night. Shot sans tripod.

21.55, Today, at home, originally uploaded by brappy♥.

I'm not sure what I did to deserve this, but when I met A-ru on his way home from work today, he was bearing roses for me, and a cute card. :D