Happy Australia Day!

Hi there everyone in cyber-world, and Happy Australia Day!

Yes, today is Australia Day. It marks the 220th year anniversary of when Captain Cook set foot on these shores all the way back in 1788. Australia Day isn't the big celebration that the fourth of July seems to be in the States. It's not that we aren't patriotic, I suppose it's that we're a bit lower key as a people. However, the best bit about Australia Day this year is that it falls on a Saturday so we get a public holiday on Monday. Hello long weekend!

In Australia there is a really cool nation-wide youth-focused radio station called Triple J which counts down the top 100 songs from the previous year as voted by the listeners - The Hottest 100. The music is a lot better than the commercial shite all of the other radio stations play, with wide variety of alternative music being the staple fare. As this is held on Australia Day each year, it has become a bit of a tradition to have a Hottest 100 BBQ and I'm heading to my friend Shelley's house in about an hour. So far on the countdown I've heard a couple of songs I voted for, including 'Samson' by Regina Spektor and 'Eliza' by Jackson Jackson. Both songs rocked my world last year so I'm pretty happy to have heard them make the list. Interested in learning more? Check out triplej.net.au.

On a much sadder note, the death of Heath Ledger this week has been a terrible tragedy and I have felt so very sad since I heard the news. He was an incredibly talented and passionate actor, but more importantly he also came across as a generous, funny and intelligent human being. He was only a year older than me and I suppose I have watched him grow into an adult as I too have grown. Without meaning this to sound as shallow as it possibly could, I will always remember him as being one of the best on-screen kissers of all time. He was master of the hand-on-cheek move that always made my insides feel all good and warm. His death is a huge loss to us all.

So, in saying all that, I hope you all have the best Australia Day ever! Rock on, be present and enjoy life. Every day is a good day.

Cheers
Tracy