In Memory of Joseph Cook Jr.

Late last week we got word that my cousin Joe Cook had passed away after a long disability resulting from a tragic car accident several years ago.  Given that we were unable to attend the funeral this past Monday (but Tom, Cindy, and Jim were) Debbie and I at least wanted to acknowledge Joe's passing and to express our condolences to his wife Karen, daughters Carolyn and Kristen, his mother Joyce, and sisters Anne and Sue.

I will always remember Joe as the "cool" cousin because he always had the coolest stuff - the first time I ever saw an electronic game - "Pong" - it was at Joe's house.  We thought "Pong" was the height of technological achievement.  He always had the latest music (first time I ever heard a George Harrison solo album - I think it was "My Sweet Lord" from "All Things Must Pass," which would make it 1971).  He seemed to know everybody - there were always a lot of his friends around.  He had a pool table, an electric shuffleboard and as I recall, an electric bowling game down in the basement.  And it was educational - he even had this interesting poster of a young lady with a cowboy hat - and nothing else - on, and I think that was also the first time I ever saw an issue of "Playboy."   He even had a great dog - that big Saint Bernard that (I believe) somebody actually stole.  I was always jealous Jim got to stay the weekend after Christmas or Thanksgiving when family events took place at the Cook house.  It was always an experience.

Just like his Dad, he helped my Mom with legal work, which I knew she really appreciated.

Joe was a lot of fun and he was never boring to be around.  I know his brother Masons gave him a good send-off.

So rest in peace, Joe. 

Another Bonus Photo

While I have heard from Herr Kleinert, Cousin Trudie Thompson, and Cousin Jim Klein (Jim - please clue Second Cousin Michel into the blog), the rest of you are a mystery.

The view from our friends James and Su's house in Kangaroo Valley.  Su went to school with Danielle from Sydney (Mrs. Roosa). 

Bonus Photo

My campsite this past weekend on my friend Danielle's (that would be Mrs. Roosa) land outside Joadja, about an hour south of Sydney and in the back of beyond.  Had to kill one poisonous spider, no brown snakes sighted (mercifully - I'm sure they were there).   Wombats are really noisy at night, I have discovered.

Tasmanian Tiger descendant located...

I came home today and this is what I found.  Karnak was apparently perusing my September 1986 of Australian Geographic which has a key article on the search for the Tasmanian Tiger.  Note the resemblance. 

Further notes from the front (water) line

Bull sharks seen in flooded streets

Chris Garry | 14th January 2011

The flooded Ipswich Motorway at Goodna on Thursday became a causeway.

Two bull sharks have been spotted swimming in flooded streets in Goodna.

Two bull sharks have been spotted swimming past the McDonald’s restaurant in Goodna.

Goodna butcher Steve Bateman saw one of the sharks swimming through the flooded waters of Williams Street near his bucher’s shop in the St Ives shopping centre yesterday.

There were several reports of another shark spotted in Queen Street, the main street through Goodna.

Bull sharks have been spotted in the Goodna sections of the Bremer River previously, with fishermen regularly catching them from the Goodna boat ramp.

Ipswich councillor for the Goodna region Paul Tully said while it may sound almost too bizarre to be real, the shark sighting was valid.

“It would have swam several kilometres in from the river, across Evan Marginson Park and the motorway,” Cr Tully said.

“It’s definitely a first for Goodna, to have a shark in the main street.

“I know Steve (Bateman) and he wouldn’t say he saw a shark unless he really saw one.

“It’s not like there have been polar bears or crocodiles spotted.

“Bull sharks have been in Goodna for a long time in the Bremer.

“They are regularly in the Brisbane River and often swim up. I know a number of fishermen who have caught bull sharks.”

State Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller also backed Mr Bateman’s bull shark sighting.

“Steve wouldn’t lie about something like that. He’s very well known in the community.”

Bull sharks are the third most likely shark to attack a human being. They are noted for their aggressive behaviour and often swim in shallow waters along coasts and rivers.

Mr Bateman was not available for comment.

Goodna was awash with water eight metres deep during the past 48 hours. The water receded dramatically overnight.

Police evacuated people from a large area of Goodna as large quantities of flammable gas spewed into the air yesterday.

Chuck comment:  I think bull sharks can operate either in fresh or salt water.  I read in the Washington Post that two big ones were just caught in the Chesapeake Bay. 

I can see the insurance claim now:  "Drank 12 XXXX stubbies at the pub.  Left pub, waded across street.  Bit by shark."

There has been a lot rain here lately and that means a lot of trees have gotten washed down the Molonglo River and into Lake Burley-Griffin.  Look at the piles of driftwood pulled out of Yarralumla Bay just opposite our house:

 

OK - here are a few more photos for the flood-obsessed.

More in a bit.

Why I love my wife...

She would go into the bowels of hell for me - in a cotton jumpsuit...nice of Satan to provide the metal walkway.  Under the prison of Fremantle.

But enough of my late-night sentimentality...

Consider the lilies of the field (this past Spring while in the \(countryside around Adelaide)...

 

 

The Perfect Woman.  Deep sea fishing off Melbourne which required taking a shower at the marina, and THEN going to the airport.  I caught zip.

Bonus Photo!

The lovely Debbie.

If you have ever watched a Tarzan movie, you have heard a kookaburra...

During their visit here, Tom and Jan were alarmed when I shouted "kookaburra!" while driving down the road.  I spotted the distinctive huge head of the kookaburra on a telephone line.  By the time I backed the car up he was gone.  However, later at Port Stephen one evening we heard them calling to each other.  They actually eat meat.  I have a friend in north Sydney who has two families that live in his back yard and feed at his bird fountain and also come up to the kitchen window and will go inside to get the food set out for them.  The cat is simply bemused by the entire event.  I was just sent this photo of breakfast for the kookaburras:

 

You may wonder what I mean about the Tarzan movies.  The recording you always hear in the jungle of that crazy-sounding bird is actually a kookaburra.  Australian were puzzled why there were kookaburras in Africa but I suppose there was some soundman who was told to "get some Africa jungle sounds, dammit!" by a Director and hence the kookaburra was transplanted to the deepest darkest.

Get this - the following is from the Cincinnati Zoo's kookaburra:

Enjoy.

The Cerificate

I almost forgot - since it is a rare honor, you should see it:

Richly deserved.  Here is Ivan as a Captain in December 1968 (center) in base camp south of Danang:

The Marine Corps never forgets...best decision I ever made.

Semper Fidelis...Always Faithful.

OK, I'm not doing all the work...

I have sent out a blog post on which I spent a considerable amount of time.  I expect feedback or I'm not staying up late to do this any more.  By the way, thanks, Bill. Those of who you are retired have no excuse.  Those of you who happen to be my cousins have no excuse.  I'm doing my best to stay connected.

Here is a little photo to keep you interested...

 

This is  Colonel Ivan J. Hill Australian Army (Retired).  Ivan commanded Echo Company, 2nd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment in Vietnam in 1967-68 (we decorated him for bravery).  I was successful in getting the Commandant of the Marine Corps to make him an Honorary Marine at the USMC Birthday Ball here in Canberra on 19 November 2010.  He is only the 10th person in 2010 to receive this honor. It's a very big deal.  There may well be an article (I wrote it) in "Leatherneck Magazine" in March or April.

And here is the Lovely Debbie and Ivan and his wife Deleith with our Ambassador, Jeff Bleich (who went to Law School with the Prez).

Debbie is now a Federal Employee (woo-hoo!) and works in Protocol with the Ambassador.

More later...

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Back from the Dead

It has been brought to my attention that the last post from Down Under was in September.  Well, it was either post to the blog or entertain or give up the online history course I took through December 26.  Here's what has been going on:

1)  Our friend Kathleen from NY visited in October.  Local bachelors still mourn her departure.  This is her and Debbie at a bookstore in Bungendore - if you look at the writing above their head you will see the words: "The Kathleen Tanzy and Debbie Ikins Wing Dedicated 24 October 2010."

 

2)  Our friends the Maseks arrived on Oct 30 to attend the Melbourne Cup in November (BIG horse race - everything in Australia shuts down for the afternoon to watch). Marjorie's father, a naval officer in port in Melbourne, attended the Melbourne Cup in 1934, betting on Peter Pan, and apparently won big time.  It was reportedly a good Christmas.  They stopped briefly in Canberra and then headed down to Melbourne for the race.

Oh yeah - Debbie took over the betting for us and we bet on - of course - Americain - which won.  We bet about $20 but won about $150.  My intention to mortgage the house was thwarted by Debbie, to our regret.

3)  Before the Maseks left for Melbourne, our friends Heather and Lindsay from Sydney arrived for an anniversary weekend.  That's them at the front left and right.  Heather has just dropped lamb on the floor and trying to decide if the 3-second rule applies (actually she's talking to Karnak).

4)  Then, Brother Tom and Sister-in-Law Jan arrived in November for about three weeks.  Their visit and that of the Maseks overlapped for about a week.  But that's why we got two extra bedrooms (and even turned my office into a bedroom for Miles).  We all had a great time together in Canberra, driving up to Sydney, then farther north to Port Stephens (where we chartered a fishing boat and Miles Captained it), and then after the Maseks departed Tom, Jan, Debbie and I went to Melbourne.

 

 

This is the State of Victoria Library - also where they keep Ned Kelly's plow-share armor:

And here's Ned...before and after hanging.

 

We even had dinner on a tram that drove all over the city:

 And then there was a lot more stuff like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New year  plus my having to a lot of reading and writing for my historical research and writing online history course (I am taking another course as we speak, and then I start a graduate program in military history in March...paid for by the Australian Department of Defence).  Pretty good deal.

I will provide further detail and bring everyone up to date on our activities since September but this should suffice for now.

OK - one more if you insist - this is us prior to going 100 feet straight down under the Fremantle Prison and into a little canoe, where we paddled around through the water supply tunnels for 2 hours.  Just to whet your appetite for more of our adventures...

 

 

You know, the secret to a successful marriage is you just have to find something you can do together...no matter how mundane it might be.


More later.