November 2008 Archives

Since last Thursday I have been covering the Dwight family that was killed by a drunk driver. Amanda Jahn and her two small children, died after their car was hit by another vehicle just outside of Mazon. For the full story on Tuesday's coverage see today's paper.

I've been particularly torn up by this story not only because of the husband and father, Josh Jahn's tragic loss, but because of the realization it has given me that this could happen to any of us at any time.

After the funeral Tuesday Josh held a press conference. As I was writing down everything he was saying I couldn't look him in the eye. Not because he was rude or unwelcoming to the press, but because his kindness to us under the given circumstances floored me and almost brought me to tears all over again.

It was so cold in Australia I had to wear my winter coat...

OK, not really. We went to visit an ice bar our last night there called Minus 5. Literally everything was either made of ice or enclosed in ice. The glasses, chairs and even the chandeliers. They supplied coats, gloves and boots for all the guests since it was actually -12 in the bar.

Today I voted at my brand new precinct voting location for the first time since I moved out of my old precinct.

It was nice and close and the election judges were friendly, for the most part.

As I walked into the polling place I was greeted by two gentlemen handing out Obama and Democratic fliers. Just as I was thinking to myself whether they were allowed to be so close to the entrance the little old woman in front of me very loudly started saying they weren't allowed to do this. One of the men nicely explained to the woman that they were allowed as long as they were 100 feet from the entrance.

He was indeed correct, which I believe irritated the old lady, who I'm guessing was voting Republican.

What I found irritating was not so much the friendly hello accompanied by a flier, but the election judges scolding the voters who were forced to carry in the fliers they were handed a 100 feet before.

Contrary to the common belief, kangaroos do not run wild in Australia.

OK maybe they do, but I didn't see one so I refuse to believe it.

In all actuality the area my boyfriend and I stayed in, Surfer's Paradise in Queensland is very much a tourist city and even the outskirts were not really kangaroo friendly. So I'm sure in other areas of the country they are as plentiful as deer are here. We just weren't lucky enough to catch sight of them.

But have no fear. I refused to travel 18 hours in two planes to Australia and not see a Kangaroo. So we took the two hour bus ride to the Australian Zoo where the kangaroos were very visible and very friendly.