About Irene

When a colleague examined Irene’s astrological chart, she said, “Irene, you are not the adventurous type. The stars which have aligned themselves on the day of your birth have determined that you are a homebody and the closest adventure you will ever go on is a trip to the Renaissance festival by  the I75. With that said, why don’t you head up the decorating committee for the eighth grade dance and can you make 800 cupcakes by tomorrow morning?”

Irene promptly replied, “I’m quitting my job and I’m going to Australia! I’m going to hug a koala bear! And a kangaroo! And a wombat! And a skink!  And I’m going to swim with the platypus! So there!”

And she was off.

She never got to hug a koala until years later. But she did meet a man whose hobbies included embarking on treacherous solo sea kayaking expeditions around Australia and expected her to accompany him on several of these outings.

She is now living in Queensland, missing her bulldog, getting used to the laid back lifestyle,  learning how to pack two weeks worth of clothing and toiletries into a 15 liter dry bag and is pathetically grateful not to be gainfully employed.