Doing My Part for the Bandicoots

You don't really get to know an animal until you try to make it out of a balloon. That is what I discovered on this dreary Saturday morning as I struggled to coax a Greater Bilby (the largest bandicoot) out of a long balloon with a series of pinch twists, double bubbles and lock twists. After creating some five or six mangled mutant animals I eventually ended up with something that vaguely resembled a Greater Bilby. As you can see, I managed to capture the pointy nose and big ears, but the body was a bit awkward. I never did figure out how to get him to stand on his hind legs, so I ended up using a piece of tape to stick him to the table at the coffee shop. Since I was a bit wary of taking photos of the critter at the coffee shop, I snapped the above pic at home before I left with my wife/assistant.



I chose the Neptune Coffee house as my venue since it is within walking distance from our house and seems to be moderately busy at all times of the day. Sure enough, it was about half full of your usual coffee house laptop users and students highlighting things in thick textbooks. I ordered a Morning Glory Chai and a Ginger Twinkle cookie. The barista asked me what I was up to today. I tried to act casual and said, "nothing much." It was a tense moment.

We found a seat and I quickly began writing my note on the napkin. I named my Bilby, Hogan, after the Golden Globe winning actor who played everyone's favorite Australian caricature, Crocodile Dundee! The charity I chose was the Save the Bilby Fund, so if all goes according to plan, ten US dollars will be donated to the cause.



At exactly 2 pm PST, I placed my cup down on the napkin next to the bright orange Bilby and we left immediately with the sounds of "have a nice day" following us out the door. Based on the people around us, I'd say there is not a great chance that the little Bilby will make the postal journey, but who knows? Either way, I did my part which will undoubtedly have a positive effect on our relations with those in the animal kingdom. You may notice that your pets are especially affectionate and you might even have a meaningful encounter with a butterfly or bear.

Animal Kingdom

Loyal followers and casual observers,

Many of you will have noted that, to date, the Gibson vs. Gibson challenges have been rightly focused on saving the world at large. However, we have been noticing blips of data which, in the somewhat coincidental absence of a monthly global catastrophe, we have decided to act upon.

Animals across the world need our help, some because they are endangered though ecological destruction, and others because they are hideously ugly. So, friends, it is time for the Gibsons to act!

In the name of animal conservation, liberation and beautification, we will, having each constructed the likeness of an animal, native to the other Gibson's country, using only balloons (GibsonUS, a Greater Bilby, GibsonOZ, a Geoduck), undertake the following challenge:

1) Prior to GMT 2200 on Saturday, January 30th, enter a local coffee shop with our balloon animal, and order a beverage.

2) Write on a napkin the following: “Hello, my name is (insert strange name here). I am a (insert animal's common name here). I am lost. If found, please post me home to (insert other Gibson's address here). If I make it home, my owner will donate $10 to the (insert animal charity name here). Thank you. PS. I don't have to be inflated to make it home.

3) At precisely GMT 2200, place the beverage receptacle atop the napkin note, close to the balloon animal, and leave the coffee shop.

If all goes according to plan, the combination of local commerce, craft, technology, and human spirit will combine to speed the balloon animals across the globe, spreading positive ions as they go, and will result in a slight turn in fortunes for the animal kingdom.

Oh, and if the animals make it, we will honour our $10 pledges.

Bronte: Mission Successful

After a year full of tensions and stresses, but also of gratifying rewards, it was a pleasure to take part in this final challenge of the year. It was a time to reflect on our successes and our stumbles, and the quiet pride that comes with saving the world on a monthly basis.

Having no store-bought sticker paper on hand, nor, as it turned out, the glue required to make my own sticker paper, I had to resort to using packing tape as adhesive. And while this will likely not last far beyond the next Sydney rain (scheduled for this weekend), I felt it would do its job. Sure, it's not as polished looking as Gibson-US's amazing effort, but in this game, you sometimes have to be rough and ready.

Owing in no small part to the fact that our end of the challenge was to take place at 6:25 in the morning (yes, the morning), my wife and able-bodied photographer, Hayley, and I arrived at Gibson St, Bronte, with mere minutes to spare. But a hasty, yet efficient, application of the packing tape left just enough time to spare.

At the precise minute, I fell to my knee and applied the sticker to the pole, completing the GvsG circuit, and bringing much needed end of year intercontinental relief.

Fully Charged in Lynwood, WA

Seattle is a great city, however it lacks one key element that would make it super great -- a street named Gibson. My precursory search on Google Maps found that the closest Gibson street was about 20 minutes north of Seattle in the disorienting and diabolical town of Lynnwood, WA. But I was not deterred. Being the courageous adventurer that I am, I gathered my team of assistants and we braved the strip malls and traffic cameras of Lynnwood on the way to the solitary redeeming place within its city limits -- Gibson Rd.

We hadn't gone far along Gibson Rd. when we realized that there might be a problem -- all of the signs were attached to wooden poles! How was I supposed to attach a sticker and complete the circuit on a wooden pole? Just when we thought all was lost, we came to a stop sign at the corner of Gibson Rd. and Admiralty Rd. that used a metal pole. It was a busy intersection fraught with danger -- a woman walking a pug, kids on bicycles, and an exotic car business with a Lamborghini parked out front. Nonetheless, at 11:25 on the second I knelt before the street sign and placed the sticker on the pole. Just as I felt a surge of energy enter my body, I also realized that the sticker did not want to stick to the freezing metal pole. It was only through intense focus and precise pressure that I managed to get the sticker to cling to the pole.





Afterward, I felt renewed, refreshed, recharged and ready to take on 2010. Assuming we don't screw anything up too bad, next year should be filled with universal harmony and personal serenity for each and every one of you. Just leave it to us…

Recharge

It has been a trying year. The constant pressure to keep our world from exploding, imploding, dissolving, veering, shrinking, etc. has sapped us of our strength. The countless hours spent researching, calculating, consulting and postulating has drained us of our energy. But fear not! The Gibsons intend to continue their noble pursuit despite the immense physical and mental toll. In preparation for the challenges that lay ahead in 2010 it is imperative that we both recharge our systems. This will be accomplished by executing the following task:

1) Each prepare a 4" wide sticker. Gibson-US's sticker will read "G v" and Gibson-OZ's sticker will read "s G".
2) Locate a street named Gibson and stand next to its street sign.
3) At precisely 19:25 GMT on Tuesday, December 29th (11:25 for Gibson-US and 06:25 on Wednesday the 30th for Gibson-OZ) kneel before the street sign and affix the sticker to the pole.
4) Document the event with photo and/or video.

If all goes as we expect, our simultaneous contact with the Gibson street signs will complete a Gibson circuit, bringing us both a much needed dose of energy and perhaps a small electric shock. Due to the intense electrical currents involved in this event you may notice your hair standing on end for a short period of time after the event. Don't be alarmed! This is normal and should wear off in a couple of hours. In the meantime we suggest that you wear a hat.

Two Men — One Beard

First of all, I apologize if I am repeating any of Gibson-OZ's post. I have refrained from reading his post so as not to influence mine.

As you can see from the photo above, we were successful in the impeccable execution of yet another highly technical challenge with the weight of the universe on our shoulders. It's a good thing everything went according to plan because, as I'm sure you noticed, things were getting a bit out of control before the challenge. We even witnessed firsthand the dangerous effects of both Gibsons occupying the same hemisphere when I plugged in the hair clippers and was confronted with a flash of light and a loud pop. Fortunately I was not injured, but my clippers suffered irreparable damage.

The rest of our preparations went without a hitch and before we knew it we were seated at the Kangaroo and Kiwi eying a pint glass of 2/3 Fosters and 1/3 Coors Light. Our wives/photographers were joined this time by a technical supervisor (thanks, Sarah) to ensure that everything was in order. I must say, that as our freshly shaved cheeks touched there was electricity in the air — the electricity of saving the world from total chaos and mass confusion! And when we took that first sip of specially blended macro lager it was like drinking down the insecurities and fears of an entire species. (FYI: fear and insecurities taste pretty vile.) As expected, the power of our mutual beard was just enough to stabilize the wobbly rotation of the earth and keep it on course... at least for now.

In closing I'd like to wish everyone in the states a Happy Thanksgiving. You don't have to thank us when you say grace at the table, but it probably wouldn't hurt.

A Close Shave

Traveling out of the southern hemisphere was always going to be risky, but as the hour of this latest challenge approached, the sobering gravity of the situation hit home.

To mentally prepare for the event, my wife and able-bodied assistant drove to the wastes of Mukilteo to collect Gibson-US from his place of employment. On the journey back to civilization, we discussed the plan of attack, including the acquisition of razors, which I had neglected to pack in my suitcase.


Having collected the razors, Gibson-US and I adjourned to various bathrooms to prepare our faces. This seemingly simple act was nearly derailed by a dramatic event, which I will leave to Gibson-US to document, seems as he was the one directly in harm's way.

The shaving portion of the challenge complete, we made our way, documentarians/wives in tow, to the Kangaroo and Kiwi on Hwy 99 for the formal execution. Upon entering, I was relieved to see that the decor of the place was very much like your comfortable, suburban Aussie sports bar, rather than the car crash of boomerangs and life size Paul Hogan cut outs I was expecting. We selected a suitable table and proceeded to order the beer, consisting of 1/3 Coors Light and 2/3 Fosters.


Surprisingly, neither the bartender, nor the patrons batted an eye at either our lopsided facial hair or the drain clearing beer combination we ordered. I suspect that due to the growing gravitational imbalance, they were all feeling a little lopsided themselves.

At the appointed hour, Gibson-US and I pressed the newly denuded portions of our faces together, forming a superb double beard, and bravely imbibed the amber concoction, thereby correcting the global imbalance.


While it was essential for the fate of the Earth and all its denizens, it is safe to say that at no future point will I be ordering a Coors Light/Fosters combination. Thankfully, the Kangaroo and Kiwi also serve Bundaberg Ginger Beer, which I used to take the curse off.

As you were.