If you are going to take a walk at night, notice the luminescent, glowing signs that are gracing the façade of many buildings. These are called neon signs.

The first neon sign appeared in France in 1910 at Grand Palais. The display caught people’s attention – in fact, the effect was so bright and catchy that other countries took notice. As a result, demands to create neon signs for commercial use have grown since the 50’s and are still very much in demand.

When I was a teenager, I spent a lot of time just walking around town with my friends. We really didn't have much to do in my small town, so we just walked and talked, and we did it a lot. Many times it was nine or ten before we came home, but this was never a big deal for my dad because he always knew where I was and who I was with. Our town was safe, and it was ok to be walking around after dark. The streets were always lit with street lamps, and the police were highly visible, and didn't really have much else to do anyway.

One of the first things you learn when you learn to drive is how to read and react to the traffic lights. This is something that we actually learn at a very young age, though how to work with them is something that takes on a whole new meaning once you are behind the wheel. My daughter for the longest time said that red meant stop, green means go, and yellow means Greg. She’s a fan of the Wiggles, so the yellow comment didn’t surprise me too much.

I have always loved to travel, though I have not had much opportunity to do so. When I get to go though, I have mixed reactions about the places I visit. I have never been to Australia, but it is on my list of places I must see. I have friends there, and through them, I have fallen in love with the country. I almost feel as if I will fall in love with the country as soon as I get there and I will never want to leave. I won’t know this until I visit though, but this doesn’t stop my friends from dreaming. They assure me I must live there, and they will do anything to help me with immigration to Australia.