June!!!

Music: Ben- Michael Jackson (RIP)

I checked the ol’ blog, and I was definitely surprised that the last time I wrote was at the beginning of June!  Holy Crow!  I’m getting bad at these updates.  I’m even getting bad at updating my own personal “for my eyes only” diary.  Things probably won’t improve when i hit the road again.

That’s right kiddies, tomorrow morning I head north on a train with my partner in crime, Natalie.  Wee!

But first, an update.

June.

June was AWESOME.  The beginning was Nats birthday.  Her birthday is june 4th, which, in Australia, is the beginning of “winter”.  I went up to the Sunshine Coast to surprise her with champagne and birthday hats, and we showed those uni students how to party.  The next day, we lounged on the beach and went to a local fish and chips shop for lunch.  Some might say it was perfect.  Well, at least i do.  Whenever i’m on the coasts of Queensland, it just blows my mind how lucky aussies are.  Every day, no matter what time of the year it is, unless it’s raining, you can head out and take a gorgeous stroll on the beach and even go swimming.  Totally paradise.

We drove back down to Brisbane that day to find out that our old mates, Tom and Rich (of Thailand and of Sydney) were travelling up the coast and would be reaching Brissy that Sunday for a classic Aussie Sunday session.  It was great seeing the guys again.  I love when people bring up memories of our travelling days in Asia, and its always nice to do it over a *coughcough* few drinks.

We took the guys out and about in Brisbane.  It’s a pretty nice city to walk around for the day, especially taking the boats along the river and walking through the parks and the waterfront.

We also went to the famous Steve Irwin zoo.  GREAT zoo, people.   Absolutely gorgeous!  Such a great, animal friendly zoo.  Little emotional seeing pictures of Steve Irwin, but at least his wife and children are carrying on his legacy.   We even caught a glimps of Bob Irwin (the little one).  The day at the zoo with the animals is probably one of my top ten days in Australia.

This time it was a REAL goodbye with Tom and Rich.  I have no plans of bumping into them in the next few months.. and definitely no money to go to England.  One day boys.. one day.

Last week was Tamara, Hayley and my super awesome two days in Sydney.   We went down for the State of Origin on a plane early wednesday morning from the Gold Coast.  We celebrated with Champagne on the plane and as soon as we dropped our stuff off at the backpackers, we headed into the beautiful city of Sydney.  Or more specifically, Tams favourite pub, The Lowenbrau.  Only eleven am, and i was already drinking down a litre of beer.

We ended up chatting with the only other people in the pub… four older males who took a liking to us, and invited us over to their penthouse.

Their penthouse suite… 18th floor of the Mantra, downtown Sydney.

Heck yes!

So we did.  We partied in a penthouse suite before the game, where the boys supplied us with all the drinks and foods we could ever want, and invited us over after the game.  The game itself was awesome.  Such a good atmosphere being in a huge sold out stadium of 80 000, surrounded by people drinking, high fiving, yelling and having a good ol time.  Partying all night in the penthouse wasn’t shabby either.

We spent the next day in Sydney, walking around the beautiful city, touching the opera house, taking a boat ride around the city and laughing about how lucky our night was.

Now it’s the end of June, and i’ve just had my last weekend in Brisbane.  I obviously partied with Tamara and Ed, my two besties here in Brisbane and had a delightful goodbye with Narelle (my coworker) and her family as well as the rest of my coworkers on my last shift.  Natalie was able to make it down for the weekend too, so saturday night was mayhem.

I’m really excited to leave and start travelling again, but really sad to leave Brisbane.  Its been a good home for the last 4-5 months and I’m going to be sad to leave my adopted brother Lachlan, sister Kaitlyn, mom and dad, Sharon and Laurie.  I can’t imagine not spending a day at Tam and Ed’s house, or seeing my coworkers again. . booo.

Today i got some good news though…. Tamara is coming to Canada!!!!!!  She bought her one way ticket yesterday and I will be picking her up in the Toronto airport on December 17th!!!!  (Oh, btw, mom… there will be an extra head for Christmas.)  I’m really excited for Tam to come and join me in Canada, and super keen to get into all the winter sports, since it will be like, her second time seeing snow!  Woo!

So now I’m off to the North, to visit Nat’s dad in a place called Cape Tribulation.  No power, no cell phone connection, no city.  So long city life!  Catch up with you all in a little less than a month! xoxoxo

State of Origin

Music: new Yeah Yeah Yeahs cd. (two extremely enthusiastic thumbs up)

Alright, so there are many funny little quirks regarding our Australian sister that us Canadians may find amusing.  These may or may not include: bowls clubs, pokies, calling everyone mate, eating lots of lamb, these weird huge statues that are all around AU, kangaroos, lethal waters, lethal spiders and snakes, shortening every word in their dictionary, calling a pharmacist a chemist, thinking 12 degrees is cold, having 50 cent coins that could hurt a small child if thrown at one, and other such things.

Another thing that i find quite funny is how patriotic Australians are.  They fall in different levels of patriotism.  First is their State.  They looooove the State they come from (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Southern Australia.. just to name.. half of them).  More specifically, Queenslanders (Brisbane, the Sunshine coast, Gold Coast, Cairns…) absolutely DESPISE New South Wales (think Sydney…).  A common joke is that if a QLD team doesn’t win, then it better be any team, other than NSW.

Next they love their side of the country… therefore, poor old West coast Perth gets teased for being on the other side of Australia, nicknamed “Perthlings” as well as told they might as well be another country.  Harsh.  I would never say that about lil P.E.I.

Thirdly, they love their Country!  Americans suck, the UK sucks, New Zealand… oh lord, don’t get me started on what they have to say about Kiwis… and Canada… well.. no one cares about Canada.  (“You’re from Toronto?  Is that near Whistler?” True story.)

Lastly, they are proud Anzacs.  If the situation were to arise… say, in the Commonwealth games, or other instances where Aussies lose at some sport, but the Kiwis are left to beat the British at some lame game, like Cricket (have you looked into this sport?!?!  It is absolutely ridiculous and makes Baseball look as fast paced as speed skating), they will stand by their sister Southern Hemisphere country….but only then. (I’m sure it would then follow them being proud Commonwealthers… as long as they’re better than America…)

I was requested today to partake in one of the most Australian things i could do (and, I quote, “have to do”) while being here.  If I want to experience true Aussie “culture”, I would definitely, 100%, have to attend STATE OF ORIGIN!!!!

Most people are like… what?  State of Origin?  What does that mean?

Well, Aussies love their Rugby…or Footy, as they call it… and they love their teams, and they hate other teams.  Their teams validate their City, their State as being the best in Australia.  But wait!  What if players on a Sydney team were actually born and raised in Queensland?  Not Fair!!!

Solution: State of Origin.  (I’m not actually sure if that’s how the dilemma/solution situation went exactly… but i’m sure it was something along those lines).

So, Queensland and NSW call back their best players, no matter what team they currently play for, for a best out of three games, to determine who the better state is.  Qld vs. NSW; the Maroons vs. the Blues; the Cane Toads vs. the Cockroaches.

My dear friend Tamara calls me up with a complete schedule for us and a few others going down to Sydney for one night of mayhem and of course, game 2 of State of Origin.

“Alright.  I’m in.” Me.

“Yaaah!  We’re going to Sydney!” Tam

“Nice!  Which team are we going for?” Me.

Short angry silence.

“Queensland, Lindzy!!  The Maroons!!” (they pronounce Maroon, Ma-roh-n here… put that on the list) “Only the best team ev-ah!  The best state!  You’re gonna see what it’s like to be at a NSWs home game and WIN.  Qld is gonna KICK  NSWs ASS!!!”

My sweet little Tamara suddenly turns into a savage beast.

“Well, i’m a little frightened of being at such a highly competitive game–”

“Whatever man, I was at the game last year, and got a beer poured on me, and i took it like a man.  And you will TOO.  When QLd wins and NSW supporters are pissed at us for being AWESOME and beating them…”

You get the point… and all of this from a “young lady”…

There you have it… just trying to blend in with the crowd… learn a little culture… do as they do…

Man… remember the days when “learning the culture” included Ikebana classes (flower placement), tea ceremonies, bowing, and eating different foods?  Time to bring my macho…

Queensland ruuuuless!!!!  GGgggrrrrrr!!!!

Quarter of a Century, Well Lived? Check!

Music: Bounce feat. N.O.R.E by MSTRKFT

Guys!!!  I’m twenty-five years old!!! I have officially had the earliest birthday on the earth that I will ever have.  (This was my thought bubble until Natalie took her big Pin, popped my bubble by pointing out that my birthday would be earlier if I was in New Zealand, and even earlier if I was in Fiji).

Anyways, the point is, that being here in Australia, it was my birthday way before anyone in Canada had even reached the 23rd of May.  This also abled me to have two days of birthday, since on May 24th, it was still the 23rd in Canada, and you’re damn right I used that as an excuse.

I’m pretty pumped about being 25.  I think its a good number, and I know it’ll be a good year.  Obviously!  My 26th year of living will include travelling up the coast of Australia to the North to stay with Nats dad in the rainforest, in a small place called Cape Tribulation, flying in a helicopter over the worlds largest single structure made by living organisms (The Great Barrier Reef), seeing some of the worlds craziest animals and plant life that can only be seen on this lone continent on the other side of the planet, tasting wine in some of the worlds best wineries, travelling back down the coast to see the larger more “civilized” cities that Australia (or Strayiah, as I–and all Aussies–like to call it), like Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Afterwards, I am meant to meet up with Ashleigh in Thailand, where I will get to see the rest of Thailand, that i didn’t see the first time, Malaysia and Indonesia.  Also worth mentioning, will be the epic reunion with Ashleigh, Kyle, Rachel, Katrina and Jason, and even before then, Nat and I will be reunited with our Thailand travelling buddies, Tom and Rich, as they travel up the Australian East coast this June.  And, of course!  Back to Canada for a legendary homecoming.  You heard me, legendary.

Heaps to look forward to!

The big day was a pretty good one I have to say.  I had a wonderful curry lunch with my Aussie family, went to work, and then headed to Tamara’s for some bday drinks.  Tamara, and her roomates, Ed, Alanna and Marcus, along with Natalie sang me the old birthday song over an ice cream cake (how does everyone learn so quickly that I don’t like real cake?!) and I opened a few Aussie themed gifts.  For those of you that know Brissy, we obviously spent the night in the Valley, rocking out.

What else is new?

Well, while you folks in the northern hemisphere (the normal hemisphere, I like to say..) are welcoming the beautiful summer, winter is headed my way.  It hasn’t been too cold, mostly lows of 13 degrees (this is in the middle of the night of course).  The days are gorgeous and crisp, the sun still blazing hot.

I’m going into my last month of work!  Which means I better saaaaaaaave.  I’ve been spending the majority of my time with Tamara and her housemate Ed, both totally awesome happy and funny dudes.  We like to watch funny movies, drink wine, play in the backyard, watch rugby (thats more them forcing me to watch…), have bonfires, make fun of each other, go to second had stores and eat cheese and crackers.

Volunteering has been going well and I still enjoy going.  They refered me to go be a teachers assistant in a school here, but with such little time left in Brisbane, I would feel bad not being able to commit for longer than three months.

I’ve been reading and am currently well into and thouroughly enjoying Down Under by Bill Bryson.  A comedic novel about this crazy country called Australia.

Anyways, life is still going well and even though I’m one year older.  One year better!

Solid Ground Sucks

Music: Whatever you like- T.I

aah…. to be back on the ship… Instead, I’m back in Brisbane…working.  Not hanging out with Fergus. Paying for stuff.

Babong.

Whatever you like was our ship song for a reason.  (except for the dirty parts…)

The week with Fergus on the ship is going down in history as top ten moments of my life.  (This list is not set in stone).  I woke up Saturday morning at 9:30, packed my back, and headed to the port at 10:30.  I’ve become such a good fast packer .  It was the first time in my life that someone has said to me: “That’s all brought?”  I looked around me, and people did in fact, have massive suitcases.  I just had my little carry on and a backpack.

Anyways.  I spent the first day being taken around the ship, shown where everything is.  First of all, Ships are like mazes and I have the worst sense of direction. Second of all, I had access to the passenger and crew areas, so it was double the hallways/staircases/floors to know.  Lost, all the time.

Passenger areas; iiiinteresting.  Crew areas, iiinteresting.

Being a passenger on a cruise ship, is the funniest thing i have ever experienced.  At the same time, being a crew member is the funniest thing I have ever experienced.  Ships are funny.  Especially when all the passengers are Aussies and the crew are all from overseas (UK, Canada, England and New Zealand).

Watching Fergus and his coworkers for a week, proved to me that working on ships is one of the craziest jobs.  For many reasons, including: they NEVER leave work (the night that we had in Cairns was Fergus’s second time in 6 months that he could be off the boat untill 3 am, and only half of the crew get to go).  Imagine never getting off a boat?  Its like uni residence in hell.  No escape.  Then there’s the crew bar, where the crew parties.

This is where the gossip mostly comes from.  Everyone sees if you leave with someone, everyone sees how drunk you got, everyone on a boat sees everything.  Fergus and I were hanging out on an empty deck, and a crew “police officer” came by to see what we were doing.  As she was leaving, she gave us a friendly reminder of the cameras that are waaatchiiing.  You’re always being watched on a boat.

It was funny to observe all the cliques, all the gossip, all of the ship .  It was even more fun to go on a crocodile tour for free with Fergus.  He pretty much has the best job ever, and has to go on these tours to video record everything.  I, therefore, get to go along!  Crocodiles are cool and so are aussies that work in conservation areas.  We saw a crocodile fight and wallabies jumping around the fields.

We also got to go on this zoo trip in Cairns (where I played and fed Kangaroos!!!!!) and a gondala ride and little walk in the rainforest.  Australia is absolutely beautiful outside of Brisbane!

Cruises are fun, but cheesy.  I got to observe ‘Island night’, ‘Formal Night’, watch all the nighttime entertainment and go to talks and performances during the day.  One thing i did participate in was learning to juggle, which was taught by the circus artists.  I juggled!  Kind of… my legs were so sore the next day from squatting so much to pick up the fallen balls.   I think I can one day become a really good juggler.

Scene one:

Tully (Circus performer #1): Great job Lindzy!  You’re almost ready for four throws!  Awesome, you’re like two minutes away from it!  Great job!

Lindzy: Awe, thanks Tully.  (Keeps trying really hard, bitting tongue and crossing eyes in concentration).

Andrew (Circus performer #2):  I’m just gonna face you  so that i can see where you’re….

Lindzy: Going wrong?

Andrew: Yah, your second throw is shit.

Lindzy: *jaw drop*

Tully: Don’t listen to him Lindzy.  You’re doing awesome.

Andrew: Your third throw kind of sucks too.

And those, were the circus guys… my favourites on the ship for sure.  If you wanna be anyone on a cruise ship, you want to be those guys.  I hung out with them the most, cause they don’t actually work,…. like ever.  Wanna have a really good interesting conversation?  Find someone in a circus.

I miss the boat.

Yaaaaay!!!! It’s Free and It’s Fun!!!

Music: cheesy early 90’s music that is always playing on the deck :S… heeey Paula Abdul.

I’m not gonna lie…it’s pretty much the best thing ever to be MEEEE!!!!  I’m at work, Friday night, grumbling over mopping the floor and scraping ice from the fridge.  My phone keeps ringing off the hook, so even though it’s a little inappropriate, I answer.  It just happens to be my lovely seaman, Fergus Lowrey, calling from somewhere out in the South Pacific Ocean, where he is aboard the P&O Pacific Sun Cruise Ship.  He has been living and working on it for the last 6 months. 

“You’re on!  I got you approved!  You’re going on a free cruise tomorrow!!!”  I freak out, and we discuss a few details, but basically, I’m on a free cruise, sailing the Pacific ocean, tomorrow, for free, with my good friend Fergus, for free.  Did I mention that this seven day, all inclusive cruise, is free?  It is.

Problem.  My manager is not to pleased.  Solution… he leaves and I ask the head chef and my coworker if they can cover for me.  They do.  So we’ll see how angry this makes the boss… Sorry buddy, but like i’m going to pass up a free cruise to the beautiful Whitsundays, Cairns, Port Douglas and Willis Island, with one of my best buddies from home, who I hadn’t seen, untill recently, in over 2 years.  (Fergus has been coming to Brisbane every seven days for the last month, so we have been able to enjoy Saturday’s together in the city).

WeeeEEEEEeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!  This is actually Fergus’ last cruise before he finishes his contract and flies home May 2nd for a month or two.  We’re pretty pumped to be enjoying this together.  Furthermore, he’s pulling on every string he can find to get me free stuff.  Example: Free $160 tour of Whitsundays to go see some Crocs (Crikey!!), possible pedicure from the lovely Brits in the Spa, a free tour of a rainforest in Cairns (worth another $180 and the chance to feed Roos!!), food food food and professional photos.  Yay!!!

So that’s why it’s awesome to be me (and Fergus… cause he gets to hang out with me ).

Well… better get back to lounging on the deck in the beautiful sunshine surrounded by the gorgeous ocean.  Life is so hard… (If you are wondering what I am going to do if I don’t have a job when i return, the answer is, I don’t really care… I will write more later, but this has been quite the experience, and it has been less than 24 hours; especially cause i get the behind the scenes look of ships and all the best that a passenger would get… A job as a waitress really can’t compare!)

BTW, Fergus gives a shout out and would like to claim a spot as co-writer for this blog entry… mostly he just sat behind me, shouting out things I should mention… but he’s gone now… he went to get my free Shampoo and Conditioner from the spa. 

Bye for now! xoxo

A Little More Australian Everyday…

Music: Coeur de Pirate (cute as!!)

How?  You ask?

1. Feet-I’ve totally got the dirtiest feet.  This is because in Australia, it is thong (flip flop) season all year round.  In fact, barefoot is a-ok.  About four days out of seven I am naked, ankle down.  Seriously… Aussies everywhere (if everywhere means, in Australia) are walking around barefoot, and I LOVE it!  No shoes?  You still get service!  Ping Pong!  This is really helpful when you wear three inch heels to the club and afterwards, want water and sesame snaps from the convini.  Or, when you wear (and then decide to take them off) not-yet-broken-into-slip-ons for your 45 minute walk to work and again, crave sesame snaps.  Or, when it’s too wet and slippery to wear flip flops!  barefoot, barefoot, barefoot, oi, oi, oi!

2. Swearing- If you thought I was bad before with my ‘ef this’ and ‘ef that’, you should hear me now!  Australians have the biggest potty mouth!  And it’s rubbing off!  Fuckin’ aussies….

lookin fit;)

3. Aussie rules footy- I went to an Australian Football League game on Saturday night.  It was a little confusing, but totally fun to watch.  Mostly cause the fit boys don’t wear all the padding you see in NFL… and their shorts are short… heeeEEEeeey footy players.

4. Some words…. Things aussies say that I reckon (that’s number one) i’ll start saying:

• Far out- crazy.. can be good or bad
• Mad- yah, like I used to say back in grade six… they’re a little slow on the trends… “That guy is mad!”
• But- they use but at the end of their sentences…. example: “That cake was too sweet, mate!”  “Yah, it was good, but!”
• ’something’ as… like: sweet as, good as, long as… assssss… what?  not sure… you guess by the tone of voice i suppose.  “Oi mate!  That bird was hot as!”
• Bicky- an example of how Aussies shorten everything.  This means Biscuit (cookie).  They also say: Macca’s (McDonalds), Footy (Football), Wooly’s (Woolworths grocery store), relo’s (relatives), cuppa (cup of tea/coffee), Brizzy, Melbs, Goldie (Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast)… it goes on and on and on…
• “How ya goin’, matey?“- How are you … person…
• Bogan- a nice term for someone who is slightly… well… white trash.  Racial slurs, mullets, kids at 15,… you know.
• Goon- 4 litre sack of alcohol in a cardboard box with an easy to pour dispenser.  Only $10.85 at your local Bottle-o (liquor shop).

5. Vegemite!!!!! I looooove it!!!!! Since their peanut butter isn’t that great here, I’ve taken to spreading the ol’ ‘mite on everything.

6. The Works- Aussies bring a whole new meaning to ‘the works’.  Here is what you will get if you order a works burger (or in my case, chickpea pattie ): Choice of pattie, mayo, tomato sauce (not ketchup ), lettuce, to-mah-to, cucumber (not pickles ), (this is where it gets crazy!) grated carrot, pineapple, fried egg, beet root (not pickled beet… even though it is…), avo (avocado is far too long to say) and I believe that about covers it.  Woo!  Eating is a work out!  (This may also explain the rise in obesity…)

7. Alcoholism…if you thought i partied before (Scotty’s nickname for Ash and me “Party Girls” comes to mind….), you’ve seen nothing.  Aussies love to drink (actually, they have a pretty serious alcoholism problem… but.. on the brighter side, they sure are fun!)

I saw one girl, at a party in the park, skull (chug) half a 26er of Smirnoff Vodka.  She had already drank (more gracefully) the first half.  Then she ate some grass…but that’s besides the point.  She was like 100 pounds and still standing 5 hours later.  Impressed.  They also have these boxes that contain 4 litres of wine for ten dollars.  That’s like $7 Canadian!  Plus, boys here totally hit on girls!  (I have also learnt that Canadian boys are timid).  Even more of a reason to go out and dance it up when you drink for free .  ALSO, parents party here like rock stars.

8.  I sure wish I could finish with something classier than alcoholism… umm…. Oh i know!  The cold! I was wearing a hoodie the other day because I was cold.  It was probably like 15 degrees.  Such a … what would an aussie say… “You’re such a windger, Canada.” (Yah… my mates call me Canada here… it’s cute as, but!)

The Things Ashleigh says…

Lindzy: “I’m tired.”

Ashleigh: “Why, did you have a tough day?”

Lindz: “Nah… well I guess I exercised a lot…”

Ashleigh: “Exercised?”

Lindz: “Yah, went for a run…”

Ashleigh: “Were you being chased?”

Underwater the Fish Don’t Stink!

Music: see link at the end of the post

Recently my little buddy Lili Dose asked me why I stopped eating fish (again… I go back and forth on this one… it’s so damn good! It’s so damn hard to say no to a delicious Unagi Sushi or a grilled Baramundi or a fresh shrimp!).  While I was travelling around S.E. Asia I stopped after reading Collapse by Jared Diamond (i know, i know, for those of you who know me, you’re probably all like, ‘Get over the man!’.  I can’t!!!!).

You’ve got to read the book.  Anyways!  So I read the book, and I decide to go back to being a pure vegetarian.  Aaaa… i feel so good about myself… untill i smell the delicious smells of sushi downtown Brisbane that people are lining up for for miles during their lunch break.  Also, untill Ashleigh sends me a link

http://www.ted.com/talks/sylvia_earle_s_ted_prize_wish_to_protect_our_oceans.html

of a talk by Sylvia Earle.  I thought it was a really good talk, BUT, she didn’t really offer the normal person any solutions!  Babong!  Also, it was kind of like everything you ever read about when learning about the state of our fisheries…. sad, but you’re kind of left with this, “Oh crap, the world is going to shit, and i have to watch it happen.” feeling. (By the way, I’m sure this woman has tonnes on how to save the oceans!  Not just this!)

Ash also said something about, ‘now you’ll never want to eat fish again.’  Sure, maybe I won’t and maybe a few others won’t, but lots of people will.  Millions of people will!  So, I remembered my fave ol’ man, and that he mentioned something about sustainable fisheries (he likes to be unbiased… <3 J.D).  A few googles later (i <3 the internet) and I found what he mentioned in his book (and i’m sure others have advocated for):

http://www.msc.org/

Yay!  Guilt free maki rolls!!!

Check it out!  Also, you can get MSC approved fish at Loblaws and Whole foods in Canada. The more we support organizations like this, the more people will use them, the better the world will be… one person at a time.

On a side note, there is also a Forestry Stewardship Council of Canada… save our oceans and forests at the same time.

Peace! (^-^)v

http://www.fsccanada.org/

oh yah… and for fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggkQ6JPew2E

in brief

music: Ca Plane Pour Moi- Plastic Bertrand

I saw my friend Fergus on Saturday!  I haven’t seen him in more than a year and a half!  He is working on cruise ships at the moment and lucky for me, he stops in Brisbane every ten days or so.

We planned a meeting spot downtown Brizzy and literally ran into each others arms.  We were trying to be cool and calm about it, untill we caught each others eyes, both clearly thinking: “Fuck it!  Run!”  Hugs and squeals and oh my god-ing in the middle of Queen St.

We headed for pancakes and didn’t stop talking for the four hours we were together.  We had a gazzilion questions for one another, and the answers got interrupted by a gazzilion other questions.  While i was in Japan and South East Asia, he had been on a cruise ship in Europe and backpacking around South America.

We see each other again next Saturday .  I can’t wait.  At the moment, he is working on a plan to get me on the cruise ship as a guest!  I won’t hold my breath, but that would be totally awesome. Though one thing I do remember about big, long boat rides, is that it puts you to sleep like no other.

Some Final notes: The wedding went well, St. Pats day was fun (and concluded an ever famous week long bender) and the rest of the week was spent trying to catch up on Gossip Girl and sleep… though the former hindered the latter and Sunday and Monday were reserved for numerous hours of R & R.  Also, I’m so over work.

Why not (blog) ?!?!

Music: The Cool Kids

As most of you know (do you?  have I mentioned this before?), I am staying with Natalie’s mother and step father in Brisbane.  They are a wonderful pair, and have been together for 9 years this March 16th.  They are also getting married March 16th!  This March 16th!  Monday!  I’m going!  To a wedding!

Yay!  I have mixed feelings about weddings, which I won’t get into at the moment, but one reason I am pleasantly pleased about this one, is that they are calling it a Commitment Ceremony, which just about brought tears to my eyes.  Also, Lachlan (Sharon’s second child from her first marriage) is walking Sharon down the isle.  Tear!! 

Anyways, when I first moved here, preparations for the big day were under way.  Unfortunately, Sharon came home one day dissapointed.  Her dress was not as she wanted it.

Leah and I both “commoned” and “it’s probably gorgeous’d” untill she put the dress on for us. 

“Coommmooon, it’s … it’s … it’s nice!”

“Yah!  I mean, with some jewelery and … you’re wearing lots of jewelery right?”

“And hair, and makeup and some nice shoes….”

This was quickly going downhill.

I’m not one for bullshitting, I tell the truth and say what I think if you ask my opinion (opinion askers beware!!!).  I stopped myself and thought for a moment, cause I learnt that after a few foot-in-mouth incidents.  I went in carefully…

“Is this what you asked for?”

“No.”

“Did you ask her to fix it.”

“She won’t.  She said that this is how it’s going to be.”

Alright, I see we have a case of the “I’m too afraid to put my foot down and tell someone exactly what I want, even if it’s my wedding dress and MY wedding”.  Memories of Nat in China having a bad hairstylist experience comes back to me and I realize the lack of putting ones foot down runs in the family.

“Well, it’s really a nice dress…. But these things here… and the lack of anything here… and…”  I offer constructive critcism.

I inform them that for co-op in high school, I worked at a Bridal shop, putting finishing touches (like beading and lace and sequins) on wedding dresses and could add something to this dress to spice it up.  (If you are wondering why the co-op job, it’s because I used to want to be a fashion designer… untill I realized how much of my life would then have to be dedicated to sewing…).

Anyways, I took the task on, Sharon and I went to their local craft and houseware department store and bought enough beads and sequins to … well.. to bead a wedding dress.  For the last week, before work and after work I have been slaving away at this damn dress.

At first I was excited about it, I started googling wedding dress images to inspire me, started secretly designing my own future wedding dress (not that i’ll ever get married and therefore won’t ever get a wedding dress… but Vera Wang… if you’re ever giving away anything for free…) and had fun beading while bawling my eyes out to the movie Love Actually (which I’ve seen/cried to 100 times).

I’m over the fun now… my eyes are sick of squinting at these tiny beads, my fingers are sick of getting poked with pins, I also have my moms habit of putting extra pins in my mouth, so my tongue and lips are also sick of the poking.  My back is aching from constantly crouching over this thing, and I’m tired of untangling the stupid invisible thread!!! 

But I must finish!  It is Thursday, and the wedding is Monday, and I work everyday until then and Natalie is coming home, and I think Sharon is secretly stressing that it isn’t done yet.  No worries!  My moto: Go Big, or Go Home… the dress WILL get done and it will be gorgeous!

So, last night I’m beading away and I start watching talks on Ted Talks and I come across this one:   http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mena_trott_tours_her_blog_world.html

She talks about blogging and I’ll let you check it out yourself, but basically, she speaks about the importance of blogs.  Sure there are the political blogs, the news blogs, the people doing kind things blogs and the gossip blogs… but what about the regular, everyday life of everyday normal people blogs (coughcough… )?  Are they boring?  Are they narcissistic?

NO!  They are wonderful!  This talk by Mena Trott made me look at blogging in a different light.  Imagine everyone could blog?!  Imagine everyone had one?!  Every one of your friends and family members?  Wouldn’t it be great for a person like me, to go to their grandfathers blog and see what he was doing or what he looked like back in 1945 or something?!  My mother’s father passed away of alzeihmers when I was about nine years old… Imagine if I could just go on the internet and learn about him (cause I can’t really get to know him now…) any day, any time!  My father’s mother, my Nanny, one of my favourite people in the whole world, also has alzheimers… I have great memories of her and of our time together… but it would be amazing to have a whole diary of her life that I can just click a few buttons to get to when I am missing her.

I used to think blogs were cheesy… the only reason I got one, was because it was my first time moving far far away from home and all my friends and family, and i wanted them to have an easy way see what I was up too, without having to email 100s of people every week (yes, I have 100s of friends… ).  I’m glad I see blogs differently now and I hope you do to after reading this, and checking out the link.  Do your kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren a favour and start a blog today .