The Horror!

We've all seen them - the women walking to work wearing their skirts and tops or suits. They look stylish...until you look down and notice they are wearing trainers on their feet.

I had the sad realization today that I've become one of "those" women. Yes, I actually walked to work in my running shoes and carried my heels with me to put on when I hit the office. Sure, it's sensible. Sure, it's better for my feet. Sure, it saves me from looking like a 5 year old playing dress up and trying to walk in her mother's shoes. But seriously - has it come to this?

You know how some women are born in heels and can walk forever in them and look graceful? I am not one of those women.

This moment of self-deprecation was brought to you by the letter H and the number 2.

Where's BH - Volume 2

Ok, because I'm too lazy to edit this appropriately for a blog, i'm just taking the email I sent and copying and pasting it in with a few minor modifications like removing my address and skype ID. If you want them, message me. Sorry for the length! This was all stuff from the week before (new installment coming soon).

Greetings dear readers. There are some new additions to the list this week as I erroneously left some folks off last time. As always, if you would like to be removed from the list, please let me know. In the meantime, grab a cup of tea (or for most of you since it is summer, a glass of iced tea), a comfy seat and tuck in to the latest and greatest in the world of BH.

When we last left off, I was on the hunt for a flat. Let me tell you, it's not easy in this town. Sure, there is lots available...there's just not a lot available you actually want to live in. That Saturday I saw 6 flats, of which 2 might have been habitable. One flat actually had mold growing down the walls. Another one was off the living room and shaped like a piece of pie. You could maybe fit a single bed in there. Due to NZ regulations about how an interior room has to be ventilated, in the top part of the wall that curved around the living room were window openings for lack of a better description. In other words, you were practically open onto the living room. For $145 a week I wanted to ask if that came with a happy ending. Alas, discretion became the better part of valor and I managed to keep my mouth shut. I also refrained from telling him I didn't want to spend my life living in a Trivial Pursuit game.

That night one of the partners in the firm had a cocktail party for the management team. It was really nice to get to know folks outside of the office and was a lovely party. I was pretty discouraged about the flat hunt by the time Sunday rolled around and feeling rather down. Victoria had rung me the night before just as I was getting back from the hunt and said she was going to spend Sunday with me. Turns out, it was just what the doctor ordered. We grabbed a bite to eat, watched the Sex and the City movie and then just hung out chatting. It was great to get to know her a bit more and to find someone (further) along a similar spiritual path. Always nice to be able to talk to someone about that journey without getting deer in the headlight looks. The day really raised my spirits.

Monday night I went and looked at a few more flats. Had received a call from one of the hashers (Hash House Harriers - drinking club with a running problem - since some of you asked last time) that drinks were on that night. I told him I was flat hunting til 8;30, then meeting one of the fire spinners for coffee and would then ring him. At 8:30 when I finished I was ready to gnaw off my own arm and stopped in Abra Kebabra (yeah, you read that right) for some food. As I was trying to decide what to eat, I finally hear this, "Will you just order some frigging food already?!" Imagine my surprise to turn and see the hashers there. Apparently they had been calling my name for a couple minutes. Turns out, Wellington is an extremely small town. You run into people everywhere. I wasn't yet at the point of expecting to know anyone, but sure enough, there it was. Ended up dining with them, then had the fire spinner meet me there for coffee. He brought along his gf so it was nice to meet new folks.

Saw a few more flats throughout the week, including two on Thursday night after meeting up with the fire spinning crowd at a cafe. Both were great and I ended up getting both offered to me. I took the more central one and am super excited about the place. In fact, met up with my new flatmate today to get the keys. He's an IT recruiter and originally from Brisbane. Seems like a cool guy. I have the world's second coolest shower (William's old shower is still number 1). I've attached a picture for your viewing pleasure. Having that sorted definitely caused me to break into the happy dance. In fact, I found myself doing the happy dance quite a bit over the weekend.

Friday night I met up with Victoria, her sister-in-law Marchelle and Marchelle's friends for drinks. We started at one place and then moved to what will be my new local (literally two doors down from my bldg) - Molly Malones. Ended up meeting a couple older guys from Christchurch who were up for the rugby match. Hung out with them that night which was good fun. I think I got to bed about 3:30am that night. Normally not a problem except that I had to get up at 8:30am to move out of my temporary accomodation. You see, though EY was awesome and extended my stay, where I was staying was booked out Sat night for the rugby. I had to move to a different location of theirs.

I texted Daniel and Kelly - a couple from the Bay Area who moved here from Thailand in Feb - to see if they wanted to do brunch. I met them Thursday night. Daniel had emailed me earlier in the week welcoming me after he learned via an email list I had moved here. Turns out we learned after the initial email and before meeting that we have a mutual friend from Burning Man. Sing with me now - "It's a small world after all..." They picked me up (and my luggage - rock stars!) and we went out to a lovely brunch in Petone. They then took me on a drive around all the bays in the Wellington area. It was gorgeous! I took some photos, but seeing as how the software is rather limited on this laptop (really need to buy a personal one when I'm home at Christmas!), I'm struggling to shrink them enough to be able to send...and no, I can't seem to upload them anywhere either. Argh! They dropped me off back in town at the new place. Unfortunately I forgot my purse in their car so went down to Cuba St to get my purse. They were there with the Couch Surfers crew who was celebrating International Free Hug day by giving folks...what else...free hugs.

Victoria met me there and we eventually headed back to my place so I could put on some serious layers. Yep, we were off to the All Blacks v South Africa match!! We were both so excited. After some food we met up with Marchelle and her crew again for some beverages. We started walking toward the stadium just after the rain had started pouring down. Along the way we stopped at someone's boat for a few more beverages. Then we were off to the stadium! Other than the fact it was pouring rain, it was great. Victoria was a genius and had gotten us seats under the covered bit so we were fine during the match, other than the fact it was bloody cold. I was definitely practicing regulating my body temperature that night. Really, the only part of me that was cold were the parts that had gotten wet on the way over. Watching the haka live for the first time was incredible! I had goosebumps. The match was great. The All Blacks didn't play as well as I would have liked, but they got the win which is all that matters. After the match we had a couple drinks and then headed home.

Sunday I was a bit lazy and didn't get to bed shopping until 4:30pm. Daniel and Kelly met me and we looked at several stores. Found a mattress I liked, but nothing yet on the bed frame. That's what I get for being a lazy git. They then took me to the grocery store and back to their house where they cooked me dinner. It was really nice to hang with them and to meet their housemates who are part of the burner/fire spinning crowd. Their house is outside of town on top of a huge hill and the views are spectacular. They can watch the sun rise and set from their living room. The stars and the moon were amazing from up there. After, they dropped me back in the city and I pretty much crashed out.

The only downside is I am now fighting a cold. It's been rather frigid (yes, it's all relative) here the past few days. The natives aren't sure what to do with themselves. It's even snowed a bit in the hills surrounding Wellington. The number of times that has happened in the past couple decades can apparently be counted on fingers. I'm sure it's a combo of the rain, cold and lack of sleep.

I should be moving into my new place in the next couple days. I may stay in my current accomodation through Friday morning when I have to be out as it has a bed and I don't yet have one. There is a phone there, but I'm not certain of the number so it will have to come in the next installment.

This Friday I get to go to a gallery opening through EY. Since we sponsor an exhibit each year we get free tickets. I conned Victoria into going with me. Saturday one of my colleagues is taking me to a few mattress stores as work seems to be a bit too busy during the week to get it done. Saturday night is a party I've been invited to attend.

Interesting NZ observations:
1. People rarely carry cash - they use Eftpos for everything
2. Commercials on TV are hilarious and somewhat risque
3. The haka is even more amazing in person
4. Everyone here wears black. There's very little color in wardrobes
5. They like really soft beds in this country - yuck!
6. Food is ridiculously expensive.
7. Bell peppers are called capsicum
8. Yams are something completely different here and look like weevils
9. Nexxus shampoo/conditioner doesn't seem to have made it to NZ
10. Books are also ridiculously expensive. I was looking into starting to read The Dark Tower series, but they want like $35 for a paperback of book number one. Crazy!
11. They REALLY like salt here. For the girl who really doesn't put salt on anything, it's a bit of an adjustment.
12. Sushi here is odd - I tried some rolls and all the fish was on top of the roll with nothing but rice and seaweek in the middle. Plus, they sometimes put chicken in their sushi. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
13. Booze is expensive here as well.
14. The letter R doesn't really exist, unless they are using Maori words. Then it suddenly comes back in.

As you can see, things are moving along here. Work has been busy which is nice. Meeting new people is always great. All in all, things are good.

I haven't had a whole lot of time for reflection as I've been on the go so much. To be honest, I have moments where it's hard - I miss my amazing friends and family. It's weird to realize I'm not just on holiday for many weeks. Yet, I know this is ultimately where I'm supposed to be right now.

If anyone wants to talk and doesn't feel like paying a fortune, go to http://www.skype.com and download skype for free. We can talk computer to computer for free. Woohoo!

Ok, well, I'm off to move one of my bags to my new flat, get some food and try and sleep off this cold. Hope all is well with everyone.

This update was brought to you by the letter W and the number 2.

Another Candle Snuffed Too Soon

I just learned that a good friend of my brother's has passed away. I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple times. He was the nicest person I had ever met. Brian had been battling leukemia for years. He and his wife (who has breast cancer) have a daughter who just turned 5. She was having her birthday party on the day he passed away. Brian was only 3 years older than me. I cannot express how much I hate the f*cking C word!!!

Gone, but not forgotten.

His obituary:

Brian Craig Dickson, beloved husband and devoted father, went to the arms of Our Lord on July 6, 2008. Brian was born in New Britain, CT, on October 25, 1974, and spent most of his growing-up years in Cato, NY. He graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1997, the same year he met his wife, Annette. Their marriage took place in 1999, after which they resided in Depew, NY for a year, where Brian worked as a computer technician.

In 2000, Annette's residency training brought them to Kansas City, MO. Brian worked for the USDA as a Unix administrator, a position he continued in for two years after his diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2001. Despite ongoing chemotherapy, he and Annette happily became expectant parents, an event dampened by Brian's relapse in 2003. Brian received a stem cell transplant from his brother, Brad, that May.

Seven weeks later, Arwen was born and Brian began the role he relished most: at-home dad. He enabled Annette's busy medical practice, and was an active, hands-on father, finding kindred spirits among KCDADs, a group of at-home dads in Kansas City. Watching Arwen grow up spurred his desire to pursue a teaching career, and he began graduate studies in education at Rockhurst University in 2004. In 2006, he was a most understanding caregiver for Annette as she endured treatment for her own diagnosis of breast cancer. She was recovering when he relapsed again shortly before his 32nd birthday.

A second stem cell transplant at MD Anderson in Houston, TX separated Brian from his beloved girls for several months in 2007. Earlier this year, faced with the news of possible relapse, Brian and Annette renewed their vows at St. Therese Church in celebration of their ninth anniversary. Brian doggedly pursued treatment with the goal to survive for his young family, even in the face of great risk. His favorite quote was from Jimmy Valvano's speech at the Espy Awards, "Never give up, don't ever give up!"

Brian is survived by his wife Annette, daughter Arwen, his parents Alan and Carol, and brother Brad. Visitation will be at St. Therese Catholic Church, 7207 NW Highway 9, Kansas City, MO 64152 from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Therese at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2008 with Fr. Mike Roach as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Parkville. In lieu of flowers, family request donations to the American Cancer Society and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This moment of sadness was brought to you by the letter C and the number TOO MANY!!

Double Rainbow

Saw a double rainbow today over the bay (Wellington that is) as I was coming back from a client site. Reminded me of the double rainbow at Burning Man and being able to share it with good friends.

Hopefully it's a positive sign about finding a flat as I'm rather frustrated at the moment.

This moment of enjoying nature's beauty was brought to you by the letter R and the number 2.