'Twas the week before Christmas...

and I am so glad that I began my gift shopping in July! There is something to be said about knowing your family will be happy with your finds...Christmas is a whole new shopping experience when you finally have money coming in, instead of only going out! Therefore this whole employment thing ain't half bad! :)
I did make it home for "craft day" our annual Remembrance weekend tradition where we gather at the Patterson's for a day full of crafting, tea, treats and Christmas music. I, however, use the words Craft Day lightly when I state that I made it home for this event, because they neglected to inform me that *gasp* Craft Day had been cancelled! I was in shock...it just couldn't be. I had been planning for this day for weeks...deciding what projects I would work on, what I needed to pick up etc. So, I revolted...and I stowed away by myself in the sewing room and I hemmed a bunch of pants and made the bedroom curtains. Having all these pants finally fit me was like Christmas in itself because before this they had been lonely in my drawer and unworn. I am also happy with how the curtains turned out. The day was not a bust completely though, we did have tea and treats, and played some games to boot.
I also was able to stop in home the next weekend as I was travelling near the area to attend a Rehabilitation of the Hand course in Halifax. I am very glad I was able to stop in because it gave me the opportunity to visit my grandfather and say goodbye to him in the hospital before he passed away the next week. The palliative care unit at the hospital was amazing, so well done, they should be proud.
The Hand course was not all I expected, because there was no real "hands on" learning, from which I really benefit. I did get to spend the night at Katie's apt though and have some catch up time with her which is always nice. We also ate lunch the next day at the cafe she works for, and I had the most amazing soup ever! Curried cauliflower chowder...I couldn't stop talking about it. Katie says the girl who makes their soup is a soup guru and needs to open her own soup shop, and I second that motion. After the course I was able to spend some time with Becky, a friend from school working in Hali, strolling around the city and shopping...a nice afternoon! The next night I spent out at Colleen's and we went to a Halloween party hosted by work friends of her fiance. I didn't really know anyone there but it was really neat to see all the different costume ideas (especially since her fiance works in an animation studio!) It was a quick visit but its always great to see Colleen, so I take what I can :P
I was back home the next weekend to attend my grandfathers funeral.
My grandfather was an amazing man, and inspired me as I grew to love nature and to remain curious about the world around me...because no question was too silly or naive...and he had an answer to all of them. I can only hope that I can provide the same for my own children and grandchildren some day...I better start studying now :) The weekend was a mini family reunion and it was good to be able to catch up with family who has been away, and to listen to the stories of relatives I wish I knew better; like my grandfathers Brother. He told a story about when they attended the one room school house (which we were all seated in at the moment having lunch and socializing), he said grampie was never afraid to debate with the teachers and on one such day he was in a disagreement over a math equation, after awhile the teacher finally gave in and said yes Billy you are right. Later as grampie and his brother were walking home, grampie turned to his brother and said, 'part way into the argument I realized that the teacher was in fact right, but I couldn't back down after all the effort I had put forth'! I guess it just goes to show that stubborn is a family trait that cant be easily rubbed out. He also told me about how much grampie loved to read, and how they had enjoyed British humour most of all (which must be where my Dad gets it). Grampie would read them stories out of a book and then well after the lights had been turned out would continue to make up stories to entertain his siblings. One of my favourite things to do when visiting my grandparents growing up, was to sift through grampies library that he had made up for us...a box full of nature books. We even had little library cards so we could sign the books out and take them home. I also loved walking through the woods with grampie and my dad...probably chattering non stop with whats that, how does that work, what is that made out of, what do you call this...And now, the land has been passed on to my father so that I can continue to stroll through the woods and teach my children how to identify trees and bird calls.
I was becoming slightly spoiled getting home every weekend for awhile, so I havent been back since, but mom will be up to get me this Friday for the holidays! I am so excited to give everyone their gifts! I think I might be turning into my mom...who has passed on her love of finding the perfect gift :)
I also did pick up the knitting needles again and I made Chris a touque, which he loves so much I am sure the reason he doesnt wear it is to protect it. haha...I also havent finished the ear flap ties so I will let him use that as an excuse. We have an enormous amount of snow so it is definitely touque weather...even if he says boys dont wear touques and scarves :P
A few weeks ago we added to our 'family' and rescued a kitten from CARMA, I think she is adorable, if not slightly hyper and rambunctious...she makes up for it with snuggles. She is striped grey and we named her Kenzie, after James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie!

Moving has become my constant standard of living

Well I have moved again! For some reason I am not capable of leaving a suitcase unused for more than 4mos. at a time. I wonder where I will go next...please dont even get me started on my travel list because it may make me cry when I realize it most likely will never happen. My latest move has brought me closer to the student life than when I had been living in Halifax last year; let's just say I now know how quickly and brilliantly a couch burns in the middle of the street. The neighbours seem fine to allow these hooligans to run the streets at night whooping and hollering and blasting music, oh and of course lighting anything flammable...but they do not like if Nanuk barks in the morning. My street is night owls so that is going to take some adjusting. The place we moved into is very...quiant...haha! We are renting a house from a lawyer in Ottawa who purchased the tiny home while attending law school. It's small, but so are we so it should work out pretty dandy. My biggest complaint though is the cold, it is quite chilly and it is only early October. Our yard has heaps of trees around the house so we dont get much sun, not to mention the home is made of large cement blocks (thats just a guess, I dont really know what they are, I will leave that to Chris to explain). We also have a sun porch that is slightly spearated from the house and thus leaking in cold air, plus the windows are old school and only single paned. Most of the windows have been weathered, but there is still some more to do. I am currently working on getting some curtains made to pretty the place up. We painted the bedroom the most spectacular shade of blue based off Debbie travis' "Best Friend" blue, we thought that was fitting for our situation...and it works for both him and myself. We got a new comforter set as well from Ty's line and it is chocolate brown, so the walls really pop with it. The curtains for the room will be a lighter shade of brown and remind me very much of a skirt I got at the Black Market. Its very exciting to decorate a home rather than an apt. The living room is green already, I had wanted to paint it a vibrant shade of green, like grass, but we decided to conserve money and I remained content with a more muted green. Chris' father, Roger, has the neatest vinyle cutting machine and he has been experimenting with wall words and wall sticker vinyl so I hoping hoping to have something amazing to put up in the living room...I'm aiming for fern curls.
I received word that I passed the licensing exam for OT, so that means I have to keep working :P So much for my backpacking adventures in Scotland, instead I continue to grip the steering wheel on my journey to Minto each week. One day I saw a total of 8 deer on my trip in to work, being forced to break for 4 of those! It's a nerve wracking stretch of highway to say the least, I do not even kid when I say my hands get sore from gripping the wheel too tightly. I've still only seen one moose though. On the bright side though I am having fun testing a new car each week, today it is a cherry red Yaris, last week a brand spanking new grey Corolla, and the week before a silver Versa. I'm hoping to get the Mazda 3 next week, the rental guy said it's his favourite. If I had my own car the hospital would be paying me mileage instead of renting me a vehicle, so I am pretty tempted to look into financing options that somewhat equal what I would earn each month in travel expenses. Something to ponder for sure...and Mazda IS having a sale...
In other news I travelled over to PEI the long weekend in September for Anne-Maries wedding to Wayne. I took the bus to Moncton to meet Laura and then we travelled over the bridge the next day! It was great to see Laura again and we had a lot of fun putting together our gift for the newly married couple...of course it came complete with a poem...it wouldnt be a true Melissa-Laura creation without one! We drove over in our matching outfits and got gussied up in Summerside before heading over to the church where we were pleased to run into Martha in the parking lot! I was already getting excited for the dance event, knowing AM had invited some FANTASTIC dancing OT machines! Sarah, Maggie and Cathy were all seated at our table, so it was a mini reunion :) They had a really neat idea at the wedding where they took everyones picture as you entered the church, then later at the reception all the photos were in an album which acted as the guest book! That way you signed your best wishes and the couple would have a keepsake photo reminder of everyone there on their special day! The church was immaculate, I havent been in many catholic churches so it was a small treat. I think my breath stopped when AM came around the corner in her dress with her dad...she looked exquisite! The ceremony turned out to be pretty funny, as the priest whipped out his magic wand that ensured the marriage would be smooth sailing! I do not jest, he bonked them both on the head with a sparkled/ streamer tipped baton...and I almost died laughing! At the reception our favours were scottish thistle pins and they were handing out blue spruces to offset the paper used in the ceremony...I was in my element...both fantastic ideas I have no qualms in stealing for my own future event...if one ever comes. The dance was beyond fun, and I may have shed some pounds as we all galloped around the floor, twisting and spinning with the bride and her brothers all donned in kilts! Chris joined us near the end of the evening for a few dances and then Laura Martha Myself and Chris expired to our campground where we near but collapsed in a heap on the ground before setting up a tent in the dark (and in dresses!) Chris and I spent an extra night camping before going back to our respective provinces. It was a great weekend!


Last weekend, coincidentally, was also a long weekend! Thanksgiving! Chris and I went home and I attended a friends stagette party where we all dressed as fairies! Very interesting. Sunday I visited with Meredith and marveled over her VERY cute apt they created across from her home, its very lively and fun! She had great exciting news and it was so nice to be able to spend some time with her, even if we didnt get to trudge up Greenhill and freeze as we marvelled over the foliage! Sunday afternoon was spent stuffing ourselves with a great meal, followed by another stuffing event of desserts at the Pattersons. Monday morning Emily, Chris and I carved THE most coolest pumpkins ever carved. Biased opinion of course. Emily taught me how to do shave carvings and it was a lot of fun...we saved all the seeds for roasting and for crafts. I wonder if I will make it home for craft weekend?
I have some sewing projects on my table to do, and a lady is selling a VAST variety of homespun yarns at the hospital so it is tempting me to pick up my needles again and see what I can create! Perhaps I will be able to post some crafty pictures someday.

Date change

I noticed that after I posted that last item it was dated as July 3rd...a reminder to myself that it was that long ago that I sat down at the computer and attempted to update. I had saved the draft and then today continued it. I forgot to mention that we all wrote our national certification in July and are still awaiting the results. Perhaps this blog will soon centre around my search for a new profession :P
Anne Marie's wedding is also this upcoming weekend and I am so excited to see some of my classmates again!
Although of course I see JoAnna and Tara quite often as they also accepted positions in Fredericton. :)
Colleen was up for a night to visit, and Emily spent a week with me. Visits sure do make this apartment seem quiet once they have left :(
Mom, Sarah, Emily, Lisa and I took a trip to Ontario to visit with the family members out there, lots of fun! (Eventhough Air Canada managed to misplace my luggage between Fredericton and Toronto) The first night we played games and rebonded. The next morning we were off to Canadas Wonderland (with a new bathing suit with no thanks to Air Canada) where I learned just how much I can scream in one day. On the drop tower I also discovered a new sound I had not been aware I was capable of producing, I believe Sarah has this on video. My favourite rides were The Italian Job and the Cyclone. The next day we went to Debbie and Ken's to celebrate Megan's birthday and see a few more relatives we hadnt met up with yet. That weekend I took a train to Kingsville to meet Chris and his family for a very quick visit before heading back to the maritimes. We visited Pelee National park and the Pelee winery in our whirlwind visit.

Tired of re-runs?

Oh what a special treat for those who actually still check on this blog from time to time. I have returned. SO MUCH has happened since I was last able to really sit down and post more info on here. Exams flew by without a hitch, we all went out on our last day to Niche and had appetizers and martinis, hardly believing it had all come to an end. I dont think it really sunk in for me at that point. After three years you grow accustomed to seeing the same people and keeping the same routine, I think somewhere in the back of mind I had assured myself that this was merely a short break. We all went home and awaited our grades and graduation. I had many road trips and adventures inbetween and took hundreds of pictures. Graduation was a blur, the preparation leading to that day made the actual event seem anti-climatic. Nonetheless it was an amazing feeling. Laura and I brought down the house with our Valedictorian speech, and I was so happy to hear from classmates, staff and families about how much they enjoyed it. We walked across the stage, as the class with the most "graduating with distinction" members :) To celebrate Mom, Dad, Emily, Lisa, Bev and Katie and I all went out for supper in the restaurant in Katie's building, Trinity. That evening I joined my fellow graduates, along with those from the Physiotherapy class on the Sylva boat cruise, lots of laughs and dancing. The next morning we had our farewell Brunch which also celebrated LB's birthday. After we had finished our meals an awkward silence fell over the table. For this was it. Throughout the festivities we had continued to expect to see each other again at the next event...but we had no more planned events. We stood on the sidewalk and hesitated to part ways. We eventually peeled ourselves apart and I finally went down to the waterfront and ordered my grad pictures.
I accepted a position in Fredericton, 3 days a week I am in the Chalmers on the Orthopedics floor, and 2 days a week I am in Minto at the Community Health Centre as the only OT. It has been great so fAR.
I am living alone, and as my last post predicted it is much better than some of my other situations. But I must admit...cabin fever often finds me. There is only so much peace and quiet I can take.
Chris has recently been offered a position at an engineering firm in Fredericton so that is very exciting news. And soon I will move into my rented house so Nanuk can join me in my new Fredericton adventure.

My weekends

So I have been going home for the past few weekends because there hasnt been much going on around Halifax and seeing as how it is nearly time to grow up and move away I should make the most :) The first weekend I was home I got to see Emily say her speech and I must say she blew everyone away...definitely the best one there! The next weekend she was saying her speech at the next level and it was also moms 50th birthday so another good excuse to go home, it worked out that I could surprise mom because a girl in my class, Maureen, was going home as well (to Stellarton) so I hitched a ride with her. She definitely provides some interesting chit chat for the drive :) To save Maureen driving me out home, and because Chris and I were planning an outing anyway, he picked me up in Stellarton and we ate out and rented a movie to bring home and watch with the family. However mom was working a late shift so we had to wait a while for her to come home. As we couldnt hide Chris' vehicle we tried to pull off that he was so bored he decided to come and hang out with Emily. Mom wasnt buying it and found me hiding :P That weekend we also went down to the shore to take pictures for Emily's 4H project. It was absolutely freezing on the beach and I was quite disgusted over the mess the workers had left behind! Chris and I also hung the shelf I had made for our front entry. When I got back to the city I discovered that we no longer had internet and therefore had to run off to the main campus library (as ours was closed) to complete an assignment due the next day. I didnt see any of my roommates until late Tue night. Our phone and TV were quick to follow in the disappearing act and I was none to impressed to discover the cause was unpaid bills...they were not paid the entire time I was out of the country. I missed a very important phone call from a potential employer and have not heard from them since I sent an apologetic email. After displaying some assertiveness when they finally returned we were reconnected to the internet but still do not have phone service and it is very annoying. I cannot wait to move out. Living alone may turn out to be a glorious experience. I have just returned from another weekend home as it was the long easter weekend. Emily is in Europe (until next Sat) so it was much quieter than usual! haha! Chris kept me entertained in her absence. We went on a mini road trip Saturday to take photos of the new windmills and waterfalls, and Nanuk of course came along too! We stopped at the windmill first but had a hard time making it look as big as it appeared to the naked eye on film. Then we went to the bakery on the brule shore and got a loaf of bread and some date squares. We then drove to wentworth and found the first waterfall on our list and took some shots of the ice formations and of course some portraits. We moved on to the under mountain river and then drove to Truro for lunch. While waiting for our food I noticed that Nanuk was in the back of the SUV and his movements looked suspicious...as suspected he had gotten into the baked goods and did quite a number on them in the short amount of time he had. The snow had started at this point so as we drove back to PC we decided we would get the rest of the waterfalls the next time I came home. It was a good choice because we had quite the storm! A lot came down really fast! This seems like an appropriate time to quote my sister Sarah, as I think she summed it up quite nicely and it made me laugh
"please someone make it stop!! round white fluffy things are surrounding me. they're all over the place and all through the air. they're building up and up and up until that's all you can see. I've yelled at them, "It's April!" but they won't listen. they're like those stubborn jellyfish that show up in August. Or the people who chit chat with the cashier after their groceries have been bagged. Or those who move away and then continue to consistently fill your inbox with useless babble. They don't understand when their time is up. I mean I love it all winter and one of my happiest days is the first day they show up, but I can't take it anymore. Oh, the powers that be, please take pity on me. We're talking since Oct. 28th. 5 months - that's almost half a year. I coasted on it, I played in it, I threw it, I scuplted it, I danced in it, I walked in it, I fell in it, I skiied on it, I shovelled it,I extreme drove through it, I gave it it's due and glorified it during it's time, what more does it expect???? It's time to let go."
We had easter dinner at home, it was weird to not have Sarah and Emily there. The next day Chris, Nanuk and I went sledding and tried to build a fort...not too successfully.All in all I watched a lot of movies and did very little studying for my last 2 exams ever! On the drive back into the city though Maureen and I spent the entire drive talking about all the things we knew about our course which we will be examined on tomorrow and it turns out we know a fair chunk so we are no longer worried.

Here are some of the photos from our sessions:


Ice jumping at the beach


Chris and I successfully causing Emily "to look" at nothing by pretending we see something exciting...


Nanuk, Chris and I on the rocks


Nanuk, Emily and I on the rocks


Walking back...joking about belts :)


The shelf on the wall!


Emily giving her heart-felt, well researched speech on how one person can impact change on the world


oh she looooved this...I believe the quote here is "hurry up and take the picture, people are laughing at us!" Then she tried to shove it in the trunk, but it didnt fit...so it rode with me in the back seat all the way home, where I believe the next quote came from me "I feel as though I am staring my future in the face..." I am one lucky girl ;)


Neither look a day over 29...or is that act? Posing with a gift from Sarah


Nanuk sleeping in the sun


The windmill in Tatamagouche


haha!


an old boat


Ice on the waterfall


Nanuk the creeper


Base of the waterfall


Jumping into the river that runs under the mountain


the back seat...haha...


my dapper travel buddies!


There were 8 very perplexed and anxious robins skirting around the yard during the beginnings of the storm

Boot Camp

We got back to school and quickly realized the dream was over. We only have a few weeks left and they thought it would be a good idea to give us full term courses and cram them into those few remaining weeks. We have something due all the time, it never stops. If you plan it right you can stay on top of the work, but it involves long days hidden in your room alone plugging away. We havent had much opportunity to socialize with the dear friends we will soon be leaving. That's the hardest part. The end is coming, and it is coming fast. I am trying not to let the school work get in the way of making new memories with my friends :) Some of the highlights so far have been Kids Day, the Occupational Therapy Ball and we just celebrated St. Patricks Day. Emily came up for March Break so I forced myself to take some breaks so we could hang out. It just meant cramming a lot of work in the night before she arrived! I attended a workshop on how to recognize cognitive disorders post stroke, but feel that it was mostly information we already knew...but at least I get a certificate for it :S I have three presentations this week and then I am hoping things will start to slow down for me so that I can take a step back and look around. I have been entertaining a few job prospects from around the country and have had a few interviews to go along with them...not a lot of news to report on that front however.


The face painting crew! AnneMarie, myself and Annie


Drawing Mack on Martha


The ball...Annie, myself, LB

Pretty ladies: LB, Kelly, Jo, Marth, Julia, Jill, Annie...and me hovering :)


Second best to being in NZ, dancing with friends...me and Jo!


St.Pattys at Annies


Crystal, AnneMarie, me, Annie

So it's all about making the best of the time we can squeeze out of our social life. In other news Laura and I are running for class valedictorian...I'm really excited about that!

A Sampling of Pictures

Yeah I know, that one was a doozy! Here are some pictures for those who didnt get a chance to see the thousands I brought home with me!

The anticipated conclusion

So, JoAnna brought to my attention today that I did not finish off the story of my trip, leaving my adventure incomplete. She indicated that she had been checking it on a regular basis so that she could catch it when it finally went up...which is of course pretty funny since if anyone knows how the adventure ended that's her! So to satisfy my loyal readers I will finish off the 4th year work term tour. We spent the morning at Jeanettes just playing around with our luggage, we did all our laundry and then packed and repacked until it all fit and we had assured ourselves our valuables were protected (non valuable items to us were far and few between because we loved everything). By around noon we set out to buy the books about NZ that I had put on hold at a second hand shop. I called the man at the store before leaving just to make sure...and right away he remembered me and was very excited, he said that people had tried to buy the books but he kept saying that I was coming back for them! It was a very hot day, but it turned out to be not too far of a walk. I thanked the man at the store for fighting the crowds for me and then we went to my work place so I could say goodbye to Becky one last time and get a group shot at work. Turned out becky was on the road so I didnt get to see her, but I did get a semi complete group shot! At the airport it took us about an hour to check in because we had to keep moving things from our suitcase to our carry on to abide by the airlines weight policy :S Eventhough it's all going on the same plane...go figure! Eddie thought that we had checked in our bags and left without him! haha... Then we had to pay our departure tax at the in airport BNZ. Dropping off our luggage (I ended up having to just check in my carry on because I had too much stuff) to get on the plane we had to wait and make sure they didnt need to open them up because we had locks...and as I watched my stuff come hurtling out of the machine, slam into the wall, then get chucked onto the table and shoved onto the belt...I could feel my stomach turning! We shakily walked onto the next stage...many many more cues followed by more and more security checks, I guess they dont trust the first ones? At the last one I had to chug my glacier water that I for some reason had completely forgot was in my bag...pretty funny...but at least it was good! While waiting inline I think I threw out 10lbs in brochures! Before long we were back on our favourite plane lalalala Qantus! This time I was the middle seater since it was the trip back. We were very excited about this plane ride because our first time on Qantus coming over was all a blur, this time I was prepared! Last time I was pretty much dead for 10hours of the 12 hour flight....unfortunately I was conscious through the entire trip to LA. The guy beside us this time was a Kiwi who was working in BC at a ski resort...but he was the toboggan guy? Yeah I dont know? I probably drove him crazy because I was so fidgety. We settled in and Jo and I synched up a movie to watch together (Employee of the Month) then we had supper...fish and a potato and awesome carrots (Jo had lamb and a pasta type thing but I had some of her lamb which was ok) And for dessert...oh yes...Icecream lollies! hahahaha....it was hilarious! Of course we also saw (since we were sitting right beside the little kitchen crew spot, and had been able to anticipate the icecream way before they served it) that they had a special hot chocolate to serve us later. We asked our flight attendant if we could have some hotchocolate when he came around with the drinks before supper, and he said they would bring it out after supper, so after supper we were sitting somewhat patiently waiting for our treats. We watched the attendants go up and down the aisles serving out hot drinks, and then we watched them start closing up the kitchen. Some time passes and we are left staring at the closed kitchen with the lights off and our empty hands not holding steaming mugs of delicious hot chocolate. Attempting to maintain some level of coolness we raised our hands like school children when we saw the same attendant we had asked earlier about when it would be served. We asked again...if we could get some hot chocolate, and he laughed at us thinking we just wanted more...he was quite surprised that we had been missed. I told him that I thought he was playing some cruel joke on us. So we got our hot drinks and kicked back with another movie. I watched Babel and I was so excited because I had wanted to see it...I actually cried on the plane! We got our snack packs and we tried to steal the cool stuff out of Williams (toboggan man) while he was in the bathroom...what you didnt get a chocolate bar? Thats weird because mine has 2. He caught us though so no luck on the candy...he did however settle for giving me his apricot granola bar...score! At this point I started to think it would be a good idea to try and sleep. I could not for the life of me find a comfortable position so I pretty much just tossed and turned while I went out of my mind! I finally gave up and put on The Last King of Scotland. A very good movie but I am missing the middle chunk of it because I must have blanked out in delerium. Then it was breakfast and I forget what we had. Shortly after this I was forced to shut the window blind because JoAnna kept imagining pieces of the wing falling off. When the turbulance started I was frantically searching for her Lorazepam, unfortunately she packed it in her suitcase. Lets just say she didnt take the bumps so well and was very close to losing window seat privileges. We landed, alive, in LA, miles from our gate. They had to pack us into busses and then drive us to the airport. Which means they had to do the same with our luggage. We actually didnt have to wait in the customs line that long because a lady came around saying canadian passports canadian passports and pulled us out of line to form our own little extremely cool elite canadian line. Customs was a breeze, I just had to say I didnt have an apple from the plane and I was in. Our luggage came right through and we couldnt believe how fast we were out on the other side. In LA. Out on the street in LA. And so not excited about it. We took a shuttle to our hostel and it was pretty crowded, I had to sit up front by some guy who can thank his stars that I didnt actually sleep on his shoulder. The whole ride to the hostel (and it was a long boring one) was me fighting the inevitable...my head was bobbing all over the place as I fought sleep furiously. It was a painful battle but I eventually won and arrived at the hostle without having embarrassed myself by collapsing on the guys lap...only embarrassing myself with the near whiplash. Turns out the guy was a kiwi so we instantly liked him. After we dropped off our stuff...and I begged for a nap which was disallowed...we set off to do what you do in LA. We got a bus pass and went to rodeo drive. We even met helpful people, the bus driver told us how to save money and a very colourful loud lady told us the best places to shop and gave us directions. She was one of those women who repeats herself over and over when she thinks she has said something cool...yeah. But nice, and helpful. I found it pretty cold, because I was unprepared for the switch and I was now in winter eventhough it was LA, it was the evening. I followed Jo around Rodeo because I couldnt really afford anything...and felt too scrubby to even play around and try stuff on...but Jo somehow managed to find stuff to spend something like 400$ on. I did however find something exactly in my price range....free samples! Jo pointed out a Lush store so we popped in and they gave us 2 free samples of face masks each. So we had 2 spa nights in our hostel room. Speaking of the hostel room...haha...it had an interesting layout. When you first walked in you were in a sort of alcove I guess...with a toilet behind a half wall to the right, and almost enough room for my suitcase on the left, then you went through a doorway and the shower with a glass door was to the left and the sink to the right and the bunk bed right in front of you and a tv screwed to the wall. Very...intimate. We had to leave the room when someone had to pee. And we used a sheet to make a makeshift wall around the shower. The second day we got a bus pass and went to Burbank for 8am when they start letting you pick up your tickets to the Jay Leno show. There was only a little line there but we were there early so we had to wait for them to open. A girl showed up and stood on the wall and announced " Hey y'all, let me introduce myself, I have been to the leno show 150 times so if you have any questions I can answer them!" She annoyed me, to say the least. One of the things we notcied about most of the people in LA, was that they were "pay attention to me" types of people. Loud talkers, constantly repeating themselves, talking for the sake of talking, saying things out loud just for people to hear eventhough they dont know you etc. So we got our tickets and Jo wanted to go wait in line right away....hahaha...I almost burst a kidney on that one...sit on the sidewalk for 8 hours, not my idea of a good time. She was adament that she was going to go wait and I could go do whatever and then come back and jump in with her. I still didnt think that was a good idea...I mean....it is LA. Luckily on the bus we had driven by the WB studios and it wasnt that far away...so we went to check that out, assured we would be fine to get in line a few hours later (I mean we had 8 of them to kill right!) We checked and we could take a tour for something like 40$ and it was a 2hr tour so we signed up. I was so excited...I LOVE the WB, I LOVE movies! I was shaking in my skin thinking of all the behind the scenes things I would see after the security guard listed off the shows they take care of. Needless to say I was mildly disappointed by my tour of the other side. We did get to go to Stars Hollow, speechless, so cool, but I wanted more time, I wanted to see sets, I wanted to play around and pretend that I lived there...yes I am slightly nuts...but this is Stars Hollow we are talking about! Stay tuned for an episode where the square is turned into a hay maze...because I was in it! I went to Lukes, and Rorys, and Kims Antiques and Sookies with a little trip around the town. Fun fact, if you walk through the Gilmore house you come out in Sookies house...now thats efficient use of space! We also checked out the ambulance bay of ER (we wanted to be in the hospital of course) and saw where spiderman gave maryjane the famous upside down kiss which funnily enough is the same place that the Orphans sang It's a Hard Knock Life. There was heaps of other stuff, like sitting on the friends couch and hanging out in Amanda Peets Studio 60 office etc etc. After our tour we pretty much just sat on a cement wall for a few hours until we could go into Jay's studio. We took turns leaving to make some phone calls home and grab some lunch/supper...after consecutively going into the same restaurant we were told we looked like sisters because I said my friend was just in here and I'll have what she has. Not too much later a lady from the line proclaimed "there are the twins!" Turns out Jo and I really were spending too much time together! We were in the front row of the ticketed guest, turns out the floor seats are reserved for hoochies etc. The studio was absolutely freezing! We felt a little gipped on our tv time, and the game show portion of the show wasnt live so we just watched it on a tv like you guys did. And the singer...omarion? What? who? exactly? Plus they bring the huge cameras in and place them inbetween the audience and the stage so that rains on your parade a little too. Other than that it was funny and better than hanging out at the hostel. The next day we did the typical take your pictures with Marilyn Munroes star, check out the Kodiak Theatre and "walk the red carpet" while being bombarded, and I mean bombarded by people trying to sell you maps to the stars homes and tours to creep around looking at rich peoples front gates. Then we took a very long bus ride to Santa Monica beach through Beverly Hills after discovering Laguna Beach was hours and hours away! Santa Monica...what can I say...the pier looked pretty cool...the beach was lacking a little je ne sais quoi and there were signs saying dont swim here because of sewage pipe...mmm...awesome. We didnt stay long, the blasting heat we experienced in the city had faded by the time we got to the coast. We did some more upscale Hollywood shopping before heading back for another spa night and fun suitcase packing. We left fairly early for the airport on our last day because this time we anticipated the repacking delay. Our luggage made it through and we hung out in the airport lounge for a few hours waiting for our flight to TO. I was feeling pretty sick and called home to say my wondering feet were ready for a rest! We finally boarded the plane and I was getting worse, I asked the attendant for some Gravol and that might have been my first mistake. We sat on the ground on the runway forever because the plane didnt have any water so they had sent someone out to the store (I'm guessing in New Mexico) to pick up wetnaps so we could wash our hands in the bathroom. I had taken my Gravol and discovered that I dont do well with this type of medication so my dizziness had increased ten fold and I felt like I was going to vomit all over the nice man beside me. Hours later we finally took off and they let us know chipperly that they were going to give us a free drink to make up for the delay...yeah awesome...booze...thats just what I need right now. I got a gingerale instead and tried not to let everyone see me crying in pain. Jo did not have good company for this portion of the trip! We were in a bit of a panic at this point as the delay had eaten into our plane transfer time in TO to catch the next flight home, when we landed we had half an hour to switch planes. Only....of course...we werent alowed to get off the plane because someone was blocking our gate. Seriously... With 16 minutes to catch the flight we took off amazing race style and sprinted to the baggage claim (heres a tip, if you are vomiting, sprinting is not so much a great idea). We got to the claim and no luggage was coming...we ran to find out what our options were. Jo- Hi we have to catch a flight in 16 minutes and we were just wonderi... Desk Dude- You wont make it ...Jo- It's the flight to Halifa... Dude- You wont make it...So there was our hope crushed. The two of stood there on the brink of losing it...teetering on the edge of tears and hopelessness we slumped down onto the floor and waited for our bags. We depressingly made plans to book the next flight, and Jo read over her travel insurance which assured us a hotel room if we missed our flight due to plane delays. Jo called home to let everyone know we wouldnt be there afterall...that after days of wanting to be home we were going to add one more. Our bags came and we sluggishly picked them up and shuffled over to the section where we would book our new flights. We walked through a security check and then as we went through another room a lady stopped me and asked where I was going...Halifax...Her eyes lit up and she quickly pushed me toward a conveyor belt, Quick put your bags on, that flight has been delayed, you can still make it! Amazing Race action ensued once more as we rushed off to another security check...we ran through and there it was...heaven in a delayed plane! They were just boarding the last people so Jo ran off to call home and tell them that the travel gods had rained down some luck and we would be home afterall....just an hour late! The check in lady said I may be the only person to have ever thanked her for having a delayed flight. We got on the plane all smiles, beaming in our fortune...and then they announced a further delay as they searched for someone to fly the plane. An hour later we were headed home and my heart began to swell...ah home! Mom, Emily and Lisa greeted me at the airport, we grabbed our bags and I dont think I stopped talking until I was forced to walk outside. Thats when the fake sobbing started haha. BRR!!! In the car cheesecake was waiting for me and I told stories all the way home! I stayed up all night showing mom stuff from my trip and telling stories and then went to bed a little after Emily left for school. I went to bed in my own bed! With my happy little puppy!

Oh so you want to be able to read it?

Oh wow, english! Last night I was on a chinese computer, and as I typed it was switching it over to chinese characters. I actually found it to be pretty funny. It was very fitting seeing as how we are now back in Auckland. I am on the same computer, but today it is letting me be english. Oh and dad, did you know that you named me snow in chinese...cool as. Also in another form I was told it means honey flower. We are staying at Jeanette's place, the nurse from Putauma, and she has some home stays living here and one is from China. In all those symbols it said that I havent heard from many of you lately and am hoping that you all didnt try to go out and do your own bungy! Today we are just repacking our suitcases, rearranging all the souvies we bought our fans, and washing our clothes. I have a pair of socks that actually walk on their own. We have the run of the house because everyone is at work, so its just us and the cleaning lady as we prepare to leave behind my new home New Zealand. Once we have all our stuff organized we are going to walk around Takanini and maybe I will get to say goodbye to the Becks one last time. I am not super excited about LA, after being in NZ for so long. But it might be nice to relax on a beach for awhile and heal my aching trekking muscles before going home to what Jo's mom warned us was minus 30 temperatures. Dear lord I think my body will just seize up the second I walk outdoors! My body has already begun to realize I am leaving this subtropical paradise, as pretty much this whole trip I was able to eat ice cream with Jo and not get sick...but after trying the NZ famous Hokey Pokey last night after supper...there it was back to normal. Stupid milk. My icecream days are over haha! I dont think I will be able to write in the states, so I guess I will just see you all when I am in the hospital back in hali suffering from frost bite.

哀怜没收台

壹哈和蔼认得防满意. 壹奥妙同样平铁哦内啊吃呢色．　哈哈　哦年册　壹　哈色恩　铁　瀑布里舍得　壹　色额　铁哈台　吨　十　年　吃呢色．　么历史撒　

On Top of the World

Sometimes I think I actually have it out for myself. I had the brilliant idea of climbing a mountain today, an 8hr trek. You might recall that I have spent the last 2 days celebrating my birthday, not to mention my body is just about worn out. About 2 minutes into my climb I started questioning my sanity. I was going to cheat and take the gondola up the first part of the climb because I had a late start due to my muscle cramp, but they only sell the tickets one way from the top...the guy said legally they cant sell a ticket that leaves a person stranded on a mountain. I told him I was quite capable of climbing down, it was the up part I wanted a little help with. He didnt laugh, he said there were more ways to get down the mountain so you could get lost but on the way up theres just one way so its easier. Thats when I laughed, and it gets funnier later too. Simple calculations would presume there are as many ways up as there are down. Anyway I started climbing because I am cheaper than I want to cheat. I tried to take a short cut up the mountain, as I had on the way down last time...but I didnt follow the same trails and wound up unsure of where to go next. I climbed up some sections that looked like at one point they were trails but were no longer in use for good reasons. At one point I came smack up against a rock wall and was quite close to scaling it, when reason kicked in and I had to remind myself that I actually could die...plus I was carrying my cameras in my bag! I had to back trak a bit down the steep slope but eventually came out back at the luge area. I didnt take a bottle of water because I didnt want to carry it in my hand because I like to have them both free when hiking (note to self, pack a day pack for trips like this), so I stopped in the washroom there and drank some out of the tap hoping I could conserve this like a camel until I reached the summit. I made my way onto the Ben Lomond track and started heading out. It really was quite remarkable scenery when you get around to the other side of the large mountain right at the edge of Queenstown, because it hides from view some more of the range. I should I guess at this point mention that not only did I enter this hike waterless, I also did it wearing my flip flops. Sometimes my reasoning is different than others. Anyway I continued along and was doing well, it was a nice steady hike and I stopped for photos and a german girl that I kept passing back and forth also took some shots for me (we saw each other a few times throughout the day, she was a sweetheart). It wasnt too much longer before dire thirst set in, I have no camel abilities whatsoever. After a couple hours I was beginning to struggle. James had really recommended this hike though so I plodded on. He also promised I would see mountain goats, so when I got to the top of the first trekking part I was doing I sat down on the ledge and scanned the hillside until I found one. I figured this would be another penguin moment. It was around this point that I went to take another stunning photo, but when I turned my camera on I got that all too familiar black screen and beeping noise telling me to shut my camera off. So many instant things rushed through my mind, not now, not now, can I find a sony shop, will they be as fast, etc etc. But I gave it a minute and it sorted itself out, luckily too because the hike truely was amazing and I cant wait to share it. The feelings of nausea were beginning to pass so as I sat there I ate an energy bar and just stared at the mountains and Queenstown down below. The same dwarfing effect that took place in Milford was happening here, because as a plane took off from the airport and came into view behind a mountain on the other side of the lake, I got a scale to remind myself just how massive these ranges really are. As I sat there contimplating the more important things in life, enjoying my energy in chocolate form...I heard blaaaa blaaah. Oh score, my eyes quickly scanned around me until I spotted it, a goat. Then I found a few of his mates and watched them eat for awhile. It was about 3 o'clock at this point and I was quite ready to end my trek there and go back down to town, thinking I saw what I came to see, mountains and goats. But my curiousity was getting the better of me as I kept gazing over at the next hillside...I wonder whats just beyond that? I picked up my weary body and assured my legs we would just see what was on the other side, get a nice photo then go back down. But of course, once you get over that hill, you rationalize, well I may as well see whats over the next since I came this far. Before too long I found myself at the bottom of the summit track. I leaned up against the sign saying summit 1 hour and moaned. I felt near death already and the thought of going drastically upwards for an hour made my insides turn. I couldnt do it, I just couldnt...I was on the verge of passing out and was literally having dizzy spells. Next thing I knew I was walking on toward the summit track...I even remember thinking to myself why am I still moving this way? By this point I was stopping every ten minutes or so and catching my breath before continuing on so the trekking was more laboured and slow. I came up to a point and as my head began to clear the hill in front of me to see what was off in the distance my jaw literally dropped. It was so beautiful! What lay before me was unlike anything I had seen before...miles and miles of mountain peaks. I thanked myself for pushing onward and pushed a little farther. I was just making my way up to the steepest portion of the track when I ran into the german girl again. She was really happy that I had decided to go all the way to the top, she said that she too had wanted to give up, but a french girl who was coming down told her it was worth it if she just made it up there. She warned that it was quite steep and said go slow and take breaks instead of turning back...she said what was up there was definately worth the abuse. I thanked her and began the last leg of my mountain journey. I was now beginning to take breaks after every 10 steps...I was pushing on my knees as I trudged upwards. Eventually my breaks became collapsing moments as I threw myself into the tusset grasses along side the trail. My body despised me and was letting me know it...I was beyond dry (I know this because at one point I actually sat down to cry but all I did was heave slightly because nothing came out...dry sobbing we will call it.) my feet were aching my thighs were burning, my stomach was turning and my throat felt like it was in a grip. It was a constant battle upwards between my mind and my eyes, and the rest of my body. I just so badly wanted to be at the top so I could see everything, and I so badly wanted to curl up into a ball and roll all the way back down. It was the toughest thing I have ever done, it was mind over matter for over an hour (stupid sign). I was becoming a little clumbsy in my weariness and scared myself a few times as I came close to the edge, or slipped slightly. I met a few people coming down and each time I asked them all for a drink of their water...inside my head...haha...I couldnt bring myself to actually do it. The sun was beating down on my and I was covered in dust, I was beginning to actually take a break after 5 steps...it was brutal. But I did it. I made it to the top, and it really was worth it. The really great things never come easy eh. It was almost as though as soon as I got up there I felt so much better...I had imagined myself collapsing in a heap and napping for a bit before trying to make my way down...but instead I was bouncing around taking photos and just loving everything! By 6 I was on my way back down...a tricky accomplishment as well on the narrow rocky path that zig zagged down the cliff face. When I reached the bottom of the steep section I took a breather on the park bench to soak up the view one last time. I lay back and put my feet up on the back so that the blood could drain out of them and closed my eyes and just appreciated the sun. A few moments later approaching footsteps brought me back upright as a young guy came over the peak. He looked quite weary as well and was wipiing away the sweat. We chatted for awhile about how beautiful it was and our travels...while I tried to place the accent...I really liked it so I figured it was Scottish. I was correct. He then tried to place mine, he eyed me up and then said...say about...ah yes you are canadian. He had lived in Whistler for 8 months so had a bit of a low down on the accents. He said that I didnt sound so much NS'ian as the guy he knew from there, he thought we sounded more irish...a very harsh accent...I hypothesised that perhaps he was a caper. We travelled together back down the mountain talking about this and that when he paused and said oh I never got your name, his name you ask...yes...it was Jamie. Jamie from Scotland. swoon. His last name unfortunately is english but we will just ignore that part. Everything else, aside from the hair colour, measured up. I just kept thinking oh this is priceless...we then caught up to his girlfriend farther down the trail because she had given up and was waiting for him to return (he had run up to get a picture of the view beyond the hills for her. Her name...no not claire...but Mary so still...She was however english. I definitely got a picture of them when we came out of the trail. We parted ways at the sky line (they both were super nice people and I enjoyed chatting with them...they are off next week to nepal to climb mount everest!) and I rushed into the bathroom to drink some water before I died. While in the building I wondered over to the gondolas to watch them go down...and remembering Jo say they didnt even check tickets once you purchased them I watched to see for myself. It was true...you just walked on and rode down and got off. I couldnt pass this up...so I joined the line and travelled down the final stage of the mountain in style with a german chap who was disappointed his sky dive was cancelled today. As I sit here typing I can see that my feet are black as anything and I have the imprint of my sandle straps etched in dirt across the top...so I may head off and wash up before everyone gets back. I did definately enjoy my last full day on the south island, being on top of the mountain was beyond description, and the effort it took to force myself onward was something I had to be proud of myself for...it was a very New Zealand day, the ones I enjoy the most. I'm going to hate to say goodbye to it all. This is a website about the hike up Ben Lomond: http://www.onedayhikes.com/Hikes.asp?HikesID=53

Time's running out

I swear, if another sandfly attacks me I will not move to NZ! haha...these things are absolutely vicious! I may be permanently scarred. In other news yesterday was Milford Sound Eco Tour day! The ride out was great and a lot of the scenery consisted of the back of my eyelids. I woke up around Te Anau (I should write these posts with a map beside me because I can never really definately remember the spelling of these places) and we had a stop to grab some lunch food because we wouldnt get another chance. I went in a cafe and got a turkey and cranberry sandwich to go (it tasted just like thanksgiving!). When we were re-boarding the bus (the driver made it quite clear that we were on a schedule so you had to make sure you werent one minute late) I recognized a guy getting on at this stop from our bungy the day before. He looked like he had all body parts intact too. We drove on into the Milford Sound National Park and took a picture stop at the mirror lakes and started talking to James who was the fellow bungy participant. He had pretty similar things to say about his plunge! Our next stop was a restroom because we wouldnt see another one of those in awhile either. At the end of one of the huge walking trails (it takes three days to get out of it) we were supposed to pick up 2 hikers to join our tour...but there were 5 there waiting so the driver moved James into my seat and used his seat to store the hikers packs. So I had a new buddy to talk to for the rest of the trip and he joined our crew. We stopped again at a chasm for pictures but had just 10 mins to get in and out of the hike that takes 15mins...it was quite some tour I tell ya, every stop we made was pretty much run, snap a picture, run a little farther, snap snap, run back to the bus. The trail to the chasm was PACKED with tour bus people, it didnt feel very idyllic to me at all as I weaved around tons of people in the rainforest as though I was on Spring Garden at 4pm. When we crossed over the mountain ranges, we actually crossed under them. We drove through a tunnel that had been built during the depression and had created a lot of jobs in the process. They made it with blasting material and hauled ALL the rock out in wheel barrels, it was really cool that they had left the tunnel the way it was so the walls were all rough and jagged. The driver said they only thing they did was add the lights on top and that was just 2 yrs ago! In the summer they had traffic lights so you could only drive one way at a time for safety due to the higher volume of campers and tour busses, but it was really a 2 way tunnel. We got to the sound in time to catch out 10 to 2 boat. We had the smallest boat in the harbour, which made us give each other slight glances, but in the end I liked it that way much better because it was more intimate and of course...eco :P We had a 2hr sail around the sound and what they say about the dwarfing effect is quite true...we had stopped to watch some dolphins swim around the boat and I could see these tiny things floating over by the rocks, so I asked one of the workers what are those as I pointed out to the water....he looks at me and goes...kayaks. hahahahaha...I felt pretty daft, but my scaling was all messed up from staring up at huge cliffs! The dolphins swam around us for awhile and were even jumping out of the water and flipping! One of the kayakers jumped out of the boat and tried to swim with them but they werent having any of it and they left haha! I can only imagine how cold that water felt. It was a great little sail and the scenery truely was spectacular! However, sometimes things can just get too touristy for my liking...it really takes away from the experience when you are trying to lose yourself in the nature and you are surrounded by huge tour boats, swarms of people and heaps of tour planes buzzing around. It wouldve been so much better on a little boat with just a few people! But even so I loved it! Coming back out of the sound and through the national park we had more picture stops and I heardthe little bell of dispair as my camera screen flashed at me "memory card full....memory card full..." Oh crappers...I rushed to delete some of the non-keepers from the days so that I could keep adding some winners to my collection and we stopped at the other end of the tunnel where I got my picture taken in a tunnel of snow (thats how high up we were) and then we stopped at a glacier spring and filled out water bottles (tasted 100x better than the tap water I had). The driver had passed around a menu from a ranch restaurant back in Te Anau for our evening tea and I had ordered a bowl of vegetables so we headed in to enjoy that. James bought my my first birthday present of the year in the form of a Speights Pint. We even had to rush through supper because of our schedule. I cant believe Eddie and Jo didnt vomit as they shovelled in icecream and cheesecake that arrived while everyone was paying their bills! Our last stop on the tour was the wildlife sanctuary...or bird place or whatever where we found my new favourite NZ bird, a relative of the Pukeko but bigger. The Takahe was thought to be extinct but the rediscovered them and now have 312 birds on the island, and well in the world. They were quite cool I must say...blue and green with red beak and feet...very funny to watch. James got off in Te Anau and I gave him my email so that when he gets to Bondi beach he can send me a picture of the funny lifeguards! For the rest of the bus trip we watched The Worlds Fastest Indian...it was a super cute movie, and of course was kiwi. Back in Queenstown we got some beer and headed back to the hostel for a night out with the Kiwiexperience tour group. Well, I headed out with the group and Jo and Eddie stayed in. They were heaps of fun, and its really great to get out there and meet new people...all very nice people! They helped make sure I really celebrated my birthday and dint use beign away from home as an excuse. I had a lot of fun! One of the guys, Zak, from San Diego even had a plan to get up on stage and sing happy birthday and propose to me so I didnt feel left out, and I was going to jump up and scream and wave my arms around as I accepted, but the kareoke portion ended before we got our chance so we had to just do it amongst the crowd. SO yeah mom...I'm engaged...but the ring was too big and it didnt have a rock so I sent it back. I think we are going to call off the wedding. While I was sitting there having a good ol laugh I look up and see this guy walking by...and the first thing I notice...his pale yellow tshirt that read DALHOUSIE university across the chest. Of course I reached out my arm and stopped him exclaiming dal...as in halifax! Oh yeah! It was too funny! The guy didnt go there, but his sister did, and he said out of the 5 tshirts he packed 2 were dal shirts. Poor guy. :P He also said he was pretty glad to run into a Canadian because he hadnt seen one in awhile...plus he said its true what they say about Canadian girls...we're all hot. He said he knows quite a few brits who want to move. SO yeah...good birthday over all I would say :P Today I think I will just hike up some mountains and see how many pics I can fit onto my poor little camera which is going to be returned when I get home. It's possessed I swear...it constantly changes settings on it's own. Jo and Eddie planned a day out on their own so I have my own schedule to abide to.

Yay for time zones

I am now starting day 2 of my birthday, since it is only the afternoon back home of the 11th. I love the date line! So today for my birthday we are taking a bus tour to Milford Sound! Last night we made friends with the guys in the room next door, they are from San Diego...my cheeks hurt from laughing! Check ya later!

AHHHHH!!!

Is not what came out of my mouth when I decided to leave the safety of the ledge 143 metres above the ground. Instead it sounded more like "ah_______________" I started to scream once I realized I no longer had firmness under my feet, but as soon as I looked down and saw the Nevis river rushing at me nothing else would come out. Not a peep... I dont even know how best to describe the experience I had today. We arrived an hour before the bus to the jump left, so you had plenty of time to pace around and fidget, and wonder what was wrong for you for signing up for this. Then once on the bus you had another 45 minutes to talk yourself out of it, while trying to pump yourself up. The music on the bus was all intense and suspensful too which was funny. 20 young adults sat nearly in silence on the trip out there...the air was a buzz with nerves...I had to laugh when I heard the driver say into the CB I have 20 jumpers on board this afternoon...it reminded me of people standing on a ledge ready to end it all. The people behind me were talking right before we started the drive aout if they were excited or not, and one girl says oh we're here for my mates birthday jump...I turned around and said me too! SO we had a little bonding. The guy next to them was like so you are making a clear definate age of death then, a nice clean date on the tombstone. Death by Nevis the girl said, put that on my gravestone! So we get there and they harness you up and then weigh you in your gear...heaviest person jumps first. JoAnna and I were the last to go. I dont know if I preferred that... We watched 18 people jump before they strapped our feet up. As it got closer and closer to our weight class "super light weight" I began to shake. I cant do this...I cant do this... My legs were numb but I kept watching people jump off the ledge and not one of them hesitated after the guy said go. I could not be the first one to hesitate. Finally it was my turn and by this point the only people left in the cable car were Me, Jo, Eddie and some other spanish guy. Everyone else had jumped and was back on the safe ground while we still hovered over the gorge on a cable wire. They sat me down on a chair while he strapped on the bungee to my feet straps and my chest strap. After 2 bounces I was to pull the cord by my feet which would turn me back up right (or I could be raised back to the cable car upside down). My stomach was in knots. I still didnt think I could do it. I had to penguin wobble out to the ledge because my feet were strapped together...and this was the worst part...inching your way out so your toes were over the edge. I didnt want to look down too soon before I jumped, but if I didnt look I might accidently inch myself right into a plummet. The the guy says youre going to feel a little weight on your ankles as he throws your bungy over the edge...I thought I was going to go right with it. I stood there maybe 4 seconds in total. I got to the edge and stared at the cliff in front of me...for a split second thinking I would just scream NO and throw myself backwards onto the ground. The guy says ok 3 2 1 jump. And I did. Just like that...I knew I couldnt hesitate, I just had to do it. And like I said the first second when you realize you did it you scream...then you look down and youre in a free fall (I think ours was about 8 seconds) and you cant do anything. The feeling...youre just falling...face first...but it didnt even feel the fast...like I was floating down...I thought it would be hard to keep my eyes open but it wasnt...the river just kept getting closer and I could taste my heart in the back of my throat (quite possibly the reason no soind would come out)...then you slowly begin to decrease speed....theres a slight pause and then youre rushing back up into the air...you pause for a bit....then youre hurtling back towards the river just as fast as the first jump...I think I screamed again at this point...then you are going back up and you feel yourself getting lighter so you bend up and pull the cord and are jolted upright. I sat there swinging around in the canyon in a bit of awe...I couldnt believe that just happened to me! Anyone that really knows me will atest to the fact that I will stand for 10 minutes on the side of small bridge before jumping into a river! (haha remember gaspereau Emily?) Once you are upright you have a little more time to enjoy the view, which really was amazing. I think if anyone is going to bungy jump this is the one to do! Jo said she was researching it and this jump is labelled the 2nd most extreme sport activity IN THE WORLD...out of anything! We drove past another bungy on the way home and it just didnt look like it would be as good after the one we did...8 seconds is a long time to watch the world rushing at your face! I was pulled back onto the platform shaking slightly while Jo sat in the chair getting harnessed up. That was the only hinderance to our day...because we were back to back it made pictures and videography difficult as Eddie had to capture the day for us both. JoANna somehow managed to scream the whole way down...I dont knwo how the sound squeezed out past her heart. When you get back on the ground they show you your jump that they videoed for you...and you experience a little of the rush all over...theres nothing like watching YOURSELF leap off a ledge over a gorge! I loved it. I really loved it. Theres something to be said about scaring the crap out of yourself. But I really did feel safe as I fell...maybe something to do with the tightness around my ankles haha. When we got back to Queenstown we went out to a buffet for my birthday...which was subpar so the pressure is on back home! Tonight we plan on having some drinks and then perhaps checking out the night life in the Q-town. 26...I should go to the bathroom and check for wrinkles...or hopefully jumping face first into a canyon smoothes those right out! 4 more days in the NZ...eep! Thanks to everyone who sent birthday wishes I love and miss you all!

Proper post

Ok so it has been a whole week without a proper post...you'll have to bare with me here. It is Sunday night and we have checked into the Alpine Lodge in Queenstown, which will be our home base until we leave on Wednesday. He was giving us the tour and I was in pretty much a daze which you will realize why later, but I heard things like here loung, movies, here bathroom, FREE INTERNET JUMP ON WHENEVER YOU WANT, you upstairs, bathroom, laundry...I was still fixating on the computer message. We were pretty amped on that on! The Alpine is sweet as! We really lucked out here. So now for the update, since I have the time...all the other lodgers are out at the pub getting their free beer...I am typing my life story:

Friday Feb 2:
I managed to get out of work with out crying and took my last train ride out of Takanini...probably ever. I stopped at the front desk to take care of my rent and while he was sorting that out he asked if I knew about the other charges to our room. Obviously I didnt...I mean we never ordered room service? Hahaha...so yeah he goes your phone bill is outstanding...phone bill I say incredulously...we never used it. He said yeah we were quite shocked by this too...and starts printing out these pages with lists of numbers called...he goes they are all from your mates room pretty much...so I look it over yeah yeah thinking no big deal...then my eyes scan the total amount due...$1500!! I dont know how to describe the noise that came out...a guffaw maybe? I pretty much just told him she wasnt going to pay it...end of story. So we worked it out that she wouldnt have to...BUT...he gave me the bill so I could "go up and scare her." I liked his style so I took it and sat in the room anticipating a great joke. Jo walks in the door already with a weird look...darn I was thinking...she already stopped at the desk...What? I said to her...she just grimaces and looks at me then steps to the side...and in walks Eddie. And that's when everything changed. SO I still got to pull my joke but she had a diamond ring on her finger so she didnt get as phased about the bill as I was hoping haaha! We then all went to the rugby game and OF COURSE, just as the guy at the rugby shop told us...it always rains at rugby...it rained. But we just moved up into the pricey seats and continued on! The blues won. If you cared. They rucked and mauled and scored tries and stuff...yup.

Saturday Feb 3:
We packed up all our remaining luggage into our hiking packs and set off to change all our south island bookings to include Eddie...part way down the street I was already compiling a list of items to remove from my bag. While those two sorted things out in the tourist builidng I continued on to Becky's and left a pile of stuff I didnt need to bring to the SI to lighten up my bag. She has been very helpful with our plans...I'll miss that kid! Then we took the shuttle to the airport and flew to Queenstown. I dont know what I had pictured in my mind...but it never compares. We landed in a little airport outside of the township, and I got of the plane and walked across the strip just in awe...we landed in a valley surrounded by mountains...very cool. We drove into the town and I simply love it. Queenstown is cute cute cute...surrounded by mountains and built around a lake...cobble stone streets little shops and cafes...its great! We dropped off our stuff at the Discovery Lodge and praise the heavens mine and Jo's packs fit into the same under bed locker! We had an 8 bed share so I grabbed the top bunk above an english bloke who was still sleeping at 1pm. We then went out to explore the town and take 2000 pictures. Having Eddie around has been handy in the photograph dept! We had supper at a place that gave us a coupon for a free drink and our waitress was from Hamilton Ont. Back in our very messy hostel room...I told Jo to take a pic but I dont know if she did....I mean it was pretty funny...all the stuff you hear about staying in hostels about protecting your belongings and being safe did not apply...these 2 girls had their packs strewn out over the whole room...we couldve gone shopping in their stuff if we hadthe notion. Both girls were quite inebriated when we returned and were ina nd out of the room as they got ready to go out...then the 3 UK guys came in and I talked to one about bungy jumping because he had the tshirt on and had done the jump that day that we were going to do. His advice was to just shut off your brain, stand on the edge and pick a point in fron of you and just stare at it...only listen for the guy behind you count down then just do it...he said the feeling was spectacular! I slept through the girls return, but awoke to the UK guys' friend come in quite loudly cursing and stumbling around. The guy under me tried to get him to settle down saying he wasnt making a very good impression on the new people...and he said something loosely along the lines of I dont give a... He then set his alarm for a few hrs later which went off repeatedly to no avail until the guy under me went over and punched him. I dont think they much enjoyed travelling with him either.

Sunday Feb 4:
We got up early and caught the bus to Dunedin. It was an awesome drive, we followed the Kurakawai (or something) river most of the way, and it was like whoever coloured it in grabbed the wrong shade of blue...it was so brilliantly bright! I also saw the red deer that Dad wanted me to get a picture of...I sat in my seat poised in fron of the window camera in hand awaiting the perfect shot and all I managed was a blur of spots which I can claim to be a herd of deer. The majority of the trip was me fighting sleep, and fighting it hard as I tried to take in all the scenery and my head bobbed along with the winding roads! Dunedin was much bigger than I imagined, I pictured a cute little town. After taking the long hilly sweaty detour to our hostel we set off to find the steepest street in the world. Turns out this street is an hours walk from our hostel...Eddie was none too impressed...Jo and I are of course seasoned veterans so it was nothing. We played around on the street taking pics, walked through some parks and went back to the hostel with plans of watching a movie. But Eddie fell asleep so we put it on the back burner and caught up on our journals.

Monday Feb 5:
Our plans for today were to catch the morning bus out to the peninsula so Jo could tour the castle and Eddie and I could search for penguins. We missed the bus by seconds and were forced to wait about 2hrs for the next so we went to the Cadbury Chocolate factory which successfully stopped Jo from crying. I think she floated around the place sucking in as many chocolate fumes as she could. We then grabbed some lunch food at the grocery and took the bus out to the Otago peninsula. The bus dropped off us at the bottom of a mountain and we began our very long very steep ascent. Hours later...haha...over an hour anyway we were finally at the top. At the gates to the castle we discovered that you actually had to pay just to wait out fron of the castle...Eddie and I exchanged looks...he paid the money and I stood there...not ready to pay just for sitting by flowers. So I bowed out and said I'll just wait out here...you guys go in; eventhough we had some plans to make a CSI story for Kelly and LoriBeth. They went in and I stood at the end of the driveway for awhile because the grass was too wet to sit on. Then I started walking down the road past the castle to see the view from the other side of the hill. As I walked the fence around the garden just ended...oh I thought to myself...I'll go in and take some pictures for the CSI story...so I did. Then I found Jo and Eddie and we took some more and were about to leave when they made me go into the castle and ask if a bus would pick us up on the other side of the hill (so Eddie and I could finally search for penguins) and thats when they recognized I hadnt paid to come through the front gate. I told them we were leaving anyway and so we did...I left by the road I had come in but when they went out the front they made them pay for one more ticket anyway. Thats all...no jail? I dont kmow what Jo wrote because I didnt have time to check but I got emails from home that were pretty crazy! There is no fighting over here. So anyway we didnt even get to do the hikes I had wanted to do and spent the whole day just climbing the mountian to the castle and then back down.

Tuesday Feb 6:
Finally, my kind of day! We rented a car and did the Otago peninsula proper! Our itinerary included: Sandfly beach, sandmount hike, gannet colony, tunnel beach, glow worm caves. Jo was the frist driver so we started out our journey in terror...haha...let's just say she hugged the left shoulder pretty tight and made me gasp several times! There were quite a few yells from Eddie in the back. When we got into the highlands of the peninsula visibility decreased substantially from the fog and the fear factor rose as we drove through nothing but white and grey and all you could see was the plummeting cliff to the left. (yeah the side she was hugging...hence the gasping). We managed to make it there with only attacking one curb. Due to the conditions we missed sandfly so we back tracked and found sandmount. We parked in the car park and sat there for awhile...all hesitant to leave the car and enter the white mist. We finally got out, hoods dran up tight and headed towards the forest the was the beginning of the hike...it wasnt so much raining, but it had been so the trees were wet, and in the rain were dropping this water down into the forest as though the trees were raining. Jo pulled out her umbrella and trodded in...Eddie and I paused. We all stood there and decided this was not the best time to do this hike since we couldnt see anything. We went up to the tip of the peninsula and decided to work our way down instead of up. It was freeezing up there. I was shaking and chattering as I filmed sea lions or seals (I couldnt tell) spotted shags and gannets. When we got back to the car it wouldnt start...the lights had been left on b/c eddie thought they would shut off automatically. No worries though because a guy working there gave us a boost and we were back on the road. Then I took the wheel to sandymount....whooohooo. Sheep ran out in front of me more than once! But we made it back safe and sound and I stayed on the left side. The hike was definately worth postponing...the views were out of this world unbelieveable! The chasm was amazing, I stood on the edge and felt like I was on the edge of the world. Looking out out into the ocean horizon you saw nothing but clouds and water. You could see the mountain peaks over the clouds! The hike took us in a loop around to lovers leap, a hole in the rock that had wind rushing thorugh it that sounded like screaming, then up to the highest point that gave a great panoramic. A lot of the trail was sand and uphill so quite the workout. We moved on to sandfly beach and had so much fun entering the site as we jumped ran and slid down huge sand dunes to get to the beach that had amazingly huge waves. We hiked down to the hide out and waited for penguins. Eddie and Jo gave up but I was relentless...filming the sea lions dance and play in the bull kelp wasnt enough. SO my wait paid off and I founf 2 yellow eyed penguins higher up the dune and rushed back to find them. It felt like we were on a real expedition as we crawled through the dunes to see them! We didnt have time for tunnel beach and the glow worms but I was on cloud nine nonetheless! Slept with a smile that night for sure...my heaven!

Wednesday, Feb 7:
Stopped at a surf shop to ask why I wouldnt have seen any surfers at sandfly beach since the waves looked so great. His reply: oh yeah well you know there's heaps of wildlife there and the surf can be inconsistent, his buddy looks at him and says wildlife? in a sarcastic voice...i think what you mean mate is sharks! Yeah he meant sharks! the place is swarming with them because of the wicked fishing grounds around the rocks! ahhhhhhhhhhh! I almost swam in that!! Took the bus back to Queenstown and got moved into the aspen lodge because the alpine had overbooked.

Thursday, Feb 8:
Picked up our rental car and started our road trip to Franz Josef. Took many many photo stops along the way, and I even got a proper red deer shot because I wasnt on a bus! You should see the antlers dad! sweet as! We had great stops and you will see the pics of course...and it turned out to be a very hot day...and I dont know why Jo and I love climbing mountains...but we reward ourselves with waterfalls. The roads were nuts nuts...and Eddie and I took to judging the curves by their speed limits....ooh a double 25....ooooooh a 15, a 15! Hairpins all the way! Arrived at Franz Josef somehow still sane after all day in and out of the car with no radio at all! I think they loved my singing though. They checked into their hostel and Jo passed me a sheet and blanket out the window and I turned the car into a sweet fort and hunkered down for the night. Started raining at 2am and I layed there hoping they dont cancel galcier hikes due to rain.

Friday, Feb 9:
They do not cancel glacier hikes due to rain...weeee! Youre also not allowed to wear jeans on the glacier so I went in my skivvies under the trouser pants they provided. I'm cool like that. It was awesome, a great day on the ice...actually felt like winter for once as we shivered in the cold wearing touques and mittens. Our guide loved us canadians but teased us relentlessy about how we loved to take pictures. Eddie spent the day fishing the rivers with his day lisence and then we met up again and went to Lake Matheson which was a let down. And I was attacked by an eel. Then we popped in to see the fox glacier and travelled the long journey back. We got back to Queenstown at around 1:30 and we all slept in the car this time until we could check into the alpine. 2 nights in the car is definately my limit...I could sense grumpy under the surface...Eddies had bubbled out...haha...

Saturday, Feb 10:
Not able to check in until noon but left our bags there at 8 and just walked around town...we were zombies! Back in the hostel we napped for about 2 hours....sweet sweet beds that I love love love! Got up and headed up another mountain...what is wrong with us! Standing at the bottom it didnt look too bad...but the trail however did not go straight up...I started to think we were going to loop the sucker like a candy cane! It was the first time my legs were actually pleading with me to give up. It was the hardest trek yet. But we made it and we did the luge at the top and Jo and Eddie took the gondola to the bottom because Jo was not going to take that walk again in reverse. I decided to use the 10 bucks on supper instead of the ride down and started headign down the mountain not taking the walking trail...I was out and in the parking lot at the bottom in 15 minutes. I couldnt believe it! Some points were a little scary as I slid down but it was way faster (I followed a mountain bike trail and would never ever do that on a bike!) Then we had supper at Hell our favourite place to eat and came back to the hostel with plans of going out for a beer. But we didnt make much of a move once here and just sat around, me drinking my L&P, Jo eating her fudge. So I am out here updating this instead...waiting to turn 26!!... oh look...3 minutes ago technically I did! "Today" we bungy...Tell nanuk I loved him! We watched soem people bungy today and I think Jo nearly threw up...this is going to be interesting!