One Adventure Ends, Another Small Business Begins!

Hi!

Well. Another sunny Sunday evening. Am a bit early for the birds to twitter the sun down, but they're still out there, hanging onto the trees in the lovely breeze that's crept up to cool a pretty warm day. Ahhhhhh. Summer's not here quite yet, but you can tell, the same way you can tell when winter's coming, there's that breath behind a breeze telling you what's about to come, and my god I'm afraid this is going to be a nasty hot summer. Hmmm.

So work. Yep. Well, work in the traditional sense is still in a bit of a holding pattern. In fact, that plane is still in the hangar. I have applied for a few gigs, but nothing has come through yet. Which is fine because it's left me with much more time to focus my thoughts and energies onto my little biz, which is taking a more tangible shape everyday. Cool! Am getting there slowly but surely. Bit of work in creating work! Am this close to having a basic website, will keep you posted. Otherwise, still narrowing down and finalizing things like rates and contracts - all very detailed and kinda boring for anyone not playing along at home. Plus I still have to fatten up my business plan - don't leave home without it!

So the week was good, quietly productive. Did take a break Thursday to meet my friend Dom who'd just returned from 2 weeks in Japan. We had lunch, wiggled our toes in his parents pool and headed into town for errands and a few drinks and more gossip. Was a most excellent day/evening and good to catch up. Now I want to visit Japan!

And then the weekend. Started off with a lovely Friday evening - I cooked dinner (Mexican of course) for friends at their house and we played board games until way past bedtimes. Ahhhh, almost becoming a most excellent Friday tradition!

And then Saturday started off with quick, basic chores in order to be fairly presentable for Kim when she came around, then we headed out for a good loooong walk along the river and for a spot of lunch in the 'hood of Toowong. Then we walked back home in time to just beat a pseudo-cloud burst, which was really nothing more than a cloud-spit. It was a fantastic walk and we're hopefully planning to do them for the next few Saturdays - gotta get fresh air sometimes and company just makes it more fun!

And then today. Laundry. Busy with the little biz and researching pricing and contracts and writing bits for the website (like "Services", "Rates", "About", etc), stuff I've thought about but haven't put on paper until now. It's all not as intimidating when you get the basics on paper in front of you. Cool! Getting there!

And that's been basically that! Kinda dull, but no pay equals kinda dull. That's ok tho. Get biz up and running, get a little tolerable part-time gig, and life will be good. And speaking of a good life, onto the last installment of The Big Trip! We left our heroes on their way to New York City..........!

Week #4 - Sept. 21st - 28th

21st - We were awake at a fairly reasonable hour to catch a shuttle-bus from Washington DC to New York City (it was only $21 bucks one-way - so cheap!) and took about 4 hours to drive there. Excellent. Once in NYC we wandered to our hotel, checked in, dumped bags and headed back out to explore. I have to say, I thought the last time I left NYC was the last time I'd want to see the place, but being back just a few hours I was pretty excited to be there again. Love the city. So much to do and see. And see stuff we did! This evening we wandered up to Times Square to buy ice cream and stare at all the neon. Then we wandered over to Rockefeller Center where we rode an elevator to the "Top of the Rock", the roof-top observation deck, and had a good look out over the city. I'd never been up there before and the view at night was stunning. Highly recommend it!

22nd - Today we wandered down to City Hall, where we stood for a while and watched the tv folks film an episode of"Law and Order - SVU". Pretty cool. Then it was down into Chinatown along Canal Street (we we went in circles for a fair while. Curse twisty streets!) until we made our way out again into Little Italy for a spot of lunch and a much-needed glass of wine (after wandering in Chinatown, you'd need it too). The we ambled our way back to the hotel for a much-needed rest before heading back out our own directions to explore. One of my very favorite things to do in NYC was to just wander and look at stuff. A term I just read in a Steinbeck book describes this wandering up and down streets with nowhere in particular to go, in Spanish, is called "vacilando", which means 'a wanderer' - yep.

23rd - Today we were up and out to pay a visit to the Statue of Liberty. Once we managed to clear the 3 security check points, which took at least an hour, we were in! We were able to go as far up as the top of the foundation stone that she stands on but no further (those tickets get snapped up months in advance), but oh what an amazing view both of the city and of the Statue. Always amazing up close and with the museum to support it all. Such history. Impressive. Makes me proud! Then we were headed back into the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to catch the Staten Island Ferry simply because it's free and provides a fantastic view of the Statue of Liberty, lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, the harbor, just all of it - and free and a chance to sit for a spell. Excellent. Then we headed through lower Manhattan to pay a visit to the World Trade Center site and memorial gallery. Very heartbreaking to see it all in person, especially since the last time I was there everything was, well, still there. I have to say, the memorial they have settled on is lovely and fitting. I mean, no memorial can fulfill everyone's expectations, but this is lovely and respectful without being too ostentatious. It'll be neat to see when it's all finished.

24th - Brooklyn was the name of today's adventure! With the subway as our chariot we headed into lower Manhattan to the footpath across the Brooklyn Bridge, stopping for a bagel and coffee, as you do, then over the bridge we went. Ahhhhhhhhh my absolute favorite thing in NYC has to be the Brooklyn Bridge, and favorite time is to cross from Brooklyn to NYC at dusk - the skyline never looks more beautiful. But today it was morning, the sun was struggling through the clouds and we wandered across and into my old 'hood. Ahhhhhhhhh. We wandered through Brooklyn Heights along the Promenade and into Carroll Gardens where we split and headed on our own adventures. I wandered into my other other old section called Red Hook, which was pretty run-down when I was there and since then they've built an Ikea and are still trying to clean the place up. Well, having an Ikea like 2 blocks from my old apartment was a little bizarre, but nice in a kind of miragey kinda way, just wierd to see it there. As could be expected, I couldn't resist a wander through and a cheap lunch. Yep. One Ikea in Brisbane is much like one Ikea in Brooklyn. Cool. Then it was time to meet the girls and head back into the city for a look around the Empire State Building! My second favorite thing in the city! Always stunning and way cool. Highly recommended especially at sunset and really late evening when the air cools and you can hear the cabs and cars below fighting for lane space. I love it.

25th - Today was a day to be vacilando, aimless wandering. After a healthy breakfast of bacon, egg and cheese on a toasted roll (my favorite city junk food next to pretzels with mustard - YUM!) I took myself up through mid-town to Grand Central Terminal - always imposing and slightly intimidating for those new to the city. What can I say, it's just grand! Then I wandered over to the United Nations, hoping to go in and tour the place. But alas, it was in some serious lock-down due to the General Debate. Every head of every nation on the planet was in town to, well, solve the problems of the world. Complete with huge dump-trucks filled with fine sand barricading every street in a ten-block radius and snipers on rooftops. No potatoes in getting in to tour the place this time around. Bummer. Thus disappointed, I continued uptown along 5th Avenue, stopping at H&M for a spot of shopping, a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, then up through Tiffany's (how could I resist) and along Central Park, for a peaceful wander through the Frick Collection, one of my favorite galleries. Happily cultured, I thought I'd wander over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but as I stood in line at the bag-check, I scanned the crowd and thought it was a visit better suited to more time and more energy. So, calling it a productive day, I took my tired little legs back to Chelsea and a spot of early dinner.

26th - Today, being my last day in NYC, I vowed to conquer The Met. And boy did I. Both floors,. One of the best museums on the planet. Can't recommend it enough. A visit to NYC just wouldn't be complete. And to think I wasn't going to go because "I've been there a hundred times before". Tisk tisk. So happy I changed my mind and went and took my time. And I still didn't see everything! But I saw 98% of it and that's pretty good. Then, because I magically had energy and some time to spare, I took myself along to The Whitney (a modern-ish American gallery). After a most excellent lunch I headed for a look at the new Georgia O'Keefe Abstracts exhibit and a look around the other floors. Usually a lot of Edward Hopper works live there (I quite like him), but not this time around. Bummer. But pretty cool nonetheless. Like I said, there's just so much to do in NYC. Suitably cultured, and a little sad to be leaving, I headed back to Chelsea and a last fantastic dinner!

27th - Today we were up really early to catch our flight back to San Diego, where we intended to relax a little and get in any last minute shopping, which we actually managed to do! Once back in SD we dumped our bags and headed over to Horton Plaza for said last minute shopping and a quick wander around downtown. Well, I have to say it's changed LOTS since I lived there. Well done San Diego! It's livable! It's someplace you'd actually want to go! Shops and restaurants and bars, stuff - cool! The it was back to homebase for a lovely dinner with family and Dad's famous cocktail - YUM!

28th - Today we head back to Australia! We took our time getting sorted and packed. I discovered I'd forgotten to pick up a couple things for Kim, so headed off to CostCo, then as a last-minute treat, was off to get a pedicure. Next thing, we were waiting at the train station for the train to LA, then we were on the shuttle bus from the train to the airport, then we were waiting in the terminal, and next thing we knew we were on the plane and then next thing we knew we'd arrived at Brisbane International Airport to the waiting arms and cars of friends and family! W H E W !

What an excellent trip. It was just absolutely fantastic, and on one hand seemed to go by in slow little bits, but on the other it simply shot by. We did so much in those few weeks it boggles me to even think back on it all. Like I mentioned before, I'm sorry for not being able to stay for long and catch up, but I'll be back, either that or I'll see you here first! Hope you're all well up there and that you enjoyed the Summary of The Big Trip as much as I enjoyed (yet struggled to keep it short and sweet yet cover everything) writing about it!!

BYE!
J!

But Wait - There're More US Adventures!

Hi!

Well. First off, am sorry for checking in late, again. This time it was maybe 10% my fault 90% this BlogSpot's fault. I'd updated the editing function for this little thing and next thing I know the photos won't go where I want them or even move anywhere. So after 5 hours of research and troubleshooting and I still couldn't fix it, I thought that was enough time devoted to it. So have gone back to the old settings and we'll see how we go. Bloody modern technology. Bah!

So yes, Sunday evening. Same birds twittering in the same trees, to the same setting sun...... Ahhhhhh only this evening there's a lovely cool breeze with a hint of rain up in those clouds, thankfully summer hasn't set it's fangs in just yet. Enjoy it while I can!

So work. Yeah, not much happening on that front, in the traditional sense of the term that is. Tho I will say, the bank is telling me I should probably call a couple employment agencies and see if they can't scramble up a half-decent part-time gig, thus leaving the other part-time available for me to work on my brand new teeny little business - Walkabout Business Solutions! I officially registered my little business doing "virtual office support and desktop publishing". And it takes a fair bit of time setting up a little business - so much to research and write! But it is very exciting and motivating. Once I have more concrete stuff to promote (like business cards and a website), will post it! But for now, if anyone has any general documents, presentations, reports, etc that need help with formatting, layout, editing, prettifying - pass 'em on!!!

And then the weekend. Went out Friday evening in honor of one of the Gals' 21st birthday (gasp!) at a groovy little lounge bar in the 'hood of West End called the Lychee Lounge. It was really pretty cool. And was good to see everyone and catch up (and get out of the house!). A good time was had by all I do believe!

And then Saturday. Was nice and very relaxing. I took the day off from business planning and researching, in fact didn't turn the computer on at all, and just sat and read Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath", never read it, never had to read it in school, I got the British writers. It's goooooooood. I've also been reading, and reallyreally liking, his travelogue "Travels with Charley" (his dog) of when they went on a road trip across the US from Maine to California. It's fantastic - highly recommend it. He's one of my new top 5 favorite writers. "Cannery Row" and "Sweet Thursday" were always my top fave books, but now wait there's more! But in amongst the books there was time for Kim to stop by and say hello as she was in town to do a bit of overtime at work. Very nice to have her drop in! And then after she headed home it was time for a nap, of course. What a little old lady I am.

And then today. Quietly productive. Cleaned my little desk right down to the wood (is that its original color!?). Gets to a point I can't think with all this clutter. And at work, when I had an At Work, I was sometimes accused of never doing any real work because my desk was always so clean. Yeah, it's called organization - filing and working on one thing at a time! Too much crap and I can't see to think. So, in preparation for my new role as Director of Walkabout Business Solutions, I thought I'd get my 'new' desk ready! Kinda dorky, yes, but I'll tell you what, it's working! And that took most of the day actually. Found an oldish brand new cell phone my phone company had bribed me with to get me to stay with them when they pissed me off for the 2nd time (the first time they did and they sent me a cordless phone, which am still using! Suckas.). So I hauled that out and charged it up, eh, for a new company phone, it'll do, just gotta get a phone number for it now! Coooool . Cleaning is fun!

Which leads me nicely over to the 3rd installment of The Big Trip!

Week #3 - Sept. 14th - 20th

14th - Today we were up bright and early to pick up our rental car and continue on our Big Trip with Road Trip #3 bound for the Grand Canyon! I know we'd just driven from San Francisco to San Diego along Highway 5, and we'd just driven from San Diego to Tucson along Highway 8 (both horribly boring runs), but this was gonna be good because Arizona, south to north, is such a diverse state. You can go from bone dry desert in the south to, well, the Grand Canyon in the north - surrounded by beautiful mountains (with top class ski resorts) and pines and green and deer! It's a lovely, fairly quick drive considering. We arrived there around noon and wandered and looked and oooohed and aahhhhhhed to our hearts and cameras content. Unless you've been there, photos, no matter how fabulous this modern technology thinks it is, still doesn't compare, you just have to be there to take it all in, and even then you kinda can't cos it's so damn, well, Grand. Happily photographed, we continued on to Williams and our hotel for the evening.

15th - Today we were again up early to beat the 2 bus loads of German tourists to the check-out counter so we could continue our road trip along Route 66. We picked it up in Seligman and aimed the car for Las Vegas, Nevada! Man, it's a shame that Route 66 isn't used anymore. I understand why and the need for superhighways and all that, but nothing beats the scenic route and teeny little weird towns. So lunchtime saw us in Vegas! Holy cow has it changed since I was there yeeeeeeeeeears ago. It's very big and crowded and tall and crowded. Neeeeeato. So we dropped the car off, checked into our hotel - Paris (oooohlala!) - and began the sightseeing! And, really, how could you not, sights to be seen everywhere! But you also forget that The Strip is long, really long, and crowded, and just because you made it to one end of it, well, you gotta walk back, because it's a huge waste of money takin g a cab or a bus because the streets are so congested that it really is quicker to walk, heat and sore feet and all. So I'd shake it up by walking through one casino to the next, because most of them are connected anyways. What a surreal world the whole casino thing is. Sad. And for all our guff of "no smoking indoors", bless 'em, you can still smoke anywhere inside the hotels and casinos. Gag.

16th - Today saw more sightseeing and lots more walking. I have to say, after exploring our end of The Strip and all those h otels and casinos, my favorite had to be the Bellagio, so classy and slick, complete with the water fountains and the little show they put on - fantastic. Paris hotel tho, tres chic, tres interessante! So elaborate these themed places that you can wander around in it all day and still not see everything. It reminded me of Disneyland with it's false fronts and sets and costumed staff. And my 3rd favorite had to be Caesar's Palace with it's history, Greek god statues, and new, multi-million dollar face-lift, plus it's cavernous malls and shops and restaurants inside, really all pretty cool.

17th - Guess what we did? Why yes! More sightseeing! More shopping! More walking! Only today I really shook things up by needing to go to a real bank with real counters with real pens on chains and real people, something which, unsurprisingly, you can't find on The Strip, you have to go out into the 'burbs. So I hailed a cab and headed for the nearest real live bank. Once I told the driver where I was headed, he kinda sighed and shook his head (in sympathy) and asked

good-humoredly if I was needing more gambling money. I laughed and said no, as a matter of fact am off to make a deposit! He kinda looked at me in his mirror for a second then sighed and shook his head and just said "Oh wow. Congratulations." Then I kinda had a brief moment of panic that he might drive me into the desert and take my purse with all its "winnings" and leave me. Poor guy. All I needed to do was to transfer money from my Australian bank account to my US one, and the easiest, cheapest way to do it is to take a handful out of the atm and walk inside and make a deposit. Hee hee.

18th - Today we were up and out bright and early headed to the airport for our flight to a last-minute addition to our Tour - Washington DC! Forgetting also, because it's been years since I've done it, how long the flight really is. Man it's a big country. In fact, our flight was delayed for ages because "....the number one engine is giving false readings to the flight deck." Well fellas, if that's the case, take all the time you need. Never mind our tight connecting flight in Baltimore..... I'd rather the number one engine stay number one. So we waited. And waited. And waited. Which, really, was fine. Then we were off! I think we were delayed by at least an hour, however long it was the pilot made up for it. Holy cow we even made our connecting flight with just enough time to catch our breath from the run from one terminal to the next. I wonder if they have speed limits... are there Air Speed Cops? Hmmm. So we made it to DC safe and sound, all engines intact!

19th - Today was sightseeing! We got ourselves tickets on a really pretty handy hop-on hop-off tour bus which we rode around for half the day getting our bearings and taking notes of where we all wanted to go and then off we went! I was really disappointed that you can't just rock up to wait in line and tour the White House, like I did yeeeeears ago. Nowadays you have to write to your local congressman at least 6 months in advance asking for permission and listing the who what where of who wants the tickets. Gotta keep the Feds in gainful employment by doing all those unnecessary background checks I suppose. Shame. I really wanted to check it out. For as many days we were there, it was amazing how I just ran out of time in every day to see everything I wanted to. Such a big place! So much walking! So much to be seen! But I did manage to see the new Native American Museum and the National Archives where the Magna Carta, Constitution, Bill of Rights, just basically anything that helped to form our country in writing why it's all there. So coooool.

20th - Today was our last day in DC so we had to make the most of so many monuments and museums in so little time. I started off at the International Spy Museum. How cooooool was this place?! And comprehensive! I don't know what I expected, but whatever I did it was only a teeny percentage of what the place actually comprises. I was in there for like 4 hours and didn't realize the time until I got hungry. Man. It was really interesting and highly informative, if you're interested in international espionage and all that. So so interesting. I just loved it. Afterward I continued on to visit the hauntingly beautiful Korean War Memorial (my absolute favorite of all the memorials), then to the new WWII Memorial (so amazing, even at night - my Grandad, who's honored there, would quite like it I think) and finally as the sun was setting, to the Lincoln Memorial (always humbling). Now dark, tired and starving, I walked allllll the way back toward the hotel, stopping first in a lovely, very busy buzzy Spanish restaurant for dinner, then back to the hotel for our last evening before catching a shuttle bus to New York City! Whew!!!!!

So there you have it! Whew! Stayed tuned for next week's installment: Week #4, where The Big Trip sees us wandering around New York City! Hooray! Hope you're all well up there and are enjoying my brief accounts of The Trip thus far! Drop a line!

BYE!
J!