Barbie, Bribie and Burn

Hi!

Well. That was a fast and short week. Hooray! Busy in a way. Quiet at work. For now. Still settling into the new gig, most of the teachers come back tomorrow and their little students appear sometime in the first week of Feb. I'm not sure. I just show up and do whatever anyone tells me from 8-4pm. Just in case anyone's wondering - yes, I am still pretty damn happy to be out of that previous job. That's the good thing about staying in touch with the gals there, I get to hear all the horrible things that the Stooges get up to. And thank my lucky stars.

So yeah, work is fine so far. My boss insists that the air-conditioning be set on "Arctic". And I feel like a giant dork rocking up to work in full trouser/jacket office gear when it's 90-some degrees and humid as all getout, but hey, it's all so I won't freeze during those 8 hours. She's amazing, she can spend the whole day in a tank-top asking us if we feel hot. Hang on, let me just take this hat and scarf off so I can hear you and reply appropriately.........

The scooter is excellent. As yet unnamed. Tho am pretty partial to Jake Jr., all my cars have been named Jake. Don't ask, goes back to high school and even then I can't remember why. Am still taking my time getting used to it. I feel a little more confident every time I take it out and about and I'm getting better at the corners. Yeaaa! But, anyone who's at all worried (awwwww), I'm paying off a $550 helmet. Top of the line Arai. Excellent helmet company who know what they're doing. Which is why it's so bloody expensive. But, I figure, you only get one crack at it - harharhar!!!!

The weekend was very good. Went to an Australia Day bbq on Friday at a guy's house that I used to work with. Was good. Just like any other bbq really. Only this one had an Australian flag. And lamb on the barbie. I didn't bring shrimps as they double the prices for these holidays. It was nice though. Caught up with some folks I used to work with. Met their families. Had a strange discussion with a gal (whom I've met before at various after-work functions) about how she can't figure out why she doesn't like Americans. I had to pick my jaw up so I could respond. And even then all I could say was, "Well, there're assholes everywhere". Weird because we've met each other and talked on a number of occasions. Guess I must've said something to cement her opinion. Let me see if I care.......................... Nah. Assholes everywhere, on every continent. Actually, this weekend was one for Australian patriotism, go figure. I had 3 people in as many days give me grief (in one way or another) for being American. Thursday night the waiter in this restaurant wasn't very pleased that he was wrong when he assumed I was Canadian. I set him straight and he wasn't too jovial after that. And Saturday, this gal, Greek living in London here on a visit, friend of Roger and Mav's, figured I wasn't from around here, asked where I was from, I told her and she looked at me for a second and then turned her head away! I laughed. I don't know. I guess with the big 3-day patriotic weekend, they can get a bit sensitive. I guess anyone would. Hmmmmmmm. But I'd like to see how they'd handle themselves at a big 4th of July bbq in the US!

Saturday was most excellent. Went to Bribie Island (about an hour or so north of Brisbane. Actually, strangely enough, you can drive to it. Hmm.) with Roger, Mav, Rena and that Greek girl. Went for a nice long swim in the sea. Got a scorching sunburn in exchange. And I put two layers of 30+ waterproof suncream on! Eeeek the sun is strong down here. Spent most of the day with Mav in the sea fighting the current and wind and trying to run from jellyfish. I got a little tiny nip from one and Mav had a bigger nip. Ouch they sting. And these weren't even the killers, the blue bottles or box jellyfish, these were just garden variety (I asked the lifeguards). But ooooooooh. It stings. But it goes away after a while, well, a few hours. Today my little bite or whatever you call it, is all gone. Lovely day out though. Absolutely beautiful day, warm water, lovely beach. Went to the surf club for lunch after. Not bad. All the surf clubs are primarily run and operated by volunteers. So you have to support the locals, the lifeguards and their surf clubs. Hey, if they can haul your tired, drowning butt out of the sea, you can eat one of their hamburgers.

And today I went with Natasha to find her some new clothes for her trip back to NZ to visit her friends and family (she's a Kiwi). Another Sunday, another mall. Well, two actually. Went to 2 new ones (for me anyways) - Mt. Gravatt and Stone's Corner (which is more a strip mall in a neighborhood than a mallmall). We were good though, again. She got only a couple of things that she needed and I bought aloe vera gel, vacuum bags and a new pair of shoes (to replace the ones I've worn until they've literally fallen apart). Was a very good day indeed. Tiring, but good. Always game to check out new neighborhoods and well, malls I guess. And I hate shopping. Ahhhhhh, it's all in the name of exploration!

So there. All in all an excellent weekend! Not dreading going to work as much as with the last job. Course, Mondays always suck when it's work. Well, work just sucks. It's not Mondays fault. I'd love Mondays if it meant not getting up to go to work and a deposit just magically going into my bank account. My trust fund or lottery winnings account. Sigh. Yeah. You can't win if you don't play. Yeah yeah yeah.........

So I hope you're all well up there!!!! And hey, with this new job, my own desk and stuff, I think I'll be able to catch up on emails now! Yippie! I just need to settle in a little more (and write when the 2 bosses aren't sitting at their desks behind me) and I'll be in touch again!

BYE!
Jennifer!!!

Alive and Trained!

Hi!

Well. A good week if I do say so myself. Hey, after a few rides on the little scooter, am still alive and in one piece!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhh, the scooter is excellent!!! And no, I haven't come up with a name yet. But I will say its color, tee hee, is called, "Hi-Ho Silver" harharhar!!!!!! So perhaps will call it Tonto....! Must get better at physics though. Gravity, momentum, torque, that kinda stuff...... No it hasn't met asphalt yet, I'm just sayin'. I can't say I've taken it out a whole lot over the week, just a couple little runs around the neighborhood after work (accidentally got caught up in the end of rush-hour traffic! Eeeeek!), just to keep, well, the battery from dying! And to get a little better at it (with a little bit of traffic). Once I'm on it I'm fine. It's thinking about it that kinda makes me nervous. It sounds dumb but there it is. Kinda like scuba diving. I guess you know your limits and what could happen and that's what makes it kinda scary. Plus, those cars are big. You think small cars are small? Nah. Not next to a little scooter. Everything's tank-sized! Thank god they don't all drive Lincoln Navigators here.

Settling into the new job fairly well. It seems deceptively easy though......... In fact, after about Tuesday morning, I was pretty much done being trained. She ran out of stuff to show me! I suppose I could be suffering from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder... And I just keep expecting lots of work and the ton of bricks...... But I guess the brick delivery will be when all the teachers and little students come back from their holiday break (this xmas/new years break is kinda like our summer break where you get a big chunk of time off). All I gotta say is I've asked them a number of times if I'll ever have to deal with any scrubby little students and they look at me like I'm nuts and say, "No." Ooooooh! I think I ask them just to hear it now! Hooray! No cash, no scrubby students, no crazy management (well, at least the Stooges I worked with). Excellent. Oh, I know, it's not what I went to University for, or even being close to my dream job, but it's better than the last place. Well, I must say I miss all the cool people.... But, I am still in the system and on email, so I haven't gone to the moon! And Friday was Judy's (one of my non-crazy bosses) last day after 6 years of being there. She's leaving to go back to school to study Naturopathy. Neat. That was nice to see everyone and I think a good time was had by all.


Otherwise it was a fine and busy week with getting settled into the new gig and trying not to get killed on the little scooter. It's coooooooool.

This weekend has been pretty quiet. Hot. So all I've really had the energy to do is take naps. Next Friday is Australia Day (26th) and have been invited to a BBQ - am gonna bring shrimps and see if they get my bad joke. I think they just roll their eyes in that "Gee, I haven't heard that one since Paul Hogan" kinda way. Tee hee. And Mav and Roger and Rena and I may go over to Bribie Island for all day Saturday. That'll be neat. I haven't been to any of the little islands around here yet. Reminds me, I should get a rental car at some point and take myself outta town....! Speaking of taking myself places, I ran across this article in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning...... All about this trend of women going on their onesies around the world..... Coooool!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/me-myself-and-i-travelling-solo/2007/01/11/1168105119529.html

And that's about it really. This coming week should be pretty interesting and busy as I fly solo in my new little gig - eeeeek! At least the teachers aren't back yet.... gives me more time to find files and stuff! And bonus - it'll be a short week - 4 days! Hooray for Australia Day! AussieAussieAussie! OiOiOi!!!!

BYE!
J!

P.S. I have no idea why the little blog said the date

is the 16th.... It's the 21st, 'round 5pm... Weird.....

Scootin' Away From The Stooges!!!

Hi!

Well. That was a busy but good week. Quit that job with the 3 Stooges! Hooray! And now getting myself ready for the new gig. Fingers crossed it's ok. It's a bit of a commute, so to help solve that little dilemma, not only did I get my Queensland Drivers License (didn't even have to take a test, they just transferred my NZ license, paid a fee and that was that! Excellent!) but I got the scooter!!!!!!! Yeeeaaaaaa! Finally! It's very exciting. But I do have to say, man, cars are sure big. And they move pretty fast. Fortunately you can't go too fast in traffic in the middle of town (where I'd ride it mainly). I love it. Am taking my time getting used to everything, like traffic and one-way roads that end at a freeway entrance, and how things all work. Won't be riding it to the new job this week, not until I figure out where it is and how to get there!!!!! So am going to be a big wuss and ride the bus until I get my bearings. But, hooray! Am pseudo-mobile!!!!!!!! And no, I can't take anyone for rides as it's built for one, une, uno, ME and I'm nervous enough as it is keeping myself on it, let alone 2 people. So there!




The apartment lease is up here in a couple of weeks.... Not sure if I'll renew it yet. Now that I have an additional leach to the bank account (but it's such a cool and useful leach!), I'd kinda like to move to a cheaper spot. Am looking. But again, these damn real estate agencies only have showings 9-5, M-F. So dumb. Tho, in saying that, managed to find a little house for rent in a nice neighbourhood for cheap-ish and they had a showing yesterday. So went with Cindy and had a look. Ahhhhhh, it was nice. Well, not nicenice, but nice. Big. Amazing view. Older house. 3 bedrooms, yard, garage, etc. Not a stick of furniture or even a fridge (the only thing you get here is a stove). So that would mean I'd actually have to start acquiring furniture........ Ahhh well, it's $30 bucks cheaper a week than where I'm at now, plus a yard for Kona to hunt things in. So for fun I put an application in to the rental agency. Am not holding my breath as there were a whole lotta people looking at it. Lots of lovely cosy couples. Eeeew. Plus, you have to move in on Wednesday or something silly like that and I just won't pay rent in 2 places. Call me cheap. So we'll see what the agency says, but my search will continue! Otherwise I'll renew the one here another 6 months, if I can. Now that I have the little scooter, I can get out and have a look at some neighbourhoods a bit further away. Well, not too far. It's only a little scooter. And what if I need to take a cab ever????

The weather has been pretty gross lately. Ahhhhh, it's the middle of summer. Being hot and gross is its job I guess. So far I'm doing ok compared to last year where I honestly thought I'd die because of the heat and humid combo. So far so good. But apparently it's been pretty cool so far, or so the locals all say. It's like they're waiting for the furnace to get turned up. Yeah, like this 90+ with 75% humidity isn't bad enough. Ugh. I could run the a/c and pay a fortune for the comfort, but am trying to be tough like the locals. Not everything is air-conditioned here, like houses, so you just have to be tough and take lots of cool showers.

And that's about it really. Pretty exciting quitting that job and getting the little scooter. I'll have to remember to bring my camera with me more often now................! And if anyone wants to come down for a visit, no you can't have a ride around the block on the little scooter. Well, maybe. Not unless you know what you're doing. Gloria can have a ride. She inspired me to get it. Thanks man! Hope you're all well up there!!!!!!

BYE!
J!

P.S. Yes. I know. I'll be careful!

Smoking Busses & New Sofas

Hi!

Well. That first week of the new year went by nice and fast - hooray for New Year's and a four-day week! But oh, this week is going to be with both barrels - all the 3 Stooges are back from their holiday break and it'll be all systems go, with a whole 5 days having to work. Am tired already. But, the bank tells me how happy it is that I have a job and who am I to argue?! Another sunny side, this will be my last week with the 3 Stooges and the scrubby students - HOORAY! On to greener, or at least different, pastures. Change - yippie!! Although, I was told my paperwork hadn't been turned in to my new department yet, which can affect my pay in that, well, I won't get any. But, I was told, don't panic, it'll come out of the old department's budget and I should be fine. Oh dear. I asked 'who do I talk to about the paperwork' and she kinda looked at me and asked "What is it you'll be doing over there?" I said, "HR, admin, some finance stuff" She kinda smiled and said "I imagine that'll be you sorting your own paperwork out". Oh dear. I'm rotten with HR paperwork. Especially this Gov't crap. Oh dear. But hey, if that's all I do, with no scrubby students to interrupt, I should be fiiiiine! Here's hoping!!!!?.

Otherwise the week was easy. Just sooooo happy the holidays have passed and life can go back to normal. I'm thinking of finding a cheaper apartment when the lease runs out on this one in 4 weeks. Not having a lot of luck and most of the apartment showings are right smack in the middle of the day. I can't figure it out - what, are these people who are looking for new apartments to rent all homeless and unemployed???? Must be nice to swan out of work for however long you want to run personal errands. I wish. If they count how many minutes I'm in the toilet, they're certain to notice when I don't come back for an hour and a half..... So there are a couple of apartments that look ok but I can't go look. Curse this work stuff!!!! What's wrong with Saturday showings like the rest of the world???! Will keep looking tho and if no luck, well, it won't kill me to stay here, which is what I'd really rather do, expensive or not. The thought of mooooving..... waaaaaah.... Although, today I went furniture shopping with Natasha (Kiwi gal I work with) and it's so cheap and easy, well, the 'buy now, no interest, pay next year' kinda stuff. There's some nice furniture I wouldn't mind having. Be nice to have a normal bed. I liked set one so much I took a picture. I asked my landlord if I could get rid of the furniture my apartment comes furnished with and he said no. Bummer. So yeah, it'd be nice to have a cheaper unfurnished apartment so I could put my own stuff in it........... So we'll see. I guess it all kinda comes down to this job stuff.......

Speaking of job stuff, I applied for this little loan with a bank that's not mine. Yes I know, notoriously hard to do at the best of times with all your little ducks in a row. So after allllll that paperwork and certified copies of this and sighting the original of that, and the painful waiting...... they said no. Because of my Government work status of 'casual'. Gotta love the gov't. They have 3 types of employment status - permanent (which is incredibly hard to attain), temporary (95% gov't employees are temp - means they're on a seemingly never-ending contract that gets renewed every year) and casual (the one where they could suddenly decide you don't need to come back tomorrow, ever); and your status is written on your payslips - the ones I had to turn in to the bank. Even tho I've been turned back into a temp, it still says casual on the little slips. Bank Guy still wasn't happy. So, long story short, I didn't get the loan for the little scooter with that bank. Shame I don't have the will or the way to save for it like normal people. Shame I can't get a dumb little personal loan like normal people. Still, I have a couple more options. Am determined this little scooter will be mine. Oh yes. It will be mine. So join us next week for our next episode of J's Scooter Saga with - "Did She Pass Her Queensland Drivers License Test??"

What else............... So yeah, today, went with Natasha to a new suburb I've never been - Carindale. Nice enough, but a bloody long bus ride. Nice mall though, if there is such a thing about indoor shopping malls. Not very crowded at all for a Sunday afternoon. Brought the camera this time and totally forgot to take pictures of it. It even had carpeting throughout the whole place. Weird. But nice. Made it seem not so loud and cavernous. Bummer to have to vacuum and clean it all the time I imagine. But same old shops that are everywhere. We were very good in that we didn't really buy anything. No money can have that effect on a trip to the mall. We were just there to buy her a new "lounge suite". Groovy little 2 2-seater, one with a little sofa bed in it that doesn't pull and pop out, it rolls out in sections. Very hard to explain but it was kinda cool and clever. Comfy too. And the footrest is one of those that you can stash stuff in. Cool. But heehee, on our way back into town, the bus we got on, well, it smelled like the driver had been chain-smoking in it for hours and hours, and it was warm, no a/c kinda warm and stuffy. So, oh well, ok, off we go. As we go a few stops we notice that the smoke smell is getting stronger and a bit tough to breathe. So Natasha and I decide to get off at this random stop and wait for the next bus. And a couple other people do too. We get out and look at the back of the bus and there's brown smoke billowing out. I wandered as far away as I could just in case and then the bus driver got out to have a look. Scratched his head and called it in to his depot. So Natasha and I and half a busload of folks are told to head up and around the corner to wait for the next bus that he'll call and tell to come get us. Geez. I bought Natasha and me some ice creams and we actually didn't have to wait very long. I tell you, almost every time I go on a little adventure it's never straightforward. But if I had a scooter...........

And that's about it. Just settling back into the post holiday routine again. Lots to worry about in the next week or two, so hopefully all goes smoothly.......!!!?

I hope you're all well and relaxed up there! And hey, I noticed Qantas is having a sale on airfares to places, say, down to Australia...... I'm just sayin'...........!

BYE!
J!

Happy New Year!

Hi!

Well, what can I say, it was a fantastic week - with NO work! Ooooooh I do so envy trust fund kids (well, with the exception of maybe Paris Hilton, shudder)! Either way, it was a fun and busy week. Ran errands, made some jewellery, took naps, read my books, watched movies, even threw a party! And now here it is, my week of fun is at an end and it's New Year's Eve. This year I've decided to stay in. I know, how sad and old lady of me. It's no way to spend a first New Year in a new country but am not in the mood this year whatsoever, as exciting a prospect it may be. So I have my movies and wine and that'll be that. Next year I'll go out and paint the town red or go to a party (or host my own), but this year, nahhhh. So to anyone going out to partypartyparty this year - have one for me!!!!!!

Oh yeeeeeaaahh, a sparkle in my nice little week of fun - went and test-drove a scooter - first time ever to ride one on my own. Very exciting. Loved it. Want one. Have put big deposit down on one, now just need to sort out the rest of it. Bank, here I come! It's a little, brand new, "retro" Yamaha, 50cc, so not so fast I'll hurt myself toooooo badly. We'll see though, still have to get over the banks hurdles. Ooooooh, but I can see myself now, running errands all over town in half the time it takes to simply wait for the bus to arrive! And bus fare?! Heck, that becomes gas money for the week alone!!!!! Hills? HA! Oooooooooh. So fingers crossed the bank sees things my way! Will keep you posted!!!

So yeah, in last week's episode I suppose I mentioned I have a new job with the school? Different department and campus (hence scooter idea) and no scrubby students or 3 Stooges. So yeah, as far as I know I still start that on the 15th. But gee, knowing how these people operate, who knows? So I guess I'll double-check Tuesday when we go back to work (sigh). In addition, will keep looking, you just just never know. What's the Lotto motto? 'You can't win if you don't play'? Something like that. Will definitely keep the resume out there. And hey, side note, we went into a Lotto pool at work because I guess on the 30th of Dec every year Queensland (or maybe all of Australia, not sure) has a massive lotto draw, so we all threw $4 bucks into it. All I gotta say is I'm gonna quit throwing my spare change away.

Otherwise, all's well down here! Weather has been absolutely lovely. Just a couple more months of really scary heat and humidity to get past before it's back to more perfect weather. I was told the gross stuff should be happening now, but it hasn't. YET. Ugh, I dread it when it does come tho. Sounds like March or April when it settles back down. But so far so good. Whew!

Oh yeah, and bonus to movie nights now - hee hee, am such a dork about this stuff, always figuring it out later than everyone else, but I just bought an adaptor for the little laptop to be able to watch movies on tv - so, essentially, for $9.50 the little laptop becomes a dvd player. EXcellent! Why it took me so long to figure out which part I needed, I'm not sure. Wrong info from minimum-wage register jockeys in shops I guess. Am getting more modern everyday!!!!

So again, I hope you all are well up there! Sorry for the lack of emails, but that doesn't mean I don't often wonder how everyone is. I hope everyone had a nice Xmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa or nothing! And I hope you all have a groovy and lively New Year, no matter what you do or don't do!!!!! And good luck with those resolutions! Hey, I know one for you - come here and visit!

BYE!
J!

Holiday Cheers!

Hi!

Well, how about that, the week absolutely flew by! Hooray! With the added bonus of a half-day Friday!!!!!!!!!!! Even if I don't really "do" Xmas, hooray for it causing half-days!!!!!! ANNNNNNDDD - a week off of work! HOOOOO-RAY! HOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY! A week with no work!!!!!!!!!! Mainly paid days off (minus those funny couple of days towards the end of the week, but hey, I can deal with a coupla days with no pay if it means a coupla days to play!!!!!!!)! It all adds up to one very happy and relaxed gal down here.

The weather is beautiful, though I hear tomorrow (Xmas itself) is due to top out around 90 degrees, with hopefully low humidity. Shudder. Ahhh well, can't have a barbeque without a lovely warm day! Am due to be Patricia's Xmas Orphan tomorrow and fish is her preferred dish of the season. Yum. They do hams and turkeys and stuff like that, but my god, when it's 90 degrees out, I can't even think about buying eggnog, let alone sit down and eat a massive turkey dinner with all the trimmings!!!!!!! So fish on the bbq sounds excellent to me. Really, what they mainly do for their Xmas dinner is, don't laugh, shrimp on the bbq. They were running ads in early November for you to get your shrimp now before the prices go up. And $$$ they did. But geez, it's the flipside of what the weather is up there, 90 degrees-plus, so really, could you consider sitting down to a massive meaty feast???? Ugh. And hey, no offense to little ol' NZ, but the weather here far exceeds all the Xmas' I spent there. I'm not saying cold and wet is bad, it's quite apt for Xmas, but hey, when in Rome..... or Brisbane, middle of summer, bright sunny beach weather suits me fine for Xmas!

Ok, enough rambling about the weather. Moving on!

Hey, guess what???!!! For those of you following along at home - I've just got a new job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hooo-RAY!!!!!!! Well, it's still working for the school, but my god not helping scrubby little students and working with the 3 Stooges anymore. And get this - I cinched it the other day when I'd stayed home with an upset stomach (though I felt fine enough to take myself for a little swim in the pool). I got this gig just over the phone, lounging around in my swimsuit having a rootbeer float!!!!! How groovy is that? It'll be working at a different campus (Morningside), which means a little bit of a commute and no more lovely stroll through the Southbank Parklands, but hey, if it means not dealing with the 3 Stooges anymore, I'd work almost anywhere!!!! It's working in the printing and graphic arts faculty, I think. I'm apparently going to just be a bit of an admin/HR/finance helper. That's ok, something new to learn, new people to play with, a new space to be in (that I hear is actually kinda nice, lots of trees). Eh, same pay, but again, no Stooges. Well, there're Stooges everywhere you look, I know, but not the same ones who've been making my working life a fun-house. So there you go - when I get back nextnext week (2nd Jan) it'll be 2 weeks left there and then it's off to new pastures!!!!! Hooray!!!!!

Otherwise, it's the same ol stuff and routine. Cleaned the house, played with the cat, slept, the usual. Oh yeah, I'll be hosting a little board games party in my little apartment on Thursday, for some of the (really cool) people I work with, which should be kinda neat and fun. Some of these guys have board games that they love playing, we wanted to break up the week and do something social and fun, and well, I'll be the hostess with the space! I want to put on a few Mexican nibbles, but most Australians are scared of Mexican food. They think it's either hothothot or really bad for you. Hmmm. Ok, so most of the stuff on the Albertos or Los Betos menu would fall into that category, but not how I make it. Either way, I hear someone is bringing fruit........ So it shoud be fun and interesting!!!

And that's about it! I hope everyone up there has a nice Xmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or nothing at all, and a very lively New Years!!!!!!!!!

BYE!

J!

Kickstart to Xmas

Hi!

Well. That was a busy week. Kick-started by finding out I didn't get my own job. Again. Apparently I "...interviewed extremely well, but then, so did a lot of other people". Uhhhh, ok. "But, we would like to keep you on to help train the 4 new people and help us through the peak enrollment time, so we'd like you to stay until the end of February". Uhhhh, ok. I'm not good enough to get my own job, that I've been doing nearly a year, but I'm good enough to keep to help train the newbies and work the busy peak enrollment time. Uhhhhh, ok. Dur. So yeah. Actually, when she told me, I was relieved. It's the kick in the backside that I needed to get out once and for all.

Then Paul and Catherine (good friends from NZ) made a brief visit. They were staying down at the Gold Coast and popped up here for a few hours. Ahhhhh, was excellent to see them! And it was so brief and fun-filled that I totally forgot my camera. Oops. But it was a great visit, so nice to see them. Catherine's just finished law school so they were here to unwind. Congrats Catherine!!!!! Now I must get myself over there, see their cats Fud and Sam and check out what Auckland's been up to.

Jan (Kona's fairy godmother, the deliverer of logs and hay bales) left work permanently. They didn't renew her contract because she's part-time. Gee, maybe it was because she did a better job than they could ever dream of. Ahhhhh, but I digress. Simply said - another one bites the dust. A guy at work (safely ensconced in another department, the lucky devil) calls the Client Service Centre (where I'm doing my time) the Departure Lounge. And for obvious reasons. Annnnnnyways, so to celebrate Jan's leaving, The Girls (Patricia, Cindy (brown shirt), me and Jan (black shirt)) all went out to dinner at this reallyreally cool Nepalese restaurant. Excellent food. I ate goat! Yum! I'll just say they love their cilantro/coriander. And goat. Mmmmmm.

And then the week thankfully came to an end. But I have to say, the few xmas card and bits are going to be a little late getting in the post. I was all prepared to get stuff out at the middle of November, but I'm just now getting the time to actually do anything. And tomorrow is the 18th. Oh dear. Hey, better late than never!

So this weekend was spent cleaning the house, ordering pizza (because I couldn't drag myself the few blocks to the grocery store and back. I say, some weekends I just can't bear the thought of going to the store. I don't know why, I just hate it sometimes) and making a few bits of jewellry. Again, I know I have a few little xmas things to pick up, but c'mon, could you bear the crowds in the Queen Street mall this last weekend before xmas? NO way Jose. You couldn't have paid me to go down there and try to shop this weekend.

And that's about it. One more week of work and then we have the whole week off. Excellent. I've got lots I want to do, well, including finding a new job! Jewellry to make, things to ship, sleep to catch up on, a screenplay to start writing, ahhhhhh, lots to do. I can't wait! Hooray!

So there it is. I hope you're all well up there! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Uncle Bret!!!!

Bye!
J!

Dingoes & Crocs & Koalas - Oh Crikey!

Hi!

Well. What a nice, fun weekend that was! Not only did I have a lovely 3-day weekend (if only I could always work 4-day weeks yet get paid for 5. Sigh.....), but Sheldon and Scarlett came down for those three days (just left to fly back to Tucson today). They were here in Australia for their delayed honeymoon. Even though it was a short visit, we had a very busy and nice time. Friday we went to Australia Zoo (crikey!). We lucked out in that the weather was overcast and rainy at times, perfect for a day out at the zoo, especially as it's summer down here and I can not imagine covering the zoo like we did (we hit every single thing on that map) in 95 degree heat with 95% humidity. So it was great. He's (Steve Irwin) done a reallyreally nice job with the place. You get the idea where he wanted it to grow and expand. And the strange thing I noticed was, the place didn't smell, well, like a zoo. Only over at the elephants. Otherwise, well, I guess crocodile poo doesn't stink up an entire zoo! It was really good. Took loads and loads of pictures. Walked a lot. They have a little tram like at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, but we couldn't be bothered. How else do you exercise???? But we covered every inch of the place. Something like 75 acres..... I really liked it. So if anyone comes down this way for a visit, we're soooo going there!

Then on Saturday we just ran typical last-day-in-the-country tourist errands. Boomerangs and magnets were purchased (not to mention a very beautiful opal ring for Scarlett), as well as all the other little last-minute touristy things. Had a late lunch in a pub in the Southbank parklands. Was pretty nice except for the cover band butchering Bob Dylan and Otis Redding and others who have no business being covered by a coupla rag-tag cover-twits. Bad cover bands who butcher great classics should get an electric shock for every chord they ruin. Or chewed up by a crocodile.

And today they're on their way home! So it was a very busy but lovely visit. And get this - they didn't mind the sofa bed! The one big complaint was that the sun comes up at 4am. Yeah, I noticed that too when I first arrived here. You get used to it though. I hope they had a good time. Next!

Soooo what else..... Oh yeah. Well, Monday I had my interview for my job, again. I'm not even going to think about speculating how I did. If I thought I did well the first time and I didn't get it, who knows which way the wind will blow with this current effort. I find out sometime towards the end of this week. The bank certainly has its fingers crossed for me to get it.

Otherwise, that's about it. Was busy at work. Busy at home getting the place ready for visitors. Poor Kona. For the first 2 days Sheldon and Scarlett were here he hid under my bed and didn't come out at all. Which worked out well for Sheldon's allergies. He finally came out and socialized last night. I guess he figured these strange people weren't there to take him back to the pound.

And that's that! So there you go. Hope you're all well up there. And hey, a successful visit was had by all! Now for the next visitor - c'mon down!!!!!

BYE!

J!

Spotless Boomerangs

Hi!

Well, that's another week gone. Whew! This coming week will be busy though. Interesting and fun. For starters I have my interview for my job - again - tomorrow first thing (that's work there, that 2nd photo). I think I've mentioned it once or twice or three or four times, but if I don't get my job (so hard to get my head around such a goofy rule), I'll be unemployed come the 22nd of this month. Sigh. I know it's not my career or even close to looking like a dream job, but the bank likes it when the money comes in. My stomach too. Soooooo, fingers crossed! But once that bit of fun is out of the way, Thursday night Sheldon and Scarlett arrive for a couple of days. So that'll be nice to see friendly faces and run around. Not sure what we'll do... Australia Zoo could be in the plans. Hmmmmm.....!?

Sooooo... the weekend was quiet. Was tired. Busy week at work. Stressful. What else is new there. So cleaned all weekend. Now don't get me wrong, I keep a darn spotless house, but you know how it is when you have people coming to stay, magically everything in the house looks dirty and out-of-place (ok, at least that's how it seems to me). And to think, I'm not quite finished! There are still the grubby cat-paw-prints on the windows to wipe off, balconies to sweep, a sofa bed to open up and make sure there're no 2, 4, 6 or 8-legged surprises living in there... Oh all kinds of stuff I could tidy up still.

What else...... Rained today. Very monsoon-like. Hot and very muggy all day and then come sunset the sky just opened up. Cooled it all down a bit though. Lovely. Smells nice. You know what I noticed early in the mornings? Even though I'm stuck right in the city, early in the morning it kind of smells, well, nice and fresh, but with a little bit of eucalyptus. It's kind of neat. Sure smells better than Brooklyn!

So, am sorry. Very dull this weekend. Was almost not worth writing about, but now it's become such a habit that I just know I'd go to bed knowing there was something I forgot to do this weekend! So even though it was dull as mud, well, just thought I'd keep you posted!

Oh yeah, and if anyone has any suggestions for Xmas prezzies that they'd like from the Aussie Santa, get your orders in asap!!!! Boomerangs, Aboriginal art, stuff....????

So there it is. Hope you're all well up there!!!!!!!!

BYE!
J!

Rootbeer Floats on Brush Fires

Hi!

Well, it's Sunday afternoon..... House is clean.... Groceries are in the fridge (I found A&W Rootbeer in, of all places, Chinatown - bought some vanilla ice cream - life is very good)... Messed around on the computer and got myself wired up with Skype - (thanks Glen!) and it's great - free to download the program, dirt cheap phone calls just using an internet connection and free if you talk to people who have Skype on their computers too. So played with that for a while. Excellent. Shame after all this travelling I've only just discovered it now. http://www.skype.com/helloagain.html

Hothothot today, so best thing to do is, well, not much. Ran around yesterday, so today I can hang around and do nothing. Have even splurged and put the air-conditioning on. Bad brush fires (or "bush" fires as the locals call it. Makes sense.) out west, or south, or both, of Brisbane, so the sky is a funny hazy blur and not much of a breeze. But with a rootbeer float and a/c, the world is an even happier place. I can think to write now!

The week was fine. Busy. Went by fast though and no dramas. At work it feels kinda like the quiet before the storm. Either that or I just keep expecting something to happen. We had our "xmas party" dinner Friday night. Cost $25 bucks. At work no less, because they were too cheap and unimaginative to spring for a decent venue. At the training restaurant the hospitality/restaurant the kids train and study at. What a stinker that turned out to be. Not many people and the food was pretty average. I mean, I know the kids are learning, but c'mon, they're due to graduate in like 2 weeks, let loose on the public. I'd say a little further education wouldn't go amiss. But who am I. So yeah, work. I applied for my job, again. Am waiting to hear back. Did I mention that if I don't get it I'll be unemployed Dec. 22nd? Nice. I've been looking and applying for other jobs but nothing's come through yet. Geez, am even considering becoming a flight attendant. Considering. Jan, the gal who brings Kona his bales of hay and logs, she was a flight attendant for 20+ years. So she puts ideas in my head. 5-star hotels, perks galore, those kind of ideas. So we'll see.

What else.... The first major series of cricket is going on here in town between the English and the Aussies. The Ashes series (I guess it would be kind of like the baseball world series, only, well, not. Very hard to explain and I still don't understand any of it). It's a bigbig deal. The Brits won it last year so the Aussies are keen to kick their butts. And last I heard today, the Aussies were sweeping the floor with them (if anyone can make sense of this, well, here you go - England require another 544 runs with 7 wickets remaining. Australia 602/9d and 202/1d; England 157 and 104/3). Which is kind of a shame because a good, close game is always more fun, especially for allllll the Brits who've flown here for it. Oh well.

And they've dressed up the Queen Street mall and surrounds a bit for Xmas. It's kind of interesting not having Thanksgiving, because there's no barrage of SALE tv ads and crap in my mailbox going on about the day after Thanksgiving sales. As soon as Oct. 31st hit, that's when it all started here; only, like NZ, it's not nearly as in-your-face and crammed down your throat. Oh, they're excited about spending money for Xmas, they're just not going to get up at 4 in the morning for any sale. Hell, you'd be hard-pressed to find people to jockey a register in a shop that early! They'd tell you to "get stuffed" (a personal favorite of their expressions). So yeah, Xmas here is bearable thus far. I really missed Thanksgiving, but a good one was had last year, so I'll be ok for a couple years yet. Job-stability willing, I'm hoping to swing around up there this time next year, maybe a little earlier, around Aug. or Sept. But we'll see what happens on the job-front. Same old story, isn't it?

Oh yeah, here's a mini movie review... Last night I rented "Must Love Dogs" - rom-com with John Cusack (reason #1 why I rented it), Diane Lane, Christopher Plummer, Stockard Channing, Elizabeth Perkins and the threat of a "sparkling and witty script". Well. It sucked (I knew it would, type of movie it is, but I didn’t count on it being that bad). That was 2 hours of my life I'll never get back. Who knew with a cast like that? It's a wonder how the producers shanghaied those actors. I call it a "car payment" movie for those actors. One of those movies they have to make to either honor contractual obligations and/or they simply have car payments to make. Ohhhh, it was terrible. So there. That's my two-cent movie review. Just in case anyone asked. If any of you saw it and liked it, well, ok. What can I say, I majored in film & tv at University.

So there it is! Oh, and a quick note to Sheldon and Scarlett - have a safe trip and don't forget the earplugs! They're jetting their way down here for a couple of weeks for their delayed honeymoon. They'll be staying with me their last two days before heading home. See? Someone's coming to visit! So c'mon down!!!!

BYE!
J!