Toby Rocks

This is a long one...so grab a sandwich if you need to.

"...the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes, 'Awww!'"--Jack Kerouac

Let us finish this trip, shall we? I've enjoyed blogging, it helps me funnel my thoughts. I think I'll probably keep this address for any upcoming adventures. (...like Shaster and Clarice's summer U.S. West Coast Tour 2k8!!)

I give New Zealand one thumbs up. It's beautiful, and there is a LOT to do IF the weather is good. However, NZ is very much an outdoor experience. We got to sea kayak with wild dolphins and seals swimming right next to us! I also got a traffic ticket for driving on the right side of the road for like 3 seconds. Grrr. You can imagine the drama that unfolded as I was panicky, driving a stickshift, and trying to back up and into a parking spot...

Therefore, should the weather be cold and rainy, and leave you trapped in a campervan with nothing but your friend and his biceps for entertainment...you may consider flying to Sydney a day early. And we did, and it was the best decision because we got a perfectly sunny day to play on Bondi Beach. We also got to stay with Jason Grassie again for a few days, sleep well with tummies full of wine, and catch a comedy show at the opera house.

A few days later I was welcomed home by my favorite couple ever, Toby and Jane...I'm actually still in L.A. at the moment and will soar into the cold Texas air later this evening.

So, in conclusion, what is to be gained from this little experiment? Did I find what I was looking for? Do I trust God a little more with my life now that He's walked me through my dream?? In an old journal entry, I talked about feeling like a bird, not in a cage... but the kind that is so trained it just stays in the backyard in fear of possibility. I didn't go away to find happiness, I was happy in Dallas... I went away to find freedom. One of my favorite quotes from the movie, Into the Wild, is when an old man tells Alexander Supertramp he needs to get a job and make something of himself. Alex replies, "Mr.Franz, I think careers are a 20th century invention, and I don't want one." .....I love it. I wanted to get away from the mindset that making something of myself has anything to do at all with how much money and security I have, whether or not I'm married, or talented, or beautiful. I don't ever want to see money as anything but an exchange for goods and services. I don't ever want to give it any power over the way I view people and their views of me. I think the American Dream was a good idea that started out in it's purest form, as freedom...and I guess it works for a lot of people. But I'd like to spread my wings farther than my backyard. I want to make much of every little bit of time I have on this earth, and I think with the right eyes...I might not miss a thing.

When did the conflict begin in our rival against TIME? When did we develop this opposition that "wastes" time, "races against" time, or even settles comfortably into the murderous role that "kills" time? ......Folks, Father Time is not our enemy, he is on our side, encouraging us to know him fully. Each moment he leads us into a room filled with doors of opportunity, and simply asks us to choose one. He does not beg or use force, but he hopes that we will embrace him...because only he knows that the second that last grain of sand slides through the hour glass, those doors will vanish into an abyss of lost chance. There will not be a next time, or another time. Moments have life spans shorter than mayflies, and time is not allowed to be saved or bottled. It is here now, and much like the Brisbane train system...it will not wait for you to muster some gumption.

So what is it that you've always wanted to do or be? What is it thats stopping you? What is it that excites you and ignites your passion? What is it that you thought you would never be capable of? ....I had to let my heart believe that things are POSSIBLE for me. Not just for others. Stories are not something that magically comes from books, and movies. Stories are for everyone to have, and to tell. And I like the stories the best that are told first hand, from the person who was there. So I went there....Shasta and I found a door, spread our wings, and we flew over mountains and sea. Through baby steps we trusted God and prayed for the basics...and He taught us about opportunity. We left our old skin behind, and I cant wait to see all of the happenings that will lead us to shedding this new and comfortable layer. I'm absolutely in love with you Australia. You will be missed.

I'll end with a quote from a book I just finished. Kerouac is probably the worst writer I've read in a while...but he did have a few great things to say in On the Road. So I'll leave you with this bit. Here I come Texas.

"Now you just dig them in front. They have worries, they're counting the miles, they're thinking about where to sleep tonight, how much money for gas, the weather, how they'll get there--and all the time they'll get there anyway, you see. But they need to worry and betray time with urgencies false and otherwise, purely anxious and whiny, their souls really wont be at peace unless they can latch on to an established and proven worry, and having once found it they assume facial expressions to go with it, which is, you see, unhappiness, and all the time it all flies by them and they know it and that too worries them to no end."

Life Is A Highway

Its tough to recap the last week and a half but I shall try my best. These pictures are in order from most recent to last week...and they are only a small portion. Buy me dinner when i get back and I'll show you the rest.

This is me on the Buller swinging bridge. I'm usually really scared of heights, but this was kind of a joke since it was so safe and secure. So we made up games like, "No hands". It was a nice stop from driving though.











This is our trusty campervan. She IS a stick-shift and I have FINALLY learned to drive her, after 10 years of hoping to learn "someday". I kill her most of the time as I park, because I forget to hold the clutch in to stop. But my transitions are getting a little smoother! All except for that dang 3rd gear...I hate that gear.










This is a waterfall at Milford Sound. GORGEOUS! And we had this tour guide named Max that was the cutest old man and really funny. He reminded me a lot of my dad, and coincidently he LOVED to talk. Haha, miss you Daddy!













A little taste of Milford Sound. The water was more choppy than I thought it would be. And we saw seals sunning on the rocks too!













This was Hudson hitch-hiking our first day on the south island. Last Friday I think? This is also the problem with having only two people on the trip. A lot of my pictures are of him, a girl can only have so many shots with her arm held out. I'm hoping we'll share pictures the day I own a laptop...you know...should I ever decide to join this century and give up my ink and quill.






This was us hitch-hiking in the second car that picked us up with the Brazilians, Andrea and Gabrielle. They were fun, and we got there preeetty fast.











This was back on the North Island in Wellington. That's Darby next to me and her cousin/travel buddy next to her is Kedra. Did I mentioned they live in this super cool older house in the city, with tall ceilings and would floors and 5 other housemates. I miss living in a big noisy house, I need 5 of you to volunteer to live with Shast and I in Dallas in January. Any takers?? Did I mention how much I love Darby?? She is SO fun and full of energy all the time, and I have decided I must travel with her in the future.




You may pick yourself up off the floor from laughing now, I have saved the best for last. Why yes...those ARE prosthetic ears I am wearing on my LORD OF THE RINGS tour! Call me a nerd but i LOOOVE that stuff. I've also read all 7 Harry Potter Books. Now all I need is one more dungeons and dragons figurine and I can die happy. (Kidding on the last sentence).

The tour people had to cancel me on the first day due to a guide being sick...so that means I got a $90 tour for FREE the next day. And there was cake in the middle too! We went to several filming locations in Wellington and it was cool to see the stills and know we were standing in the same place as my husband Orlando Bloom. The guides also had all these secret stories from on the set that were entertaining and I have SUCH an appreciation for how much work goes into making a movie. Its ridiculous how much time and manpower goes into those. I kept my eyes out for Peter Jackson the whole time too...and alas...to no avail.

Too many stories and pictures so we'll just have to have a date soon. Deal?? We've been down to Queenstown (which was the coolest town yet), up the west coast, and tonight we are in Nelson. Tomorrow we are supposed to take a tour of the Marlborough Vineyards on a bicycle, tastings in 8-10 places so we'll see how my balance holds up whilst tipsy on a bike. We are working our way back down to Christchurch to fly out to Sydney, Sunday morning with lots of fun things along the way. I can't believe I'll be sleeping in Winnsboro, Texas in just about 2 weeks?...a LOT to happen between now and then. Its also probably time for a dip into my introspective pool as well, but I'll save that for later too and stop rambling.

XXXXXOOOOOOOO

Road Trippin'

I don't have much time to write since I am in one of those internet cafe's in Christchurch, New Zealand. Its BEAUTIFUL here. And by beautiful I mean go put on Lord of the Rings in slow motion at the Omni theatre and you still won't understand how gorgeous the scenery is in person. And sheep...everywhere! We spent last week in Wellington on the North Island with my good friend Darby. She is one of my favorite people and I was so glad to get some time with her. It's a cool city, windy and cold, but tons of cafe's and artsy things. Nice for a visit but in the end I was glad Brisbane had been my work-visa of choice.

Yesterday was a big adventure for Hudson and I. Are you sitting down mom? Don't worry because I won't need to do this again, but it was such an incredible experience....here we go...We took the interislander ferry from Wellington to Picton...and we had no way to get from Picton to Christchurch to pick up our pre-rented campervan. A train would cost $100. The minimum car rental purchase is 7 days. We had heard hitch-hiking was common here...and I was with Hudson and felt safe...so we did!!! And in record time! I'm sure I looked like an expert out there with BOTH of my bags. How embarassing is that? Who is going to pick up a seemingly high-maintenance backpacker? I wished I had a sign that said, "You dont understand...I've lived in Australia for 4 months and I down-sized a LOT!!!" ......From the moment we stuck our first thumb in the air it took 11 minutes to get picked up and they took us about 30 minutes south. They were a cool couple that liked Kings of Leon like me! The second couple to pick us up only took 5 minutes and they were from Brazil...they asked if we could help out with gas, so we gave them $15 and they drove us 2 hours...the last hitch took 8 minutes to pick us up...we even had time to argue directions and pet horses alongside the road in those 8 minutes...thats when Andrew came along and took us the next 2.5 hours all the way into Christchurch. He was a really fun guy, about our age...his stereo had gone out and he was hoping we could keep him awake on the drive...so we helped each other out. I thanked God over and over for yesterday. I went to sleep smiling and grateful.

Today is saturday. We just picked up the campervan and Hudson is patiently making me watch his foot on the clutch...because my homework is to learn to drive this mother before we sleep tonight. AAH! Before I begin this next obstacle, can I just say how stupid I think it is that they even MAKE manual transmissions when automatics exist?? I dont care that they are supposed to be cheaper to make. Anyways...Lord willing we will see Milford Sound tomorrow and do some hang-gliding Monday. I decided to postpone the sky-diving until I can do it with Shasta...hang-gliding is cheaper too. I promise pictures as soon as I have some time. They will be WORTH the WAIT!!!!!

I miss Shasta

Shit happens. Sorry for the sailor-mouth mom, but sometimes that's the best word to describe specific situations. I'm asking for your prayers, even from those of you who don't pray, I would be grateful. Some of you may be aware that Shasta left Australia Sunday to be with her grandmother in Texas. Though it was right for her to go, the timing was so sad. Sunday was the day before we would leave to start phase 2 of the trip in New Zealand, then back to Sydney with our friend Grassie, then L.A. and home in time for Christmas. I know God has His perfect timing, and His reasons...and I know NZ will always be there for her to see later...but I really wanted this for her, and for us. We've gotten so close on this trip I feel like my better-half vanished, and now I've got to harden up. Shasta is one of the most self-less people I have ever met and I just think she deserves the world and all the good things in it. Please pray for her and her family during this time.

If you could, send one up for Hudson and I as well. We are still on this journey and in Wellington, NZ right now. Tomorrow we leave for the south island, where we have a stick-shift, 3-person campervan waiting for us. I am going to try to get us out of this but they are pretty strict on their no-money-back cancellation policies...so we may be stuck with it, and I am VERY nervous to drive the mountains with a stick. But God has gone before us already, since the minute Shasta and I first talked about uprooting our Texas lives...and now is the time for me to remember that. This is where my end of trust comes into play. And, I am so grateful I do not have to bare this alone. Hudson doesn't seem to love it when I call him my "spare-tire"...but God knew Shasta would have to leave, and I guess He didn't want me flying solo on this one. So that is just what I'll do. I have to conciously place my life in His hands and trust that He will take care of the next 10 days here.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Without making this blog entirely novel-length, let me attempt to wrap up my feelings on leaving. I love Brisbane with all my heart and I will never forget how she healed me. I got to explore her beaches, rainforests, mountains and food. I got to enjoy her beauty. And best of all...she introduced me to her people.

Chayah Gospel Church opened their arms wide open to us. As I was leaving our flat and looking it over one more time...I just swelled up with tears...because I was leaving more than a flat...I was leaving what had become my home. I already miss dinner with the Porters, crying and laughing with them, Anthony's latest costume and Holly's bright smile. I keep trying to say how much they have blessed us, how much I love and appreciate them, how generous they've been to complete strangers, what a big part of God's healing on me they've been....and I just cant figure out the right words. I dont know how to show Jane that I need her to live down the road from us in Texas so that we can be best friends and I can watch Miriam grow up. I need the singles, Josh, Vic, Marco, Geoff, Beth, to KNOW what an empty feeling I will have on Sunday afternoons without them. How much I will miss communion meals together. Every person there has left fingerprints on my heart that aches when I'm not with them.

Deck's Restaurant. Do the chefs from the pub have any idea how much we love them? I dont know how to explain to Ethel how much she cared for me after I quit the bakery. I never told Jacob that he was the best co-worker I ever had. Frankie, Matty, Adam, do you know we would give you the world if we could? And my pirate Maurice, so thoughtful and sweet and made me laugh in every conversation...I just cant express the impact he had on me, and teaching Shast about gumption. There are more too. The people of Brisbane were not just cool people I met on my trip. They were my family during my quarter-life-crisis-runaway...and they caught me, and loved me, and I miss them already.

Thank you so much to anybody who reads my rambles. I love you and miss you.

Cairns

Cairns was wonderful. Humid. Hot. We went hiking around Daintree...the oldest rain forest on the planet if I am correct. We went out to the Great Barrier Reef on a sailboat and snorkeled with a turtle, a black-tip reef shark, giant clams (that close when you touch them), sea cucumbers, lots of fish, and lots of pretty coral. The water was perfect. Gorgeous day.

Crikey!

I haven't actually heard anyone here use the term, "Crikey!" until we got to the Australia (Steve Irwin) Zoo. I guess the saying is comparable to the general public believing people from Texas say things like, "My lands", and "For Pete's sake"....wait...no my mom DOES say both of those. Ha. Kiddin mom. If you're going to say CRIKEY! though, you have to put both thumbs out in the air when you do it. Go head, give it a try...

I really liked this zoo. You, my close friends, know how I feel about caged animals, and how I hate the idea of a circus...but I liked this place. There seemed to be an overall deep passion and care for not only the animals...(some were bred in captivity and some were rescued by Steve)...but I also really admired the deep concern for the environment in which these animals inhabit, and are losing their homes due to construction and pollution.
My favorite part was probably the tiger show. I was not aware how high and fast they are able to climb trees and get what they want. Incredible. Some of us pondered the details of the animals and the reasoning God made them....and........Some of us learned about the facts of life that day....Hudson hasn't stopped asking questions....you should probably have the talk with the kids before entering the Kangaroo Haven.
I can't believe what little time we have left. EVERYONE GO SEE "Into the Wild". It is by far the best movie of the year, and just went into my favorite movie category last night.

Three's Company

Come and knock on my door, take a breath that is new, where the kisses are hers, and hers, and his, Three is company toooooo. I think thats how the song goes? I used to love that show. There was always usually some wacky miscommunication that had to be resolved by the end of the episode. I am predicting the same will occur in the next three weeks as "Shaster and Clarice's Big Adventure" takes a spin as it adds its newest core character....enter: HUDSON!!!!

Thats right. The little hottie therapist that keeps the lady patients at work drooling has bought a ticket on the fast Shast/Carisse train. Turns out he loves traveling and bad jokes just as much as we do, so it should be a great ride. Plus, we've already uncovered even more great reasons to have a boy along...including but not limited to...

#1. Normalcy--Romantic sunsets on the beach are a little less awkward for Shasta and I...now that we are a triple, rather than a couple

#2. Fit Fiddles--he makes us do 200 push-ups every night before bed. Surprisingly, we've also noticed a significant decrease in our carbs/chocolate intake...I anticipate consuming future heaps of Soy milk as well...we speculate he might be the world's first human carnivore...

#3. Avoided Stalkers--we haven't had anymore sleezy guys hit on us since he showed up

#4. Cabby--Driving on the left is still new/exciting for Hudson...so we just let him do it

#5. Money Saver--a guy is always supposed to pick up the tab...am i right ladies???


*********Truthfully we love Hudson and are so happy he is here!!!! Tune in next time for the Steve Irwin Zoo and a trip to Cairns********

T-Day

Monday: Went surfing again and was reminded how the ocean hates me. I'm cool with it though, I expect a peace treaty in the future. Surfing is technical for sure, but thats not the hard part. Most of my rashes/bruises/scars come during the process of just getting out into the waist deep water to prepare myself for the oncoming waves. Its a fight between me and the sea to get out there. With every oncoming wave I get served a punch in the face with a side of a condition I've named, "salt-water-fire-throat". It's as if mother nature is saying, "...and THATS for polluting me, and THATS for building on my beaches, and...", eventually I might actually get to stand up a few times during the couple hours that I put up with this...and its all worth it.

Tuesday: My first, so very, very, special Aussie Thanksgiving. The day of the year Americans have set aside to be aware of their blessings and express gratitude and appreciation. I LOVE eating at a table full of people. I love a big noisy house. We had a ton of people there (as seen below) and the Porters/Wilsons went above and beyond to make this meal perfect. Andrea set up a big long table in her house so that we could all eat together, and as it happened...there were just enough seats for everyone who showed up. Shasta and I had to work yesterday morning and there was no way we could have prepared everything ourselves, so we were blessed to have all the reinforcements we could ask for. Holly even made menus!

This is actually my favorite holiday of the year because I love eating together more than presents. Literally. I think having a meal together is such a family-building event. Preparing it, being at the table, cleaning up afterwards...it just brings everyone closer. Shasta and I have been talking about how we would love to have a standard sunday meal at our future apartment in Texas...what a great way to get to know people.

During dessert we made everybody go around and say what they were thankful for. Where do I even begin on this one? God has given me more than I've ever asked for, and definitely more than I deserve. He's even given me more than I could have dreamed of, more than I ever even knew I needed or wanted. I'm so thankful for the basics: I'm healthy, I have a roof over my head and too much food in my mouth. I am provided for everywhere I go on earth. I have the most thoughtful mom in the world, a daddy who loves me to "hug his neck", 2 brothers who would bury anyone who crossed me, and I am absolutely in love with my Grandpa, my sister-in-laws, and my nieces/nephew.

My friends have also become families to me: The friends I grew up with who know me best and will never leave me. My 6 chicks who I'd take a bullet for. My homegroup girls that help me analyze life. My deep ellum girls that keep me laughing and awake past bedtime. All my boyfriends; the two Jeremy's, the Paco, the Kyle, the Hudson, the Marc (who I still barely know but strangely completely consider him a bestie!). My cvc peeps and clients who tolerate my moods anywhere from 10-40hrs/week. My new Australian family: The church, my co-workers/pub friends, Grassie......Now that I've gone through a list of shout-outs, basically I just adore every person in my life...and if I dont tell you enough...I love you and am so thankful you exist, and that I get to be a part of your lives.

I'm grateful for the freedom that allows me to explore the world...that we have planes and passports that give me the gifts of pressing my toes in the sand, or standing over waterfalls...or meet a chef who spends 70+ hrs/week in the kitchen, or a house wife that opens up her home and family to share with me. I'm so thankful for prayer, and I'm thankful that He listens. I am grateful that He is there, even during all my questioning, only later to see my life as a net He's been stitching together all the while.


Here's Miriam again (a.k.a. cutest baby ever)
Two of the chefs from work came too. Have you ever made a meal for TWO professional chefs? It's kinda like showing the construction paper watercolor you made to Picasso.
See...heaps of people. What a great night!

And yet again...my cup overflows.

The Tale of Stradysburg

Awarded the 2005 Emmy and 2006 Golden Globe for Best Drama Series, "Lost" returns for its seventh season of action-packed mystery and adventure -- that will continue to bring out the very best and the very worst in the people who are lost.

After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, its survivors were forced to find inner freedom they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discovered that the island holds many secrets, including pirates, pubs, and the peculiar tribes of skinny-jean-wearing emo kids known as "The Others." The survivors have also found the backpacks of those who came to the island before them, from other freedom seekers who attempted to escape the corporate world that begins each day with an alarm clock.

As the second part of Season Seven opens, new characters, Shaster and Clarice are washed upon the shore after a tragic surfing lesson had sucked two girls out to sea. The long awaited twist is finally uncovered as the camera pans high up overhead to reveal that the survivors are not at all stranded...but in actuality have landed on Stradbroke Island, about 23km off the coast of Australia. Knowing full well that there is a ferry able to solve all problems on the north side of the island, the girls plot a sabotage in attempts to take over and put an end to this show!

In order to divide and conquer, the scheme begins as Clarice climbs the tallest of trees near the commonly used kitchen part of the beach to first lure Hurley with the great American pumpkin pie. He and the rest of the cast take the bait and are hoisted into the air. Swinging from the net, there is one foul-mouthed savage who was mistakenly swept up in the smell of the cooking pie. On second glance he is not one of the survivors, but is none other than Maurice Mac, the legendary pirate of the high seas! He is released from apprehension and indeed, it was love at first sight. Once married, Clarice and
Maurice then set out to locate Shaster, ready to prepare for Island take-over. Shaster has found a love interest as well, while charting maps with Sayid over a romantic campfire. What began as two has now become four and domination is within reach. That is...until Shaster has a flashback and remembers her days as a homeless bum on the
streets when she lived off hitchikes from strangers and bottles of Lambrusco for breakfast. Sayid suddenly seems familiar to her, and she recognizes him as the evil trucker who once picked her up and pulled out her nose ring (after only in for 3 weeks). The rest of the cast comes into full view as the girls notice that Kate has a striking resemblance to Clarice's college dorm director and Jack has the same ugly tattoo that was on the left arm of the very surf instructor that lead them here in the first place!



A trap! It was a trap all along! The girls and Maurice are thrown into a hole on the side of the
cliffs and are left with nothing but tears as they watch the entire cast sail back to Australia stuffing their mouths with gelato.

They are left alone on Stradbroke Island to fend for themselves and wait until morning for the next ferry to appear and the show is able to continue into an eighth season. If you loved "Lost" you will love the hit series' new spin off, "Found" that will be airing this fall and will dig deeper into the adventures of Shaster and Clarice as they make a roadrip from the Grand Canyon up through the west coast of North America and into the quest that awaits them in Alaska.


My mom gets nervous when I dont blog so here's the crazy I came up with today. Stradbroke Island is literally the prettiest beach I've ever seen. Tuesday we went surfing and I got my body rocked by the ocean. I'm not at all good at surfing, but I love trying...and after the scratches I got on my thighs I broke down and bought some board-shorts to be better prepared for next time! Now, who wants to buy me a skateboard for Christmas??!!

P.S....I wrote the story based on the pictures we took and some jokes we had. No outside source was consumed in the creation of this piece. Blogger is so annoying with organizing it's photo part.

Ode to Robert Frost

"Two roads diverge in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference"

Classic, clip of poetry. Perhaps overused, but true all the same. Exploration might be the word to sum up our last few days. The story begins with our new friend Jason Grassie. We didn't know him at all, but he went to ACU, we have mutual friends, and made contact through facebook. God bless the internet. He lives in Sydney but was coming to our neck of the woods so we decided to introduce him to adventures of Shaster and Clarice. Unexpectedly(and probably because he's a boy), but welcomed enthusiastically, ...he opened up new and refreshing adventures for US. I've never seen someone so aware of their surroundings. He knows a lot about plants, and is in a perpetual state of leaving the beaten path...and therefore this trip was different. We love our new bestie Jason and are forever grateful to the God who knows exactly what we need, even beyond physical provision. This is Grassie chasing a wild turkey. Haha! Had to be there.
We hired a car and surprisingly, driving on the right side of the car and the left side of the road is no big deal. And, where I once mocked the roundabouts, I have now made peace and thoroughly enjoy them. The only thing left to conquer will be the stickshift up and down the mountains of New Zealand! Ugh!
We went hiking on a trail in Lamington National Park and got to see the coolest waterfall, blue tongued lizards, and a snake along the way. As we got closer to the sound of the water rushing the rocks, we went off the trail and climbed over to the very top of the waterfall. Did I mention I'm a super scared sally on top of heights? However, I never regret experiencing them. The top was beautiful.
We stopped by a vineyard on our way back but were too cheap to pay for tasting. Went to O'Malley's Irish Pub when we got back to Surfer's Paradise. "Pub Steaks" are cheap specials on Monday nights and we enjoyed trying each of our different Tooheys. After a little coffee on the beach we decide to take a drive down the Gold Coast. However, being the Triumvirate of storytellers that we are...when we finally get around to looking at a map, the new decision to hunt and claim Byron Bay is made.

We arrive in the quaint little surf-town, climb out on the rocks to watch the tide come in...just long enough to rack the nerves with a "how creepy is the deep ocean?" talk. Now comes the part where I fulfill a dream and check it off my list...WE SLEPT IN THE CAR! Which is illegal according to the cashier at the petrol station, and we were in small 4-door Nissan...but we went ahead and parked it, reclined the seats, a gained a few hours sleep with a collection of stiff knees and backs.

We woke up at 4:30 am, stopped by THE best bakery I've ever seen, literally, open 23hrs/day (i was raving about this place for both its delectable presentation and taste), got some breakfast and backed up the car to the ocean to watch the sunrise. Only it was rainy and overcast so instead we watched the surfers and sea kayakers do their thing (which looks really cool).We explored around the Byron Bay Lighthouse for a little while and were able to see several whales pop up in the ocean, took some photos and then back to Surfer's Paradise for a game of soccer on the beach. Girls vs. boys. This left Jason with some nasty bruising, and I'm pretty sure we won, or not...but I know my calves pain running in sand, and I never look all graceful and Baywatchy...I look like I'm getting nowhere on a treadmill...with new prosthetic legs.

We wrapped everything up with a trip to the Sushi Train. I never thought I liked sushi but turns out I do! All except the sick caviar one I was forced to try. Then, we, the Triumvirate, got a case of the meat sweats, spit the winkle a while, returned to Brissy and Bob's your uncle. Great trip. Hopefully surfing next weekend if weather permits!!!

Vibrations In Air

Concerts. Perhaps my most favorite of all past times. I love movies, some sports, and ice cream...but I get extra excited for the concert, especially the smaller ones...There is something indescribable but here's how it generally works:
...You show up early with your friend/aquaintance and enjoy the company of catching up and crossing fingers for songs you hope to be played, you sit through the opening bands and if they suck you have a laugh, but there is a 50/50 chance you may have stumbled upon a gem! You may have teased your hair and shaved your legs in the event that the hot lead singer picks you out of the crowd and invites you for pancakes (ask me about the time Chris Martin made eye contact with me...it happened!!), this effort is now negated by the fact that you are either frigid or sweaty depending on the venue. THEN...it happens...the lights go down and the crowd starts cheering and bam!...Suddenly you are in the same room with artists you admire and they are creating that same sound you've repeated in your cd player for months. And, live music is different than recorded. It is possible to achieve a bond with music inside headphones, but there is a connection formed at a live concert. You are able to feel the music, understand lyrics, see the personality behind the songwriter. Music is truly an experience thats given me memories forever and thats why I love it!

We wanted to see an Aussie band play while in Australia, and Wolfmother and Jet are not currently touring here, Xavier Rudd was sold out...so we found Josh Pyke on the internet and bought a cd. Whitley opened and sucked, 78 Saab came next and were allright, but Josh Pyke put on a great show. He actually sounds way better live than on cd...proving his talent. He's funny to boot and an all-around good performer so maybe he'll hit the States one day.

Side note: Missy Higgins is an up and coming Aussie artist who is a big deal here and we love her!

Ah music, how do I love thee...We start phase 2 of this adventure in about 3 weeks when there will be a third party addition joining us for the remainder of our trip so stay tuned. I can't believe this wonderland is coming to an end. It'll be really hard for me not to cry allover everyone...or maybe I should just let it out so they know how much they'll be missed.

Del Fuego

I'm sure I would feel just as helpless if I was in Texas as I do right now, but I've been reading about the California fires and just wish I could do something!!! Jane, Toby are you ok? Is Paul ok? Daniel, Jared, Kellie? We havent even finished cleaning up from Katrina have we?

Wow. I can't believe floods and fires in 3 years. All those people who lost their homes, and all those trees destroyed. I remember feeling this way on September 11th. I just wanted to get in my car and go help. But I was in college, with a thousand excuses, and didn't even know where to begin. Same with Katrina, just wanted to pack a bag and go. But you know something? I never did. Even when we had refugees staying in our stadium in Dallas, 15 minutes away, I didn't go and help. And we can justify this behavior till the cows come home with..., "They have enough volunteers", "there's already too many people there", "I'd just be in the way", "I'd be putting myself in danger", etc... But maybe there is something to that instinct inside us that innately reaches out when another human is suffering? Maybe thats the Spirit we quiet with excuses? Maybe thats the difference between people who have stories to tell and people who read them? And, maybe they are sorted by those who listen to the voice inside and those who suppress it. Ugh I just feel helpless. Keep me posted.

Stick Shifts and Safety Belts

We have an upcoming adventure that will require every protective angel that can be summoned. I was 16yrs. old the last time I tried to learn how to drive a stick shift. My brother was sweet and patient, but I stalled his truck twice and got really nervous and quit. I haven't tried since, and much to my shagrin...that was TEN years ago, a freaking decade! (*sigh* 16 was a great year for me.)... Anyways, New Zealand already rented out all of their automatic transmission campervans, so not only will we be on the left side of the road, I'll have a third pedal and a stick to ask for my attention too! We plan to practice on a car before we go though, so don't worry too much. All part of the adventure!! Lucky for us I found this police uniform so I can just write myself tickets when this whole plan goes up in smoke.

And now the moment you've all been waiting for...this is ETHEL!!! I came around the corner and she had lunch ready for me on our lady and the tramp table. She is so wonderful. Did I mention how much I like Maurice and everyone else we work with too? And to think, I was actually trying to make myself stay in that bakery!
Sunday we got to feed opossums at the Botanical Gardens with some new friends! Isn't that amazing? They just come right up to you and eat out of your hand! Except thats not my hand since I was the photographer. Judging by phalange length and position, I'd say that was Geoff's hand. Oh I need to get a picture of Geoff on here, he's my favorite!
Until next time lovely!

Such Great Heights

Shaster and Clarice's Big Rockin Tea!!

We come up with the best days off ever! We went ROCK CLIMBING yesterday. This was my first time to do this outdoors, and at Kangaroo Point...incredible. It's just next to the Brisbane River so the view while you're up there is breath-taking. Nevermind the fact that Im totally afraid of heights. I loved being outside too and I even got a little battle scrape on my knee! I want to get a membership at Exposure indoor climbing the minute I get home. That little green spec in the picture is my butt. I really wished I had official rock-climbing pants and shoes, and the helmet was unflattering, but I guess amateurs don't get to look like they just climbed out of an Athleta magazine.

Yesterday was also Andrea's birthday so a bunch of us girls went to a "High Tea". It was SOOO cool. I feel like every tea party I ever attended during childhood was just practice and build-up for all the LOVELY I experienced yesterday. It was at this English pub type place, and we got dressed up and I got to wear high heels for the first time in 2 months! I had "Cinnamon Orange" and Shasta had "Lady Grey". Ooowee its fun to be a girl!

And the food comes out on three tiers of plates. You start with the finger sandwiches on the bottom, scone-jam-&-cream in the middle, then assorted tiny cakes on top.

This is Andrea, isnt she beautiful? I just adore her, she's gorgeous. See they put a sparkler in her cake for her birthday! We had quite the Jane Austen dreamy afternoon.

To top it off we did a lil babysitting last night and when the kiddies were nestled snug in there beds I opted for a movie. But after some digging around, I found none other than a dvd compilation of Michael Jackson Music Videos!! SCORE!!