So it has been a while, sorry friends...

But life is sunny and magnificent right now. I have just had four fabulous days of adventure and scenery driving up NZ's South Island's West Coast. It has been so dazzling and wonderful, and has offered some much needed time away from work/drizzle/sandflies.

I'm in Christchurch now and must go back out into the sunshiney pleasantness that is city in summer (ya know, all ice creamy and gooey streets and barefooted children and too short skirts)

I promise to provide a riveting and detailed account of my travels upon my return to home base.

Happy is the traveler.

It was 2:31 on my cell phone clock when I woke up to the sound of a train barreling down on my little orange and white caravan, shaking her, senselessly unaware of her sleepy inhabitant. Instead of counting the seconds between lightening and deafening thunder clap as I am used to, I would brace for the rock and twist of my van as I heard the wind storm in on me. The rain came in bursts, heavy and pelting followed by a distrustful soothing patter. By 2:41 I was out of bed peering into the trees that were whipping my rooftop and contemplating running next door to Tara's van and the safety of two people huddling in the storm. At 2:42 I was back in my bed... this time with socks on in case of flooding, thinking better of waking my lovely sleeping neighbor. By 2:44 I was up again, shaken violently and reconsidering Tara's sleep. At 2:50, after another brief attempt at going back to my bed I was wading in 2 inches of water outside of my door with pillow in hand and barging into Tara's van and her sleepless eyes. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to come over."

Her van was worse, much larger and getting hit directly in the middle with the massive gusts, we decided to go back to mine, a little less shaky. After running into the lodge and back out in the hail, we were both drenched and shivering. There was little chance of sleep and lots of comments of "oh shit!".

Two days ago my boss Adam was very closely watching the river behind my van. A few more hours of rain and we would have had to evacuate. Fiorldland has some pretty amazing weather. This morning it is partly sunny and offers no evidence of the wind and rain pelting of last night. The puddle that was inches deep outside my door is now fairly dry mud. I wonder if it was all a dream, but the dark circles under everyone's eyes tell me it was not.

I am already thinking about how much I will miss this place when I leave. That being said, my tickets are booked for Australia. I will fly with Tara to Melbourne on April 25, then to Sydney on the 29th where I will hang out for a week or so until my 25th. After that, travel up the east coast until Matt is forced to fly home.

My boss lent me his South America guide book so I have been reading up on Ecuador/Peru/Bolivia... what a change it will be from NZ. It is exciting to read about museums and churches and thing of cultural significance. I picture a lot of color but maybe just hope for more color as I am surrounded now by all shades green.

I am on days off now, and I don't have much of a plan but to see the horizon. Thanks for all of the emails of late. I am loving hearing news of home.

There is a Simpson's marathon on right now. Not a bad way to start my days off!

Days off have been uneventful. I am reading "My Sister's Keeper". It has been raining and snowing down to 1000 meters, meaning I wake up to freshly powdered mountain tops. It is the kind of weather for sleeping and reading and cuddling in front of a movie.
We watched Amelie. The beautiful actress sometimes reminds me of my sister. I made chili and corn bread today. The chili is ridiculously spicy and so ruined. Apparently I used a bit too much of the extra hot chilli powder. Oops.I tried to remedy the situation with cinnamon and water.
It is time for a nap.

Embracing 2006

It has been years since I have celebrated the countdown in true New Year fashion. New Year's Eve for most is a let down, built up to something that inevitably ends in boredom or sloppiness. Are you really supposed to wait for that ball to drop before you can crawl under the quilt you have been dreaming about all day?

Last year I spent the evening alone in my Somerville apartment drinking wine and feeling very sorry for myself over a boy and my lack of social life. The year before it was spent in a fight with a boy who didn't want to come to my best friend's house. The year before that... not sure, but going with the trends it probably involved some lonesome or angry feelings about,around or near, a boy.
Geesh. Get a grip,girl.

I am very happy to say that this year though, I had an lovely evening without the uncomfortable and annoying interruptions of boy-dom and relationships. I drank champagne and ate cheese and olives and strawberries in Tara's ridiculously large new caravan. (It has a separate bedroom people!) and danced to 80's music "phoenix landing" style. How wonderful to be free of the 'but aren't we supposed to be together and isn't it supposed to be special' ness of the varying shades of togetherness.

Ok, so this wasn't intended to be a blog about the exquisite liberation that is singledom....

So, updates:

Apparently, my lovely, witty, dashingly handsome and charming friend Matthew Young has received the gift of travel, and has (obviously) chosen the equally lovely young Karen Esterly to travel with. Dates are yet to be confirmed, however, Australia best prepare herself for this traveling duo of fun. Matt and I conquered a piece of Central America together, and I have no doubt we can do even better in the mystical land of Oz. Hurrah!

I read The Thorn Birds and loved loved loved it. You should read it and we shall discuss the intricacies of the various gender roles etc.

I got a NEW CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!! Yes I will try my very BEST to post pictures as soon as possible. My parents spoil me rotten but I am So HAPPY to actually be able to document my travels and life here in New Zealand!

I moved into a new caravan! Indeed, supervisor perks allowed me to upgrade to a cozier space with double bed and warmer interior.

I am going to SOUTH AMERICA! With the love of my life, Miss Meaghan O'Halloran. Dates are a bit up in the air as of yet, but we are committed to it and I am committed to working a bit harder than I have been on my espagnol. Si. Gracias.


That is about all I have... I am pretty positive that 2006 will surpass 2005, which was a pretty damn good year. I have a goal to make each year better than the last. It is a good plan for those of you in need of some New year's resolutions.

Good luck to all of you nursing January first hangovers. Much love across the seas.