A Story in Pictues

Chris and I went out with his best friends Justin and Julia. We went to an area called Takapuna and had a beer at a bar then went to dinner at a nice restaurant. The food was great. I hate some duck and pate which are too things I secretly love but never get. It was weird because we were really the only ones in the restaurant. I guess everyone here travels for the holidays.
I think we discovered that Chris is filling a void left by Justin by being with me since I LOVE cheese and hate bench presses.
I could tell Chris and Justin were both very happy to catch up with each other. After dinner went to 3 clubs! That isn't as good as it sounds because it only took 5 minutes to go to all of them. Two were dead and one was crowded but too loud to talk. So we ended up going back to the same bar we had our pre-dinner drink at. By the end of the evening Chris had 5 beers which is a lot for Chris and these were high alcohol beers which I think is 8% alcohol. Anyway, we wanted to take pictures.

This is me doing that "hold the camera out and take a picture of yourself." I don't know what is wrong with Chris.

Take two he did better.

Now all of us!

Here is where I start trying to get a picture of Chris and Justin. Again Chris is being less than helpful.

Why is his picture face that of an evil clown?

What is in his lap?

Finally!

Justin, Julia and Chris

Hopefully, Josh and Emma are being nice to daddy today because he was out late and now he is sad that his Chrissy is going back to America.

We had a great time even though we are old at 11pm is late too us.

The Last Week

We only have two more days left here in NZ (pronounced enzed). We have been taking it easy. I have read The Time-Traveler's Wife, The Lovely Bones and Mister Pip. All were good books. I have played a lot of Nintendo DS. I getting worn out on "Safari Island". I need my character to fish but fishing is boring so mostly I annoy the other animals.
Chris and I went and met his school friend for lunch today. It was really nice. We are getting ready to go out with Justin and Julia for dinner and drinks.
Tomorrow we are going out to lunch with is parents and having our last tea (dinner) together.
I have started getting us packed to come home. We have a lot of fragile items and heavy things so it takes strategery to pack. I have 2 1/2 of the four bags done and if I can manage to get our two large ceramic pieces into the last bag, we will be good to go.

We leave here at 8:30 pm on 12/30 and arrive in Knoxville at 11:30 pm on 12/30. It boggles the mind.
I only hope I can sleep when we get home. I know I will want to drag everything out and show my mom. I will also probably beg Chris to let Snoopy in the bed with us. She will snuggle me or try to choke me one. And we have to keep her away from the luggage because she loves to damage suite cases. I think in her mind if we have no luggage then we just won't ever leave.

I am ready to get back to work but dread the first day. I know I will want to see everyone but I bet I will have a lot to do. Will you all be mad if I close my door and ignore everyone until lunch?
Also, I think everyone needs to bring there walking shoes because if we are still doing that weight loss thing, we have to hit the lunch walking again. I am trying to convince myself to get up at 5:30 am so I can do two miles before work. I know that would really drop the pounds.

I haven't weighed myself since I got here. My clothes feel the same but I look softer. I don't think we have eaten that bad - not compared to what I eat at my family's. But I haven't had all my dancing. We have tried to walk for about an hour the last few days since we have been back in Auckland.

Anyway, I will be seeing everyone back in Kville real soon.

Happy Christmas! (Days 22-25)

That's what they say in NZ!
It's Boxing Day here which is not celebrated. They just call all the sales Boxing Day sales instead of after Christmas Sales.
We spent Christmas Eve relaxing and preparing our Christmas Feast. I sat outside and read with my legs in the sun. I managed to get burned on my shoulders and my legs are still white. Go figure.

We took a drive to see the street with all the lit up houses. So lame! If Chris and I ever move here we have to live on that street only to show them how it is done. I am sad we waiting in traffic for that.
One Christmas Day, Chris and I took a walk on Takapuna Beach. It was warm but windy. My my hat is almost blowing off.
The tree I am standing next to is Pohutacawa which is the New Zealand Christmas Tree. It blooms this time of year. People still use evergreens in their houses.

We opened presents in the morning. Chris and I both got some nice things and I think his parents liked all the gifts we got for them.

Here we are at Christmas Dinner. We had turkey with stuffing (pesto and pine nut stuffing), cranberry sauce, broccoli salad, zucchini quiche, garden salad, bread and jell-o salad. For dessert we had Pavlova and fruit.
It was a lovely meal and we were all stuffed. We are still eating leftovers today.
I did miss my grandmother's cooking. As much as Christmas in the middle of summer didn't feel like Christmas to me, I realize how odd it is for Chris to have Christmas in the middle of winter.

Today is Wednesday and we are leaving Sunday night so we really only have 4 more days until we come home. I love it here but my limit for being away from home has hit. I miss Boogas, my mom, my bed, the couch, my kitchen, dance class, work.

Day 17: Back in Auckland

Today we are back in Auckland. Chris has gone off to help his dad and I am hanging out and doing laundry. I would like and try and get pictures up on all these posts when Chris gets back.
Some funny things I need to share.
1. Sheep. They are everywhere. Not kidding. Millions. But none to pat. Every time we drive by some I picked out the cutest one that I would like to pet and feed a banana to. Chris has realized that he could have saved a lot of money by just taking me to the petting zoo.
2. Street Signs. They are so pleasant. Instead of "flagman ahead" it says "please stop if requested" instead of "yield" it is "give way". There are also signs with exclamations points and the falling rock signs are pictures of rocks.
3. One lane bridges are everywhere. There is sign showing which side has to yield. I am going to write a letter to the Prime Minister. You would think New Zealand could afford two lane bridges.

Day 8: About Town

I actually posted about day 6 on day 7, so that is why it skips a day.
Today Chris and I went out and about by ourselves. He took me around the University of Auckland which is where he went. I learned that in Universities here you only take classes related to your major. So Chris was in engineering and had to take math but not English or History. It sounds good in theory but he can't quote Shakespeare like I can.
We went around the area shopping. We went up a big hill where you can see all of Auckland. We also went back to an art shop I had been in earlier in the week with Chris's mom and bought a nice print. It is a painting of Auckland done in a sort of bright fanciful way. Pretty modern.
Chris also bought me a nice t-shirt and I bought a hat to wear out in the sun.
We went to lunch at the Blue Cat Cafe (couldn't resist) and I had a toasted panini with chicken, apricots and cream cheese.
I actually got a bad migraine so we came home about 3:00 and I had a nice nap. I think my mom has been worried if I didn't get a migraine all month that I really might move here. It's safe mom, I still have headaches upside down. -The humidity was 99%, that's the cause of it.
Speaking of, we walked by a fountain today and where the water drains to pump back the top some leaves were circling. Water really does go down the drain the other way!

PS My mom's good friend and my painted furniture diva mentor, Barbara, is in the hospital in Owensboro. Will all my praying friends please say one for her? Thanks!

Day 6: Maybe I didn't blog maybe it didn't happen

I am just kidding. Yesterday was whirlwind day. The weather was sunny and mid-70s.
Chris's parents had all their friends over for breakfast to see us before Hope left to go back to London. We had pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee. I was all pretty normal breakfast wise.
After everyone left and we cleaned up I dashed out with Hope and Daphne to pick up some last minute things. We all saw Hope off at the airport. Chris's parents like to go in the airport and wait until you need to go to the gate. So we all went in and had a coffee. I actually had a water because I am all coffee and pastried out.
Then Chris and I went over to his best friends house. Justin and Julia and their two children Joshua (4) and Emma (2). Joshua had never met Uncle Chris but didn't have a nap yesterday because he was "too excited to sleep". He ran and hugged Chris and showed us all the toys we had ever sent. Emma was precious and I think Chris may want a girl first. Also, their cat Herbie was in Chris's lap all night. Everyone laughed because (stop reading Snoopy) Chris used to shoot the water hose at cats and would always pick Herbie up when he tried to sit on Chris's lap and pass him like he was toxic. Now Chris is a cat person. Yay!
We ordered Pizza from a delivery place called Hell. All the regular pizzas were named after the 7 deadly sins. The kids had a large greed. We had two gourmet pizzas called trouble and purgatory. The delivery guys drive hurshes. Check out their website.

Today we are going to a beach up North with Chris's parents. A relaxing day.
Here are some pics from breakfast. I will post some of the kids later.

Day 5: Shopping and How I am going to become a billionaire

Update: Here is a picture of the "pav". I personally have never liked meringue on a pie so I thought I wouldn't like it. It tasted like marshmallow sugar heaven!
Weather: Chilly and 66 degrees F.

Today we went off to the shopping mall. It was very similar except there is a coffee and pastry shop or counter around every corner. You could have a latte and a fruit tart every 20 yards. If you want just plain coffee you order a flat black; if you want cream you order a flat white. I felt like some older people must feel when they go in Starbucks. I ordered a coffee and she asked what kind and I said, "Um, just plain coffee." and the waitress was all, "You mean a flat white." I said, "No just coffee with cream." "Yes, that's a flat white." "Okay, whatever, just hot and with caffeine."
Chris's mom has made a pavlova for dinner which is like a big meringue baked and then with whipped cream and fruit on it. It's a very Kiwiana food.
I think I will only detail and food we eat that is different from now on. I did buy a candy bar today that has nuts, marshmallow, fruit bits, caramel and almost anything else you might put in a candy bar. It is in my bring home bag. I am getting caught up on my present buying. I still haven't decided who is getting the sheep.

I did notice today at the mall a man with no shoes on. Chris said it is common for the beach goer crowd to go without shoes. I thought you all were just kidding when you asked if they wore shoes here! And they don't!

I know everyone is waiting to find out how I am going to become a billionaire. At the mall we went into the bookstore and I could not find the wedding books. I asked the cashier and she had to look it up in the computer. They had one guest book in the stationary section and one wedding gift book like with love quotes and ONLY 1 WEDDING MAGAZINE. So that's it. I am moving to New Zealand to make weddings the billion dollar industry like it is in the US. I am going to be the Martha Stewart of New Zealand weddings. I think I could start by opening a small wedding book store and consulting on budgets and checklist and then ramp up into full on planning. I would only have to import all the books from the US. The magazine I bought says "New Zealand's #1 Wedding Magazine" all I have to do is print a leaflet in Microsoft Publisher and I have already launched New Zealand's #2 Wedding Magazine.

Pics from the SkyTower are in

This is from the observation deck. Chris is showing me where we were earlier in the day.
That's the Auckland Harbour Bridge behind us.

Here we are at dinner. The restaurant rotates around so you see the whole city about 2 times while you eat. We were there at the perfect time to see sunset.

I had requests for a picture of Chris's family.
Richard, Daphne, Hope and Chris

Day 4: Not Much

Not much going on today. Did a little shopping for gifts. I finished my book. Sally made a request that I include the weather and what I ate each day.

Today it was gray and rained all morning. If I had to guess I would say it is about 60 without the sun shining. We watch the weather but it is celcius so it is meaningless to me.
I do know it is supposed to rain until Friday here. We made plans for visiting the South Island next Tuesday so we want it nice there. That will be a real adventure so I hope we find places to blog along the way.

Today for breakfast I had a banana, and then toast with somed slice avocado. For lunch we had leftover chicken and rice and a cookie sort of like a thin mint (trademark Girl Scouts). For dinner I think we are having pasta.
The food here is really similar. The only think weird I have had so far is a mince meat pie which tasted like meatloaf in a crust like a pot pie.
The candy bars are all combinations we don't have but not weird. I had a "Pinky" which is pink marshmallow with a thin layer of caramel and covered in chocolate. It tasted sort of like a moon pie.
Really the food is just off enough like traveling to the west coast versus the east or northern food versus southern food. It the combinations that make it different.

Day 3: I finally went shopping!

Hope dropped us at the Auckland Museum after lunch.
It is a big impressive building but Hope and Chris both agreed the only part that is special and worth seeing is the Maori bit. I am having fun sharing all these wikipedia links. Do you feel educated?








Chris says this pictures proves I was in New Zealand. This a totem in the Maori meeting house. The place is so cool. The whole thing is carved, the whole building.

I also think I found the inspiration for tribal bellydance.
1. The Maori war thing is to stick their tongue out and they hiss when they do it.
2. In the museum they had traditional costumes and one was a string skirt with different colored tassles.
3. They have a lot of tattoos.
4. They make these costume disks that make me think of the tribal medallions.
Also - I saw the real Poi. They are short. Only about a foot and there is a ball on both ends. Also, it is never on fire.




This pictures was supposed to show in the background that it was a $5NZ donation to get in to the museum. Chris only had a twenty and we felt bad asking for change from a donation. Then I remembered that Laura gave me two NZ 5 dollar bills. I had to take a picture before I spent them. Unfortunately the sign didn't come out.


After the museum we walked over to the New Market area to do a little shopping. We foolishly came without a backpack so we bought one. Chris bought me a t-shirt. Hope bought Chris a new outfit of short and a t-shirt for his birthday. I bought Chris and I both sweaters made out of New Zealand merino wool and some childrens books for my nieces. And I spent $22 on face soap at The Body Shop!!! I think the exchange is 1 NZD = .75 cents USD, so we get a little break but everything over here is much more expensive. I hope you all aren't counting on too many presents when I get back. Actually, I am having a hard time finding presents. I keep thinking that I will know it when I see it for each person on my list.
Who wants a life size sheep made out of real wool?

Day 2: I finally slept!

That might have been the best I ever slept with a glass of wine first.
Today we are going to Waiheke Island with Hope. It is my first NZ outing.


Yesterday after dinner Chris and I walked over to a nearby park. He was looking at something and I walked over the playground. There was a part of the jungle gym that looked like you were supposed to climb it but not very far. I touched it and it spun. I thought maybe it wobbled and was then hard to climb so I tired. IT SPINS LIKE MAD. We found out the trick is to stand up straight and your center of gravity spins it. You can set back and it slows down. Well, I didn't know that and I couldn't get it to stop. I yelled at Chris," Baby, come over here, I can't stop this." He started walking and I kept spinning. Then I yelled, "Run it hurts! I think my nose is going to bleed." It was so wild. The sad part is we went back after dinner to do it again. Here is picture of Chris on the spinning thing.




Tonight we are going to eat at Sky Tower. Here is a picture of us from near his parent's house. You can see between us into Downtown Auckland. Sky Tower is centered.