Preparing for lift-off

This week I was preparing for my adventure to the South Island. I am so excited to be done with school for awhile and just hike. My old professor would say that I am "finding your spirit again".

I took a bit of a risk at the farmer's market last Sunday and bought small grapefruits instead of my normal kiwifruits. Wow, I am happy with that decision. I bought 4 grapefruits for a dollar thirty- I would be jealous too. I also discovered that I don't hate chai tea. I was used to this nasty (but good for you) chai tea that my mom and sister drink. That stuff was always too spicy for me. This stuff is great! The first day, I had 7 cups!

I decided I needed to get out of my studio to actual work on school. I am really good at doing nothing. While I was procrastinating in my room, I rediscovered ballet. I used my radiator as a barre and have been stretching out!

When I finally did make it to the library, it was a toss up. The first 3 hours went fine. Then a couple sat across from me. I don't know why they even came to the library. It was packed and another two people would have loved their seats. They literally had a heated make-out session the whole time. Tickling was involved. Giggles. Maybe I am a hater. Maybe I came to the library so I could concentrate. After an hour, I couldn't take it anymore and left.

My Asian Religions professor was the highlight of my day. He gave us an easy lecture. We talked about what meditation really is, and laughed at the ridiculous stereotypes the west (us) have created. Did you know that some secs of Buddhism meditate with a corpse? They come every day until the body is completely decomposed...My professor also imitated the angry, blue muppet baby, for at least a minute and 37 seconds. He did an amazing job. I forget why he began to imitate him but who cares. He must have rehearsed that performance.

I bought myself some gaters for my backpacking trip. Not going to lie, I feel like a real tramper. I cant wait to use them! I imagine they will do wonders for my quickdry pants and hiking boots. I might not look it, but I FEEL bad ass in them.

So the highlight of this week came Thursday. My German friend, Miriam, invited me to a reading from the author of the Whale Rider. His name is Witi Ihimaera. It was hosted at another university. I was so excited that I made her sit in the second row. It was a wonderful night. He read from two books, lyrics, showed us clips from a play and a TV movie he is creating. He even sang for us. When he started singing, other Maoris from the audience joined in with him. It was really special. He was about to wrap up and then he said that he put 3 golden tickets underneath 3 seats for one of his books. I GOT THE GOLDEN TICKET. I felt like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I ran up and shook his hand and he gave me the book. It was amazing! After the reading, we were served free snacks (I found out I enjoy olives better with the pits!) and WINE. I love New Zealand! This was all free. I then sat in line and had him sign my book. He was really funny and kind. He even talked to me for a bit. I was a bit star struck (He is the most famous Maori person, and one of the most famous New Zealand Writers), so I discussed stupidly how my name is spelt backwards and forwards. I am pathetic.

Well, after writing one rather good essay on society and gender, and another poor essay on elements of the Buddhism, I am ready for my spring break trip. The car is reserved, date planned to skydive, hostels ready, backpack all suited up...I think I am ready for take-off!

Save it for a rainy day

The combination of rainy weather and extreme levels of procrastination (3 papers are due next week-ha), I had a really chill week. I had a fun week doing smaller scale things that involved intimacy and less crowds- my favorite.

Last weekend, the Germans I met from WWOOFing came and visited Courtney and I. They brought along a friendly Canadian, too! When they arrived, we walked along the coast, through the city and down Cuba St. The Germans were hungry so they went to some cheap noodle joint and the Canadian, Courtney and I went literally across the street to a Vegetarian only restaurant. It was scrumptious!

We then took a trip to the market and bought some beer, cider and wine. We made our way back to my studio and continued finishing 4 and a half bottles of wine, 2 bottles of cider and 2 cases of beer. Courtney failed to make it out that night. One of my fondest memories of the night is one of the Germans, poking and trying to wake her up from my bed, while another German is laughing extra loud and taking pictures of this, while the Canadian stealthily switches the German's metal music to some arcade fire/other random Canadian bands. Due to the Germans, I now am aware of the different types of Metal: epic, power, melodic, death, heavy...will this information ever be useful to me?

We first stopped at my friend, Hollin's place. We met some more people and then made our way to Cuba St. The first bar we went into, one of the Germans was asked to wait ten minutes to sober up. With persuasion, the rest of us went into the bar. I knew I didn't need any more booze so as the other German and Canadian bought some beer, I boogied on the dance floor. Later I was joined by "too drunk to get in" German and the Canadian. The other German was too cool to dance. Too bad-that German was extra cute. Unfortuneatly, he was a metal boy, and I already did that once.

We stayed about an hour and then made our way out. I asked a random, hammered Kiwi, who was not allowed in due to his drunkenness, what other good bars there were to visit. He pointed us down Courtney place. On our way there, the fountain was filled with soap foam. One of the Germans, the Canadian and I decided to play and had a foam war. It didn't last long once we realized we were ankle deep in the fountain.

We stopped at Burger King (which is classy here!) because the Germans were hungry again. Canadian and I talked about co-ops and good music. He used to work at a famous co-op, where everyone is allowed only one share, thus making it a real community owned and every vote counts, co-op. He wrote down there secret humus recipe for me. I am so excited to make it with my brother, Gareth, when I get home.

To speed up the rest of the night, we tried another bar but after confronting drunk bros, left quickly. The next 4 bars, one of the Germans was told he was "too drunk and not properly dressed" so we sort of made our way home. We did stop at a kabob place so the Canadian could eat. One of the Germans decided he was hungry again too. When I got back, I made my self an avocado sandwich.

The next day, I woke up early, and went to the farmers market. The boys slept off their hangover. I was a bit sour, hungover, but as I made my way down the "murder stairs" (no one was murdered there.They are just so steep that your legs die each time you go back up), the never ending story theme song came on.. "TURN AROUND, AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU SEEEEE". I literally stopped, looked out and saw the mountains, and felt the sunshine and light breeze on my face. It was the best hangover cure. Once I got back, I was in the best of moods. The boys were all up so we made our way to the Botanic gardens, looked at a view of the city, walked through Parliament and the bee hive, and took the cable car for a ride.

We then said our farewells, I did a huge reading for my religion class, and then passed out.

The next week, I had this burden of an incredible amount of school work looming over me. Well I didn't do any of it. I used my energy in different areas of my life. I had a nice birthday dinner for an australearn buddy. I had an amazing risotto there. I went to Enigma, and planned my spring break trip to the south island! I was feeling ugly and needed a change so I made an appointment and cut off all my hair. One day I will have really long hair again, but not this year. I went to an acoustic night at the San Fransisco Bath House, and listened to my German friend, Miriam. That was a great night. I sat and chatted with some of my favorite people including Bill Bryson, aka Stu, Courtney, Sam, Andg, and Amanda, while drinking on a sassy red pint of beer. I heard a country style version of Lady Gaga's pokerface.

I read an article in the newspaper about a play called Dog Sees God. It is about Charlie Brown and his friends ten years later. Andrea and I got tickets and walked through a rain storm to a small theater, called Bats. It reminded me of revolutionary, run down, vegan only restaurant in Minnesota that I love so much. It was barely making ends meat, but looked like the coolest place in town. It was a small theater, maybe holding 30 people. The story was dark, but funny. Snoopy dies and Charlie Brown begins to wonder if there is a Heaven. Linus is a pothead, Sally is having an idenity crisis, Beethoven is teased and beat up for being gay, Lucy is in the insane asylum for lighting a girls hair on fire, the kid who always had a cloud of dirt around him is a germaphobe jock and the really smart girl who calls the other tom boy girl, "SIR", are sluts. I would highly suggest the play.

Saturday, I skipped out on going to the coast with some friends, to get some work done for my papers. I finished all my readings for my papers but couldn't handle anymore school. It may have been due to the wannabe Lawyers, sitting across from me who couldn't stop arguing about one was going to make more money than the other after UNI.

I came home, made a delightful dinner, and then watched a movie called "Moon" with Sam, Amanda and Andg. The movie was done by David Bowie's' son. It was pretty awesome. It wouldn't be in my top ten by any means, but I didn't feel like I was robbed of 2 hours of my life. The murderer from the Green Mile, and the Jackass in Charlies Angels...He always plays a bad guy- He was the main character. He did a really good job and DIDN'T play his typical role. Kevin Spacey voiced a robot.

After the movie, a few of us began debating politics and health care. Everyone seems to have an opinion on something but never wants to admit certain details of why. "I wish they would have handled it better". Well why? "I don't want to get into it". Or people will just make one statement saying how its impossible, not really knowing all the details, and just giving up. "You cant have health care for this large of a nation". This conversation pissed me off, but also made me feel more confident in my thoughts to Americorps. The US is fucked up. I don't blame people for hating us. Its up to us to change that response though. I just shouldn't give up and run to another Country. At least not yet. While Claire was getting her Tattoo, we watched a video called the Fall of the Republic. It was a film discussing how our Nation is run, the corruption, and how big businesses are running everything. I wasn't surprised by any of it. But I am pissed that I just let myself me mad and do nothing. That's just lazy, which is what our culture is. Lazy and eats up whatever they are told. Lets read some cosmos, or play video games, while the important people run things.

This morning, I woke up to another windy, misty day of rain. I made my way to the farmer's market and decided to get grapefruits instead of Kiwis this week. How delighted was I when I bought 4 grapefruits for a dollar and 30 cents. Oh how I love New Zealand Farmers market.

Wish me luck. I am off to the library to try to get some work done of these 3 papers.