New Zealand: December 2008

Sunday, December 28, 2008

SOUTH ISLAND!!!

Christmas was fantastic. It was strange not being around family, but I was around A family. Drove 3 hours to the country to spend Christmas with a friend's family on their farm. It was very relaxing and it was great just being the guest with the only obligation of mine being to have a good time. The next morning I went hunting and snagged me a goat with taking only one shot. It was cool b/c it was my first time ever shooting at anything bigger than a goose.

The day after was fantastic as well. It's "boxing day,"which is comparable to our "black friday" in the states. I didn't get out to do any shopping, nor would I want to. It was Monica's birthday. Tomahou's lady (they both own Murphy's) and I was invited to her shin dig. Tomahou organized an "Amazing Race" which included 4 bars in Petone to which we had to complete a task to get the next clue. It was so much fun! It ended back at his place with BBQ, wine, and a couple kegs b/c we finished the first. And best of all I got paid for those two days b/c it was a public holiday. Crazy.

And NOW! My original plan to road trip the North Island changed at the last minute. Now I'm heading South to the North of the South Island. It's going to be great! I'll do some tramping, snorkling, swimming, perhaps canoeing. They also have a couple music festivals down there I may attend for NYE. So, I won't be around for about a week, totally enjoying myself on the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand. I'm already loaded with heaps of wine, beer, and Sparkling wine. Locked and loaded and ready to go. Oh yeah. My camera broke so it may be a while till I get the pics up from the trip. I'll have to go old school and have the disposable cam on hand. Cheers

Monday, December 22, 2008

Christmas Time with a Drunk Santa wearing Shorts

Well. Merry Christmas everyone! I know it's quite different between my two homes of New Zealand and Louisiana (AKA the "Laffy Taffy") First off, it's now summer in New Zealand. And from my spies still in the Laffy I've caught wind of a serious event which in involves freezing precipitation. WoW! This is unknownst to me in all my days of residing in the taffy. Incredible.

So over here, my plans for Christmas are modest. I'll slip my way into some huge family gathering and have all the BBQ I can imagine while I bask in the summer sun listening to the waves crash upon the beach! Yep! That's what I'll do! My spies who've been running surveillance will soon relay the best party for me to crash on Christmas Day. It'll be epic.

So yeah. My work is closed Christmas Day and Boxing day. Boxing Day is the day after Christmas and it's most similar to our Black Friday back in the states. Crazy shoppers and what not. I'll be saving my money for New Years to do it up big. As long as I'm around a fantastic beach for a couple days I'll be one happy pakeha. But they have this festival called Rythm and Vines which I may check out for NYE, but it's not certain. So I wish everyone back in Louisiana (and whoever else reads this thing) a Merry Christmas and I miss you all. Fa show. Fa show.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Thanksgiving

Ok Ok. I wish I had the time to write this sooner... During the month of November they have this charity thing going to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research. The event: Movember. Most of the guys and regulars at my work signed up for this. You grow a moustache and get people to sponsor you in order to raise money. So, I figured it gave me a license to have fun with it. Throughout the month I grew the handlebar moe, then about half way I figured I'd grow the mutton chops as well. Some of the pics below show the process to trimming it down all the way to a really nasty moe. It was pretty terrible. I did all the trimming on Nov. 29, then we had a auction at my work where people would bid to shave off your Moe. I got 20 bucks, and all the money went to charity. At my pub alone, we raised over $2000. Not bad. I always wondered how i'd look with the moe, and it's a good thing I've always and will stay far from it.

Auckland was great for thanksgiving. We ate heaps, and got to visit the Northshore. The weather was beautiful! Now I have to cut this short b/c the stinkiest guy ever just sat next to me in this internet cafe. Terrible! Would it be bad to just tell this stranger that he stunk to high heaven, or is it just not my place? Geebus he's rough

Auckland

Auckland city

Layla got banned from shaking the madey standing up. Right before this pic was taken she dropped the madey. Luckily Pip was there to save the day, and the towels was wrapped up tight!