Check it Off!

While in Bali I'm hoping to check the following items off my bucket list of 101 things in a 1001 days!

• #9 Ride an Elephant
• #25 Ride a Horse on the Beach
• #36 Spend an Entire Day at the Spa
• #60 Go Kayaking

And for the record, this weekend I was able to check off #15 Drive on the Left Side of the Road after driving my friend Rodd in his car to breakfast. Granted it was only about 2 miles (if that) away from his house; but either way I drove and didn't crash, kill or bump into anything!

I'm a lover of Sydney and the Pig!

(Oysters Kilpatrick at Manly Beach)

Sydney trip was amazing!! I did nothing but lay on the beach, ride the ferries around the harbour, go from an oyster virgin to a lover of kilpatrick (oysters topped with bacon and Worcestershire sauce,) eat more fish than I ever thought possible and have way too many good laughs and beers with my friend from home. It was a tearful goodbye in Sydney after a quick 4 day stay and having to hop on separate planes to opposite sides of the world is never easy, but in the end I wouldn't have changed a thing......well I guess that may not be entirely true.

We went out for dinner Wednesday evening and then headed down to the pier for a few drinks. While we were looking out over the water one of my FAVORITE, MOST PRIZED and LOOKED AFTER pearls was knock off and into the water! Now I'm not blaming him for ACCIDENTALLY pulling it out of me ear BUT these were my favorite piece of jewelery and..........agh OK fine I am blaming him and I'm not a happy camper! I feel naked without them and am dying to get them replaced. It's like if you had a dog or a kid and it fell into the water and you couldn't jump into get it - that's how I feel.

The hotel we stayed in was just on the other side of the bridge in North Sydney and luckily only about a block away was this gorgeous 50m saltwater pool. Of course I was up bright early each morning to be sure and get a few laps in before it got too hot in the afternoon. Probably one of the best pools I've ever swam in in my whole life! Being able see the bridge, opera house and skyline while flippin' away was enough motivation to keep me going that extra 15 minutes at the end.


I wish my phone had better camera quality because the view of the sunrise out the window of the hotel room was unbelievable. This doesn't really do it justice but gives you a good idea. Woke up one of the mornings to clear skies and shades of pink and yellow all across the harbour - such a great way to start the day.


Anywhooo............I'm back home in Melbourne for the night and somehow during the past 24 hours I have managed to unpack from my Sydney vaca, repack to move all my clothes and crap to the new house, unpack and organize into my new room and now repack to head off to Bali tomorrow afternoon! Arghhhh, I'm tired just typing that all. In hindsight I could have given myself a little more room to settle in from one destination to the next.

I checked the 10 forecast in Bali and it doesn't move from 90 degrees and sunny the entire time I'm there. Couldn't be more excited to toss on the bikini and get to the beach! That being said I will not be taking my computer with on my trip and will be signing off the blog, Facebook and Twitter until December 10. :( I struggled being offline in New Zealand for 7 days so we'll see how long I last!

Hope you all had a great turkey day and next time you hear from me I will be bronzed and ready for the Christmas season!!!

2 Weeks of Holidays Here I Come!

Summer is in full force down under and I dont think the temperatures have gone below 75 since I got back from New Zealand! A lot has been happening since then and next two months are going to be much the same with the holidays approaching as well as a few more trips out of Australia on the books.

I sold my bed the other day and am living out of a suitcase yet again, but hopefully I will be all settled by the end of the week. The plan is to get the majority of my clothes and bags over to my new house this afternoon and hopfeully have the rest of it all moved out by Saturday afternoon when I retrun from Sydney. (Oh yea I've decided to take the next 5 days before leaving to Indonesia on Tuesday, to hang out in Sydney visiting a friend from the states.)

I can't remember if I posted about this or not, but Lindsay from Tales of a Yank has decided to join me mid-week in Bali and we have a whole heap of great adventures in store. We booked a full day of hiking, kayaking and biking around the tallest active volcano in Bali, as well as a spa day on the beach and an afternoon of elephant riding through the jungle. For all of you health nuts out there (ie: Mom) I am full vaccinated and ready for any type of Hepatitus or Japanese Flu that comes my way!

I just remembered the other day that it's Thanksgiving next week and I have nothing planned! Obviously it's not celebrated here in Australia and it will most likely be just any other Thursday on the beach, but I in honor of the little pilgrims I decided I will have to squeeze in some sort of turkey and cranberry sandwich to try to replicate what the fam will be doing at home. :)

Other than the move and getting packed up for vacation no too much else is going on. I've been invited to a few Christmas parties for work and am on the hunt for a couple good dresses that won't kill me in the summer heat. (Still very strange going through the holiday season when its 90 some degrees outside!)

Hopefully, will try and get a few more posts together during the time that I'm away so you know that I'm still alive down under!

Happy Turkey Day!

If I Had to Live My Life Over

I am a big Erma Bombeck fan and have always admired her work. She became famous long before I was born and most of the time wrote about her life as a housewife in suburban America, but for some reason I have always loved her humour. I was going through some of her old newspaper pieces the other day and somehow stumbled upon this short entry. It made me stop and smile and I thought I would share that with all of you as well.



IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I never would have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I Love You’s.”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it… live it and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us. Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it’s gone

Updated Bucket List

Not sure if you've taken a look lately at my 101 things in 1001 days list, but I have been quitely keeping up with it and checking things off the list as they come. Admittedly, I have taken a few things off the list and replaced with a couple more sensible options, but for the most part it is identical to when I originally posted in May.

Some of the more recent items to be checked of the list.....

• Bungee jumping (Kawarau Bridge on my New Zealand trip)


• Send someone flowers (mom's birthday)


• Have a picnic in the park (went to the Royal Botanical Gardens for a friends birthday)


• Eat a meat pie (happens weekly)


• See Kangaroos and Koalas in the wild


• Visit Great Ocean Road (Take this road to Lorne on the weekends)


• Go to a cricket match (Went to Jan's son's match while visiting Bendigo a few weeks ago)

Weekend's in Lorne

I've been fortunate enough to meet a really amazing group of friend's during the past 5 months and along with their great company come even better beach houses all around Australia! :) ....(such a spoiled little brat I am)

The past couple weekends I've spent my time out on the water in Lorne. It's located about 2 hours southwest of Melbourne and a beautiful drive down the Great Ocean Road. The beach house is within walking distance of beautiful beaches, shops, restaurants and several different national parks.

Saturday we spent the afternoon swimming in the ocean, lounging on the patio and feeding the influx of Rosella birds that flock to anything tossed on the BBQ.

On Sunday, I decided that I would get up early with the guys and try my hand at fishing somewhere other than on a lake at the end of a dock. We left the house around 8, grabbed a breakfast sandwich in town and headed out on the water. From the land the water looked fairly calm and not too choppy; well that didn't last long. By the time we made it out to what looked like somewhere between Fiji and Hawaii, the boat was tipping in every different direction. As we finally slowed all the way down and got the rods all baited up, I began to feel not only my breakfast, but what could only be everything I'd eaten since last Tuesday on its way back up.

I thought to myself well maybe I'll just watch the land and don't move or talk and maybe I'll feel OK. Well that lasted 2 mins, one of the guys looked up at me and said, " God are you Ok you really don't look well." I of course didn't want to ruin their little morning fishing trip that I insisted on tagging along for, so I said no I'll be fine and sat there thinking, 'Well how long could it really take for them to catch a few fish and get board of this?'

Well let me tell you it takes HOURS!!

Finally, one of the guys suggested dropping me back off on land to head back to the house and rest. Thank God because it wasn't more than 10 minutes after getting off the damn boat that I lost it and every last bit of my stomach was now on the side of the road.

On the way back to the car I passed by the Lorne Fish Club and saw this baby hanging from the side of the building! I'm not sure if they do a contest of some sort each week and hang the biggest fish, but in my head that's what's going on here.

Big ass Moon fish that I wish I could take credit for, but unfortunately my stomach could only tolerate about 10 mins on the water.

Sunday afternoon we drove about 10K outside of Lorne to Erskine Falls. We walked down 100 or so stairs to see this waterfall that cascades about 30 meters into a small creek.

I Would Like To Make a Donation Please

I am a jack of all trades here in Australia and have a variety of different jobs to keep me busy. The other day I was filling in for the receptionist at a family services and domestic violence center fielding calls for the day. The majority of the inquiries that they receive are either people calling for emergency care in the home or to make a donation to the center. In the few hours that I was there people were ringing to donate money, clothes, toys etc; however towards the end of the day I received a call from a man to donate something entirely different....take a look

Me: "Good afternoon Nicole speaking,"

Man on Phone: "Hello, my name is Howard how are you today?'

Me: "Good thanks."

Man on Phone: "Good, I'd like to make a donation to the center"

Me: "Great! What would you like to give?"

Man on Phone: "I'd like to donate an organ"

Me: "OH MY GOD!? Wow!..........Which one????"

Man on Phone: "Ummm......the instrument one"

Me: (holding back EXTREME laughter as I now realize that I was thinking of the wrong type of organ and the man is not cracking up at all) I then say.... "Oh, ooops. I'll transfer you to Julie"

After that call I decided I was clearly done for the day, turned the lights off and went home.

I'm still dying of laughter about this and all night I kept thinking to myself - what if he did want to randomly just donate an organ to the center? Wouldn't that be weird!? My first thought when I heard him say organ was, 'well maybe he has really good kidneys and thinks he can give it a go on one the rest of his life?' But, that thought was clearly fleeting as he put a kabosh to it when he brought me back to reality with the instrument comment.

Headed back down the Great Ocean Road this weekend to a friend's beach house in Lorne. Will be back to blogging next week - have a good weekend where ever you are in the world!

Crisis Solved and Full Blown Disaster Averted

I found a house. I will not be living in a box on the beach. I'm staying in the same area, but a few miles closer to the city. Once again I am falling back on the great network of people that I have met here in Australia. I was online at work this morning looking for roommates on a few different sites when I casually mentioned to another woman that I was looking for a new place.

Ten minutes later she comes back and says that she has a few spare bedrooms at her house with all the furniture that I need if I was interested. Of course I immediately jumped on board as the place sounds amazing and just a great set-up all around. It's close to the trams that I'm used to taking as well as my gym and all the shops and restaurants.

I will post pics and such next week when I'm moved in and sorted. Sorry to sound the alarms so quickly, but was first instinct when living on the other side of the world. Thanks for all the great comments and emails - was much appreciated for the over reacting drama queen in
me ;)

Off to the beach this weekend!!

Homeless in T-30 Days

(now just imagine my head popping out of that box)

Let me just paint you all a little picture:

Come home today to two cheery roommates, watch TV, go for a run, come home, take a shower, lay in bed and Facebook stalk.

An hour later one roommate comes in and says can you come upstairs for a chat about the lease, think to myself "huh that's weird I'm not on the lease because the landlord only allows 2 tenants,' walk upstairs, other roommate sits down, she quickly mutters that their 'best friend' from New Zealand is now moving to Melbourne, then stumbles her way through something along the lines of, 'Oh and by the way she is going to be living in your room so that means you have to move out by mid-December.'

I nod my head, politely say 'no worries,' walk directly to the liquor cabinet, grab the bottle of whiskey, walk down the stairs to my room, call Lindsay, have a small freak out, get over it, turn on Grey's Anatomy from 1999 and decide I'm not going to let it ruin my day until tomorrow.

Anyone need a non-drinking (well that could be a stretch,) non-smoking, foul-mouthed American, suffering a minor quarter life crisis living at their house in the near future?? ie: next 30 days.

Mexican Food

I refuse to believe that nowhere in Melbourne serves a decent mexican meal with a frozen margarita! Any Aussie readers out there who can suggest somewhere for a date night on Thursday??!! I want a large frozen margarita in a glass as big as my face accompanied by a burrito or chimichangas!

So far I've heard that Amigos on Acland street is going to be the closest to edible food and drink?? Anyone?? Bueller?? Anyone??

Sickie

I've been super busy ever since getting back from New Zealand and posting on my blog has been on my 'to do list' for about 5 days now. Unfortunately, I am feeling sick today and not inspired to finish the posts I started. Also its been 90 degrees the past few days and I've been on the beach soaking up every last drop of salt water.

So basically I am bailing on my blog again today and will hopefully be back in the mood tomorrow.

A Sneak Peak of New Zealand: The Sandbox of the Southern Hemisphere

Shot of the mountains as I was flying into Queenstown airport in New Zealand to begin my 7 day journey with my bests from Chicago.

View from our hotel room at St. Moritz in Queenstown - I think if I lived there I would never wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

Queenstown is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and we were lucky enough to take a ride up the side and enjoy the views as well as a few times around the luge course.

View from the top of the moutain looking over Queenstown.

First activity of the trip: Shotover jet. Essentially 20 people packed into a boat speeding through a canyon of sorts going entirely too fast and too close to the rocks for our own good.


My three lovely travel buddies out and about for dinner in Queenstown.
Dorris is on the far left, Daniel and Zach.

Zach and I enjoying some of New Zealands finest brew - Speights.


Zach and Daniel in front of the Shotover River in Queenstown.


After a ten minute tearful panic attack I was finally pushed off the 150 foot Kawarau Bridge, the same location where the world's first bungy took place.

Zach and I trying to work off the kilos we gained during our Japanese dinner in Christchurch. (OK fine zach is working and I'm and enjoying the ride)


The last few days of the trip were spent in Sydney visiting a few of Daniel's pals. Way too much fun! The weather was perfect and the company even better.

Blogger Housekeeping

Want to give a big thanks to Jan and Kristin for taking the time to put together two really heartfelt and interesting posts while I was out gallivanting around New Zealand for the past week!!! I am so lucky to know such wonderful ladies on the opposite sides of the world! So thank you thank you thank you!!

On a quick side note - I love it when you all leave comments and give your two cents worth on my blogging adventure, but PLEASE if you're going to comment anonymously sign your name at the end. I have no idea what the official blogging etiquette or rule of thumb is about commenting, but I have been very open and transparent from the start of this blog and so have my guest posters; that's why I believe it's only fair that if you are going to join in conversation that you too leave your name. I am not trying to deter you from contributing, but if you want to leave a positive or negative thought to a post have the decency to back that up and tell us who you are. I know that a lot of my family will comment anonymously because they don't have blogger accounts, but they still will sign there names at the end. Unfortunately if you comment and don't leave a name I will have to delete it. :(

Thanks again for reading along and I should have a New Zealand update with photos soon!!