Alright, maybe not so much sand. And well, we are in a marina so of course there isn't surf. But the food really is fantastic! Mum, Brian and I went to Stella Maria last night for dinner. Opua is quite tiny - it is only a marina and a few businesses to support a marina. Mom said that it was sold by native Maori's with the condition that it could only ever be just a marina. There are a tiny cluster of buildings just up the road, and just past a huge wooden pier and next to a cute little ice [View Full Entry]

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Last night, before I went to bed, Mom warned me that there was one cockroach that they had on board. Supposedly it is the large kind and so is a lone cockroach, and in the south pacific, where they've been everybody gets at least one. Well, my little bed is right by the hatch to the outside. And in the bathrooms, there were a bunch of little black crickets for some reason. Yeah, bugs. Ick! I didn't think I'd have to face that here in NZ. As I was chanting right before bed, one of the things that I was chanting [View Full Entry]

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Wow! What a trip! It was amazing - delay after delay after delay, but thru it all such grace under pressure, if I do say so myself! I am rather proud of myself, since patience is not exactly my strong suit. The journey door to door (or rather door to dock) took 32 hours!!! Some highlights: G was AMAZING at helping me get ready and pack - truly deserves the Most Amazing Person and Partner in the Entire Universe by A LOT Award!!! Especially as I got really ill and lost 24 hours right before I had to leave (and she [View Full Entry]

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Eep!!! Very little time left! The great thing (one of many) about being with G is that I no longer wait til the last minute to throw things together and haphazardly run out the door with way too much stuff I don't need and without stuff I do need. The bad thing about that is that now I worry in advance instead of just being pissed about what I forgot! I now have lists, many lists! What to do before I go, what to bring, what to bring on my carry on versus what to bring in my checked luggage, what [View Full Entry]

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I'm not sure how it got to be so down to the wire! Maybe being distracted by buying a house, interviewing and hiring a new case manager, trying to support a distraught teenager (the one in my house, not the 120 at work) and completely revolutionizing my relationship with G whilst balancing work, personal life, buddhist activities, and more might have something to do with it! Oh, and going to more shows! Utah Phillips, all male ballet review, etc. Fun, but time consuming. I started a "going to New Zealand" pile today - I cleared off my desk and piled up [View Full Entry]

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Well, I am actually still here in Olympia, WA. I will be flying out to Aukland in one week! So excited!!! I haven't seen mom in nearly a year and a half! And to top it off, my partner and I made an offer on the cutest house in the known universe and it was accepted!!! Horay!! Life is good... [View Full Entry]

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