http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/annis/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from annis en-us Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:50:03 +0000 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:50:03 +0000 Sweden Hedonist 10. Things have been rough lately. Let me illustrate what I mean by pasting in parts of what this entry looked like when I first wrote it ldquoI've been waiting to write here again. Waiting for things to improve waiting to feel better. I didn't want to crush my image of content aloofness inner strength and at times nearly maniacal bliss. Not only the image you might have http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Skane/Malmo/blog-460647.html The ubiquitous and equally mysterious authority that we commonly refer to as ldquotheyrdquo claim everything bad brings something good with it and generally I'm with them. But then there are times when the positive effects of a situation are so hard to spot that one almost loses faith in the adage and not surprisingly my deportation still fresh in my memory springs to mind as the perfec http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Skane/Malmo/blog-449034.html My stay in Oslo was absolutely lovely and the quiet easy life with my brother served as a perfect hiatus from everything thatrsquos been going on in my life since that tragic day at the Sydney Airport. Now Irsquom back in Malmoe again mourning that the blissful existence with my brother didnrsquot last a bit longer. My days were beautiful in their simplicity a morning walk in the Vigelan http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Skane/Malmo/blog-436578.html Irsquove really really missed writing this blog. Really. Recap of the last 45 monthsBack in March when I had to return to Sweden for a month because my Australian Work Visa ran out Life asked me to rethink my home country as a possible habitat. Considering how things turned out thatrsquos quite ironic. Or brutal depending on how you see it.To convince me moving back home would be fabulo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Ostlandet/Oslo/blog-432213.html During my first week in Sweden I fell into a mild case of depression mostly caused by a visa situation that looked bleak to say the least. The notion of being unable to return to Sydney like planned caused 10 sleepless nights and when I finally got word that I had been granted some additional time in the Land of Laidbackness I could barely contain my elation. lsquoGiddyrsquo is the best w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Jonkoping-County/Jonkoping/blog-388150.html Due to perfectly crisp and sunny spring weather in Flagstaff while Santa Cruz suffered overcast and rain for several days in a row I extended my Arizona days a fair bit. I had intended to spend only one night in Flag my backpack with one change of clothes confirming this original idea which would be just enough time to collect my stuff and turn around but by the time I eventually left it had http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-380415.html Michelle said shersquod lend me her bike while Irsquom in Santa Cruz but Irsquod have to fix the flat first so on the first Monday after my arrival I took it down to the Bike Church. However Monday was also Presidentrsquos Day and on the door was a note that read ldquoDue to Lance Armstrongrsquos ongoing relationship with Ashley Olsen the Bike Church will not be open today. Oh als http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Flagstaff/blog-377106.html On Jan 31 I walk up to the Qantas checkin counter with one large and one small backpack. The woman behind the counter has long blonde hair and clumpy mascara and judging from the way she greets me Irsquom guessing shersquos had a long day already. She prompts me for my passport and when I hand it to her she flips through it hastily and asks me where the documentation for my flight out of t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Santa-Cruz/blog-373514.html Irsquom fully aware itrsquos been quite a while since I last wrote here and my defense is almost as bad as my transgression I got distracted and the distraction was yet another tall dark handsome Aries. Please forgive me.Men can be so very timeconsuming when yoursquore kind of sort of seeing them. I donrsquot mean lsquoseeingrsquo as in perceiving them via vision but as in datin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-371380.html The buzz about the Newtown festival could be heard around town weeks before it actually took place and the rave about it was no false advertisement it was indeed a great festival. I went with Dave as always a privilege I'm still enjoying purely because hersquos not dating the FrenchItalian girl yet but once he does Irsquoll lose my platonic boyfriend forever. Selfishly Irsquom hoping th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-348053.html Having always been a wholesome healthy chica itrsquos somewhat alarming to realize that Irsquove caught a harsh and malevolent cold for the third time in a rather short period 6 months to be exact. I usually donrsquot get sick more than once or twice a year if even but since working at the coffee shop I seem utterly susceptible to whatever wicked bug is floating around in the warm Sydne http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-342822.html My financial situation is dire to say the least. How will you survive when you go back to the States asked Dave the other Sunday when we were having our usual hangoverbrunch and I found myself sitting there wishing I was armed with a better answer than ldquoIrsquom not surerdquo. After putting away money for rent chiro acupuncture and all other weekly biweekly monthly expenses tha http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-337961.html And then all at once summer came to Sydney. The timing of its first true appearance couldnrsquot have been better as it chose to make it at the day of the Earthdance Festival. I went with Will Dave and Judith but because it was a festival Dave and I had lost Will and Judith as soon as we set foot inside the festival area. Oh well four is a crowd when it comes to these kind of events anywa http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-330761.html Some things will never change and my penchant for freebies and good deals is most likely one of those. When buying a soccer ball at Rebel Sport a few weeks back I was offered a free trial week at a gym not too far from home. I took Wonga with me and headed over there lied and said that she too had had one of these free passes but stupidly misplaced it and voila we were both given a free week. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-322357.html I came down with a malevolent flu for a few days of last week and although some stubborn particles of it is still lounging around in my system I feel pretty well recovered by now. My shin splint however is not getting better despite the joined efforts of my sportsmed and chiropractor. In short itrsquos just costing me heaps of money and I see absolutely no improvement. Not being able to run http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-316689.html In a life where itrsquos all about being as amused as possible as often as possible it helps to have great friends to assist you in that quest. I donrsquot know how I did it but Irsquove miraculously attached myself to some fantastic people here and itrsquos effectively reminding me of the one drawback of an itinerant lifestyle like my own all the people and places Irsquoll miss when http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-311665.html The anticipated perks from being chummy with the regulars are finally starting to roll in and all I can say is chiching One favorite regular moved to Melbourne last week but first he held a goingaway party at the Shakespeare Hotel. The party took place on Wednesday night and because he mentioned that there would be an open bar I had no choice but to accept his invitation. When walking the th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-308598.html I agreed to work for a few hours last Saturday morning which helped me stay out of drunken doings on Friday night instead of preparing for an allnighter at 8 pm I was in the locker room of the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre after an hour of swimming and when I got home I practiced the guitar and replied to emails until I got tired enough to go to bed.Seeing how successfully I stayed out of trouble http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-305879.html The Pope is in town but before you all start making logical yet inaccurate assumptions that hersquos here to catch up with me I should set you straight and give you the actual reason World Youth Day. I had never heard of this before and after having it explained to me it sounds nothing short of bizarre. Apparently it's a huge event and every four year a new city is chosen to have the honor http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-301723.html Well thank Buddha I didnrsquot go straight ahead and give Dario my number Irsquom not one to be embarrassed easily but considering that he has a girlfriend that could actually have been a bit uncomfortable even for me. He is the second guy who has been flirting shamelessly with me despite being in a relationship. Remind me to never marry a construction worker as this profession is the com http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Surrey-Hills/blog-297878.html