Blogs from Newmarket, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

Let me start out by saying that I was sooooo wrong about the election results. I guess that goes to show you that it’s impossible to get a good feel for the mood of the country by staying up past midnight to watch FOX and Friends Morning show. While the photo is not very flattering, in fact it’s downright shady; it does give you a good mustache/beard status update. As I mentioned this is a fundraising stunt for prostate cancer and right now my kiwi friends are showing me up in the fundraising department. If you’d be interested in sponsoring my Mo you can go to the following address: http://www.movember.com/nz/sponsor, Enter my Rego number which is 37482 and your credit card details (secure web page). Note you may be charged an insignificant international transaction fee by ... read more

November is known as Movember in New Zealand. Movember is a chance for men to grow facial hair and raise awareness and money for prostate cancer. Today I was pressured into growing a mustache to support the cause. I don’t know if I’m looking forward to this experience, the last time I let my facial hair start to grow out I found that I must suffer from male pattern baldness on my face. I suspect my facial hair will come in splotchy, straight, and too blonde to really look good. I’m sure I’ll be happy to shave whatever monstrosity grows on my face at the end of the month. The worst thing about this is that if I decide to back out I’ll be out at the very least another $25. The event is sanctioned by ... read more

9/25/06 - 9/27/06 (Monday thru Wednesday) What Book Should I Read Next? I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. In primary school I always looked forward to the new Scholastic Reader book catalog and the free prize if I convinced my parents to order nearly all the books offered that month. Once the order was place, I had to endure the difficult wait until the books arrived. In those days it was the Chronicles of Narnia (7 books), From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Tin Tin (does that count as reading material?), A Wrinkle in Time (and other M. L’Eingle publications), and the occasional Romona Quimby; too name just a few. These days my reading material is more varied and I seem to always be juggling three or ... read more

9/16/06 - 9/17/06 (Sat and Sunday) Martha Stewart Weekend This weekend was not your typical backpacker’s weekend for me. In the sprit of Martha Stewart I swamped house, did some grocery shopping, flower arranging and even some extravagant cooking (maybe not extravagant but definitely not something I typically do). Saturday I have officially been domesticated again (short term only as my last blog mentioned; just 2 years). Stephanie (one of my flat mates; see earlier blogs) broke her back earlier this year and found keeping up with some of the larger (nonessential) tasks around the house impossible. Windows were smudged on the inside face and dirt streaked on the exterior. The kitchen cupboards and drawers were slightly astray, and the garage was collecting a nice little leaf pile that would relocate itself in my room if ... read more

9.9.06 thru 9.10.06 (Sat and Sun) I’d volunteered to help some friends of my flatmates run a charity clothing drive on Saturday and Sunday. My volunteer job, handing out flyers on the street, was not was not what I had expected. I’ve never done anything quite so humbling, humiliating, or embarrassing. When I learned what I would be doing I was contemplating leaving early or pleading an illness. I was to go out in the rain and stand in Newmarket, the place to be if you have high end shopping to do and want to be seen. I stationed myself at the main mall entrance/ pedestrian crossing, with colorful flyers in hand. “Italian kids wear sale today!” A phrase I uttered perhaps 500 times over the weekend (I distributed more than 300 flyers). I soon found ... read more