Maps and other notes

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Some maps I created:

My train ride: http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_6Zo.html

So far in New Zealand: http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_6Zr.html

I'm also going to try to keep an up to date map of where I hitch hike and every random place I go, as I go, which means I will probably be leaving blogs with greater regularity. As I write this, I'm spending my final night in Taupo, and tomorrow, Thursday the 22nd, I will be going 120 kilometers up the rode to Tauranga, and will spend until Sunday there, leaving to hitchhike more on Sunday or Monday. Saturday the 24th is my birthday, and my parents said they would put some money in my account so I can have a real meal in a restaurant. I haven't had one of those in a long time, so we'll see if they follow through on it.

I haven't really been doing much, just waiting to leave, really, and trying to conserve money. I looked at my finances, and have calculated that I came to taupo with just under $2800 and am leaving after a month and a half with $2200, so I feel like I did alright for a month. We'll see how I handle living on the cheap for the next month.

Something pretty cool happened last Friday. I worked until about 11, then popped down town for what I thought would be a quick sec to see how the night was, and stopped by one bar, looked around, and decided I had to go the bathroom. As I was coming out, a girl stopped me, and asked me if I go to Bloomsburg University. (I have two Bloomsburg shirts with me, and I wear them alot, hoping to find people that know the school or people who go there or whatever). I said I had just graduated, and find out that she is a student there, studying abroad at Auckland University of Technology for the semester. We talked for a while, and found out that we knew a bunch of the same people and that we even went to the same parties last semester. Small world, huh?



Nothing else really to report, I only posted this blog because I made the maps.

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Comments

[Mary Nies]

Just wanted to wish you a wonderful birthday!!!! Sounds like you are having an awesome time. Love reading about your adventures. Miss you, love you and take care of yourself. Aunt Mary

[Mom]

Happy Birthday!
I can hardly believe that you are 23! Since you didn't answer your phone, you've forced me to tell you your birth story on e-mail. It was May 23, 1985. We were living on Holland Street with Grandma and Aunt Missy. Dad and I had gone out to dinner and when we came home, Dad got ready for work--he was working third shift at Hammermill. I went to bed but was awakened at 11:30 when my water broke. I got up and went to call Dad, but when I picked up the phone, there was no dial tone! That was way before cell phones, so I didn't know what to do. I woke up Grandma and she said I'll tell Missy to drive you over to Mary's. Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom lived about a mile away. By the time we got over there, it was pretty late, so they were sleeping. I banged on the door and finally Uncle Tom opened it. I said, "Tom, I'm in labor..." Before I could finish, he said, "Well, what are you doing here?!?" I explained and went in and called Dr. Dailey. She said to wait until my contractions were five minutes apart and then come to the hospital. I called Dad and went home to wait for him. He got home in record time and he was really funny because he was so nervous. I remember driving away from the house and Grandma was standing on the porch watching us. At the hospital, the nurse let me sleep between my contractions. First thing in the morning, the day shift nurse came in, flipped on the lights and said, "Okay, young lady, we're having a baby today!" She made Dad walk me up and down the hallway and my contractions became much more intense. You were born at 11:57 a.m. on May 24, 1985...I still consider it to be one of the best days of my life. Love you and miss you...check your bank account and enjoy dinner on me and Dad...