28 April, 2007
Finally lensbaby images
A big huge thanks to Jason, Charlie, Tricia, and Nate for my birthday present of a Lensbaby. What a cool little lens. www.lensbabies.com They brought it with them when they visited in March. Miss those guys.
19 April, 2007
Superbowl Monday... huh?
Hey all. Just wanted to post some quick pics from our first Kiwi Superbowl experience. So of course the game was only on sattelite television, which we don't have, and no one we knew who wanted to watch it. Mark and Hannah were keen to watch it and it was a holiday the Monday it was played, so we all had the day off. We met up with them and Charisa's coworker, Fiona, who is from San Francisco. She brought along some other Americans who have moved here to work for the local basketball team. We all met up at the biggest sports bar in New Zealand. It is quite a place actually. It has three levels and one side is stadium seating. Since our beloved Seahawks were not present, we kind of chose the Colts. I was hoping Manning would win the big one finally. From what I understand he is decent guy and not a jerk of an athlete like some, so he's OK to win.
So the whole experience was rather surreal. He we were sitting in a place that could easily be in any U.S. city. We're watching THE American game like we would any other year. On my right is a guy who is from Chicago, on his way back from Antarctica. One my left are my Kiwi friends Mark and Hannah in all their accented glory asking questions about the game and being just as confused as I am about rugby. All the people in front of me are rooting for Indy because a few of them are actually from Indy. The row behing us are also Americans. There were none of the in/famous Superbowl commercials. We had advertisements for cricket and rugby instead. So there were several moments it didn't seem like we were in NZ at all. Yet we weren't in the U.S. either. And when the game was done, we walked outside it was midday and sunny outside and people were driving on the left side of the road. Go figure.
Fiona and Charisa with Manning.
Charisa, Mark, Hannah and a grumpy Mark. Mark and Hannah were our token Kiwis of the party. Mark had some very intense questions about American football.
So the whole experience was rather surreal. He we were sitting in a place that could easily be in any U.S. city. We're watching THE American game like we would any other year. On my right is a guy who is from Chicago, on his way back from Antarctica. One my left are my Kiwi friends Mark and Hannah in all their accented glory asking questions about the game and being just as confused as I am about rugby. All the people in front of me are rooting for Indy because a few of them are actually from Indy. The row behing us are also Americans. There were none of the in/famous Superbowl commercials. We had advertisements for cricket and rugby instead. So there were several moments it didn't seem like we were in NZ at all. Yet we weren't in the U.S. either. And when the game was done, we walked outside it was midday and sunny outside and people were driving on the left side of the road. Go figure.
Fiona and Charisa with Manning.
Charisa, Mark, Hannah and a grumpy Mark. Mark and Hannah were our token Kiwis of the party. Mark had some very intense questions about American football.
Charisa is a better writer than me.
Hi all -
It's been ages since last I wrote, so I'll try to do a brief catch-up.
Time is just flying. On the 22nd of this month, I'll have been here a year!! It seems strange, but in that time we've moved 4 times, bought a house, found jobs, adopted a dog and a cat, learned how to drive on the left (and to signal with the indicator not the windshield wipers), order coffee/hot drinks to "take away", start fires very efficiently, wear layers all the time, found a church, made great friends, hosted two sets of USA visitors (with another set on the way), explored our new island home… it has been a very busy year!!
So where are we: Mark has signed on permanently with the advertising company he was free lancing for, so he is now working four days a week, 9 hour days and enjoying it most of the time J I am still chugging away at wool proteins – looking at photoyellowing and photodegradation. In June I will be heading to Sydney for Mass Spec training for a week (my first time in Aussie), which will be helpful. Mark gets to come up for the weekend! I am looking forward to shopping there…for basic things like boots, white tees, etc… The basics here can be very expensive and sometimes hard to find!
I am still salsa dancing and am jamming with a group of friends periodically. We might do some open mic nights…depending on how we sound. Should be entertaining! Mark tried mountain biking again recently and survived, so it may become part of his activity list. He also recently participated in a well organized track day with about 100 other motorcycle enthusiasts. He and the bike came back in one piece and are planning another go in May. Soccer is starting up again, so we are keeping busy.
We had a great visit in March from four friends from The States, Tricia, Nate, Charlie and Jason! After unloading half of their luggage with the items they had brought over for us (they had a long list of requests), they had room to take quite a lot back with them. We rented a van, piled in with lots of luggage and food and explored the lower half of the south island munching on apples, lollies, and burger rings. The weather was gorgeous. I highly recommend visiting the Caitlin's and the Doubtful Sound. We got to see sea lions, penguins, dolphins, many, many sand flies (like midges or no-see-em's and they LOVED Nate!), stunning scenery, many confused Batista's with the American coffee orders (again, mostly Nate), huge waves with our paddle boats, Jason bungee jumping…. I think with all the cameras over 8000 pictures were taken! Tricia, Charlie and I had a great girl's night on the town before they left. It was strange thinking that we were such a long ways away from our normal stomping ground. Mark and I were very sad to see them go (as were Henry and Ellie who had gotten used to all the extra attention)
It is now fall here, with very crisp days and nights. We are starting to light the fire again, which the pets love. It is strange to have Mark's birthday in fall this year (it's this sat, the 21st). I've always been the fall birthday…
Well better scoot; it's getting a bit long winded. Please keep the news and updates' coming…email has been very quiet lately.
Cheers,
Charisa
It's been ages since last I wrote, so I'll try to do a brief catch-up.
Time is just flying. On the 22nd of this month, I'll have been here a year!! It seems strange, but in that time we've moved 4 times, bought a house, found jobs, adopted a dog and a cat, learned how to drive on the left (and to signal with the indicator not the windshield wipers), order coffee/hot drinks to "take away", start fires very efficiently, wear layers all the time, found a church, made great friends, hosted two sets of USA visitors (with another set on the way), explored our new island home… it has been a very busy year!!
So where are we: Mark has signed on permanently with the advertising company he was free lancing for, so he is now working four days a week, 9 hour days and enjoying it most of the time J I am still chugging away at wool proteins – looking at photoyellowing and photodegradation. In June I will be heading to Sydney for Mass Spec training for a week (my first time in Aussie), which will be helpful. Mark gets to come up for the weekend! I am looking forward to shopping there…for basic things like boots, white tees, etc… The basics here can be very expensive and sometimes hard to find!
I am still salsa dancing and am jamming with a group of friends periodically. We might do some open mic nights…depending on how we sound. Should be entertaining! Mark tried mountain biking again recently and survived, so it may become part of his activity list. He also recently participated in a well organized track day with about 100 other motorcycle enthusiasts. He and the bike came back in one piece and are planning another go in May. Soccer is starting up again, so we are keeping busy.
We had a great visit in March from four friends from The States, Tricia, Nate, Charlie and Jason! After unloading half of their luggage with the items they had brought over for us (they had a long list of requests), they had room to take quite a lot back with them. We rented a van, piled in with lots of luggage and food and explored the lower half of the south island munching on apples, lollies, and burger rings. The weather was gorgeous. I highly recommend visiting the Caitlin's and the Doubtful Sound. We got to see sea lions, penguins, dolphins, many, many sand flies (like midges or no-see-em's and they LOVED Nate!), stunning scenery, many confused Batista's with the American coffee orders (again, mostly Nate), huge waves with our paddle boats, Jason bungee jumping…. I think with all the cameras over 8000 pictures were taken! Tricia, Charlie and I had a great girl's night on the town before they left. It was strange thinking that we were such a long ways away from our normal stomping ground. Mark and I were very sad to see them go (as were Henry and Ellie who had gotten used to all the extra attention)
It is now fall here, with very crisp days and nights. We are starting to light the fire again, which the pets love. It is strange to have Mark's birthday in fall this year (it's this sat, the 21st). I've always been the fall birthday…
Well better scoot; it's getting a bit long winded. Please keep the news and updates' coming…email has been very quiet lately.
Cheers,
Charisa
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