I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. I am still in New Zealand. I have a beau named Ryan (from Oregon). I just went on vacation to Tonga for 9 days. I am temping at MWH, an engineering consulting firm. Good times.

Gonna try to catch up with what you've all been up to in the LJ world, but it has been so long I think it will be a bit of a lame attempt.

Cheers! xox

Heya ever-body...

This is gonna be my last LJ post I think for quite a while. Don't forget to check up on my travel journal though:

KIWI CRYS

And just in case you haven't seen it yet, here is a link to a video that is pretty eye-opening. Even though we already know most pictures of models are fake, this really shows how far they can go:

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/

Love you all!

Have a merry winter!

IT's SNOWING HERE!!!!!! AH! I'm glad I got to see it before I left. Even though I detest being cold, I will miss the snow.

the more I learn about new zealand the more I am delighted, however, when it comes to music, I haven't come across anything amazing yet....

except maybe these guys:

BoyBand

They are apparently the spawn of a show similar to that of our North American Idol styl shows. However... these guys are .... I'm not sure what to think. Though their cover of "You Really Got Me" was at the top of the charts in New Zealand last week. AH! How am I ever going to survive there? I guess I'll have to bring my mp3 player for sure.... but do I risk the bringing of my computer?

let me know what you think... re: boyband, computer bringing, whatever

so here I am thinking all of my BC student loan is paid off. I had signed into the web, wrote a cheque for the amount indicated on my account, mailed it in and voila. done, right?

NO.

Foolishly I made the assumption that the "6-month Grace Period" was not only a period during which I didn't have to pay any money, but also was a period during which I would not accrue any interest. The first was right, the second was WRONG. Not only does interest start to accumulate starting from May 1st, but it is not displayed on my account until November! So the amount I paid was incorrect and now my interest is collecting interest while I've been in the dark. FUCKING STUPID. On top of it all the lady had a really thick accent and rough English so I had to get her to explain things like three different times because she kept answering me like I'd asked a different question.

No wonder people spend half their lives paying off debts, they make it so frickin' hard to get anywhere.

Beware all my friends, the amount written on your Online loan account is INCORRECT. The amount showing on my account is actually 10 days old already! They only update when you make a payment!!!

I know a lot of this is my own fault, for not "reading the fine print," but it really irks me the way she talked to me and the lack of help I received. Not to mention the fact that I owe more money and I am already lacking in funds for my new zealand trip.

Fuck. I'd better call about my Canadian Student loans.... maybe I owe them double because I didn't go to the circus this year.

Well, actually, I discovered this last week when my friend Dave messaged me out of the blue. My picture is in the Torch! You know that really famous and exclusive magazine put out by the university of Victoria?



Can you spot me? I am a little bitty picture three down from the top left hand side of the collage. In the actual magazine, I'm a whole 1 inch by 1 inch square!!! Oh my goodness! And to think, I never thought I'd ever be famous. Who's laughin now? huh?!

...woot.

I tried to search for anybody else on there that I might know and haven't been able to confirm a true recognition. Oh well. I'll bask alone in my circle. hhaahahaha!

HELLLOOOOOOOOO

I have created a new blog... no, no, no. I am not giving up on LJ completely. I am just switching to blogspot while I am away in NZ. I figured an adventure like this one required it's own space. Unfortunately, LJ does not allow me the freedoms I was looking for in my blog design, so blogspot it is:

KiwiCrys's Adventures

So PLEEEEAZE check it out, tell me what you think and keep on checking in with me during my adventures in NZ.

In further news, Katherine and Annie went to James Blunt yesterday and will be returning today sometime and I want to know how it was!!! COME BACK NOOOOOOOW!!!

:)

Keep dry and warm through this crazy rain guys. Miss you all.

bubble bubble toil and trouble....

that saying always reminds me of an old children's story I used to read as a kid. it was called "strega nona" and it was all about a magic pasta pot that would boil and make pasta until you said the right magic words to stop it. it's a cute story.

I have 3.5 weeks left before I start my journey to Aotearoa, that's the Maori word for New Zealand. It's kind of daunting but I guess it's what is going to happen next. The way people keep telling me to go, it's like they can't wait to get rid of me. haha. I'll translate that into them wishing me to have great fun and adventure instead.

It's so cold here all of a sudden. I feel for the kids out tonight trick or treating. It's FREAKIN COLD OUT!!! I hope because it was a tuesday night that most of you were wise enough to stay in and drink something warm. I went out and spent all of 5 minutes outside watching the fireworks at the Community Centre. woot woot. :) Not because it was too cold to watch any longer... it's just because that's how long they go for around these parts. At an average cost of $1000/minute it's not surprising that a smaller community must keep them a little bit shorter.

Anyways. It's late, and I'm bored, so this isn't particularily interesting. I guess I just don't want to focus on too much right now.

I hope I'm ready for this.

The most amazing sight:

Two bald eagles sitting out in the middle of the bay.... peacefully staring at one another and their surroundings.... Then soaring well into their territory, TWO MORE bald eagles swoop in. The dominant couple swoops into the air advancing and cawing at the other eagles which screech back and take flight.

It's such a rarity to see more than one Eagle out there at a time.... but FOUR!!! wow. So many amazing things here at home yet I dream of going somewhere else....

I bought an open return ticket to New Zealand. by the way. Departing Vancouver airport at 2:30 pm on November 27th 2006. Yup, that also happens to be my birthday. I'd say it's the best present I ever gave myself. AAAAAH!!!! SO EXCITING!!! FREAKING OUT TIME!!!

so, the plan. I'll make one

Tomorrow I'll be ordering new contacts, maybe getting new lenses for my glasses AND getting a full vision check up. October is the last month that I will be covered under my mom's health plan. WOOT! yeah for free money for my eye health!

Then on thursday I will be back in vic again. for one night. Just enough time to spend some quality time with my travel agent and get my tickets bought. I want to go, and I am going to go. (CJC - I still don't know what my gut is saying about NZ, but it's definitely saying GET OUT OF TOWN!) Then to vancouver, to meet up with tal :D I hope I can spend the night at her house, haven't confirmed that one yet. Should be able to get to the Shores' show at Picadilly pub that night, if all goes well.

:)

From there I hope to visit a few other friends in van then return to vic to see about begging laura forgiveness for missing her birthday shindig. I like being busy. less time to eat at my own mind ;)

this is gonna be a good week!

awk! I have to be up before 11 am tomorrow! I'd better try to get some sleep! wish me luck!

There's something about this time in October... Seriously. Something in the air? Something in the water? Both? Or is it just something else entirely?

I used to think it was just a university thing. That it was the onset of our first midterms and assignments being due. It was when final projects get assigned and well... the fact that it starts to get cold outside doesn't seem to help either.

People around me slowing down, getting bored or stressed out or both. Trying not to think about the fact that summer is over.

For me I think it is the extened period of low stimulation. I have never been out of school this long since I started Kindergarten! Is all that knowledge that i absorbed through those 19 years just slowing leaking away?

Thank goodness for thanksgiving around the corner to bring people together and get them re-socialized and hopefully re-motivated.

What are you thankful for?

Tell me about it. I want to know.

Here is something for the computer geeks of the world:

Mom: Is Acrobat Reader not plugged in or something?

Us: huh?

Kailee: It should be automatic

Mom: Oh, cuz it says that my computer may not be equipped with the acrobat reader plug-in

teehee.

I really love that silly lady.

Is it just me, or do people post more often when they haven't been up to much as opposed to when they are very busy? I find this is true for myself. When I am busy, say moving, celebrating birthdays, going to a wedding, going whale watching etc... I have all these things to talk about, yet I don't have the time to sit and post it on lj. It seems contradictory to the purpose of a blog, but I get caught by it every time. So this is me... staying up late, to try and rectify my period of neglect.

( My Week )



Like glass. I tell ya. I don't lie. It was an amazing day. We were only supposed to be out for 6 hours, but we got 7.5 because we were so far out, just so we could follow the whale reports.

If you ever get an opportunity to see the whales... do it. It is an experience of a lifetime and I was extremely fortunate to have been part of it.

As far as the rest of this week goes... I have done little more than nothing. lazing about.... yup. Things will get going again soon, but for now, I'm enjoying my sloth-like existence. Thanks to all those who made it all the way through this entry. Sorry Irf, I know it's too long for you. I hope you enjoyed the pictures....

For more photos click on the link to My Flickr on the right of my journal :) Enjoy!

What kind of FOOOOOOOL goes to the museum and doesn't bring her camera with her.


At least it was a cool museum. Lame that they close at 5 oclock on a saturday... How do they figure that that's conducive to the tourist population? Oh well... I guess I should have gotten there before 2:40 pm.

I'm going out partying tonight though, that should be good! ciao

Yup. two days ago, it suddenly hit. COLD, WET weather. It feels like december in Victoria.

They boast that the cold here is not as bad as they say. They say "It is a 'different' kind of cold." well.... yeah, I suppose it's a little bit different. It always feels like a dry snow day. But, regardless....

IT'S STILL FUCKING COLD!!!

and it's only september. Goodbye Calgary, it's been sweet.

yup... it's tv season starting up again.... all the shows are rolling in new, ready to take over my life!

Grey's Anatomy
House
and CSI

have already bit me.

I have gone so many years without cable, and now I have emersed myself in it! SAVE ME FROM THIS TOWN!

oh.... wait ;) I'll be back in BC in a week! :D

Sweet deal.

See you all soon ;) (maybe not til october as I am going to spend some time with the family first) But eventually.... eventually I will see you all. muhahahaHaHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! *cough*

edit: yes, I know some of these shows have not started yet... the re-runs have bit me already... this is worse, no?

In general, radio here sucks.

They suck so badly that I have given many of the stations nicknames to stereotype what they're all about, such as... "Nickelback and the soundalike friends" or "Same song station" (It ain't a hit unless we play it til you think it in your sleep!)

I've found myself resorting to the local folk station, CKUA. I have discovered, that in between some of the weirder stuff, they frequently play the best music. Most of it is independent, and almost all of it is great!

Just today I listened to some great cuban music, which I only sporadically get into and was totally appreciating, then discovered it was by "THE PUENTES BROTHERS!" To which my friend zoe's boyfriend is a member/relation. Also today, on the very same station, I discovered Regina Spektor. New to me, but old to some, she's from New York, and I heartily recommend a listen.

Only one more week in Cowtown. I don't know if I am all together happy, sad, excited, indifferent or what about it. Change comes. I'll go with it.

PASTORAL

That sudden time I heard
the pulse of song in a thrush throat
my windy vision fluttered
like snow-clouds buffeting the moon.

I was born into an ambush
Of preachers, propagandists, grafters,
("Fear life and death!" "Hate and pay me!")
and tho I learned to despise them all
my dreams were of rubbish and destruction.

But that song, and the drop-notes
of a brook truckling thru log-breaks and cedars,
I came to on numb clumsy limbs
to find outside the beauty inside me.



... he might make up words, but you still know exactly what they mean.... cool. we sooo understand meaning from the roots of the words.

words are fun.

Know anybody who has a room for rent or needs a roommate? I have a buddy who could use a home in Vic. Let me know :) He's pretty cool.. .you would like him.

I went to my friend Kimberly's wedding this weekend. It was an incredible day for a wedding. She looked so gorgeous in the dress her aunt made for her. The weather was perfect. Her groom was gleaming. It was so much fun, dancing the night away :D

Today we had a brunch with friends of the family. Tons of food, a pool and a crazy water fight later, it was a great old time.

And on another note... not so happy. It was discovered today that the crocodile hunter is not as invincible as we all once thought. He died today folling a stingray attack. Fittingly, he was filming a documentary entitled "Ocean's Deadliest." It's kind of surreal...

R.I.P Steve Irwin.

sad...