12.12.12

I hadn't realized that today's date had any significance to anyone apart from being an easy date to remember. I guess some people think it had some sort of apocalyptic side to it. I've been concentrating too much on the end of the world festivities on December 21, 2012. How is one ever to keep up with all these doomsday prophecies?! I don't actually think that the world is ending but it makes you think about what you would do if you had limited time. Apart from the obvious desire to be with family, I revitalize only with travel. Thankfully my family loves me enough to let me go in search of my new adventures even with the possibility of impending doom.

Perhaps it is fitting that I am sitting on a plane en route to my favourite city in the world. Melbourne. It's my third time flying there in the last five years. Amazing. Crazy. Heart-bursting. I can't put into words what this place means to me. I've tried and people don't get it. Those who knew me before Melbourne were surprised with the post version of me. I came alive in my one year there. I learned that I didn't have to be the people pleaser I had been amongst my family, my friends, my coworkers. I was shy and supremely self conscious. I gained confidence and a voice. Perhaps that's what "running away from home" or going off to "find yourself" is supposed to do.

I flip back and forth on what this visit will bring. First and foremost it will reunite me with some of the best friends a girl could ask for. I'm sure I've said it somewhere on here before but it's not like I did anything spectacular while I lived in Melbourne (or maybe I did) but it's still the best year of my life. Very few things bring out the emotion I have when I talk about my memories here. My greatest fear is that I'll be heartbroken all over again when it's time to leave. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

I look forward to the highly needed break, my walks through city lane-ways in search of graffiti where my obsession began, a summertime Christmas season with friends, another trip down the Great Ocean Road, perhaps even another tattoo. Bottom line, I'm in search of the "sparkle" I've been told has been lost over the last couple of years since I left. No pressure!

With love from 30,000ft in the air, drama queen out.

dear lo...

I have found recent inspiration, through the words of my friend Lee Anne, to step out of the usual routine and notice things around me. Sounds like an obvious thing but I know I don't do it, do you? I walk the streets of Toronto with my own purpose and generally avoid all eye contact. The faster I can get to my destination, the better. But for what?

After a night of crashing at my brother's apartment, I turned to walk the opposite way that I normally would to make my way home. En route I saw a sign for a book exchange. I had somewhere to be but I was drawn in to the cramped space guarded by a woman in her late 60's.The smell of dust on the shelves almost had me turn around but I caught the glimpse of a cover to Without Reservations by Alice Steinbach. On the cover, "The Travels of an Independent Woman". On the inside, the worn out ink stamp showing that it had travelled from The Island Book Nook in Sanibel Island, FL. I don't know how many hands have held this book or how long it took to make it to me, but I knew there was a reason that I was drawn here.

In her travel memoir of a trip to Europe, Alice shared memories of her trips to each city through a postcard. A postcard to herself. You may laugh at the idea but I share this tradition with Alice. There is a new memory in every new place that I want to capture and share at the same time. Having it show up in my mailbox weeks or months later allows those memories to flood back. My wanderlust had faded a little but reading her words revived that permanent travel itch. Until I have a new destination, Alice's words will keep the imagination flowing. I love that I found someone just like me.  So happy that I was finally paying attention or I wouldn't have found this gem!

or maybe not...

I'm a bullshitter. That a word? I didn't update after all. Ah well. Maybe someday.

reunited

I have returned from a wonderful adventure where I was reunited with my friends from Melbourne and introduced to a few new ones. It began with a weekend in Paris, meeting in Rome, on to Cinque Terra, Pisa, Florence, Venice, Salzburg, Vienna and last but certainly not least, Prague.

So many pictures, so many memories. I can't wait to tell the tales!

1.1.11

Well I've let the last year go by pretty undocumented haven't I? I need this outlet back. New Year's Resolution time. Update the memories!! Major things happened in 2010 - New Zealand & Australia stories need to be told!

Bring back the good times! Happy New Year.

for those who have been asking

I haven't written on here for over a month now and it's not because I don't have anything to say, I just don't have the desire to at this time. I'll get back on it soon, I promise. I'll be in Tasmania by the end of the week starting out on the Port Arthur Ghost Tour. That should be enough to get me talking!

a year gone by

A year ago, I decided to start up this little blog to force myself to stick to my word. I don't write every day or every week but it's one of those things that nags me if I haven't been paying attention to it. I figure if I write something in here, I've put it out into the world and can be held accountable. Although I haven't documented everything that I'd love to remember about this year, (it's not an official "dear diary" blog after all and a girl's gotta have some secrets), there are things that have made me laugh, cry, and feel proud that I've changed as much as I have.

Since I made my resolution last year, I stepped foot on two more new countries and got my tattoo. Before I go home to Canada, I will go to New Zealand and complete my other two important ones - Skydive and Bungee Jump. The excitement (and a little craziness) is waiting for me.  The likelihood is that I'll also be coming home with a second tattoo...perhaps a third. There are so many things that I want to do!!

I don't know what 2010 is going to bring for me but I'm excited to find out.

next blog »

You know when you're so tired but can't muster the energy to drag yourself up those stairs to your nice fluffy pillows? That's what I am now. So, why wouldn't this be the best time to scribble a little something into this online journal of mine?

If you look at the top of my blog, see where it has a link for you to click on Next Blog >> ? Ever done it? I just did it to see what would pop up. It took me about 17 clicks to get through all the baby blogs. I'm surrounded by babies on this thing! How did that happen? I finally made it through the stories of dirty diapers and ended up at an Obituary. That's when I knew it was time to drag myself to bed.

holy crappers...i'm employed!

Six months of unemployment passed me by quicker than I could ever have imagined. Mind you, the last month of that was my searching and being unsuccessful at finding something. I tried the temp agencies which is actually what I did want in order to allow for the flexibility. The dread of that idea? Having to work in an office, 9-5, yanno - routine.  I took a break from that for a reason!

Luckily, had someone looking out for me. Phil let me know that they were looking for new people at Global Gossip, so I went in for an interview and I got the job! (Thanks Phil!) I started on Monday, completed 4 days of training and the true test will be on Monday when I open the store for the first time. Eeek! It's part time, a relaxed atmosphere and I think I'm going to have a good time with it. Hope it's all smooth sailing, but I know how to deal with troublemakers in my regular world so I'm sure I'll do just fine here too! Will let you know of course...

tiki taane

Last night I had the best time at a concert than I have in a while. Those of you who know me, know that I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on shows in my lifetime so this says a lot. Phil and I went to see Tiki Taane at the Hi-Fi in Melbourne.  He is an artist from New Zealand whose music is a blend of Maori traditional music with heavy bass/rap/hip-hop/electronica and throw in the occasional reggae. It was just an amazing energy that filled the fairly small venue.

His band made the show a very different experience from what you hear on the cd. The bass vibrated through you. His father, a guest vocalist, brought the traditional Maori to life and it was great to see him rock out too! We danced the night away and all I know is that my body was sore when I woke up. It was a great show that made the soreness worth it!

Check him out at http://tikidub.com/ or his YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/tikidub