Burnt Toast

I was only at work today for 1 hour and we had to evacuate because of a fire alarm.  It was a little scary because it was just about 8:00 AM so half the building was full and it didn't just alarm and then stop, it kept going.  So we knew it was no test.  I had to scramble down 20 flights of stairs (I'm on the top floor) in heels and a suit and then had to stand out in the freezing cold for another 20 minutes.  The fireman were there and several trucks were parked outside our building.  Only to find out that the reason was that someone burnt their frigging toast in one of the other floor's kitchens and set off one of the alarms.  Ridiculous.

Getting There

I had another visit to one of my most cherished places in Sydney over the weekend.  That's right - IKEA!!!!  I really do love that place but I was on strict credit card lockdown this time.  In fact, my Aussie went with me so I really was on my best behavior.  Our goal for the day was to get a dining room table, six chairs and six chair cushions all the while avoiding the Marketplace.  The Marketplace is my favorite part, chock full of all kinds of things that you didn't realize that you were missing from your life.  How gracious of IKEA to remind me!?  And they are very strategic about the location of the Marketplace, funneling you through it to get to check out.

So although I didn't get the $90 oven-safe/stove-safe blue casserole dish with matching lid, I was able to snag the 365+ medium oven-safe frying pan for a mere $30.  I pushed for some curtain panels for our front door but met resistance.  It's okay though.  My Aussie is going on a week-long ski trip in August that I cannot join him on because of work.  So I'll practice my patience (and my credit card swiping) in the meantime.

Lame

It's Friday night and I'm blogging.  While everyone else is out schmoozing with friends and colleagues, I'm sitting at my computer, alone, drinking a glass of red wine and feeling lame.  You've heard it before from me but once again, I need to make some friends.  I'm really having a hard time with it.

I went through the exact same thing when I moved to New York City from Amelia Island.  It took about a year and it wasn't until I got a second job waiting tables that I established some real relationships.  The thought of waiting tables now makes me want to cry.  No way will I go back to that.  But I've got to do something.  Any advice out there?  Surely someone out there has moved to another country (for a man), uprooted and left all that they know and love, and are in the same boat as me.

The females here are different too.  For being such a big city, a lot of people just know each other, went to uni together, work together and they are pretty clique-y.  Not rude, just not interested.  I wouldn't mind making a few guy friends but this is hard to do.  If you say straight up you have a partner, they are moving on.  I don't think many guys my age are interested in having a lot of female friends, even if I am super awesome.

I wouldn't mind playing some kind of sport, maybe softball, but outdoor activities won't really start up until September when it gets warmer.  I did join an American club (one of two that I could find online) but so far the only thing they've advertised in the way of news or activities is an email letting me know I can now buy Yankee Candles in Australia.  Sweet.  So I can now light an apple pie scented candle while I drink my wine and blog alone on a Friday night.  Super lame.

I've been racking my brain about potential hobbies or classes I could take.  I love to cook, shop, read, be athletic, travel, drink, and I love animals.  Maybe a book club would work out for me?  I thought about joining a cooking class or running club but those don't have a lot of one-on-one interaction. 

At any rate, I'm open to suggestions.   Somethings got to give though.  I've got to have a few core friends to call my own or I'll go crazy.  And nobody needs to see that.

Quote of the Morning

"Shaving a girl's neck is just wrong" says my Aussie this morning as I have him trim up my neck a little bit.  Big deal!!!  I have a super short hair cut and I can either pay $100 to go see fabulous Nathan at Head Over Heels to give me a trim or I can have my Aussie do it for free.  So my Aussie is just going to have to tough it out.  At least until I've become a super professional self-trimmer like my mom.  (I just can't master the right angle when using two mirrors to see the back of my head).  I'll get there.

Thankful

I had a fantastic birthday weekend.  It was the perfect way to usher in my 30th year.  I knew that I didn't want to have a big get together with too many drinks.  My Aussie's gift away was the perfect birthday present.  Nelson's Bay was beautiful and set amongst tree-covered mountain islands and bright blue water.  It is winter here so I have to get used to celebrating my birthdays in the cooler weather versus the hot, summer months in the States.  But the sun shined the entire weekend.  I took quite a few pictures but I'll just include a sampling for you below.  Thank you for all the birthday wishes! I'd like to think that after my Thursday night meltdown, I gracefully and respectfully welcomed my 30th year with love and anticipation.

Our view- we later climbed that mountain in the distance.

Quite chilly and windy climbing Mount Tomaree, with Shoal Bay in the background.

This is the view from one side of the Mount Tamaree, down into the Nature Preserve and popular surf spot.

We are at the summit and thoroughly windblown.

The view from the other side.  Stunning!



Just finished my hourlong massage and on to some Moet.



Right before our awesome 7-course tasting menu at Merretts.

I'll never have to worry about getting old.  My Aussie will keep me forever young at heart.  We had to stop and play mini golf and do the batting cages.

Watch out, David Ortiz!!

30

I have arrived at 30 but not without kicking and screaming through my last night of 29.  I cried walking the dog, folding laundry, painting my nails, eating Thai, watching Masterchef and then after my fourth glass of wine I finally just fell asleep watching a movie with my Aussie.  He handled it very well.  He let me get it all out but was supportive as well.  He didn't feed me any of those bullshit cliche lines like "age is nothing but a number".  It was very therapeutic.

I woke up today with no wine headache and feeling cleansed.  Bailey was snuggled up on my feet.  My Aussie offered to walk him so I didn't have to get up so early.  I took a nice long shower, got ready for work and then walked out of the bathroom to a nice little birthday surprise waiting on my dresser.  My Aussie gave me a pair of beautiful light green amethyst earrings to match the ring he gave me on our anniversary and tickets to see Modest Mouse on July 25th.  And we are also going away for the weekend to stay at Pepper's Anchorage in Nelson's Bay.  We leave tonight after work and won't return until Sunday afternoon.  I'm so excited.  It will be our first holiday away together since I moved here and a much needed break for both of us. 

Nelson's Bay is about 2 1/2 hours away from Sydney and it backs up to Tomaree National Park.  We haven't made any definite plans yet but I'm looking forward to hiking through the park, maybe taking a whale watching tour and definitely eating some great food.  We're booked in Saturday night at Merretts, the hotel's restaurant, for the Degustation Menu (fancy talk for tasting menu) which is eight courses and I cannot wait.  The last tasting menu I experienced was at Blue Hill in Manhattan and it was my Aussie's going-away dinner.  This dinner will be a much happier occasion.

I know why I was so upset last night.  I miss my friends and my family so much.  I know exactly how I would have celebrated if I were still in New York.  But my Aussie made a beautiful point, that his family, my Australian family, love me very much and he loves me fiercely as well.  They are all thrilled that I am here and are my support system until my own family can visit.  I know if my friends could be here they would be.  And I knew it would be this way when I decided to move here.  It just means that when my loved ones do come to Sydney, we are going to have one heck of an awesome time squeezing in all of these holidays and birthdays that we were apart for.

So cheers to my first day of 30- may it be the beginning of an exciting and wonderful decade, filled with lots of love, travel and minimal injuries!!!

Ode to 29

It's my 30th Birthday Eve and I'd like to take a moment to remember 29.  You were a long year, 29.  You were exciting, aggravating, painful, depressing, confusing and joyous all stretched out over your 365 days.  You were a traveller- from New York down the coast to Florida, over to L.A. winding down in Sydney.  You were a job hopper as well.  You finished up a role in wedding planning, went back to waiting tables and bartending only to give that up and be a dog-walker/dinner-maker/laundry-washer, and finally went back to your roots with corporate events.

You got a makeover and then got a tan.  You gained five roomates and now only have one.  You gained residency and unlimited working rights but lost your niche and comfort zones.  You were heartsick and now you're homesick.  You were established and now starting fresh.  You said "Good-bye" much more than "Hello".  So here's one more.  Good-bye, 29!  Hello, 30!