All Blacks... A Team Style

Like a mint picking slave, these are the days of our lives.

We are the ALL BLACKS...

Not the sports team, we just all dress that way for work every day.

We Work at BARMUDA, Minibar, Skybar, or Bardeaux:

the best bars in Queenstown,

OBVIOUSLYcoming from an objective viewpoint.

It's like putting on a show every night; same routine, new audience, but many repeat customers.

Not just anyone is qualified for this position...

What does it take to make the A TEam?

**A great sense of humor

**Flirting skills are a must!!!

**Have a charming smile

**Ability to drink mass quantities of liquor (shots, champagne, beer you name it) and still count loads of $$ at the end of the night

**Be able to sell expensive drinks with Finesse

**Adapt to a changing customer base, from the Friday afternoon oldies but goodies, to the late night young and crazies.

**Sometimes the job calls for dancing on bars...

We pick steroid size mint aka "Green Gold", cut limes with the sharpest of knives, and even beat the ice with a muddler the size of a baseball bat for our delicious Mojitos.

Every night is the best night of our lives (or atleast me make it look that way).

We are the ALL Blacks and this A TEAM knows how to have a great time every long lasting night and day!!!

The Simple Life...

Some people may say I'm high maintenance because I drink a lot of champagne, Although I do enjoy a nice glass Veuve, Moet or Krug every now and then,

I also take pride in the simple things in life.

Welcome to Glenorchy "The Gateway to Paradise"

Apparantly their version of "paradise" is a town with

ONE PUB

ONE CHURCH

ONE MAIN STREET

ONE LIBRARY Which is only open for

ONE HOUR

A WEEK

and ONE DOLLAR heat damaged Perky Nanas
(this is a candy bar they sell at the One convenient store on the ONE MAIN STREET next to the ONE PUB. not what your dirty little minds are thinking)


We had some fun on the docks...

And also experienced hurricane force winds...
Great Surfing conditions, only this is not the ocean
its the lake.

When we decided to drive out to see the Routeburn Hiking Track, we discovered some more of the simple life here in Glenorchy.


Here's proof of the pure enjoyement I get out of the simple things in life that
MAKE
ME
LAUGH...
A LOT!!!!!!!



Wait. Theres more...


For some reason, the first video cut off the part where I got out and chased the cow, still working on that one.

Apparently cows know how that they should be running in the left lane as well, and passing is on the right! (ie. Video #2)

We also spotted two cows shagging but werent quick enough to take a photo of that one, sorry guys.

I Love a good story, so here's my little soap opera of the 2 cows we met today I've made up for you...


Version 1.

Black man cow shags brown woman cow, brown cow is now pregnant, brown cow gets kicked out of the pen, black cow gets kicked out as well, brown cow and black cow live happily ever after outside their pen.


Version 2.

Black man cow meets brown woman cow, black cow has instant attraction to brown cow, black cow and brown cow wander out of the pen, black and brown cow eat hay together, black cow shags brown cow, black cow freaks out, brown cow Moo's, black cow avoids brown cow, brown cow Moo's louder, black cow second guesses, brown cow Moo's more, brown cow thinks black cow is a comedian, black cow is taking things way to seriously outside the pen, black and brown cow are now separated, but still outside the pen, black cow gets married, brown cow lives happily ever after.

Choose your own ending.


God, I loved this simple life day in New Zew Zealand!!!

"Training" Day...

It started out like every other Tuesday night...

slow, and relaxing,

enough time to chat with the customers while having a glass of Rose.

At 12:55, Mairi and I decided it wasn't getting any busier, so she went home to get some rest for our Canyoning trip in the morning.

At 1:05

Disaster struck Barmuda!

By that I mean everyone who works for Goodbars came in.

It was like Cheers,

as I literally knew everybody's name IN and ON the bar.

We had dancing, drinking, more dancing, loads of Elton and Michael playing. The night didn't end there, I made my way over to Bardeaux to join the colleagues, and crazies.

A special friend of mine bought me a few glasses of Veuve

*****a noteworthy Thank You to him for contributing to my hangover ;)

I had a whole 3 hours of sleep. My hangover was gone the very second I jumped into the ice cold water.

We Swam

Slid

Zip-lined across waterfalls

Repelled

Climbed

And Jumped 8 meters (26 FT!!!!!) into the water!

LOADS OF MUCH NEEDED FUN!!!!!!!

all while wearing massive wet-suits, and gear to keep you warm and afloat.

We did the Queenstown 1/2 Day trip, but there is also a full day-trip outside the city. The staff is great, very knowledgeable, and hilariously funny!

A MUST DO for adrenaline junkies like myself:

www.canyoning.co.nz

Canyoning was followed

by a 30 minute nap,

a hot shower

and a Wine/Champagne Training

at Barmuda at 3pm

(aka another excuse to drink).

After we all had a slight buzz, it was time for us to drink the 4 bottles of Champagne we won.

The nap that turned into a 12 hour much needed sleep. I woke up at 8 am today feeling fully rested and fabulous.


Spending all day with the wonderful people I work with made me realize how much I am going to miss working with them. Never a dull moment. So many different personalities, but they all mesh so very well. It also made me realize how important family truly is.
They have become mine in Queenstown for the past 3 months.

Sometimes Roads Lead To Nowhere...

My daytime adventure Queen buddy and I set out for another conquest.

Destination: Jacks Point.

And I actually made it this time...

Jacks Point is an amazing Golf Course on the outskirts of Queenstown overlooking the lake.

According to their website, the land is limited to only 5% development to preserve the beauty of the area, and is one of New Zealand's National Treasures. Below, a picture I found on google image:

It was a brutally windy day, so the ride was 10x's harder. We were so glad to have ridden to Arrowtown first because it made this one feel like Cake!

On our way in we saw a "CONSTRUCTION" road entrance that was a shortcut to the Jacks Point which we later decided to exit the course from.

KEEP THIS IN MIND...

When we arrived at the entrance, I had no other option but to chase my favorite fluffy friends around the field.

Lesson #1: Sheep are much faster than their fat, lazy bodies appear.

We rode to the Clubhouse, grabbed a map of the course of which there are several trails, and started walking.

We ended up along the water and discover some stunning views...

Me testing the water...

And deciding it is far too cold for a swim today!

We ended up going way past the turning point back, and realized that the signs were not really much help as well as the maps we had taken. We eventually found our way to the clubhouse 2 1/2 hours later.

Lesson #2: Don't always rely on the map.

We hopped back on our bikes and decided to take the detour we spotted earlier. We made a left turn down the ONLY road we saw to our left, because this would OBVIOUSLY lead us straight back out to the main road.

Seeing the "Construction only" signs, we knew we were on the right path...

until we ended up at a dead end after flying downhill on our bikes for 2 minutes.

We had 2 choices.

#1 Ride all the way back up the hill to the Entrance

#2 Climb our way out through the massive ditch/hill/whatever the hell it was.

Being adventurous (or just too lazy to ride back) we chose the ditch. We trudged through the field with weeds, dried grass, and sticky bushes up to our waste along the side and down the hill for a while until we came to a crossing.

Mairi went first.

It looked so easy from this point.

We thought the hard part was over.

Mairi took a step and....

She SANK about a foot and a half into water.

She dropped her bike and started yelling, "aggghhh!!!!! Water!!! aghhhh!!!!"

I was in the background laughing hysterically, so hard I almost began to cry.

Her bike was now laying in the middle of the ditch; her socks and shoes drenched.

My turn...

I threw my bike over as far as I could, but it didn't make it.

I got a running start,

thinking if I ran fast enough,

I would pull a "Jesus" and walk on water or something?!

To my dismay, I ended up sopping wet from the calves down as well.

Time to pull out our bikes...

We got them out, and then realized we had to scale a barbwire fence, after throwing our bikes over it. We made it out with not one scratch or bruise. A high five and 2 smiling faces later, we were on our way home.

Lesson #3: Sometimes roads lead to nowhere.

The Fergburger...

New Zealand isn't known for their food and fabulous restaurants,

But there is one must have when you come to Queenstown...

The one and only FERGBURGER.

I am sure the few that I have eaten have happily added to the 2 kilos i feel like I have gained, and maybe alcohol is a contributing factor as well.

They come in many varieties.

FERG-VIRGINS: I recommend the original with cheese. Simple and Delicious.

They are all great from the cock-a-doodle oink, to

my most recent drunken Ferg the Bun Laden.

I though it was very fitting as I am from America, and I devoured that burger!!

No matter what time of day, there is always a line. And drunken people wolfing them down outside between the wee hours of 1am -4am...

Fergalicious!!

www.fergburger.com

The Kiwi Experience...

Friday night I was suppose to be working, but some how finagled my way into getting the night off and the fun began.

I met up with Mairi at the "Big Night Out" bar Crawl, run by her flat-mate Ben.

We KIWI-CRAWLED from bar to bar. Now this typically isn't my style, doing the "backpacker activities", but I had to do it once and actually be a tourist. It kind of reminded me of those college days where I used to go out and get crazy!

It's full of guys trying to "Get some," people just trying to have fun.

At the second bar, we had to do body shots off of Mairi (I went after her boyfriend).

By the end of the night, we were dressed in caution tape, nurse outfits

and hair caps, while holding syringes and giving people Swine Flu shots.

I Danced on Stools with Eric,

and Mairi on tables...

and some even played a bit of imaginary DOUBLE DUTCH.

On the actual kiwi experience, you really won't even meet a true kiwi. You are traveling with a bunch of other backpackers, your tour guides, bus drivers, and bar crawlers are all from anywhere BUT New Zealand as well.

I like my Kiwi experience much more.

It ends with a bottle of Krug at Bardeaux from a born and highbred Kiwi himself.

Now there's a KIWI EXPERIENCE...

Or atleast that's mine ...

I love my life!!!!!!

Get a clue...

As luck, or fate, would have it, I was walking into town the other day, taking the shortcut behind the bars, and next to the post office, and suddenly my eyes got huge! I ran over to the Box that had been Brown taped to the wall Saying CLUE BOX, and on the front "the Amazing Race". It felt like I had the Golden ticket in Willy Wonka!!

I have been wanting to go on this show forever, and my best friend jeremy and I have been planning on making an audition tape when i get back to the states.

"Of course, we will make the cut", Jeremy ALWAYS SAys!

So I just found it as fate that I found a clue box that I wasn't even looking for. I am so excited and will definatly be using this in the audition tape. I obviously can't tell you what the clue said. I don't want to spoil the show for the season...

Look out Amazing race, Here we come!!! We have a clue...

Feel the burn...

Tuesday Mairi and I packed our bags: water, V energy drinks, a sanwich, protein bar, and our good attitudes (obviously). We were off!!!

Destination: Arrowtown, on BIKE. An overcast day, but still some sun and humidity.

PERFECT for a 30 mile (46K) bike ride!! Quite a good workout.

stunning scenery on the way,

loads of animals! The goats were just darling. Stinky and kept pebble pooping in front of us, but oh so cute!

Some monuments...

And we were even graced with the presence of a wide variety of roadkill. You name it, we probably saw it.

Arrowtown is an old Goldmining town.

Quaint, cute, relaxing.

When we arrived, we had a satisfying salad for lunch, and thereafter went parusing the streets....well, Street actually.

the town is tiny:

Population: 1,681 (the size of my highschool back home)

Arrowtown is full of trinket stores, a local art gallery, a few small bars (my favorite, Blue Door).

We stopped by The Willows, the place my friend Holly worked at a few years ago. I asked for Sis as i was instructed to do, and she did nothing but rave about Holly for the short time we were there. Holl's this ones for you :)

On our journey back, we chose a different route: Spear Grass Flat Road, the one the house I visited previously for lunch (See SUNDAY FUNDAY). We passed an Art Exhibit in an old cheese mill, with very interesting paintings. The man gave us a map of directions and kept talking forever trying to tell us all the different ways to get back to town.

For those who know me best, I can never resist a handstand with a beautiful background...

Horses in the field...

lush green trees, bushes, and plants...

When we arrived back to get Mairi's car, my favorite thing was awaiting me! SHEEP!! This was the closest I have come to them so far!!

Another incredible day, minus the part I forgot to mention about almost getting hit by a van on the bridge on the way back. Lesson learned: don't ride a bike back from Arrowntown across Shotover Street Bridge at 5 pm when there are loads of cars and no bike lane.

3 2 1.....Jump!

I don't think anything could ever top what I did today. Literally the most exciting thing I have ever done in my life.

Today I went Skydiving...

We had the go big or go home mentality, so obviously we chose the highest possible jump at 15,000 ft and a 60 second freefall.

The anxiety built as we drove to the drop zone. I arrived, and Polly, my flatmates girlfriend, checked us in. I suited up, tightened my shoelaces, and tightly pulled back my hair into a low ponytail. We were then taken outside for a briefing, and it was just that: "brief", about 30 seconds.

Basically what I got out of it was head back legs back, feet together. Just like a banana! (there was even a picture of one on the card).

I jumped with my flatmate Kaleb and Samantha with my other mate Greg.

As we boarded the plane, I was squished in and straddled behind and in front of the other jumpers and photographers (9 people in all). No seat belts. So much for safety precautions. It took about 10 minutes to reach the 12,000 ft, where the first jumper went. He basically looked like he was going to pee his pants or puke all over Sams face.

We flew up higher to our destination and then Samantha went. Her face was priceless. Excited, surprised. Greg flipped her over when they jumped out!!

As I scooted over to the edge for my turn, I felt like I was going to fall off the edge, I don't even think I was sitting on anything!!! There was a pause, enough time to smile for the camera, and then Caleb rocked back and forth, for what I thought was going to be 3 times, but he surprised me and we fell out on 2!! The initial rush was like the biggest roller coaster (Kindga Ka, Six Flags, NJ) x's 100!! and then you just keep falling and the feeling goes away, and you keep falling, and falling, and falling, and falling, my goggles moved a bit and I couldn't breathe for about 20 seconds I am guessing (which felt like forever). But OMG, amazing, I have never felt anything like this, such a high.

When you get down a ways they pull the shoot and you are basically flying around for a while. Caleb even let me "drive". Wow the trust, I started swinging around a bit in circles and he told me I had to give it back to him so I didn't hit the others.

The landing was pretty fun. We landed standing up, luckily not in the field next door like the person after us did.

This is something I think everyone (who has the balls) should experience in their lifetime.

BY FAR my best day in Queenstown, and most definitely the biggest thrill of my life!!!

Breakfast at Joes: $20

2 PuMp Waters: $4.25

15,000 ft jump: $399

Pictures and Video: Normally $219, For us $20 (thanks guys)

The feeling you get from jumping 15,000 ft and a 60 second freefall; priceless!

Well, just see for yourself...

Cold feet...

"I've got cold feet, " he said as he sat with his feet dangling into Lake Wakatipu. He did in so many ways. He found the perfect girl and let her go.

"I never really believed in soul mates until I met him", she said as we polished off the last of the Havana blanco at 7 am. She found the love of her life and then he got cold feet.

"The timing just isn't right," he said about the one who got away. "She's in Australia, and I am here. It could never work right now."

"He told me, things are just going too well, too fast, I think we need to take some space", she said as we hiked to the basket of dreams on Queenstown Hill. I just got out of a 12 year relationship. Things have just been too perfect."

I've heard this story a million times over throughout the stories from best friends, boyfriends, and even strangers at my bar wanting a free afternoon therapy session (just to let you know: this is NOT the definition of HAPPY Hour!).

A lot of people get "this way" when they are scared. It's just an easy way out of not knowing how wonderful life could have possibly been together with the "supposed" love or lust of their life.

I often wonder what the world would be like if people "fully" let go?

**Someone once told me that I push the people away in my life that love me most. This was true at one point in my life, as I found that if something wasn't working, instead of fixing it, I would just leave, run away. I now know exactly what he meant.

So If I can give you something, let it be this...

Just let go, of all your inhibitions and see what is actually there. If it's nothing then atleast you gave it a shot. Stop running. Turn around.

In your lifetime you may break many hearts and have yours broken as well.

Life is full of heartaches, heartbreaks, lost loves, the one you wish you would have, the one(s) you regret.

Dive in or jump feet first, but make the biggest splash that you can.

Sometimes cold feet can feel a bit numbing, but you usually adjust to the water pretty quickly. Cupid Isn't always stupid.

Rock ON at Rippon...

SATURDAY:

Look out Wanaka, here we come!!!!!

Off to Rippon.

Suitcase. Check.

Towel. Check.

Swimsuit. Check.

Fun Friends. Check.

The sun is shining, birds are chirping, breeze is blowing across my sunkissed face. The Weather had been stupefying these past 2 weeks!

We drive across the charming counrtyside full of farm animals, lush greenery. Then Richie abruptly yells "Stop the car", Panic mode sets in as he thinks he has forgotten his phone, but realizes after a brief alzheimer moment it has only fallen under his seat.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

HISTORY LESSON:

I'm promptly informed that it is Waitangi Day, the day the white men gave the Maoris guns and blankets in exchange for land in 1856. Treaty of New Zealand.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Back to the drive:

We cross the Crown Range, a series of beautiful hills, mountains, and winding roads, until we come to the town of Cardrona.... and then we leave 20 seconds later. The town consists of one bar and one church, one hotel, a few sheep, and a couple of houses.

I was thrilled when I when I looked in the back yard of the house we were renting and saw a trampoline! I was like a kid in a candy store and did enough back tucks and layouts to last me another few years of satisfaction.

Rippon was Great!! We all arrived with our Tractor Family names: me being Contractor, the others, Extractor, A Tractor, Dontwannatractor.

Lots of talented local bands! It was a sweltering day, and to our advantage, the lake was just a car ride away. Of course, we rode IN the car instead of being cattle herded in on the way down like the others.

A few of our friends had their boats out, including Mister H with Vaginamite, so we hopped aboard for a glass or two of Champagne to cool off.

Night fell after we headed back and listened to Fat Freddies...

As we left the concert at half 12 Miranda lost a florescent orange Jandal...

and realized she hadn't actually lost it after she walked the entire way home with only one on.

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Typical NZ concert attire for the ladies:

*Cut off high waisted extra short levis, a hat, something with white lace that you can see through, and if not that they a barely there dress with a swim top under. So basically next to nothing, Less is definitely more!!

____________________________________________________________________________________

SUNDAY:

Breakfast was comprised of the very best mocha I have consumed since being in New Zealand. Just enough ice to keep it chilly, but not enough to make it watery. A few coffee beans on top. Well you can see how delicious from the picture...

I had my first experience driving on the "other side" of the road. I did great except for the fact that I turned the windshield wipers on 5 different times thinking they were the blinker.

Spent most of the day relaxing with a cluster of company, drinking gins, wine, and BBQ'ing. he night ended with Dress-ups and Kiwi-Pong (where you find anything you can to hit the ball).

My choice racquets: frying pan, bread plate, or spatchula!

2 MINT Days... as the KIWI's Say.