Jobs, Dancing, and Sweaty Mike:)

Okay, I just realized that the last time I updated my blog was on October 12th and it's going into November tomorrow...sorry. Anyway, I have a job!!!!!!!
I recently got hired at a restaurant in the CBD (central business district) of Sydney and it's called "Steel Restaurant". It's quite nice - the food looks really good and probably over priced for what it is...but hey, I just work there. The first shift I had they put me on for a double shift! I worked from 11:45am until 10:00pm! Let's back up---I haven't worked like that in almost 2 months and the first shift is close to a 12 hour day...on my feet! I could hardly walk home my feet hurt so bad.
I don't think I ever realized how much I loath working in the restaurant biz until now. But, until something else turns up it's what I have to do to make the money honey!
Well, I went to my first 'social dancing' night by myself on Friday night. I have recently taken up swing dancing - which is very popular here. There are classes all over the place and people really get into it.
So far I've learned to do a little bit of the triple step, the charleston, and the lindy hop---all of which I still am a bit shakey on--but no worries! I'm a lady so all the pressure really falls on the guy because they have to lead :) So, needless to say, even with my dancing skills I can look decent with a good partner :)
Soooo....I went to a social dance night this past Friday and it was really fun! There was a beginner lesson for the first hour where we learned the triple-step and then there was a live band and a TON of people showed up to shake their booties :) It was awesome, and even a little intimidating at times to see some people dance....WOW! Some of them were pretty bad-ass! And luckily there were quite a bit of guys there that knew how to dance too which is great for us ladies that arrived without partners - otherwise we'd be wall flowers all night.
There was a good mix of experienced and beginner dancers there and people who just showed up for the hell of it. It was really a friendly atmosphere. I had a nice time meeting different people and dancing with a few different gentlemen that were beginners like I was as we both tripped and stumbled our ways through the dances...but nevertheless it was fun. And then there were other men that were much more experienced and made me look like a seasoned dancer :) Which if you knew my dancing talents, it's quite unfathomable to picture me looking like I know what I'm doing!
A little into the dancing the hall was really getting hot --just in time for a young man to ask me to dance...now, I can't remember his name so I'll just call him Mike.
He was really a great dancer and lead, and it was all fun and games until he decided to smash his sweaty body and face next to mine and sweat ALL OVER me! He kept squishing me into him and kept trying to do this schmultzy dance with me that I was NOT into. He was so sweaty that he made the side of my face and hair damp when he squished me into him. I guess I wouldn't mind dancing that way with someone that I wanted to be that close with----but dude!    I don't know you! AND you're sweatier than a sinner in church! PLEASE give me back my dancing-space-bubble. He not only danced with me for one song, but for like five songs in a row! I think there was more of his sweat on my body than my own!
And yes folks, I showered vigorously when I got home...I don't remember the last time I used that much shampoo and soap :)

I have found a site called "Meetup" which is a site that you can find different interest groups and meet people...so although I don't have another encounter with Sweaty Mike at a social dance outing this coming Friday I will be having my first "Meetup" with the social group that I joined. It's a group for expats in Australia and everyone is a newcomer and are eager to meet friends...which will be great!
It's about time that I should meet some friends...of course that is, some friends besides Sweaty Mike :)

Floriade, Canberra, and Kangaroos!

Well....my apologies to the few people who read my blog! It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. Although I have to admit that I'm not the speediest person when it comes to updating computer stuff :) Anyway, The last two weeks have been somewhat eventful in my so far quiet life in Australia. The first weekend in October, my aunt Kerry and I went to Canberra on a very fancy and exclusive V.I.P.  trip...how??? Kerry, by a complete stroke of luck, won a recipe competition and therefore won the prize package of being flown down (with a guest---me) to Canberra, having V.I.P. passes to the night fest of Floriade, cooking her recipe on stage with a popular chef, and the Australian celebrity Natalie Gruzlewski...not to mention all accomodations were included too :)
Funny thing is...Kerry is not particularily known for her culinary skills...and even funnier, she never made the dish in her life! She literally (with help of her friend) just listed down ingredients that sounded good together and won! She never made the dish, had no idea what half the ingredients even looked like, and she was up on stage acting like she cooked the dish a hundred times! It was completely great! If any of you knew my aunt Kerry, she has one of the best personalities and can bullshit with the best of them. I guess that skill came into play during her cooking debut - not to mention her entertaining stage presence :)
Perhaps some of you are wondering what Floriade is. It is a huge flower festival similar to Tulip Time, but since I've never been to Tulip Time I can't really tell you how it compares, but it was fantastic! It was absolutely beautiful! Especially at night,  everything was so colorful and magical looking. We spent the evening walking around the grounds, looking at the vendors, eating samples of treats along the way and absolutely freezing our butts off!! It was cold. I'm talking like 30s and damp from the rain that we had all day long. It was not comfortable weather - and definitely not the type of weather that you would imagine in Australia! Regardless, it was a great time!
The following day we spent a good amount of time driving around with Kerry's friend Julie, and looked at all the Embassies. For those of you that don't know, Canberra is pretty much the equivilant of our Washington D.C. It's a government city and is it's own entity, self governed and not considered a part of any state. But you wouldn't believe how beautiful some of the embassies are! Of course the U.S. embassy was gigantic and completely over the top with security which made it pretty gay considering that the other embassies were just hanging out without any security. Honestly America, no body gives a shit!
Moving on.
We also went to the Parliment House, a lookout point, the War Museum (which was actually quite entertaining), an art museum - where I got yelled at for taking a picture of a display---although, there were absolutely NO signs anywhere banishing camera usage.....whatever.
And we also went to the Government House where I saw my first ever kangaroo! It was far away, but it was massive!
All in all, this was a very pleasant first trip to Canberra :) And I'm actually here in Canberra again for the rest of this week because I got a fill-in piano job for a workshop.
But, I'll be posting about this trip later ;)

Don't think twice, it's alright!

I've been here a week and it's been a complete time warp! Without a set schedule it's very easy to lose track of time and days and they end up just blurring into one. Apart from eating delicious food, shopping, and getting lost, I haven't accomplished much yet. Like anyone who has travelled long distances, I have been struggling with jet lag quite a bit this past week - but, I have had a break through! Last night I stayed up until midnight and right now it's 10:30pm...new records for me! woohoo!
This week I will be starting my yoga practice and workouts---lord knows all this indulgent food will be catching up with me :) This coming weekend I will be going for a short trip to Canberra, which is Australia's capitol, to accompany my aunt who just won a recipe competition and we're being flown down - with all accomodations included. Sweet deal! I'm okay with riding the coat-tails of someone else's achievement! Sorry I don't have more juicy stuff to spill. And by the way, this goes out to all the ladies: For those of you with the fantasy of steamy, attractive Aussie men - well, sorry to say that I haven't seen one that fits any of our fantasies. Until next time!!!

Hello from down unda!!!

Well, I'm finally here!
It only took about 20 hours but the plane ride was much more tolerable than I thought it would be. The great thing about international flights is that they have TV and food! I've been here only for about five days and it's been great! I'm still getting used to the driving on the opposite side of the road - among many other things, but it's great. Australia is making it's way into summer so they weather has been great! Most days are sunny and warm...a nice switch from gloomy and cool :) I have been extremely tired since I got here - I am literally falling asleep at 8:00pm...like I can't even keep my eyes open! I'm quite the party animal eh?
I haven't seen a kangaroo yet but I have witnessed the madness of a rugby game...American Football has got nothing on it! Be back soon!

Just about 1 month to go

I know that no one is really reading this right now -- especially since I have no followers at this present time---but how does one prepare for such a big change and transition?? I still feel like this is all surreal and just a great plan that I have had in my head for the past 6 months but isn't really a reality yet. I have been stuggling with a lot of different emotions lately---I feel like I'm a pie chart of craziness, excitement, anxiety, fear, saddness, extreme annoyance towards the people that I live with--a.k.a---my family, and a whole bunch of other shit that I'm still trying to place. My job has been up for grabs for the past month, so I guess there's no going back now. It's all winding down to this and I know that the time will go by faster than I want it to---so now, I need to just enjoy myself while I'm here, enjoy everyone that I live with and surround myself with, and embrace being in the present.