The Great 2009 Birthday

Whoa. Holy Birthday.

Where to begin?

First thing first. My camera, yes the third one in two months, is in the shop getting repaired. Remember I spent almost nothing for the camera -- did you think it would work?! So. I apologize about the quality of photos -- I went out and splurged on a disposable camera to capture the memories of my b-day in Oz.

Anyway. One of my co-workers, Gab, asked me to go to dinner with her on Thursday to celebrate the big 2-6. I just literally realized that that's the dates of my b-day too. Awww.

Anyway. I was game for doing anything, plus she's good company so I said YES. Then. One of the cooks, JR, found out about it and decided to tell me that she was planning a surprise party. Gee. Thanks.

Two things.

I'm a girl. I love surprises. LOVE surprises.

The other, I never get surprised. I over-analyze everything and never can get surprised. Thanks for ruining it.

After I found this out, I just pretended like I thought it was just the two of us, no big deal. I didn't know who'd be there anyway -- I just knew that it'd be more then just us.

The big day FINALLY came. And by big day, I mean Thursday night.

Gab and I met up for a drink at CBH, actually two drinks -- one, some guy bought for us because he was too drunk to put his phone back together. Then we talked about ex-boyfriend's and our lives now...without douche bags. Then we were off to a Tapas restaurant called El Bulli.

We hopped a cab and got to the restaurant. Of course, I was wearing some big shoes and fell flat on my face as we walked towards the restaurant. Classy, eh?

But here's the kicker. We walk up to the host and he says, "Oh. Your party's already in there." And Gab gives him this dirty, evil eye that says, "NO. IT'S A TABLE FOR TWO." Awww. Valiant effort on her part. I really appreciate her making it be such a surprise. Of course....it wasn't so much.

But that's the thing. It actually did turn out to be a surprise because of the people that were there. There was Pedro and Lisa, who I had thought would be there, but wasn't sure. JR, of course, was there. And then these two got me good. Nicola, the Scottish girl I work with, who had been telling me all day and week even that her b/f had a gig in Kings Cross and she couldn't go. Well -- she was there. And even Ross showed up.

I freaked. I know my face got super red and I was so happy to be...actually...surprised!!! It was awesome.

We had a fantastic meal, drank too much wine and they even brought out a cake with sparklers as candles. From now on, I'm always doing sparklers as candles. It's just so much cooler.

Afterwards, most of us hopped a cab to Kings Cross to go to a club called Candy's. It was AWESOME. And I don't remember much about the club, just know I danced my ass off. Literally. And my dress too. I exposed my breasts to a lot of Aussie's. Whoops.

The bad thing about all of this was I had to be up at 4am. I think we got home about 2:30 or 3am. And I was WASTED. It was pretty nasty, but I didn't have a hangover -- thank God!

Oh. You're wondering why I needed to be up so early? Welllllll....Ross was taking me on that Hot Air Balloon ride he won back at the OpenAir Cinema. WOO! And. It was just as spectacular as it seems. What an incredible experience. We didn't fly over anything cool, but we watched the sunrise and were flying above Sydney. P.I.M.P.

Afterwards, we had a delightful breakfast at a hotel in Penrith. It was right next to Olympia Park, where the Olympics were held, oh so long ago. Then we just relaxed the rest of the day.

Ross took me out to this amazing dinner at a place called Mezzaluna. It was in Kings Cross, which is a bit dodgy, but turned out to be phenomenal. You walked into the restaurant thinking it's very quaint, but as you descend down the stairs you are staring right into Sydney's Skyline. It was incredible. Not only did I see an amazing sunrise on my birthday, but I saw a spectacular sunset on my birthday as well.

We sat there for four hours just taking in the view and enjoying each other's company. Then we were off to a place called the Piano Bar, which was okay. We didn't do much but sit and talk and do a lot of people watching. There were some annoying drunk girls that kept dancing around us, but I think Ross enjoyed himself there more than me.

The next day, Saturday, I went into the City to buy a suitcase because I've bought too much already. Going to put that bad boy into storage when I leave for Melbourne on Friday (that's, um, 5 days). Met up with Ross and we decided to get some Lebanese Takeaway and have dinner with his flatmates.

That proved to be fairly disastrous. His housemate, Erin, who's a very nice, well-rounded woman, proceeded to get a bit tipsy and started to tell me how much Melbourne sucked and I should stay in Sydney -- since it's the best city IN THE WORLD to live. Of course, I took everything she said with a grain of salt and tried to enjoy the Pinot Noir. Proved to be rather difficult. And the Lebanese...I'm good. Don't need to try that again.

Anyway. My roommate was desperately wanting to go out to a Salsa club and we found one online located in The Rocks. Ross and I hopped a bus (after a petty fight) and were on our way to meet up. It was a lot of fun there. Within the first 2 minutes, a guy asked me to dance. Of course I said yes and made fun of myself for not being a better dancer. He was very nice and showed me all the moves.

We stayed there for a bit too long -- the music started to bore me and, since I can't dance salsa, I was feel a bit out of place. Melanie, my roomie, hopped a bus back to Coogee and Ross & I went to discover a club that'd still be open.

We found Jacksons on George which had a club on the first level (actually the 2nd floor, but they have levels backwards here). It. was. AWESOME. I danced my ass off AGAIN. I couldn't stop moving. It was so nice to feel the beat in my body. There was one point where the bass was so loud and heavy I could literally feel in all throughout my body. It was exactly what I needed.

Didn't get home til 4am and of course spent the entire day in bed. Then it was off to work at 3pm where I didn't get off til 11:30pm. Melanie had gone out to CBH with some co-workers and was on her way back home when I called her to see if she wanted to go swimming. Random. I know.

She convinced me to go to Bondi to meet up with some of the Irish guys in the house. Of course, I hesitated, since I'm not a huge fan, but decided I could use another night out! Why not?! I'm in Sydney, damnit!

We ended up at the Cock and Bull to find out it was closing in 5 minutes. JERKS. So we all hopped a cab to the City and went to Scruffy Murphy's. This is the place the Irish guys went to last time and I left early, homesick because it sucked that bad.

Guys. It all depends on who you're with, let me tell you, cuz I had another amazing night dancing my ass off. What great exercise! James, a Irish floater, danced with me and it was awesome. I'm telling you, American girls are the nasty dancers and guys/girls all over the world just aren't exposed to that. It. was. fun.

Stayed out too late again, but wooo! Had a damn good time, ladies and gents!

Now it's off to work again. I'll probably be getting off a little bit earlier tonight, but I had to work at 6:45am. I got a text message from the guy who taught me salsa dancing on Saturday -- he wants to get salsa dancing tonight in Darling Harbour. If my roommate's in...I'm in. I can sleep when I'm dead!

Thank you to all who wished me happy birthday -- it really was! I love each of you and can't wait to see you guys soon!

Muah! Muah!

Christmas and Beyond

Who. the. F. Spends Christmas on the beach?

No. Seriously. Who?
Australians. That's who.

Oh, yeah. and ME.

Nah, I'd really like to hype it up and make it sound like it was AMAZING, but it wasn't. It was just chill. Relaxed. And okay.

I haven't really connected with people here. My roommate is...my roommate. We get along fine, but we're fairly different, especially when it comes to the types of people we like to hang out with.

The Irish people I live with are nice. But I have such a hard time trying to figure out what they're saying. I realized I'm focusing on translating their words rather than conversing with them. And, unfortunately, they're not that boisterous and obnoxious like I had always heard (and hoped for).

Melanie and I had planned a yummy Christmas morning breakfast complete with French Crepes and Eggs Benedict, but somehow -- our plans fell through and I ended up skyping with my friend Gary from back home. Not gonna lie. That was exactly what I needed. Thanks Gar!

After much deliberation, I decided to go down to the beach by myself and just take in the Aussie sunshine on such a holiday. However, right before I was about to leave, John, the Irish douche, came calling up the stairs that Christmas Dinner was ready.

Oh. I had kind of forgotten about that.

I ended up going downstairs, bringing a bottle of wine and comsuming a SHITLOAD of food. Everything was delicious. From marinated ham to meatballs to kebabs to tuna salad to cole slaw to couscous to steamed rice to chips to soda to wine to bread. IT WAS INSANITY.

I ate a lot.

I would've taken pictures, but, whoops, I locked myself out of my room. Claire, a nice Irish girl I live with, took a ton of pics, so I'll have to steal her camera one day.

Then, after eating too much, we all decided to put on our bathing suits. Seriously, who's brilliant idea was that?

We found a couple of crazy Canadians who had setup, not joking, a couch on the beach with the Canadian flag flying in the wind.

We brought out Christmas Tree and that just made it all the better.

Everyone was drinking wine or beer and we all just took in the sun. I, of course, was perched on a beanbag (oh, did I forgot to mention that?) underneath their umbrella. Finally, it became hot enough to go take a dip. I didn't last long, the water is freezing in the Pacific. Brrrr. But it was still nice to say I hung out at the beach on Christmas.

The guys (Blain on top, Jonas on bottom) were competing to sit on the couch.

Where'd the Mexican hat came from? I have no idea. This is Michael, a German guy I live with and work with at Barzura. Plus. He has the most amazing body. Whoa.

The night was even more chill. Melanie had rented Santa Clause (with Tim Allen) for a $1 -- so we watched that. The Irish group was playing cards that lasted F.O.R.E.V.E.R. It wasn't even a drinking game! Pssh. Who are they?

Anyway. That was my Holiday in OZ. New Years is going to be something else. Not necessarily good or bad, but definitely different. We'll see how that all plays out.

So tell me, how was your Christmas?

Midnight Mass

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Although my blog says this is posted on the 24th of December at 7pm, it's really 11am Christmas Day.

The sun is bright, the birds are...actually, not chirping for once. Sweet. Did I mention that they really do sound like children crying out? No. Seriously. I'm not the first one to think that. It just sounds like a kid screaming. It's really bizarre.

ANYWAY.

Midnight mass. Spending the holidays with the true meaning behind it. My roommate, Melanie and I decided we would attend Midnight Mass. She invited a few blokes we live with and a couple of them were all about it. We were to venture to a Catholic Church up the hill in a town close by to Coogee, called Randwick.

After cooking ourselves dinner, Melanie and I decided we'd splurge on dessert and wine as a celebration for our Christmas away from home. We went to several restaurants here in Coogee looking through all the cases. Cheesecake, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Mousse, Eclairs, Cannola, oh my. It was delectable.

We sat down at a cafe and waited....and waited....and waited for a server. We eventually decided to go into the Bottleshop next door and buy ourselves a whole bottle of wine rather than just a glass for the same price. Then. After much deliberation, we decided to get some carrot cake to go and chillax (haha! I used that word) at the restaurant I work at, Barzura. I knew everybody working, so we wouldn't be charged a corkage fee and could probably get hooked up? Yeah. I didn't get hooked up on food, but that's okay.

I ordered the Bread and Butter pudding with frangelico anglaise sauce and double cream.

Need I say more? It. was. orgasmic.

We had a few glasses there (okay, I did) and discussed ex-boyfriends and how crazy the world really is. Then we went back to our place to put up our wine bottles and possibly venture out somewhere else before Church. Yes. This happened all before church.

Thomas, a Slovakian I work with at Barzura (no, not my stalker), called me up asking me to meet him somewhere in Coogee to go get a drink. Sweet -- more alcohol. We went to the Coogee Bay Hotel and had a glass of wine. The conversation was rather difficult, he doesn't really understand English and, I guess, I talk a little too fast for him to understand.

Anyway, afterward, I bought another bottle because they'd be close Christmas Day and, sure enough, I'd want to drink during our Christmas celebrations!

We ended up going back to Barzura, because the guys working told me they'd be hanging around, drinking a bit before they closed up shop. Sure enough, they were all there -- even the boy I have a slight crush on. Shh. Don't tell him.

Yes. He looks gay, but I promise he's not. Mr. Pedro from Chili.

After yet another glass of wine, it was time to go up to the church to listen to Christmas carols sung by the choir and then...midnight mass.

Melanie, John (the Irish guy we can understand), Michael (a German guy I work with at Barzura) and I took a taxi up to Randwick to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
I was really excited because there was a great turn out and the Christmas songs just flowed from the church out into the streets. It was something.

We sat down and sang along with the projector. John was singing pretty loudly, so was I, but that tipped me off that he must be quite a religious guy.

This is going to sound silly, but whenever I went to church with my mom or with friends or family, I'd always scope out the crowd and see if there were any single, cute guys attending mass. Although I'm not a hardcore religious person, I want to raise a family with religious values and to find someone who has those in place, that's a big plus.

I turned to John, making a joke before mass, and told him a secret my mom and I used to do.

When I was younger, I would come up with any excuse in the world to not go to church. And my mom, being the devoted Catholic that she is, would always want to go on Sunday, regardless of being out of town, other obligations, etc. She would try to convince me to go and actually told me, several times, that whenever you visit a new church you get three wishes. Of course, that made going to mass worth it. I repeat. This was when I was younger....just a funny way of looking at things.

After I told John the story, he looks at my blankly and says, "Nah, I'm good. I don't need that."

I was taken aback by that and actually kind of hurt. I told him it didn't have to be a selfish wish, it could be for peace on Earth and he just repeated himself that they don't need that in Ireland.

Wow. He basically just took a tradition that my mom and I have and took a big ol' crap on it.

Thanks, John! Appreciate it!

I was pretty pissed. I'm not going to lie. So, after much contemplation, I decided it was in my best interest to not let the negativity from the situation ruin my midnight mass. So I moved. I just got up, didn't say a word, and stood in the back of the church.

And, don't tell anyone this, I was really moved by the mass. Mostly because I wasn't with family and it was really hard. Really. Really. Hard.

After a inspirational mass, I walked my happy-ass home to Coogee. Alone. It wasn't a bad thing and, of course, being the overly sensitive creature that I am, was what I needed to do.

And then, I met up with a boy named Tristan, who I had met a couple weekends ago because we were both stranded in Central and shared a cab ride home.

Yeah. That's right. His name is Tristan. How hot is that? Brad Pitt from Legends of the Fall anyone? His name wins.

We were sitting on the beach when all these seagulls started freaking out. I'm posting a video, but it's more for the sound than anything else. It was way crazy.

You can hear Tristan in the background with his awesome Australian accent, "Are you going to take a photo? Oh. A video?"

Then me. Making a weird laughing noise at the end. I guess...I was...flirting? If that's what the kids are calling it nowadays.

My night ended with us making out in a children's park up the road from my place. That made up for John's "lack-of-personality" remarks.

So. It's Christmas. It's gorgeous out and I'm ready to make the day out of the beautiful weather.

See ya on the beach!

Zoo & More...

Wow. Can you believe it's been 10 days since I arrived in Oz? Insane. I know. It's been one hell of a roller coaster, but I think that's how life is supposed to be -- can't always be daisies and butterflies, right? O. It can? Damn. Oh well. I'm still making the most of it.

How you ask?

The Zoo.

My new friends, Ronnie and Kristi, have been awesome with keeping me feeling welcome in this crazy, busy city called Sydney. On Saturday, Ronnie called me up asking me if I wanted to go to the zoo with them on Sunday. Did I jump at that chance?

What do you think?

Can you say yes?

(Do I look like a dork or what?)

Guys. Jax zoo has nothing on this place. I mean. Just check out this view.


We kept joking about how they must've had this land for years...I'm guessing sometime around 35 B.C. they bought this place, but that's just a guess. It was fantastic.

Here's a picture blog of all the animals and awesome things we encountered while there:

Leaving Sydney on the Ferry.

The huge zoo.

Look at the levels of the zoo!


Overlooking the Sydney Harbour.

I think I was more impressed by the view than the animals...

I liked the way this one turned out.

It was a gorgeous day for the zoo.

Amazing.

Ah. Here's an animal -- a cool seal show!

A bearcat, like a bear, but in cat form. Or something.

This peacock wasn't afraid to show his true colors.
Yeah, that sounded about as stupid as I thought it would.

He was this close. No lie. Ronnie touched him and he ran.

An elephant -- 7 months pregnant. She likes her baths.

A koala for my momma.

This. sign. is. awesome.

Hey look! It's Australia's deadliest spider!

Let's piss it off!

Note to self: Don't piss off spider.

Obviously, before the spider show.

Mr. Happy Feet!

Bye-bye zoo.

Never gets old.

Awesome skyline, eh?

And, in other news, going out with the Irish boys proved to be....not so fantastic, but at least I got out.

Boys here are so different, very straight-forward, but...I guess...shy? I don't know. Let's just say, I'm not expecting to meet my soul mate in OZ. My mom would be happy to hear that.

Also, I have a stalker. Yes. It's Edward from the other night. He turned out to be....insane. I think that's a good word for it. No need to worry, but he's called me...mm...around 100 times in the past 3 days. Yes. That's not an exaggeration, trust me, I wish it was. I'm safe and he's far away, but he's been nothing but creepy. Hey. Thanks for the free dinner mister! Don't kill me, okay? KThxBye.