More randomocity

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Random List Version Three.

1. I saw a hedgehog wandering in the street today. I think he was lost and/or ill, and he seemed very young. It was my first hedgehog sighting ever, even though they are also common in England. They were brought over here by immigrants to make NZ seem more British. Now they are an invasive species, but they sure are cute.
2. The group of Tui's behind our house are apparently an unusual bunch. They are usually solitary, but we have at least five or six in our big eucalyptus tree, and they love to squawk and chase each other. They are one of my favorite parts about living in this house.
3. The strangest things are expensive. I wanted to buy some eyeliner, but makeup is only carried in the pharmacy here, and it was $27.00. It was more than the rest of my groceries put together, so I passed. But I still need the eyeliner.
4. I conquered the mail merge! The ol' mail merge was one of the reasons I didn't get the HITO job, so I took it upon myself to learn how to do one. Two months later, and the knowledge came in handy, as I was hired to set one up at Sara's office. I just received a text from her saying that the printing went off without a hitch...success!
5. I can feel my accent changing. Being here has made me revert back to my Australian habit of ending every single sentence as a question. Put that on top of my acculumated Britishisms, and I don't sound very American anymore. I realize this as I talk to people at home and start to feel self conscious because we sound so different. Then I talk to a Kiwi, and I feel very American again...my accent is now homeless.
6. I have another job lead, but I don't want to share too much, since nothing ever seems to work out. But just in case, I went shopping for "corporate attire" yesterday, and ended up with three dress jackets to go with my slacks and wool skirts. I spent $22.00 (which, can I point out, is less than the eyeliner?). I've got the look, now I just need the job. Please?
7. My flatmate Nik is an entrepreneur, and has invented a new boardgame which he is going to try to sell to schools. It is called Enterprise: The New Zealand Game, and is sort of like Settlers of Catan and Life put together, and then the Stock Exchange thrown in for good measure. It is very good, and he is just about to print his first versions next week. He also invented a card game with Tarot cards (just for fun, no selling this one). It is called "Seven Shades of Hell" and is based on Dante's Inferno. He is super creative...he is the one that worked on Lord of the Rings.
8. Happy birthday to mom next week!

Love everyone,
and will write again soon,
Amy