Hi everyone,
I sent off my federal write-in absentee ballot today. I hope to complete the state one too, but just in case there is a delay I wanted to make sure I mailed in my vote for Obama. I also faxed some paperwork to the Thurston County auditor...I think all bases have been covered for now!
Sara and Nik are off to Christchurch for five days or so, so Rory and I have the house to ourselves. We plan to celebrate by eating dinners in the living room, watching terrible telly, and using their bathroom to take baths in. Our little ensuite just has a shower, and I miss taking baths every now and then. I'll miss them, but it is always nice to get some peace and quiet for a few days.
Several people have mistaken me for being Irish. It keeps happening, so I decided that the following equation must hold true:
85% American accent + 10% English accent and grammar + 5% Kiwi slang and grammar + speaking really quickly (the Grunenfelder way!) = Irish accent.
Love, Amy
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Happy birthday, Stef!
Hi,
I wanted to wish Stefany a very happy birthday! (And I'll be giving you a call in a bit...)
As of today, there is only a four hour time difference between NZ and Seattle. When you guys 'fall back', there will only be three...hooray!
I'm almost fully recovered from my head cold. It was a nasty one...
Oh, and my computer seems to be broken, or at least the screen is. Thank goodness we still have Rory's!
Phew, now that the news is out of the way, I can tell you about our lazy weekend. On Friday we went out to Malaysian food here in Island Bay, and it was delicious. I love that places here are BYO, which means for just a small corkage fee you can bring in your own wine. It really lowers the cost of eating out. Yesterday we stuck around home and took it easy, as Rory had a sore throat and was hoping to avert the dreaded head cold. I think the plan might have been successful, as he seems much better today. It is sunny, too, so hopefully we'll find an outdoor activity for the rest of the day.
Love you all,
Amy
I wanted to wish Stefany a very happy birthday! (And I'll be giving you a call in a bit...)
As of today, there is only a four hour time difference between NZ and Seattle. When you guys 'fall back', there will only be three...hooray!
I'm almost fully recovered from my head cold. It was a nasty one...
Oh, and my computer seems to be broken, or at least the screen is. Thank goodness we still have Rory's!
Phew, now that the news is out of the way, I can tell you about our lazy weekend. On Friday we went out to Malaysian food here in Island Bay, and it was delicious. I love that places here are BYO, which means for just a small corkage fee you can bring in your own wine. It really lowers the cost of eating out. Yesterday we stuck around home and took it easy, as Rory had a sore throat and was hoping to avert the dreaded head cold. I think the plan might have been successful, as he seems much better today. It is sunny, too, so hopefully we'll find an outdoor activity for the rest of the day.
Love you all,
Amy
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Paranoia
Hi,
Can everybody please do me a favor? Just to give me a little peace of mind? Make sure you have a bit of food stashed away, and some water, or even plant a garden. Please?
Things in the States don't seem to be going well, at least from our view here in Oceania. This bailout is highway robbery, and they are set to print at least $700 billion more dollars. Inflation is going to go sky high, and the American dollar will be weakened even further.
I'm not an expert, but I feel like I understand enough of the situation to be concerned. I'd feel much better knowing that my loved ones are paying attention, and are prepared.
Hopefully you don't consider me stark raving mad.
Love, Amy
Can everybody please do me a favor? Just to give me a little peace of mind? Make sure you have a bit of food stashed away, and some water, or even plant a garden. Please?
Things in the States don't seem to be going well, at least from our view here in Oceania. This bailout is highway robbery, and they are set to print at least $700 billion more dollars. Inflation is going to go sky high, and the American dollar will be weakened even further.
I'm not an expert, but I feel like I understand enough of the situation to be concerned. I'd feel much better knowing that my loved ones are paying attention, and are prepared.
Hopefully you don't consider me stark raving mad.
Love, Amy
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Crappy couple of days
Hi everyone,
First of all, I'm ill and had to stay home from work. My throat, nose, head, and ears all hurt, and I ache all over.
Secondly, there is an indefinite bus strike. Rory went out and waited for the bus, and was lucky enough to have a kind stranger pick him up and drive him into the city centre. Nik is planning on retrieving Rory and Sara tonight, but traffic is going to be a nightmare, and what about tomorrow?
I was feeling so impressed with the bus service, despite a mid-day 'stop work' every now and then. I just used them as an excuse to hang out around town for a few hours, and I didn't let them bother me. But this is something else entirely. Rory and I don't have a car or bikes (not that I'd feel comfortable biking in Wellington's streets anyways), and to walk to the city centre would take at least a few hours. We rely entirely on the bus system, and now they have decided to walk out.
I don't have sick or annual leave days yet. If I can't get to work, I don't get paid. To top things off, it is extremely windy (with a severe gale warning on) and not the right conditions for walking anywhere.
The bus drivers are looking for an 8% pay increase, and the company has offered them 7%. The average NZ increase was only 3.5%. I always try to be friendly toward the drivers, but it might be a little more difficult from now on.
This sucks.
Love, Ames
First of all, I'm ill and had to stay home from work. My throat, nose, head, and ears all hurt, and I ache all over.
Secondly, there is an indefinite bus strike. Rory went out and waited for the bus, and was lucky enough to have a kind stranger pick him up and drive him into the city centre. Nik is planning on retrieving Rory and Sara tonight, but traffic is going to be a nightmare, and what about tomorrow?
I was feeling so impressed with the bus service, despite a mid-day 'stop work' every now and then. I just used them as an excuse to hang out around town for a few hours, and I didn't let them bother me. But this is something else entirely. Rory and I don't have a car or bikes (not that I'd feel comfortable biking in Wellington's streets anyways), and to walk to the city centre would take at least a few hours. We rely entirely on the bus system, and now they have decided to walk out.
I don't have sick or annual leave days yet. If I can't get to work, I don't get paid. To top things off, it is extremely windy (with a severe gale warning on) and not the right conditions for walking anywhere.
The bus drivers are looking for an 8% pay increase, and the company has offered them 7%. The average NZ increase was only 3.5%. I always try to be friendly toward the drivers, but it might be a little more difficult from now on.
This sucks.
Love, Ames
Saturday, September 20, 2008
More pictures of Island Bay
Hi everyone,We had a low-key weekend. The weather sort of decides our activities, and it wasn't ideal for most of it. Saturday was chore day: laundry, tending to my herb garden, cleaning our room, reorganizing the closet. We took a short trip into Newtown, but spent most of the day at home. I made goulash, we drank Aussie wine, and we finished the day by watching 'Some Like it Hot.'
Today was supposed to be our out-and-about day, but it ended up being extremely windy. We managed a walk up to our viewpoint and then over the hill to Happy Valley, but it was slow going and very tiring. We didn't walk as many miles as we usually do on Sunday, but I feel just as exhausted! At one point I really couldn't walk into the wind; it was just too strong. The above pictures were taken at Oku Reserve, our favorite viewpoint. It is so beautiful up there, and we always have the place to ourselves.
Will write again soon.
Love, Amy
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wall-E
Hi everyone,
Another quick week! My job has been going well, and I go to 20 hours per week starting Monday. It is only an extra half hour per day, but there is definitely enough to do that the time will come in handy. I've got a new, full-size desk and new office supplies, and I've enjoyed getting to know everyone. Michelle said that I'll be able to take some free writing courses, which will look great on my CV (and I've heard they are good fun!). One of our trainers is a writer for Flight of the Conchords, so hopefully I can take one of his classes.
Rory's office is treating everyone to Wall-E tonight. It is Pixar's latest film, and it is just coming out here, months after it did in the US. I'll catch a bus back into town soon, meet Rory for some Lebanese food, and then head to the cinema. I'm looking forward to it!
Life is pretty good. Wellington has really grown on me, especially the size of the city. I'm always finding new shops and restaurants, but you can walk across town in just about 20 minutes. It is also funny how you run into people you know wherever you go. Rory and I have perfected our morning routine and catch the 'Express' bus every morning, and we always see our coworkers out and about in town before we get to our stop. The bus system is really impressive here.
I can't believe that tomorrow is Friday already. We don't have any plans at the point, but as long as it is sunny, there is plenty left to explore.
Love, Amy
Another quick week! My job has been going well, and I go to 20 hours per week starting Monday. It is only an extra half hour per day, but there is definitely enough to do that the time will come in handy. I've got a new, full-size desk and new office supplies, and I've enjoyed getting to know everyone. Michelle said that I'll be able to take some free writing courses, which will look great on my CV (and I've heard they are good fun!). One of our trainers is a writer for Flight of the Conchords, so hopefully I can take one of his classes.
Rory's office is treating everyone to Wall-E tonight. It is Pixar's latest film, and it is just coming out here, months after it did in the US. I'll catch a bus back into town soon, meet Rory for some Lebanese food, and then head to the cinema. I'm looking forward to it!
Life is pretty good. Wellington has really grown on me, especially the size of the city. I'm always finding new shops and restaurants, but you can walk across town in just about 20 minutes. It is also funny how you run into people you know wherever you go. Rory and I have perfected our morning routine and catch the 'Express' bus every morning, and we always see our coworkers out and about in town before we get to our stop. The bus system is really impressive here.
I can't believe that tomorrow is Friday already. We don't have any plans at the point, but as long as it is sunny, there is plenty left to explore.
Love, Amy
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