Bleeding Burgundy and Blue

Murphy's law kicked me in the ass tonight. Pardon the language if there are any young eyes reading this but I think my usage of words is acceptable at present. Of course, the first night I actually play in my authentic Avs jersey that Lucy bought for me last year I bleed all over it. In typical fashion I've ruined yet another present and both our one year of dating anniversary gifts of last October are now either missing in action or looking like one took a bullet in the line of duty.

I was spun around all night by some Russian players who thought it clever to play on the same team and give us a thrashing. ( if youve ever seen the South Park episode entitled Stanley's Cup you know what Im talking about). Basically substitute the Russians with the Detroit Red Wings and substitute our team with kindergartners playing in Avs sweaters. I've seen bear maulings on TV come out better. Aside from being out of shape and huffing and puffing all night this was the icing on the cake. A big wind up for a slap shot and I have to go leaning in, trying to block an otherwise meaningless shot. Not only did my friend kershenkov (no that's not a ethnic slur, I actually believe that to be his name)score but the tail end of his follow through punished the right side of my jaw. I thought my jaw used to crack and my neck used to creak but man now I'm throwing back a few Pear Ciders just to numb the senses (don't judge me, its all that was left in the fridge and they're actually quite delicious!).

Luckily, a bit of glue and some butterfly strips sealed the small laceration but thankfully for a doctor keen on getting off early he missed the carnage inside my mouth. A nice flap of gum is no longer attached to where it should be and exposed are the roots of three of my teeth. Yay! Given they're not knocked out thanks to my mouthguard but it's certainly not pretty. I decided to go to the main Hospital in Auckland where they were very reluctant to call this a dental emergency. Two reasons being there was nothing life threatening about it and I wasn't screaming. Good o'l socialized healthcare in action. On top of that I was charged $2.50 for parking and getting two slips of paper with numbers of dentists to call in the morning. I shouldn't complain too much because I was semi patched up at no cost to me. No wonder I was charged $2.50 for less than ten minutes in a hospital car park, they need to pay their doctors!

Fear not for those of you that read this before I head out early to get fixed because it doesn't hurt too bad and I associate how bad something is with it's associated pain levels.

Murphy sucks but at least I have some juicy substance for my blog!

G'Night!

Ocean

No matter what coastline I sit at, nostalgia floods my senses with the familiar smell of ocean drifting across a light breeze, smacking head first into memories of being in the Bahamas, Hawaii or Zanzibar. The scent of salt, fish and decaying organisms transports me to a dock on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas where a local man is selling fresh conch off his dingy, or catching large fish off the coast of Hawaii and sitting down to eat fresh snapper on a beach in Zanzibar. This allows me to reinstate peace of mind when I feel far from those I love knowing they're never that far away. Surprisingly I have felt quite at home here in Kohimarama thanks to a great set of Flatmates and I imagine it's going to set up a great summer filled with trips to the north shore, BBQ's and sun.

It's quite amazing how much a person can miss of the surrounding area when focused on driving. Having walked to the beach from my house (an exhausting 10min stroll) I've discovered multiple cafe's, a fish market and fruit stand along with the local wine store and a few restaurants. People are certainly recluses when it's winter here which is pretty mild if you ask me. Received a taste of the summer atmosphere last weekend when the beaches and cafe's along the shoreline drive were packed with people on the first bluebird day of Spring.

I watched a gentleman today comb the shore at low tide with his metal detector not sure if this was a true passion of his or just a way to occupy time. Another couple photographed him in amazement for about ten minutes and snuck a few of me as well since I was in a pretty interesting place making it look as if I was floating on top of the water where I sat. It made me wonder what these persons passions in life were. What did they enjoy doing the most? What did they find pleasure, gratification and fulfillment in and what if anything holds them back from realizing their greatest dreams. I applied this to my life and realized simultaneously that I'm currently living one of those dreams.

Apologies if this post doesn't have a lot of flow but I'm just pouring ideas and thoughts down at the moment.

I'm extremely fascinated with seeing how much The All Blacks rugby team is supported here. So much that one in five cars has flags or banner streaming from them, most Kiwi households have flags showcasing support throughout town and even fire engines on runs to emergencies have giant flags flying behind the blare of siren and light. Fans certainly bleed black down here. Sadly the Americans had their last game last night against the Italians but from what I've heard their team since last World Cup has improved substantially but it's going to be quite a number of years until they are potential contenders. One of my Flatmates just received from a client a pair of Finals tickets accompanied by a ride to and from the event, corporate box seats and dinner off-site before the game. For a Kiwi this is what they dream about at night. We shall see if The All Blacks make it to the final night at the end of next month. If they pull it off I'd expect a city wide bender for days if not weeks after.

Spring hockey starts on the 3rd and I'm so excited to be playing on a consistent basis through Christmas. My boys are about to start their season soon as well. Hopefully they can pull themselves out of the bottom of the NHL this year! Go Avs!

The Score

True cost is something I've hit head on here in New Zealand. To fill up my Subaru last week cost me $114NZD which to any self respecting American, wonderful lobbyists and alternative fuel killing gangsters is astronomical. My jaw dropped when I went in shop to snag a coffee and came out to see the pump still turning over at $90 then just laughed as it climbed higher and higher. And to think I've seen a few Hummers lurching about down here. Food is expensive here and not just the foreign imports as you would expect but lamb too because farmers can make more on overseas markets than within local ones most of the time. Wine has the highest per bottle price in the world for domestic wine. I remember being in Northern Italy a few years back for the FIS Cups Ski Jumping and wine was still cheaper than water in certain spots. Although that wine was purchased in a jug which was filled across the road at the vineyard itmwas still cheaper than water! I have mentioned this before but my financial situation is starting to take it's toll, although I've been told to relax as I'm on a working holiday and not trying to start a new life.

To further the bad news my employment at The Family of XII within SkyCity bar has ceased due to numerous actions and decisions by corporate level management to treat me less than
adequately. I was sourced specifically for a certain job and found it more than disrespectful that on multiple occasions I was pulled from the bar that I was hired to open and operate to fill the needs of a corporation who failed to hire enough staff. In my opinion SkyCity would have failed within it's first 6 months had there not been a casino attached to. I could go on for another two paragraphs as to all the incompetence and lack of caring I witnessed but it would be a waste of your time to badger on aimlessly. Long story short I'm on the hunt for a job again. In the meantime I have all my ski gear up on the local auction website trying to scrap together enough cash to live. Don't shed a tear, I'm having fun down here it's just a bit different than the lifestyle and cost of goods back in good ol' PC.

Now, on to the good news. I finally laced up the skates again although no pucks were allowed on the ice at the time the Carhartts, cap and skates I was wearing sufficed as enough gear for an hour long skate. After that, buzzed on endorphins I went on a hike up to the top of a bluff near where im living and witnessed at least one if not multiple Orcas surfacing in the afternoon sun. Today I helped with the NZ wine growers blind tasting event at AUT university and not only was payed a decent amount but was able to take home four cases of opened wine to taste, take notes on and then share with the flatties and new friends around the neighborhood. That is what I call a score and since it's been a day I will leave you with a few pics as usual.

Rain such as thoughts...

It is raining here in Auckland at a rate and weight I have never experienced. The two storms I've encountered first hand were boisterous monstrosities named Hugo and Andrew but this puking of the sky is constant, seamless and calm.

I have been present here in Auckland but for a few moments of the past few weeks. Now that I'm truly inspired I seem to have lost the initial blurp in dilluted thought. Blank walls surround me; void of any preference or memory, they simply blur into beige as the canvas of my new home transfixed.

Now it is quiet, my mind not so much.

Rugby World Cup 2011 started off with multiple explosions and I wish I could take credit for the photo or say truly that I saw the roman candle display of pyrotechnics above the skyline just a few nights ago. But I'm not and I didn't as I was experiencing something far more profound. After and through much pressure of my group and course leader I did get to see the All Blacks beat up on Tonga via the scoreboard but from the crushing hits I think Tonga won the physical battle bar none. Scotland is up a game in their pool and unfortunately the Eagles (The USA team which very few know exists thanks to the gridiron game) lost to the Irish yesterday. The very sad part about the celebration was the disrespect for a city that is so multicultural and beautiful. The city of sails on opening night of Rugby World Cup was trashed. I can understand getting completely annihilated but throwing garbage everywhere along a street that kindly the city shutdown to bring people together is unacceptable. Similar to but on a lesser extent of the riots in Vancouver after Boston won the Stanley Cup or the recent violence in and around London proper due to the shooting of a man. It is disgusting to see how people treat their home, not just aucklanders but the entirety of human civilization. I'm not taking myself out of the equation however because I still take the occasional whizz on a cement wall while spitting gum on the sidewalk after a few pints so I'm not exempt just aware of the human condition.

And we wonder why our taxes are so high, or why New Zealand has the highest teen suicide rate per capita in the world? Why 1/3 of Americans are now considered obese, or why we only donate money rather than getting off our asses to do something for our fellow man. We as a collective truly do not care for one another. Quite fascinating considered we all exist in the same space and time on the same ball of dirt, water, fire and gas as every single other entity we percieve to exist; self centered and unaware of our interconnectedness.

It's funny, it's sad and it is every word, phrase or explanation we've ever come up with as a species and then, it all goes.

3/64 and XII

Sitting on the couch at 3/64 Hawera Road, Kohimarama Auckland 1071, the new digs. The last three days have been pretty hectic but I finally feel as though I'm hitting my stride here in Auckland. Turning an empty space into a wine bar in two days was no easy task but through a bit of perseverance and sweat we succeeded and opened to the owners, winemakers and finally the public on time. The who's who of wine critics, wine makers and winos were in attendance with all three being interchangeable at times. The space is small but gorgeous and it should be really fun throughout the World Cup to be in the heart of the big city serving a taste of NZ's top wines from the Family. I met Barbara Lawson who with her late Husband, Ross started Lawson's Dry Hills in Marlborough. She is showcasing a Pinot Rose, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer sourced from 30 year old vines for this event. Unfortunately upon introducing myself I asked how her Yellow Labrador, Timo is doing and she told me that sadly the pup who it's rumored controlled the time of harvest by his taste for just ripened grapes had passed as well. I wonder if Timo is a bit of the wines we were drinking that night? Sir George Fisternich of Villa Maria was in attendance as was Judy Finn of Neudorf down in Nelson. The Brakjovich's were also there from Kumeu River. Enough of these starstruck ramblings but to meet people who have poured their heart and soul into their greatest passion which in turn brings people together in celebration is quite thrilling to me. Thrilling in the sense that I feel passionate as well although I still need the adrenaline as well just to prove to myself I have a pulse.

The new place is perfect although I don't have any bedroom furniture I think it'll be great. A proper kitchen and a huge deck with wooden shutters are the highlight for me although being ten minutes from the center of the city by car isn't bad either. Oh and a brief walk from my front door and the beach is there as well. I'm ready to welcome a beautiful and hot summer!

It's quite eerie to think how far away I am from a place that I call home but maybe a shift in the way I think has made me consider this to be quite similar. I am content most of the time and although it is extremely difficult to be away from the friends and family I love, New Zealanders are making me feel as if I've been here my entire life rather than 5 weeks.

On a side note, cards, gifts, cases of wine, anything and everything is welcome to be shipped to me. Ship yourself if you so choose as well, you've got the new address.

I'll be back in touch when something worth telling you comes up but for now, raise a glass and cheers those you love and love to be with and I'll leave you with some pics of the new bar and the new home base.