Waste

18 December 2008: My first thought on this sunny, birthday morning was: i'm 27 years old - this sucks.

My next thought was: it's Thursday - my morning workout day. And I felt better.

I find my mood is more affected by my activity level, less by the weather. I've come to believe in the power of perspiration, not precipitation. So, I sweat. And I smile.

On Skype, I update mom and dad with my birthday goal:
- J: At 27 years old, I should have a 27 inch waist.
- M: You should be 127 pounds!
- J: What?! Mom, at the end of high school I was 148 pounds and in fine swimming shape...

- M: No, at 127 you'd be svelte.
- J: I'd be bones!
- D: Bones and svelte...

image from: espion

Band

17 December 2008: Team Albi strikes gold at the Canterbury Volleyball Association 4-man social beach games.



At our infancy, I offered a selection of team names:
- "flight of the volleyballs"
- "who likes to rock the party?"
- "brett, jermaine, murray, and mel"
- "you, me, you, and jermaine"
- "team albi"

But now, we are called the champions!

Play

12 December 2008: Flat outing - La Cage Aux Folles.

Feathers, songbirds, and lots of panache.


image from: the court live theatre

Guts

08 December 2008: Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland.

Reminds me of the joke: I've been Catholic since I was conceived...

image from: robertevans_com

Transport

07 December 2008: I've been counting the numbers of bicycles I've seen in Auckland's city streets.

Fredette, my Auckland host, counts the numbers of people we see walking barefoot in the city.

She wins.

image from: sadie shooter

Vocal

06 December 2008: Alicia Keys concert in Auckland.

Soul - oh, duet - with her backup man, and trio - with me. What a musical feast!

image from: stuff

Feet Tucker

04 December 2008: Sailing on the R. Tucker Thompson tall ship in the Bay of Islands.

image from: jackie

Trust

03 December 2008: My official tour guide at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is informative, engaging, and concise. Tick, tick, tick.

We arrive at the flagpole marking the site where the treaty was signed between Maori and the British Crown. Tick, Tick.

Our guide glosses over controversy related to the treaty. Tick.

I ask: What is it like here on Waitangi Day? Boom.

image from: jackie

Engagement

09 August 2008: Happy engagement Jen and John!

On Saturday, 9 August, 2008
John _ _,
from Bradford, West Yorkshire proposed to
Jennifer _ _, from Los Angeles, CA
whilst on the top of the London Eye to which she happily accepted.

The couple have been living together in Guildford, Surrey and look forward to beginning to plan their wedding.

image from: jennifer