04 July 2008: An invitation for an American/New Zealand crossover celebration at Kolbe House:
Join us at Kolbe House after mass for a lunch party to celebrate the 4th of July (it's an American thing) and also the 5th anniversary of Fr John's ordination (it's a Catholic thing). There will be plenty of hot dogs, apple pie and some beer.
Dr Peter Field (UC History Dept) will give a short talk on John Adams, 2nd president of the United States and hero of the American Revolution. There will also be a presentation in honour of Fr John Adams.
Upon leaving, I ask Ken for a high five goodbye. I lean in. He laughs, puts up his hand and smashes forward - missing my face by a few inches. We try again, this time connecting far from square.
- Never do that with a blind man.
- We'll practice, Ken.
image from: sullivan-county
Friday, July 4, 2008
Second
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Welcome
03 July 2008: Happy Birthday baby Oscar!
Congratulations Mama Stephanie and Papa Frank!
image from: Frank
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Staccato
25 June 2008: First practice of the World Youth Day Cathedral choir.
We're singing for the pilgrims en route to Sydney. I decided not to go to the event, but if I sing to the pilgrims, they'll leave New Zealand for sure...
Our choir director, Ken, reads the sheet music in Braille. Quite fascinating.
image from: wikipedia
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Thick
08 June 2008: Snow in Christchurch sent me running to the shores and hills.
Yesterday's weather report predicted dreadful weather, but dreamy surf. Who would be crazy enough to brave the weather in order to enjoy quality waves at Sumner Beach?
As it turns out, Boudewijn and I were the only ones that crazy. We had a quick look, then warm drinks.
Heading from the rain soaked shore returning inland, snow started to fall and stick. Even the university had a good powdering. The streets started to look like the New England winter I missed after crossing the equator.
Today, Tall and I hauled ourselves up Mount Richardson. I enjoyed the wonderful sound of snow crunching all the way up 1049 meters.
image from: jackie
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Leggy
05 June 2008: My bicycle ride home now faces the challenges of winter weather.
My advice is: Do not listen to Flight of the Conchords in the cold.
I was smiling so much my lips froze to my gums.
image from: luzer
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Breakfast
02 June 2008: I also got the joke of the weekend award.
Monday morning, Small notes she's surprised she can eat the same breakfast every day and not get tired of it.
I reply: It's called monogamy.
Then I had to quickly exit kitchen stage left because Tall and Small started to coo at each other...
image from: babi_santander
Peak
02 June 2008: Around Aoraki, it's easy to say the view really grew on me.
Tall, Small, and I arrived in Lake Tekapo Saturday night. Out in the blackness the couple gestured to the lake they're going to pedal 90 kms around in Sunday's mountain bike race. Instead, that night I continued to Unwin Hut at Mount Cook Village.
Sunday, I woke up in a cloud. I enjoyed rainy day walks around the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier with no one but me to enjoy. Single bliss accompanied by Paul Simon songs. The weather partly cleared on my return, and I wandered along the Kea Point and Sealy Tarns tracks with fabulous views of the ice and snow on Mount Sefton.
Finally, by Monday it was all clear. All 3754 meters of Mount Cook's cloud piercing glory.
images from: jackie
