building techniques

the kiwis rarely start building from the foundation and work their way up [amerikan way]. because they are on the upside down part of the earth they sometimes build from the top and finish the foundation last:



or...


finish one side completely before going on to others.

labour day

it's labour day.
my second of the year.

i've been unemployed for both.

i realize that

but what does a hokey or pokey taste like? and does it go well with the chicken dance salad i've made?

the muffin man

with boxed mixes starting at $4.00, people actually bake in new zealand. my flattie makes muffins for lunch. this one looks like a frog puking.

all juiced up

with no place to go.

i have literally spent all day browsing the internet. she's finally connected and i missed her so.... the way she told me phone numbers, addresses and appointments.... how i could order something and have it arrive while i'm gone... and all the heart-felt, meaningful comments i've always dreamed of having on my blog...

rope's end

it's missing an apostrophe, but all in all a pretty appropriate sign for me to live near.

waited by the door ALL DAY for internet people to come.... only to find out my flatmate told me the wrong day: it's tomorrow [as in "the internet is coming tomorrow" not as in "today is tomorrow" unless you're reading this from the central time zone in which case my today is your tomorrow]

although, a guy did come to the door today and said, "don't worry mate-i'm not hear to sell you broadband or anything..." then went on about neglected kids.... little did he know i really wanted the broadband... he should start "i've got broadband" and then once your interested say "kids suffer"... i like to think that me getting broadband will help children somehow...

flora and fauna report

a gnarly treed "grieg" forest


a gnarly treed "grieg" forest

tired of weeds in your yard? pull one and exchange it for a NZ native plant. i yanked fennel and a geranium to get toe-toe and wineberry. your tax dollars at work.

departure gate

location :: san fran departure terminal
caption :: reviewing old photos on my camera

news ::
! my $1.50/liter shampoo from "the warehouse" doesn't lather...
! orange juice here is made from an apple base (70%)...
! and strangely, that lathers...

cultural xchanges

in america :: "mcdonalds"
kiwi translation :: pub-lick-toy-lets
definition :: when you need to use a bathroom, these are provided free of charge. they're all over downtown and they're ace.

---

today was a "wasted day".... dealing with smoke detector batteries... cleaning the gutter.... setting the clock on the over (the only clock).... doing laundry since it got really hot to air dry clothing.... grocery shopping (tandori dinner!).... but i never got to the library to read or write. however, that's what tomorrow and it's 70% chance of rain is for....

*** SIDE DISH ***
if i had known floppy disks were $3 a pop here, i wouldn't have thrown out $150 before i left minneapolis.

but if i had known you could buy them from a wall dispenser, i never would have come.

*** ENTREE ***
went to a farmer's market and decided that's how i need to buy fruit and veggies from now on. it was all so fresh, cheap and friendly [sound familiar?]. with candy starting at $1 [usd] per bar, my chocoholism will be supplanted with fresh produce.

i'm slowly accumulating "tramping" gear. tomorrow is "tramping club". where i "hope to sign up for a one-day walk."

*** UTENSILS ***
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