Back Home

Finally got home on the 16th of March (two months ago already!) and it feels so great. I'm not going to fall back into that routine which usually leads to feeling like I was stuck in a rut. I work at it everyday and everyday it's struggle. But I have a plan for the next phase of my life, and that's a first.

The flight from Sydney to L.A. went by quickly. I took a handful of Dramamine before I got on the plane and watched about 5 movies while we were flying. I would recommend flying Virgin and if I can, I'm probably going to try to fly with Virgin on future trips. They were so friendly, polite, clean, and..well, pretty. Jenn and I prepared ourselves for our 7 1/2 hour layover at LAX and bought an all day pass for the wireless were we tried to catch up on all the LOST we missed, but by the 3rd episode, we really couldn't stay focused.

The time came when we were supposed to board our Delta flight back to Minnesota. I hate flying domestic, especially with Delta. It was so chaotic. Our flight didn't take off until 3:30 in the morning, 6 hours after our original flight time. The plane's wing had a broken part on it so they told us they were trying to find out if there was a new part to replace it, locally. Of course there wasn't. They then directed us to another gate to get onto a new, unbroken plane that was about 40 seats smaller than the first. It took another hour or so of the Delta people asking if there was anyone who could delay going home tonight. They put those people up in hotels for two nights and gave them food vouchers. If Jenn and I hadn't just spent 15 hours on a plane, 13 hours in an airport and actually had had some sleep, we probably would have taken them up on the offer! I'd always wanted to see L.A. but at that point I just wanted to get home. We were so close!

After figuring out who would stay behind, they had to redistribute new tickets. That was hell. No one knew what they were doing, including the Delta employees. Jenn and I finally got our new tickets and got on the plane. We had to wait for another hour for the flight attendants to get on the same page and for the rest of the passengers to sit down. FINALLY, we took off at about 3:30! I was so cold on the flight because I was sitting by the window. That was the first time on all of my flights that I have gotten a seat by the window and it wasn't that bad. I thought for sure I'd get sick as usual, but I was fine.

Off the plane in Minnesota, Jenn and I thought that our mom, who was the lucky one to pick us up, would have bombarded us. But surprisingly: nothing. We got our baggage and headed out the door and there was our mom, sitting in her truck. She didn't see us come out so I went and pounded on her window and scared the crap out of her. It was great fun.

After 24 hours + of no sleep, I surprisingly got my 2nd wind and agreed to drive to Wisconsin with my mom to surprise my older sister, who was visiting with my nephews, for her birthday. We told her we weren't coming back home for another month. We first saw our 3 year old nephew and as soon as he saw us he said "Oh my gosh!" That was the longest, and tightest hug I've gotten from him! After quietly kissing and hugging our nephews, my sister was called upstairs. We screamed Happy Birthday as soon as we saw her and gave her huge hugs. It's funny when you can literally see someone try to register something on their face, and that's exactly what Kassie was doing as soon as she saw us. Jenn and I had a bet going on. I bet that she would get her red blotches and cry and Jennie bet that she would just be like "whatever." She was really happy to see us but to my disappointment, no tears! Blast!

Like I said before, we've been home for 2 months and all the while I've been trying to find a job! I'm so poor, I could cry, and have! I even reapplied to Cub. Yeah.. that desperate. I'm so exhausted at applying, interviewing and not getting anything. Well, I did get a job at Stride Rite but I had to leave.... That's a different story that maybe I'll talk about later. Please hire me somebody! And unfortunately I've had to ask my dad (of all the stinkin' people) to help me out with bills. I have always been so proud of the fact that I've never had to borrow money of others, that I was always the one helping people out. It's really hard to ask. I hate this position I'm in right now but I am trying to find a new job. Tomorrow I think I'm going to call about newspaper deliveries. Not the ideal work, but it's good money. And I don't really mind having to get up that early as long as I can go back to bed!

Later, amigos.

Uhhh

Jenn and I are sitting on a stinky couch in Wollongong, Australia, watching a movie in our hostel lobby. There is another young man watching, whom, apparently, thinks it's okay to put his hand down his pants and have a feel. Excuse me, I don't want to see that.

So it has been a while since I've updated. I don't think I'll go into detail right now, but we have seen a lot. We've worked our way up from Wollongong to Agnes Water along the east coast here in Australia. Even though I'm quite sick of hostel life, we have met some really great people from all over the world. And have some pretty funny stories to tell from our experiences.

We made it all the way up to Agnes Water- Town of 1770 and then had to come back down to Wollongong to stay with Mel, with a stop in Brisbane, which I think is my favourite city so far, until we got our tax refunds. Our plan now is to go back up to Cairns, which is way, way up there, and dive in the Great Barrier Reef. And then come home. With a little bit of money. Jenn and I have been talking about finding our own place to live since we got to Australia, which is a little odd. My plan when I get home is to go back to school for my esthitician license, and find a nice, comfy spa job.

Mel has been really great. She has made it really easy and has helped us out so much. I'm so gratefull. I can't wait until she and Tom come to the U.S. and gets to stay with us (hopefully in our own place!).

That's all for now. I think when I finally get home I can go into detail about our trip here. It's hard finding wi-fi and when you do, it costs a lot of money.

Oh, yeah... Amanda should be having her Noah any day now and I'm so excited for her!! I'm going to find something real Australian to send to the baby!

Later

Lazy

Just wanted to write and apologize to those who read my blog, the two of you. I've been so lazy about blogging lately. I'm either out walking all over Australia all day and too tired to update it when I get home or I think I have absolutely nothing interesting to say to anyone ever. I'm not too clever and my sense of humour really doesn't come off in a blog. But I'll update it soon. I promise!

Australia so far...

I really need to update this blog. I haven't in awhile so I have a lot to say but I don't think I'll get to that today.

I've been in Australia for a week already and I really fucking miss my dad. It's so strange. When I was in Europe for a month and someone asked me if I missed anyone, I could've honestly said "hell, no!" But here I feel so homesick. And I know it's because I've never been this far away from my friends and family. Australia is fantastic and I know I'm lucky to be able to travel but I feel like it's not meshing as well as I thought it would. Don't get me wrong, I love this country so far, it's beautiful and the people are so nice but it doesn't feel quite right.

I'm probably jumping the gun being the homebody and worrier that I am. I'm going to give this experience a chance. I just really miss my dad.

An era has ended

Today was my last day of work. I did good until I was leaving and saying goodbye to people. And then I started to bawl. I cried on my way to my sister's house too. I absolutely hated that job but I'll miss so many people. I also got a beautiful bouquet of long-stem roses and a box of chocolates from Vera. I wonder what it says on the box because it's all in Russian. I also got lilies from Margie, a card from Ted and the gang in the bakery and a "We'll Miss You Balloon." And tons of hugs. I still have the urge to cry my eyeballs out. I've never quit a job before so it's all new to me. Especially since I've worked there with the same people for as long as I have.

An era has ended. Time for something new.

Soon, Soon, Soon!

Today is Monday, October 12th. My last day working for Cub Foods, after 8 years and 2 months, is this Saturday. Our plane takes off in 15 days. Right now I don't feel excited, scared nor anxious. Don't worry, it will hit me. It comes in waves.

Thinking about my last day at Cub brings mixed emotions. I was hired in August of 2001 when I was 16. I've worked in 3 different departments, found good, good friends in co-workers and have had to deal with a range of crabby customers. At the end of the day that job sucked and I should have left it a long time ago. But thinking about it makes me a little bit sad. I was talking to my friend Daleen about it and she said "yeah, it's normal to feel sad about it. It's like an era of your life coming to an end." So true. It also has me panicked. I will be unemployed for the first time in 8 years. No income. That freaks me out, like it would anybody. I think I will definitely stop in the Saturday before we leave to say goodbye. People I will miss: Susan, whom I was hired, orientated and worked with in the deli and all of our talk about my 'engagement' to her foxy son, Matthew (still wanna marry him, by the way), Stacy, all of our make-up talk, Ted, Vera, Mike, that dirty-mouthed bitch Amy, Shelly and Lisa. I know there's probably more.

Soon I'll be getting on a plane, flying towards Sydney, Australia to hopefully start a new era in my life. I know I'll be back in 8 months but I will still miss some of thrills and tortures of working at Cub.

I Am Obsessed With Vintage

Lately, I find myself obsessing about the 40's. The hair, the make-up, the clothes, and of course the shoes! I've been craving more and more knowledge about that decade. I have always been fascinated with those years: life before, during and after the war, the glamourous men and women of the movies, etc.. But more so than lately. I only want to watch movies set in or of that time and I just bought a book about vintage hairstyling. I'm so excited! In cosmetology school, once I got the hang of it, I rocked the fingerwaves and pin curls. Looking through this book though kind of overwhelms me but practice makes perfect so I'm going to try them! Now if only I could find a pair of 40s-esque Spectator Pumps (size 10 please) that would make my life!

Whatever movie I watch, I'm always curious as to how they did the make-up. Sometimes I stare and stare and wonder about the techniques that I have to rewind large parts of the movie because I wasn't really paying attention to the plot. The same goes with hairstyles, especially in movies of the '30s, '40s and '50s. I'm glad I found a how-to book... That ought to keep me busy.

I'm off to watch a movie. Maybe Leave Her to Heaven with the insanely beautiful Gene Tierney? Or Since You Went Away? Or The Palm Beach Story? Or Gilda? Okay this could go on and on...