Snow bound

Well I did say I wanted snow.........we've now had around 3ft (I am so Americanised) in 24hrs. This has meant many things. Firstly an entertaining journey up from Ranch Central to K & Bs and yes, at least some digging out of vehicles. Spot the man........we ended up turning around and having to go via a different route. After a little more off roading and some outstanding driving from B we did get to our destination. At least we were on the Ranch!

Of course now we can't get back down the road to Ranch Central because Eddie hasn't been able to plow the road because you can't actually see the road or where you have plowed!
Staff at Ranch Central have called to say the yellow house is now avalanche central as the snow falls off the roof creating a lovely wall of snow around the whole house - I think I will have to dig my way back in.
The dogs are happier now that B has successfully been able to get the heaters working in the kennels (they live challenging and difficult lives). From left is Duke (Dukie), Khan (Khanie) and Luckie (sometimes called stupid or Lucky Luck depending on his behaviour!). Most nights (when it isn't snowing) we take them for a walk and, when K & B were in NY, I played Nanny. They each come with there own personality but are lovely characters. There are a couple of other dogs on the Ranch too so when it comes to the dog quota this is my form of paradise.
On the celebration front I had a very lovely birthday made up of good food and wine and generally having a very nice time with K & B. Lots of nice email messages too - thanks, all made me feel very special. Turning 40 appears not to be the crisis it could have been as, well, it feels not unlike being 39.......only living on the otherside of the world.
Xmas was a lovely day. Started the night before with bubbles and caviar - which is a ritual K&B have. Rolled into the next day to start with pancakes and then, later in the day, a very lovely Xmas dinner cooked by B, followed by a movie with cheese board. Random point of interest - this is actually my 3rd Xmas with K & B in the US. Holiday season is proving to be very pleasant indeed. Couple of the staff gave me presents too, which was a lovely unexpected surprise.
New Year is likely to be a quiet affair (you know food, wine, movies, dog walking in the snow). Can't say life is tough. I am making the most of it in advance of actually becoming a tax paying alien!
Happy New Year all.

Merry Xmas New Zealand

Here's a little Xmas cheer (thanks effe.........).
Been off to the movies and saw The Good Sheperd which is the story of how the CIA was created. Actually it's not really quite as dry as that sounds. It's really the personal story of one guy (Matt Damon) and his family (Angelina Jolie) and is directed by Robert De Niro. It's well over two hours long and intense so don't go if you're looking for a Xmas chuckle. Went and saw Cassino Royale as well - that's really good (does help if you are a fan of 007).
Had my first solo drive (shuffling cars to the airport for K&B returning from NY). Which was a little nerve wracking but no car or body parts were lost in the making of the story - there are some crazy drivers in this town and nobody but nobody lets you into any lane anywhere. B assures me that's not the case in NY and just seems to be how they do things around here.
Watched Eddie (resident cowboy), Renee (his wife and "house manager" for the main house - she calls herself housemaid but I don't think that quite captures it) and their daughter give injections to their calves. Bein' a city girl it was, well, quite a startling process (Greytown gals already laughing - I can hear you). They drive the calves down a channel, caputure them one at a time at the end by dropping one gate and closing the calves heads in another - all very quick and aggressive. Ears then get tattooed, shots given (vets did that) and then calves released to go to mama. Despite Eddies generous offer I declined to be part of the "herding the cattle" to the far end of the Ranch...........pointing out to him (as he well knows), putting me on a horse to take anything anywhere would most likely take a week and I couldn't guarantee we would have half the number of cattle we started with.
We are having Xmas dinner on the ranch - it will be a food extravaganza (my role is cheese board so I'm not feeling overly pressured). Then we are going to watch a DVD on the big screen. Simple and nice.
Snow is melting away but still plenty for the dogs to play in and enough to give the illusion of a white Xmas. For New Year we are thinking about having fireworks down at the rifle range and inviting staff and family - going to check out the local fireworks factory outlet (yep right here in Moriarty.....).
Oh not sure that I have explained but Stanley itself actually only consists of a post office. Before I leave I am going to take a photo as a reminder.
Random disturbing fact of the week - while shop lifting continues to be a problem for all retailers bookstores report that the single most stolen book is the bible!
Religious or not that whole idea kinda does your head in.

Birthday photos

Nope not of me but all that snow.....oh and it's taken me a few days 'cos I'm so busy and stressed (yeah right) that I forgot how to log into flickr (arrrrrrrrrgh). Anyway click on the flickr icon to see the snow.

Happy birthday to me

Today I turned 40 and the only thing I really really wanted was snow……and so it is. I love the messages I got and the presents – so don’t think the people (and the conversations) don’t matter. But last night I got to crunch though the snow. It was simple and lovely and quiet and just, well, really really lovely.
Oh and screw the date time group on the blog - in New Mexico it is 12.01 on the 20th of December...........and I have already enjoyed 24hrs of birthday in New Zealand.

Santa is coming

Wow time is flying by. It's been a busy few weeks. Thanks Giving is over and I managed to get two Thanks Giving Dinners. Shared a lunch with the staff and them, very kindly, Renee and Eddie (who live and work here) invited me to their Thanks Giving dinner. They live in the house across from me. It was fab with them, their kids, Renee's dad and brother, their friend and his son. Food was as you would expect - lots of it! Had traditional "bean casserole" - sounds awful (actually it doesn't look fab either) but tastes very fine.........no idea why bean casserole is a traditional Thanks Giving dish.
We've also had K's birthday which rolled into a two day affair with staff morning tea, evening nibbles and bubbles one day and then off to Santa Fa for dinner the following night. Cocktails in a trendy, very modern looking bar then off to a lovely little restaurant in a traditional adobe. There are many bonuses in staying with "ex chefs" who appreciate good food and wine!
B and I got the Xmas tree and K and I decorated it. I also spent a day or two helping put up Xmas lights around Ranch Central. Makes the place very festive at night and all the staff decorate their own homes as well.
Spent an interesting few hours with a job search agency who (for a price) put together a marketing plan to get you a job (career planning). Gave me some really good ideas but at the end of the day "the price wasn't right" and it seemed to me that it wasn't all it appeared to be........good process though.
Got my first birthday card to be informed I was now a B.I.T.C.H (Babe In Total Control of Herself) - made me chuckle alot (thanks - you know who you are!).
K&B are in New York celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary - personally I've decided to credit my relationship longevity using hours as a measure...............it's all in the spin.
Peter and I are now painting rooms in the bunkhouse (no no bunks...............).
Have started the process for getting myself to San Fran so, on balance, I'm certainly not bored.

It's snowing!!!!

Happy happy happy joy joy joy - it's snowing, well it was snowing now it's just a beautiful cold crisp day! Continueing to keep myself busy (been working in the "big house" helping clean etc etc). Have expanded my CV hugely - general ranch hand (painting, raking leaves) and house maid (dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing) - I have become very "general list" while here.
Also am most happy as I have actually started to get rejection emails for jobs (this is good as it means that people are actually receiving/reading my resume). Have also given myself a chat about making sure I actually apply for jobs I am qualified for rather than just any job.............well we all have our moments. Also discovered several new job sources so feeling very optimistic.

Don Brash

........is an embarassment to every long standing, dedicated public servant.

In the interests of not being too serious

Some things you might not know about me (I stole this whole idea from someone else’s blog)
- My first hero was Peter Pan
- When I dream I always make myself fly
- I know when I am unhappy in my life because I can’t fly
- My most favourite thing (okay a big favourite thing) is to take myself off with a newspaper early in the morning, drink coffee and eat bacon and eggs………alone
- I came second in the trampoline competition at the rural school I attended when I was 11, I never got over second ‘cos I knew why I didn’t get first
- My favourite musical is Les Miserable….full of heroes, guns and revolutionary spirit
- My biggest fear in life is to not have lived it to the fullest – the secret source of my regular “I am giving up corporate life”
- The book that probably influenced me the most in life was “The silver sword” – which is all about children surviving war and was read to me when I was 9
- The book that taught me it’s okay to be obsessive was “James the Policeman” - I was probably 8 when I read it (go find it if you dare)
- The biggest love of my life was………..nah, now you are just being nosey

Getting focused

It's been a busy few weeks. Still enjoying the great outdoors and working with Peter. Weather here is largely rain free, with clear crisp (and getting crisper) days. I am now getting pretty obsessed with finding work. If I don't get any traction soon I am going to re.locate to San Fran. Have gone off the East coast a bit having heard from some of K&Bs friends about the lifestyle. West coasters would seem to be way friendlier and much more easy going.
Figure I am more likely to get an interview if I am living in the city I apply for jobs in. I'll keep looking all over but have really started to focus on San Fran.
Having quite a blast from the past too as the Officer Cadet Class I was in had a class reunion (20yrs) last week. Got everyone's bios and it was amazing to see what people have been doing. Hope to get to see some photos too. Certainly made me reflect on how pivotal that year was in my life..............
Still having nice times with K&B and very grateful for all the support and advice they give (not to mention good food and wine). It's made the whole transition much easier and I feel very lucky to have family right here.
On a different note, best line yet from Peter: "Well what do you think, they going to toss a cheque into the casket, what goods that going to do you?". It wasn't in direct response to anything I had actually said but came on the end of one of his very well told stories - I should be taping them. This also from the man who is a model for how we should all plan for retirement.

More adventures

It's been a while. Momentarily I almost thought no one was reading this at all (not that I am sensitive or anything and think that everyone should be wildly interested in me......) but that was really just feeling a little "on the other side of the world". Now that I have had some affirming emails and generally got over myself I am back.
The ranch had a visit last week so I headed off to Santa Fe for a few days (in the interests of keeping a low profile in advance of Thanks Giving when I will, hopefully, get to meet the owner). Santa Fe was just lovely and I have included some pictures on my newly created Flickr site (if you click on the link on the right you can have a look).
At least three real points of interest:
a. Santa Fe boasts the oldest church and the oldest house in the USA
b. The first Amercian Indian to be sainted was a women from New Mexico.
c. Everyone is very very friendly and chats away......I think it's the accent.
Given I was by myself I got over sitting in restaurants alone and happily sat at the bar drinking Margaritas and chatting with the odd person. During the day I wandered the streets and, predicatably, got a bit lost as I wandered into the 'burbs. Didn't matter as there is so much building going on there were dozens of people to ask if I really couldn't figure how to get back to the area I was staying in!
I stayed in an historic hotel that was very close to the tourist area so generally felt safe wandering the streets at night. I was in, what appeared to be, the Rugby (maybe gridiron?) Room, as it had old rugby photos and the wardrobe featured two players. All and all a very pleasant few days where I got to wear my new cowgirl boots (which I love very much) and pondered buying a cowgirl hat. Decided all shopping for clothes could wait for a. K to be with me, she is the style queen and b. getting a job!
On a different note the election is over and Bush (while taking the brunt of criticism for the massive defeat) has been remarkably articulate and "collegial" about the whole thing. Maybe he just gets that his presidency is all but over and he is unlikely to get anything significant done between now and the presidential election. Next big question is who will run for president? Is America ready for a female president (Hillary Clinton) or a black American man? Or, quite possibly neither......

Elections USA style

Today is voting day in the US of A...............everyone will be, I think, relieved to have the electioneering end. The whole process has been remarkably scandal ridden with every second republican having some dirty secret revealed (corruption is hot, sexual impropriety rife and not much talk about the issues). Democrats look set to regain Congress and its fair to say that I am not surrounded by people who universally agree who should be in power and this isn't even a presidential election.
Iraq remains a hot topic and opinion is divided among voters over whether or not the US should be there at all. With over 100 US soldiers killed last month tolerance is waning. No one is actually offering up a plan for getting out so its hard to know what the Democrats would do either.
Off the election my "favourite" story of the week is this guy - Haggard. A very prominant church spokesperson who founded his own church (New Church with 14,000 members), preached antigay and then, ta da, gets outed for having hired a male sex worker (over a 3 year period) and buying methamphetamine (which he said he threw away and didn't use - having gay sex is clearly the greater sin). He actually went on television denying the whole "sex for hire" thing..............24 hrs later he's toast, "confessed his sins" and no longer head of his own church.

Road trips and celebrations

On the 28th of October I officially became a Master of Diplomacy and Trade. I was/am quietly (and not so quietly) chuffed. One of my goals in moving back to Wellington was to complete my Masters - I really enjoyed everything about this course (which took me three years part time). For those that don't know I set up my consulting company to fund my Masters and was (in theory) supposed to work part time and study the rest of the time. Of course not all of my "clients" saw it that way and, as a consequence, mostly I worked full time and studied in the weekends and at night. It is a good feeling to have completed the course and..........well I just can't help myself...........I would like to be able to, eventually, complete a PHD (we shall see we shall see - perhaps I will grow out of the idea).
Anyway in the interests of celebrating K&B took me on a three day road trip to Colorado. Wow this was just fantastic and saw us winding through some of the most spectacular mountain country and inspired in me a secret ambition to learn to cross country ski, snow shoe and get myself a little cabin in bear country (we shall see we shall see). On our way to Telluride we stopped off at the most amazing historical site - Mesa Verde. The park was established in 1906 to preserve sites built by "Pre-Columbian Indians" on mesa tops and in canyon alcoves. Apparently there are over 4,000 known archeological sites in Mesa Verde National Park, 600 of which are cliff dwellings. It is really spectacular and, at times seems sureal.

Travelling on to Telluride we went over some truely spectacular mountain passes. Colorado isn't really like NZ (although the pictures might not have you think that!). At one of the highest points we crossed we were higher than Mount Cook. Alot of the rock/soil is also quite red, much like Aussie. Telluride itself is this very beautiful ski village that has some truely amazing homes. They have kept true to form (Queenstown are you listening) and have strict building requirements. All the homes in the main town are made of wood and look very "english". K&B bought me my fav bubbles and we had started the evening with bubbles and nibbles in my room (see the view!) then headed out for a very nice meal and a wander around the town.
Next day we headed up to the mountain village - very quiet but able to accommodate thousands of people when the snow is right. We then headed off to Durango . But not before we had a very memorable moment in a little bar in a little town where we walked in and everyone at the bar turned to "look at the strangers in town". I really knew it was time to go when two women at the bar ordered a half yard of beer and looked like this was just the beginning.............
Durango Is another “pretty town” – although very different from Telluride. We started out in the local “saloon” where the waitresses dress accordingly. Then we headed out for another very lovely meal. Ended up having after dinner drinks in a stylie little bar, and given it was the night before Halloween, we were much entertained that by the costumes that came in.
Following day we headed back to New Mexico but not before we had (according to our resident tour guide) driven through the largest alpine valley in the world and passed through Montrose, which is where the high altitude marathon runners come to train………..it didn’t look much like a training ground for anything I have to say!

Business as usual

Am back in the land of the living. Hobbit ear has disappeared (yay for miracle drugs) and we have been on some adventures.
On Saturday we headed into Santa Fe (literal translation "holy faith") to check out the art galleries. There is a stretch of road that is jam packed with galleries. The art work ranges from some very fantastic oil paintings and bronze sculptures through to "arts and crafts". It's fair to say that none of the artists (or more correctly the galleries) are inclined to offer a bargain. Still it was great to wander around and be out of the yellow house.
The architecture here is pretty special with traditionally built houses (adobes or mud houses) designed to be perfectly warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Several of the galleries were in old historic houses and it was amazing how warm they were, with one fire heating a whole house. People continue to build in the traditional style and these houses are certainly the rule as opposed to the exception. Alot of commerical buildings are also built to this style.
On Sunday we headed off to Taos. Have been before but really enjoyed going back and, on the way home, we drove via the mountain pass where we hit snow (the pass was closed last time).
We also drove through Georgia O'Keeffe country. This really is spectacular country and has the most spectacular rock formations. Overall it was a fab weekend after a week that really did take the wind out of my sails.
I am back on the job hunt having finally sorted my resume and figuring out that, while I haven't applied for heaps of jobs yet I haven't been applying at the right level (too junior). I figure at this stage I can aim for the jobs I want and see what happens! Peter and I (having both recovered somewhat) are now painting the greenhouse (yes it is green) and today I have been mowing lawns and...............collecting more leaves. It's nice to have some structure in my day and now that it is getting colder and damper I don't start work until 830 and finish at 1. B took me for a drive into Santa Fe which was good. I feel much more relaxed being on the wrong side of the road but I expect it was the slowest trip in and out of Santa Fe that B has had. B&K have a very nice landrover SL which I drive on the roads (as opposed to the big trucks they drive around on the ranch). B took me for a spin in the hummer the other day (one of the many "recreational vehicles" they have here) and that was fun.
All and all am feeling very happy and healthy!

Hobbit ears and emergency rooms

Well the great outdoors and feeling fit and well went out the door this week. Somehow managed to get a very very special inner ear infection that has seen one side of my face swell up (munster like) and a right ear resembling something like a hobbits ear (swelling to about four times its usual size). Doctors visits here are somewhat more complicated as we have to travel to Santa Fe which takes 45mins. Ended up at the after hours doctors rooms where - yep you got it - the Doctors assistant used to live in Aussie and spent a large chunk of his childhood hanging out with a local Maori family! In between hearing lots and lots about NZ versus the USA I got a massive dose of antibiotics, prescriptions and a referral to the ear, nose and throat specialist (thought that was a bit over the top until the Doctor explained exactly how odd my condition was and how it could damage my hearing....).
Of course those who know me best appreciate that my constitution is not very attuned to massive doses of drugs (alcohol isn't a drug.....) so I spent the next four hours bonding with the great white god, begging for forgiveness and promising to never ever do anything bad again. I haven't been able to eat much other than very strange jello, chocolate pudding and tentative picking at anything that seems vaguely tasty and will stay with me long enough to provide some sustinance - three cheers for Powerade.
Went off to the specialist today (Wednesday) where I was made to feel very special as he too was intrigued by the combination of symptoms - long and short of it, have a new dose of medication and have to go back in two days if my charming good looks fail to emerge within two days. And no, before anyone asks, there is no photographic record.
In between all that my pal Peter fell off his ladder and cut his head (I ended up going with K to the emergency room then she dropped me at the specialist). Peter is fine, but will be very sore tomorrow - he didn't fall far but did give his head a good whack.
Just to reassure that life is not all grim - it was lovely to have the yellow house to come home to, everyone on the ranch is being very nice about my being ill and, best of all, have K to be big sister super nurse & B drive miles to get my prescriptions filled.
Don't you just love reading about other peoples health problems online????

It doesn't pay to be superstitious

.....no sooner did I hit send for a job in NY when K (who happens to be on the telephone with someone on 5th avenue) gets told that a small plane has just flown into a building. What do you say? Even in my short time here I have met people whose family or friends were in or near the towers - everyone has a memory of where they were when it happened (just like home really). Anyway I have decided not to dwell - seems to me something sad is always happening somewhere in this country and, on the flip side, something happy too.

Day to day living

My life in the last few weeks has largely revolved around painting, mowing lawns, raking leaves and generally enjoying the great outdoors. Went horse riding the other day and had a fab time. Group of the staff went out. We rode "western" as opposed to "english" - random insight - riding western is like riding a harley (laid back) while riding english is like riding a suzuki (up tight)..........so much to learn so little time.
Went to my first "sports bar" too. Consists of dozens of high tables with stools and around 20 TVs all showing different games of college football (gridiron) and motor racing, with random music booming out over the top of everything - including the cheering from the various groups watching different games. Also had the compulsory pint of beer and fried chicken wings!
Had my first driving experience too. Drove on the highway (and interstate) and around Santa Fe. All went well and K was very good at giving directions. Helped that it was Sunday so not nearly as much traffic as there might have been, still busier than Wellington on the average weekday I have to say.
Found a few more jobs to apply for and am slowly getting my CV (resume here) into a format that might work (four pages means I have to really target). Am really interested in at least two of the jobs but not sure that I am an absolute fit for at least one of them. Spend quite a lot of time trying to imagine what the next part of my life looks like and where I might be living. Everytime I see a "maybe" job I go to the map and have a look at where it is and wander what it might be like to live in "that" city.
In a couple of weeks time I head off to Denver for a week as there is a big visit on at the ranch and its a good opportunity for me to have a look around. Its only an hour away flying and I found what looks like a nice hotel that isn't too expensive but in an okay part of town.
Weather here is starting to get cooler and we even had some rain (apparently a rare and special thing - although they do get covered in snow at the height of winter).

End game

Yeeha - both my social security card and my greencard have arrived in the post. Getting the greencard is a big moment as, while I could still work and travel using my visa, the greencard finalises my status and simplifies everything when I apply for work. Sounds silly but it was another one of those "oh mi god this is really happening" moments. Happy happy happy.

Casual observations

The USA really is big - okay this isn't rocket science but as I've been looking at possible jobs to apply for I've been checking out what state they are in and the city websites. Each state is distinctly different and the cost of living changes wildly depending on where you are. I found a site that lets me compare the cost of living with relative salaries (yes sometimes I find myself tedious too). Using NY as the basis I compared salaries and the cost of living with Atlanta (yep one of many possible destinations). Cost of living in NY is 47% higher than Atlanta (no big surprise) but, on average, companies in Atlanta offer salaries around 15% lower than NY.............not hard to figure where the money is.
Have to confess that one of my homing criteria is whether or not there appears to be an active, positive queer community. Wow checking that out has been a surprise too. Some of the "smaller cities" (relative term) seem to have heaps going on and look like they might be fun - others, including some of the bigger cities, seem deathly. Still not fair to just go on a website but I need to start somewhere.
Mostly the sort of work I have been focusing on is consulting, with travel (25 - 50% of the time would suit me fine..........the joys of being a singleton) and a decent salary of course.
On a more practical note this week we have finished painting the barn. My painting buddy is 80 years old and owned diners in NY state for 40 years. Got a great brooklyn accent and has some great stories. He was also a fire figher in his youth so has taught me much about how to move a ladder without getting a hernia. Peter only works mornings and starts at 7am so guess who's been getting her sorry ass out of bed at 630 - can't quite believe it myself but have loved being outside doing something physical and can see the merits of rolling out of bed just as the sun rises and the birds start up. Don't get overly excited though - it really only works because I don't have to say much until morning tea!
It has taken me a while to get used to the altitude as well - but that seems to have come right, although I am definitely off some of the foods I used to love (fish and olives don't seem to have the same appeal). Random food fact: at higher altitudes it takes twice as long to boil an egg - I don't know why, it just does and I refuse to be so geeky as to "Ask Jeeves".

Living the life

It’s been a few days since I have been online – the joys of rural remote living and upgrading of internet providers. In the interim I have been busy. Working with one of the part time staff I have painted one building (yellow) and start painting the barn this week (and yes it will be red and has seen me learning how to use a cherry picker). Also helped with stacking hay bales……..heavy suckers but lots of chuckles along the way. The scenery here continues to take my breath away and living at 6500ft keeps the lungs going. B tells me this is the cleanest air in America, it’s not hard to believe. Overall I am fitter than when I arrived, have a healthy tan and have lost some weight – it’s the simple things that keep me happy!
Found my first job to apply for which did give me cause for a minor panic attack and crisis of confidence. Soon past as I start to look around at just how much work is out there – the right job will come and every now and then I need to remind myself that I haven’t actually been here very long.
Have travelled to Albuquerque and Santa Fe several times – both an hour either side of Zorro. The architecture here is very distinctive and reflects the desert like quality of the place. Everyone seems to drive around in bigger than big vehicles and I’ve driven B’s dodge ram a couple of times (leaping up into the cab can be the biggest hurdle). Seen no snakes yet but coyotes, antelope, little ratty things, blue birds and an 11 pointer stag (see am getting the lingo).
Random point of interest – anyone who was interested in reading the 911 Commission Report (yes I am that geek who read it) but felt overwhelmed by the size of the document can now get the comic book version. Yep two guys figured that what the report says is important for the average American but most people couldn’t/wouldn’t wade through the whole report. Actually it sounds terrible but the extract I saw was pretty good. Where they can they have used the actual text from the report and wrapped it around the cartoon………..welcome to America.

El Rancho

Have arrived in New Mexico to stunning weather and very comfortable lodgings. Have my own little house to live in (the Yellow House - picture to come later) that is located at Ranch Central, which is a little village of houses on the Ranch where the staff live, close to the stables (no I haven't ventured near the horses) and generally a very lovely place to be. Am sporting a good tan and feeling very relaxed and happy. K&B have given me a four wheel motorbike to get around on so all and all I am about as far away from life in Wellington as I possibly could be. Am going to start helping with chores (painting tomorrow....), get my social security number and drivers licence (yeech).
Got up at 5.30am this morning to go up the mountain (10400ft) with B so he could do some work on some satelite stuff (technical term) they use for comms at the Ranch. Apart from having a most spectacular sunrise the view was amazing - all the benefits of a long climb up a mountain without actually having to hike anywhere!

More adventuring

Six has become four but before K&B left we spent the last few days doing more adventuring and perfecting the art of navigation! Headed off to Vancouver Island to see the Butchart Gardens in Victoria. They really are spectacular. The gardeners can check it out on www.butchartgardens.com. The day was fantastically sunny and we had a fantabulous seafood dinner down by the water front before heading back on the ferry - no detours and no loop roads.
The Vancouver Aquarium also proved a highlight as we saw baluga whales who are happily playing and breeding. For those who are less attached to the idea of aquariums it was nice to hear that they had let the killer whales go free a while back as they didn't appear happy and weren't breeding very well. Beavers were also a big highlight as they are way bigger than expected and very playful.
I also got a little fixated on checking out "The girl in a swim suit" statue, which featured on the map, so took everyone on a little side journey, but, as you can see it turned out to be worth the visit - well I thought so. K of J&K has her segway with her and managed to do some quite elegant off roading (although no photographic evidence is available) which somewhat detracted from the totem pole display we had been walking to..........
Went out for a very fine dinner to actually celebrate mums birthday, enjoying serveral courses of the very finest seafood dishes British Columbia has to offer. Including much wine and the singing of happy birthday as mum was presented with her dessert, complete with candle. All very noice.
As a side entertainment we have been tracking down bears........well in an artistic sense. All over Vancouver and on Vancouver Island we have been stumbling across various versions of these fellows and felluses. Similar to the "Cow Parade" this is part of the "Spirit Bears in the City" fundraiser. You can check them out at the Bear Gallery www.spiritbearsinthecity.com/index.php/content/gallery-vancouver.html. It's been a fun distraction!
On a different note and for the more socially minded who are concerned I have completely lost my mind and turned into the tourist from hell I have taken some notice of the cities goings on. Vancouver appears very laid back - you seldom see anyone on a cellphone and I don't think they have heard of texting. It's very "white" as compared to San Fran (or NZ for that matter). While I am sure there must be quite an ethnic mix of people living here it's not much in evidence when strolling around (and we have strolled alot, mostly choosing to walk everywhere). We did get to see the very ugly side of the homeless scene out driving one night but generally during the day, while people are begging, in the main they don't appear to be either drugged out or drunk - and are very polite , makes you wander how they have found themselves where they are. Anyone that has been to San Fran and hasn't been back in a while will be quite shocked at the number of homeless and clearly unwell people in evidence 24/7 - it has become much like New York prior to Guiliani deciding to clean up the streets and get the homeless into shelters and/or out of town - Vancouver is in sharp contrast! It's certainly a nice city to holiday in and probably a great city to retire in but I'm not sure its quite the city I would choose for me right now as I can't see the politics of it or much evidence of big business (oh and the minor detail that I don't have a greencard to work here anyway). That said I am not sure San Fran is quite the city for me either (although not a terrible choice if that's where the job is). Anyway this a long read and it's almost time for (more) vino. Probably won't be back on line for the next week as we trip into San Fran and I arrive in New Mexico but will try and get some other photos on-line (through a different site) so you can see more of the adventures.

Ski lifts, long drives and family ties

Family are now all in residence and there has been much laughter, good food, good wine and adventure had. Vancouver is everything everyone promised. For those in the know we are down by the water front (opposite Granville Island). The whole area has been beautifully landscaped and they have managed to build high rise housing without ruining the whole effect – do you suppose Wellington City Council would come and visit? We have walked miles and, while we stuck to most of the tourist routes, I have managed to navigate us through some slightly dodgy areas at least twice (both here and in San Fran!).
Highlight so far has been our trip to Whistler. A ski field in winter in summer it transforms into a mountain bike park……..no we didn’t go for the mountain biking. We ended up heading up the mountain on a gondola (half hour ride), taking a shortish walk and riding a ski lift to the very top of the mountain – wow. Needless to say all the runs in the area are black diamond and, as far as I could tell, involved some perilous dropping off the side of cliff faces in order to reach snow. There was still some permafrost on the side of the mountain but even the seasoned skiers among us (K & B) weren’t convinced this part of the mountain was for them.
Whistler, in theory, is only 2.5hrs from Vancouver. We decided to take the “loop road” only to discover that the road we really wanted didn’t seem to exist, there began a very beautiful scenic journey through the mountains, heading North for a very very long time (at this stage there is much nervous giggling from K and I who have the maps – neither of which quite matched up). All up our 2.5hr trip took 5hrs, involved much mocking and deriding from the cheap seats and no relationships or familial ties were destroyed in the making of this adventure (that in itself is worthy of note).
Weather has been fantastically hot and I am now sporting the first signs of a summer tan. All of which comes to an abrupt end shortly as, yet again, I find myself in the northern hemisphere about to enjoy a winter.
We are here until Friday so still have more adventuring to do.
I have been talking to K & B about “what happens next” and getting very excited about going to the ranch, doin’ chores and starting to look for work (luckee, luckee, luckee).

It's your luckee luckee day.........

So said the very very welcoming customs/home security guy who processed me through the immigration queue! Duly noting my “lucky number” had come up he even thanked me for waiting as he parallel processed a whole bunch of other people ahead of me in the queue – all taking less than half an hour. Mum was hardly processed when I popped out the other end complete with stamp confirming I was officially legal to pay tax (assuming a job of course!).
Arrived to a balmy 18c into the worlds tiniest, but cheapest, room in downtown San Fran……….surreal surreal surreal (tinge of sad – not all that I had anticipated for this moment but, still, overall the warmest welcome one could hope for).
Quick sluice and the mother and I headed out in search of matches………it’s the little things that prove the most difficult……..food and a vino (well it was late evening at home). Eventually found ourselves sitting in Union Square in a very familiar space – we have both been here together before. Enough to say my very petit mother and I consumed half a panini each and two glasses of wine, then proceeded to stumble around trying to keep track of where the hotel was and, eventually, succumbing to it being midnightish at home. Not quite ready to give up we got ourselves a bottle of Teresa Raiz Pinot Grigio (yes T, tipping the hat to you), figured out how to get something other than pay TV and I sat through the mother watching Andre Agassi and Baghdatis play tennis………I told you my life has got surreal.

On 'da move

Quick update...at San Fran airport about to fly to Vancouver. All been very smooth and much warm welcome at San Fran airport. Immigration a breeze - more about that next message. Dollars about to expire but will send a longer message from Vancouver.

Getting to know me......

Some interesting and some not so interesting stuff to know about me:


Where I grew up
Dunedin New Zealand




Favourite food
Sashimi



Favourite drink
Pino Grio




Favourite pastime
www.bracketsw.com

Some things to get us started

The green card lottery really does work - but it takes a while.
Green cards aren't green, they were but way back in the 70's they changed the colour - I am such a geek I looked it up.
There are thousands of websites dedicated to giving you some insight into what is actually happening with your application but the very best are the ones where people who are in (or have done) the process tell you what it was like!
You don't have to pay anyone to do anything for you - only you can describe your entire life since you were 18, only you know where you lived, where you worked and who your immediate family are.
Ulitmately you do have to pay someone, but only when you know you are about to actually get your greencard.
The people at the American Consulate are much more human than you expect - because if you are me you are ridiculously nervous......but then you get you are not special at all.......they do this stuff every day.
There is nothing you can do about the ugly photo that arrives with your residency visa and will, ultimately, appear on your green card.
You need an American address to send your green card to and it will take up to three months to arrive.
You do have to arrive in the US with an envelop stamped with US Consulate, cellotaped to buggery and labelled only to be opened by US immigation or "Public Health Official" (I kid you not) - which seems to fly in the face of "don't carry anything you haven't packed yourself".
It does all feel like a grand adventure that just gets a life of its own and, most importantly, it's remarkably freeing to be doing it by yourself!