Deep thoughts?

I got a lot of meaning and meditation out of this found installation in a poor residential neighborhood in New Orleans... until I realised it probably just refers to semi engines.

An assault on the senses

New Orleans is the kind of place where there is something amazing and interesting to see in pretty much every corner, particularly when you peek in someone's backyard.

Mama said there'd be days like this

Days like this, when something unspeakable happens in the world, can be the hardest to find something happy. They are also the most important days to find that one happy thing.

This photo is from a trip to Paris a couple of years ago. It was taken inside Notre Dame. Kia kaha, Paris.

It takes a village

Even in the less than safe areas of New Orleans, there is a community effort to encourage poop scooping.

A little normality

We've been on the road for several days now and it's easy to let the weariness of travel bring your mood down. This morning, I decided to take a proactive step and go for my usual long mornjng walk. It was unfamiliar territory and humidity as thick as cream gravy, but it did the trick! Sweat is organic Zooloft, I always say.

Down by the sea

Today, we took a walk on Kema's famous boardwalk and it was like walking back in time.

In service of the bucket list

I was raised in Texas and still visit every two years or so, and yet it took me 40 years to see San Antonio's Riverwalk. It was worth it.

Everything's bigger in Texas

Including the sky

'Murica

This is all you need to know about how to Christmas in Texas.

Slow down, you move too fast

The best thing about holiday is that there is lots of time for contemplative, dewy meanderings.

King of the castle

Really missing Bunk while we're overseas, but luckily there's a ready substitute who's also willing to stare at me while I eat or pee so I don't get separation anxiety.

Naughty and nice

I need this sweater in my life.

I'll take it

Bunk is kind of a jerk which prevents us from having a cat at home. So I enjoy the opportunity to hang out with my mom's cat. The cat's not super sure about it though. This is the closest we've come to a detente.

Be it ever so humble

The only thing better than seeing this nice, homey bed at the end of four long days at Disney is the fact that it's in my Momma's house.

Breakfast of champions

This is a new series I like to call Putting Stuff On Waffles

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes

After a day where we put over 30km on our sneakers (40,013 sreps!) over about 16 hours, I can tell you there is no greater or clearer or more powerful sign you can see. Preach.

The Forever Friday

We started in Wellington at around 6 am on Friday. Then we spent about 20 hours travelling back in time to arrive at LAX around 6 am on Friday morning. Then we told sleep to get bent and spent the day in the Happiest Place On Earth. So, a  37 hour Friday, spent pretty perfectly.

Ding!

Hey, remember that about to bloom orchid?

Boom.

Father figure

I don't know if the Father of Time is the father of Father Time, but I do know that I need this to scare the bejeezus out of my husband.

Paving the road to hell one lunch at a time

There's this local initiative going on among the nearby lunch establishments, including the one where I buy overpriced salads of dubious nutritional value. They've convinced area artists to donate handmade bowls, which are sold at a premium with all of the proceeds donated to the Wellington food bank. This is a perfect strategy to extract money out of public servants with disposable income and it worked like a charm on me.

Now, I would love to say that I was completely motivated by altruism when I bought this gorgeous bowl.  But the truth is that I was more motivated by the fact that it is unique and therefore will be easier to track down when one of my coworkers inevitably steals it.

Still, it's a pretty grouse bowl.

I said good day!

A big dog needs a big rope.

Happy little trees

Today I went exploring with the big guy and got fantastically lost in rural Hutt Valley.

You know you're not in Kansas anymore when you are being heckled by pukeko on your morning walk.

If found, please return to 2001

Spotted on a walk through sleepy Upper Hutt at 7:30 this morning.

I have so many questions.

I think that I shall never see...

Growing up in apartments in the city, I never really had my own trees before, much trees that grow food. Watching this one evolve from barren to white to pink to green (and ultimately to red) is a marvel I never tire of.

Speaking of never tiring, underneath this picture is One Good Dog standing sentry waiting for that glorious moment when the Gods see fit to rain treasures down upon him in the form of apples.

Look up

You know sometimes all you need is a different perspective on something.

Every morning, I fight my way through the crowded train station full of morning commuters and surly teenagers in uniform, all hell bent on reaching their destination without the inconvenience of courtesy.

Most days, I want to drop a shoulder and lay one out.

Today, I looked up instead.

Where we're going, we don't need roads

That moment when you realise that you're sitting next to a clock tower, on Back To The Future Day, waiting for a ride...

One of these things is not like the other

Today, I was feeling particularly mischievous when I woke up so I openly defied the standard Wellington dress code of black on black in favour of this colourful number.

Then I got called to the Beehive at short notice. Talk about setting yourself apart in a sea of indistinguishable officials.

If the Minister had a hard time remembering me before with the purple hair, I don't think that's going to be a problem now.

Salad, sun, and socialising

And here we observe the springtime ritual of the public servant, emerging from hibernation to have a communal meal near the hive.

Back the Blacks

Well, when your day starts with a 49 point victory over the French, it's hard to top that. 

Plus, I accidentally took this bitching "double exposure looking" photo of the tv and it's hella cool.

Peaceful, easy feeling

The big guy and I have developed a new routine, heading out early for a long walk every Saturday morning the weather permits it.

The streets are deserted, save for the young girl who works the coffee cart on the main road.

If he behaves well enough we make it to a bridge that crosses this stream, where we take a rest.

I like to gaze out at the creek and get lost in the sounds of water and think deep thoughts about life.

He likes to poop on the bridge.

Can't beat it

Oh, Wellington! You really know how to turn it on.

Today, I managed to escape the clutches of epic panic-pantsers and unreasonable deadlines for a little me time on the waterfront.

I don't mind saying, it was a little bit life affirming.

The Amazing Bunk

They say that dogs are man's best friend. 

 

The same goes for night shift widows.

Me and the big guy - we're in this together. 

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

There was a time when I used to do my best bonding with a girlfriend over a sea of empty wine glasses.

These days, I am more likely to use gelato as a social lubricant.

And you know what? I'm actually okay with that.

Kitchen victory

Internet, today I conquered the crustless quiche, which is one of the new recipes from the dietician.

I say "conquered" but it was ridiculously easy, which makes sense since it's French.

As with anything full of bacon, it smelled amazing. So much so that I could barely get my husband out the door to his night shift. Who says real men don't eat quiche?

Sidenote: Another reason to be happy? That quiche reference is older than my husband. Cause I got it like that.

It's beginning to look a lot like shut up

Ok, my head says "um, not only no, but hell no". With a side of "are you kidding me right now?" It's not even Halloween yet. Hell, it's not even the same fortnight as Halloween yet!

But my heart? It sings! It sings like a twelve year old Celine Dion begging for approval. In other words, earnestly. Maybe a little desperately.

In short, I love Christmas. I ain't gonna lie.

Early riser

Except for the obligatory phase of sleeping all day while I was in college, I have always been an early riser.

My nine year old self used to delight at being the first one up in the lounge on Sunday mornings, watching the soft early light cast delicate shadows on the wall.

My forty year old self still does.

Rush hour

This is the closest thing to a traffic jam you will find in Days Bay. Not pictured: salted caramel gelato, adoring husband, bliss...

Casual Friday

One of the things that I love about being an immigrant is that I can be way more Texan here than I probably would be in actual Texas. I mean, the Kiwis expect the caricature. Might as well give the people what they want!

Afternoon delight

Internet, today someone brought a chocolate fountain to work. I cannot even.

Rediscovery

So, I went to a dietician because help is good and so is health insurance.

The first great thing she did was not weigh me. She was all, "I need you to stop seeing your worth in a number."  I was like, "but how are you going to know if it's working?" And she was all, "um, I have eyes." So, I was like, "let's make out."

And then (AND THEN) she was all, "I know literally everyone has told you to stop eating carbs, but I am a professional and I have done research and I am telling you that you need to eat carbs. In fact, you should have pasta."

And then I dry humped her.

Happiness in the bottom of a glass

"What's the iced mocha like? Is it blended?"

"It's basically a caffeinated chocolate milkshake."

"Sold."

Walkin' on sunshine

Say what you want about the boring old suburbs but it has occasional, almost spiritual, moments of beauty.

Well you might never get rich

I may be a grown ass woman, but when an opportunity arises to go through the car wash... I may as well be 5 years old again. I went through this whole car wash oohing and clapping like Simple Jack.

Like my heart

I like to tell people I take my coffee black like my heart. 

It's probably more accurate to say my heart is fluffy on the surface with double strength underneath. 

Maybe a little bit bitter sometimes, but whose isn't?

Friday night's alright

In the time honoured tradition of our fathers and their fathers before them, on the fifth night there shall be battered fish and salted potatoes.

I worship at the shrine of their making.

So mote it be.

Date night

You just know that when your duck curry comes out with some grapes in it... some next level shit is about to happen to your mouth. Boom.

Workplace humour

The best part about this (the BEST) is that, while it's likely that this is the greatest practical joke in workplace history, it is equally plausible that this is a legitimate contest.

And that possibility makes me deliriously happy. Like he was just sitting in his cube farm this morning and thought, "self, you know what this Hump Day needs? More Chewbacca impersonations. Recorded for POSTERITY."

Hello, Spring.

I love Spring so much. The anticipation! I feel like a fat kid waiting on an easy bake oven with this about-to-bloom orchid.

This guy.

What can I say, I got a thing for cold noses.