Brisbane August '07

Friday, August 10th ‘07

Haven’t written in awhile. At this point, I’m pretty much settled in, got a job and a place in a share-house with 2 great flatmates. There’s really noting special or exciting to write about. I spend most my days working, inside watching TV. Very exciting stuff!!! (sarcastic) Yesterday, I went to do one of my favorite things, I went to South Bank, got an ice cream from Cold Rock and walked around, listening to some French Canadian music. It was nice! Mungo came to join me and later, we met up with Kristina and went to Garuva where we spent some quality time between flatmates. It’s just amazing how we get along well. I’m really happy about that. Last week, Kristina and I went shopping for wigs and found great ones for our budgets. Now, we’re looking for boas that’ll go with them. I found a nice pair of glasses, looking to get a new camera. I’ve been also doing a good deal of downloading. I really feel at home and comfortable here. I just need to get my act together and find another job that’ll give me more hours. I’ve really made a life for myself here. I do miss traveling but I know I need to take a bigger break than a month.

Wednesday, August 15th ‘07

Today’s a holiday and the Roundabout is closed. Stephanie invited me to join her friends at New Farm Park. I’m here but they changed the time and I’m alone. I’ve been feeling quite lonely this past few days. I slept late but still feel tired. This park is really beautiful! I love walking around here. I shall bring or send my mom here. I’ve been here for an hour now and no sign of Stephanie, I think I’ll be leaving now.

I was just about to leave when I saw Stephanie with one of her friends, we met up with her ultimate Frisbee friends at a BBQ. As we were talking, someone noticed some movement in the river (the Brisbane river). We all stood to observe the water and after just a few minutes, a fin popped out of the water. It was dolphins! In the news a couple of days ago they said there were dolphins that swam up the river and there was an investigation as to why. I really didn’t think I would see them, it was great. After the BBQ, at my surprise (sarcastic) they started playing Frisbee. They invited me in and I was horrible but felt much better when they started to give themselves some challenges. I called it the Aussie style Frisbee as they looked like kangaroos jumping feet together and elbows on their hips. It was so funny! I had a good evening. Really glad I ended up staying.

Monday, August 20th ‘07

I’ve had quite an emotional week. Things aren’t really going my way. My boss won’t give me the hours I need. My project with Kameron fell thru as his new job won’t give him time to do this for the next few week. My friend Richard has no time for me and James is leaving the country. I have no more friends to spend time with, no money to go out, barely enough to eat I spend all my time between home and work. I feel very lonely and miss all the things I did back home, swing dancing every week, encouraging the Jello Shots almost ever week sometimes more than once, going to Rockabilly events with friends, attending festivals in summer going to workshops/exchanges. All these things made me happy and I miss them. I need to go out and do stuff, I’m barely going to the rare swing events and haven’t been to any Rockabilly events happening. All I really have going for me is knowing my mom’ll be here in 2 weeks. I miss her and can’t wait to see her. The other option would be to leave this city but I can’t, I’m tired of traveling here and there, I need to be stable for a bit, to save money and get some energy. Right now, I’m just stressed about not saving much with my job and I’m not looking for another job as I know with this one I’ll be able to take some time off to spend more time with my mom. Plan : Stick it up with this job until my mom comes around, then find a job that’ll give me the hours I need.

Sunday, August 26th ‘07

It has been poring rain for the past week which is rare and a good thing for Brisbane with the water shortage. Today seems to be sunny and I’ll be doing some laundry before Drew comes around. Yup! Drew’s coming over it’ll be nice to socialize for a bit. I went to swing at South Bank last night and it was good there wasn’t many people but I had fun with Mark and Amanda. Mark offered me some ice hockey (yup it’s ICE hockey here in Australia and hockey is different) tickets for today, t’would be nice. Well, Drew came around, we drank tea as we chatted about this and that. We then picked up Renee and went to the ice hockey game. Most people are wearing Canadian hockey jersey, hats, etc. even saw a guy with an Expo’s baseball cap. Sweet! The rink was the size of a local arena back home. I never really liked hockey but I really enjoyed it this time around. This was the highest league in Australia. The Brisbane’s Blue Tongues against the Canberra’s Knightly. It was an exciting game and I cheered for both teams but at 7-6 Canberra won and are going to the finals. It was a weird feeling going to an ice hockey game in Australia with Australians. Renee and Drew had fun, I expected them to want to leave after the first half but they really loved it, especially Renee. She talked about it all the way to Drew’s place. We then spent some quality time a Drew’s place with his friend Ben, we watched funny clips online and just chilled. It was a great day, I had loads of fun, really needed it!

Friday, August 31st ‘07

I lost my job and haven’t been taking it well. Things aren’t great and really not going my way. I don’t feel good! I tried to stick it out at work knowing my mom is coming in a couple of days I’m just so stressed about money. My boss have been a big jerk and never gave me the hours he told me I’d get and his “pet” little miss princess didn’t like me so I was bound to not be happy. Really just can’t wait for my mom to get here and start looking for work. I’m just a bit hasty about looking for work now as I want to have some time to spend with my mom. I really miss her and there are many things I’d like to do with her. I’m so bored doing nothing every day, saving my money. I’ve already been spending all my time between home and work as my pay check have been quite slim. Well, that’s life and the experience of travel.