Brisbane and a black eye

Recently I have received several email inquiries questioning my whereabouts in the world, so it appears that I am probably long overdue a blog update. Possibly because I feel so settled here I forget that some of the things I do might still be remotely interesting. A couple of weeks back I actually did fly to Brisbane for a weekend ultimate Frisbee training camp, it was quite a busy weekend. The training was really great, worked on all kinds of throws, how to break a force, different cutting techniques, learned a lot of new drills and just got to run around in the sunshine for two days straight, can’t really complain about that one. The highlight of the trip was definitely staying with Foxy and Annie (from St. John’s). They were pretty awesome, they let me crash in their spear bedroom, eat some of their food and Annie even lent me her bike to ride to the field and back each day (however, might I add that Brisbane is a ridiculously hilly city). Hanging out with people from home makes me look forward to my trip home even more, only a couple of months now. In two months I will actually be home! I can’t believe how quickly my year has gone.

Post returning from the Brisbane, the Monday I went to league and got hit in the face with a Frisbee… from a huck (basically full body weight behind the throw) and got a very glamorous black eye. Fortunately it didn’t hit me in the eye and I heal ridiculously well and it wasn’t too noticeable by Friday with the help of a little makeup. The only big down side was the pain and going to work on Tuesday unable to see.

Back to reality…

Well maybe not yet… but I am starting to think about “when I grow up.” The more I think about it the more I realize that it is probably something I will never truly do. While I am ridiculously excited about the concept of looking for a job in my field and having some kind of stability I think I will hold on to some of my free spirited nature. It could just be that I don’t associate the right things with “growing up.”

I had to look at my blog to determine when I blogged last, needless to say it hasn’t been the most exciting times… It’s interesting that no matter how interesting the place you live, life does get very routine. I work, play Frisbee, go for drinks on Friday after work, go for brunch, attempt to shop (I generally don’t purchase because I have no love for the fashion here) and go for coffee. My social life is always pretty packed and there are always things to do, as it would be at home.

Lately the most notable things would be a King and Queen Frisbee tournament that was really fun, I love a full day of Frisbee. Few things can compare in my mind. I am certain that all of my future vacations will involve Frisbee on some level, I would like to claim that I am kidding but I’m not. With all of the frisbee people I have met I have teams to play with all over the world. I am heading to Brisbane this weekend for a training camp… pretty exciting (or I think so anyway). It’s also a great chance to catch up with Foxy and a couple of friends that still live there and maybe even experience some warmer weather.

I will be moving my return ticket home…again. The goal is to arrive home in the vicinity of Rob K’s wedding, so Sept 12th. There will be some adventure prior to my return, possibly involving seeing Pete Yorn live in L.A. and maybe Frisbee in Vancouver.

From the new camera...

Firstly, thanks Mom for the new camera. Secondly, electronics are ridiculously priced here… could be because I live on a giant island…who really knows. Thirdly, these are just random pictures of the footy, curling, me at an engagement party, animals and the best brunch ever in life!

Swine Flu Capital?

According to several recent articles Melbourne is now the Swine Flu capital of the world… I would like to say I am concerned about this, but because it is basically just a different version of the flu… I am sure I will survive. As well, a three-day quarantine would probably be a nice break.

Things have been pretty great down this way, today I experienced my first Footy game. Hawthorn vs Sydney, Hawthorn came out on top but it was a pretty close game. Considering it is a sport only played in Australia I am always amazed at the attendance. The MCG holds 90,000 and today there were over 45,000 people at the game. It is a pretty brutal, full on tackling game that involves kicking the footy (it is not called a ball, just a footy) or punching the footy in order to pass it to a teammate. I have to say I am fairly sold on this sport and will definitely be attending more games. I would love to see 90,000 in a stadium!

Lately there have been loads of social activities, I went to see kangaroos and other Australian animals last weekend and obviously playing Frisbee at least a couple times a week. However, reducing down to only two nights a week is kinda sad. At the end of the month I head to Brisbane to an ultimate Frisbee training camp where coaches from all over Australia give you advice to get better in groups and there is also individual coaching. It is done on a cost-share basis, so it is pretty economical and a great way to get better. I also get to catch up with Foxy before he heads back to Canada so that is another great bonus. Oh, and it gives me a break from the Melbourne winter, which is probably still nicer than a Newfoundland fall.

Pictures to come, since Mom bought me a new camera... :)

It's just stuff...

It has been an eventful and boring couple of weeks at the same time:
Unemployment = boring
Parties = eventful
Budgeting = boring
Getting your house robbed = eventful
Employment = boring
Frisbee = eventful

I guess I should probably start with the robbery… my most interesting topic. Sadly while at Frisbee last Monday night our house got broken into and my laptop and camera were stolen… no I did not back up my photos. While they are just things I have to say I am horribly sadden by my loss of photos and 70 DAYS worth of iTunes purchased music… (yes, I am aware that I have an addiction… this may have cured it). To deal with this loss, my flat mates and several other individuals drank… significant portions of alcohol…until 5:30am… it was a good way to ‘celebrate’ being robbed… what else can you do?!?

On a brighter note, after only a week and two days of unemployment I am now employed doing billing for an electric company… the job should last until I head home, it’s full time, in the CBD and pays okay. Due to my current employment status I have decided to return to Brisbane for a two day Frisbee training camp at the end of June… I am pretty excited about this, not going to lie. Not only do I get to meet up with Foxy and my friends in Brisbane but also I think the camp is going to be sweet! On another note, I am playing with two really great teams in Div 1 and 2 and defiantly think that I will get much better before heading home.

Current date to head home is beginning of August… this may get pushed… I hate making decisions. It is going to be ridiculously hard to leave Melbourne. Last date I can move my flight to is September 1st.

My social life is pretty full on; I don’t feel like I have any down time. This will probably change once Kat and Maria move on to Perth. I think there has been a Frisbee party or get-together ever weekend since Nats… hence why ultimate Frisbee is sometimes called cultimate here…

My upcoming plans are pretty nonexistent. I will stay in Melbourne, work, save some money to pay for Brisbane and visiting Alice springs and Ayres rock before heading back to North America. Once arriving in North America…who knows… I only have a flight to L.A.

West Coast

Post tournament I spent four days in and around Perth, exploring the sights of one of the most isolated cities in the world. Compared to Melbourne it is a pretty small and quite city but great for a visit. I couldn’t really see staying there for any length of time, I think if I stayed any longer I would have had to do some camping and touring around the coast.

My four days consisted of doing a walking tour around Perth, visiting the Valley of the Giants and climbing a 60m tree, biking around Rottnest Island and visiting Fremantle. The highlight by far was Rottnest Island. Jess and I biked over 25km around the island, took in the sights, got to pet a Quakka and go snorkeling. The beaches were beautiful and it was just really nice to do something different. I think it has been about ten years or more since I used a peddle bike, highly enjoyable.

The tree top walk was a lot of hype but wasn’t anything really amazing. I also did it in an all day tour, which meant over nine hours of driving in one day…you would have to show me something pretty spectacular for me to feel like that much of a commute was worth it. The best part of that day was earlier on when I got to climb the tree. I was the only one from our tour group to do it, and I can see why. There is basically a ladder of bars with chicken wire on the outside. It was pretty much the minimal amount of safety precautions that could be put in place. If you fell between the bars you would have had no hope… fortunately I got through with minimal drama, I still greatly dislike heights but at this point I feel like I have done everything possible to face my fear.

Fremantle and Perth were okay, nothing too spectacular. There was some nice architecture, beautiful weather and a great brewery that made cider. While I miss the nice weather, it is good to be back in Melbourne…even if it was only five degrees. Welcome to winter…

Australian Ultimate Nationals

What an amazing couple of days! I played on a team that had no hope of winning, but went into every game, played the best they could, had awesome spirit, some amazing moments of brilliance and overall came together as a team. I couldn’t have had a better four days with the Honey Bees. Both on and off the field the girls were awesome to be around. I think I am in shock that it is all over. After my whole time in Melbourne so far preparing to go to Nationals I am feeling a huge sense of loss.

The highlight for me of the tournament was my layout catch in the end zone, my best point ever! I don’t know if I will ever exceed that in my ultimate career. It was surreal at times to realize that I was playing nationals in Australia. For some reason this one seemed more important than mixed nationals, maybe because I had a better sense of a team. I also get the feeling that preparation for women’s and men’s is far more intense than for mixed.

To clue up the tournament there was a cops and robbers theme party held at Fremantle prison, which apparently is supposed to be haunted. All of the Honey As and Bees went as pirates, less drama ensued than I anticipated but still an entertaining night.


Pirate Night

Canadians

Me and the disc the girls gave me for being 'Mum' all week