Not all who wander are lost...

I've moved. Well, my blog has moved. I'm tired of vox, and I want more freedom, so its time for things between us to end. And while blogger doesn't really have any bells and whistles, it is a more solid program.

And now you can comment on my posts without being a member, so I expect to hear from you guys : )

So now you can visit me here: http://www.fabulous-roman-candles.blogspot.com/

Sorry for the inconvenience!

For those of you in the US, get excited, because I'm coming to YOU! Dates for the trip at the end of the year are finally coming together. (Actually, what that means is I've gotten off my lazy butt and finally organised flights and bought tickets).

Here's a rundown on the trip:

21 Nov: Leave Australia for the US
22 Nov: Arrive in LA, then Richmond VA
4 Dec: Arrive in Tampa, FL
11 Dec: Arrive in Quito, Ecuador

Things get sketchy after that (still haven't booked flights, procrastination) but we'll be in Ecuador and Peru, possibly Boliva. Then,

2 Feb: Leave LA for Australia
4 Feb: Arrive in Perth

It gets better. I then have 3 days to sleep/pack/watch TV/take long showers before Mom and Dad Morgan come to visit. One week of Perth sightseeing extravaganza and then

13 Feb: MOVE TO MELBOURNE!!!

But all of that stress inducing packing and moving is for another blog entry further down the road.

Friday night I went to an album launch for a local band called Sam Carmody at Kulcha in Freo.

This local band just happens to have one of my friends, Petrina, as backup female vocals and maraca shaker extraordinaire. They managed to pack the house and sell out the entire venue, which, according to the folks at Kulcha, doesn't often happen (I think they're the type of place that counts on the sounds of music floating out the doors and inticing random crowds to wander in).

Sam and the band were fantastic, and what impressed me is how experienced they sound, and how complex the sound of their music is, for a band just starting out.

So I’m doing my promotional bit, and giving them a 5-star review. Check em out on Triple J Unearthed: http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=10877

They’ll have more shows in Perth in the next few weeks, and a MySpace page soon as well.

Kulcha, you impressed me as well. What a great venue! Now all they need to do is start putting on live music on summer evenings and opening up the balcony so that people can groove to music and enjoy the masses wandering down the café strip.

Saturday night I went out in Subi with a good American friend, and something really astounding happened. 

Allow me to set the scene:

Said friend and I are in the bathroom in The Red C and are exchanging conversation when a girl washing her hands looks at us and says "oh my god are you guys Americans?" She goes on to explain that she is visiting a friend in San Antonio and wants to know where the good clubs are.

Me: Umm... you mean in San Antonio? Or in America?

Her: In America! The really insane clubs, like raver clubs.

Me: Well, New York and LA probably.

Her: And in the US, are there lots of hot girls? I mean, will I have lots of competition? Girls in Perth are hot!

Me: (thinking to myself, "duh, you're looking at em" : ) Um yeah I guess so.

Her: You know how you can make lots of money in Perth? You should be a stripper. You'll make around $1000 a night.

Just as things were getting a little out of hand, two more girls walk in.

Girls: Wait, you guys are Americans? Oh my god I just love your accent. You have the most gorgeous accents.

So that's the astounding part. This NEVER happens. Most people worldwide think the American accent amounts to the sound of nails on a chalkboard. Loud and screechy. And some of my proudest moments are when someone says to me "wait, you're american? you don't have an accent!"

It's nice to hear lovely things about Americans every once in a while. Helps dull the pain of the constant thrashing of Americans that goes on daily, to my face.

The first week of classes is under way. I'm starting to remember what it felt like to live at Curtin, have zero free time, cram down dinner at 9pm, and drop into bed at 10:30pm completely exhausted.

I'm excited about my classes this semester, mainly because they're a lot less marketing-focused and a lot more PR-focused. My quick trip into the life of a Marketing postgrad last semester convinced me even more that I'm much more Comm and much less Biz. Luckily the PR program at Curtin is run through the Business school- its the perfect mix of practical, real world, business focused while still being a communications course.

Now if only it would stop raining every time I walk between campus and my car.

I’m baaaack!

The trip up north was incredible. Rob and I volunteered at Ningaloo Reef Retreat, an eco-resort in the Cape Range National Park which consists of 5 luxury tents with ensuite bathrooms and miles of private beach on all sides. In exchange for veggie chopping and dish washing, we stayed/ate/kayaked/snorkelled for free on a beach about 15 metres from Ningaloo reef for 2 weeks. Here's a photo of our beach:

Beach

I swam with things I thought never I wanted to swim with. Like:

Sharks. Big ones. White tipped reef sharks, apparently harmless to humans. But they were still bigger than me and could take a bite out of my naked leg.

Rays. Blue spotted lagoon rays and one giant manta ray. I kept having flashbacks to the Steve Irwin incident and picturing a singer shooting through my chest.

Moray Eeels. They sit in the coral with their big mouths wide open waiting for something edible to swim by.

And some things I always dreamed about swimming with, like:

Nemo. Clown fish swimming in the anemones.

Sea turtles. Awesome.

Amazing corals.

Octopuses. Not of the blue ringed variety, thank GOD. And believe me, I was on the lookout after a guide explained that they cause sudden death and are also the size of a golf ball.

And we some some pretty amazing animals as well, like:

Breaching humpback whales off the coast.

Whale shark.

Emus.

Kangaroos. I know, big deal, but it’s still pretty exciting for me, I’m not from here after all.

Oh yeah, and incredible beaches, gorges, cliffs, and sunsets. But I won’t pretend the trip was a complete breeze.

Downsides:

They said there would be a staff shower at the camp. They should have been more specific. I would call it a small, 5-litre sized sack of water with a hole in the bottom so that it can be strung up in the sun to get ‘warm’ and then stood under to ‘shower’ in the open right next to the guests enjoying the communal eating area. I didn’t ‘shower’ for 2 weeks straight, a new record for me. I literally had salty dreadlocks, Jack Sparrow style.

Rob now knows I can shriek like a five year old girl when a kangaroo hops 1 metre in front of the 120 kph car. I try to keep things like that hidden from him.

On the last day of the trip, pre-14 hour drive home, Rob put the passenger side window all the way down and it stayed there permanently.

I lost a running shoe in Exmouth, Rob lost his wallet in Kalbarri.

Road trains. (American translation: tractor trailers with 3 trailers behind them, making them nearly impassable.) They make me feel like a 15 year old driver with my learners permit gripping the wheel scared for my life.

Petrol is more expensive than my soul.

Today is a very special day. The fourth of July. American Independence Day. Hooray!!! And while I have spent the last 6 months learning to embrace my inner australian-ness, I'm taking today to celebrate every bit of me that is American.

I'm proud of the fact that I sit in the back of taxi cabs even when I'm the only one in the taxi. I eat peanut butter and jelly sandwitches. I say 'zeee' instead of 'zed'. And tomayto instead of tomaaahto. I like rap music and always will. The list goes on.

So tonight I'm throwing a 4th of July party at my house, with sparklers and baseball and french fries and Budweiser. And all the aussies will learn how to celebrate like Americans.

American-flag

I haven't gone for a serious run since January. I jogged to the river twice, I think I played soccer three times. That's the total of my running in the last 6 months.

And then last night I ran 8k. That's 5 miles. And today I'm hurting. But it felt so good to push my body like that! My friend is trying to talk me into running the 12k City to Surf fun at the end of August, and last night was training session one.

The most disappointing thing? Apparently spending an entire semester swimming laps has no effect on anything other than swimming fitness. Definitely not running fitness. And really, which comes in more handy?

So after much deliberation (much, and participation in a chilly 6:30am marathon walk to South Perth for some 'time to think') the big decision has been made and we're moving to Melbourne in February.

I'll be finishing up my Masters at RMIT or Melbourne University, and Rob's soul will be owned by the corporates- strategic business management consulting- with Accenture.

It's going to be a great move, and I'm psyched to get back into work in a big city like Melbourne. There is- gasp- actually WINTER in Melbourne. And just in case some of you are geographically challenged (don't deny it, you know who you are) here's Melbourne on the map.

Picture 1

More timely news is that my last exam is Wednesday, there is lots of celebrating to be done, and I'll be leaving in just over two week to go up north to Exmouth and Ningaloo for 2 weeks of remote nothingness. No mobile phones, no internet, nothing. It'll be fantastic.

People often ask for an explanation of "Marketing." So, here it is:
 
·         You're a lady and you see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say, "I'm fantastic in bed."
That's Direct Marketing.
 
·         You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and, pointing at you, says, "She's fantastic in bed."
That's Advertising.
 
·         You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his telephone number. The next day you call him and say, "Hi, I'm fantastic in bed."
That's Telemarketing.
 
·         You see a guy at a party, you straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, "May I," and reach up to straighten his tie, brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say "By the way, I'm fantastic in bed."
That's Public Relations.
 
·         You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and says,"I hear you're fantastic in bed."
That's Brand Recognition.
 
·         You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He fancies you, but you talk him into going home with your friend.
That's a Sales Rep.
 
·         Your friend can't satisfy him so she calls you.
That's Tech Support.
 
·         You're on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you're passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated near the center of the block and shout at the top of your lungs, "I'm fantastic in bed!"
That's Junk Mail.