Hey there friends!

Before we get things started I’d like to say a quick word about blogs. Since I first heard the word I’ve associated blogging with tools of all shapes and sizes: from hipsters to neckbeards to whiny intellectual wannabees. To me a blog sounded like a publicized diary that inherently shows an inflated sense of self-importance and need for attention, and frankly I was having none of it. In fact I still feel that way to some degree, as you can probably tell from the fact that I’m including this disclaimer. I cringe a little inside when telling people to “follow my blog”, because it makes me feel like someone with a constantly updated Facebook Status. But alas, here I am anyway, with my own url to boot. I guess what I’m trying to say is please don’t read what I put up here out of any kind of obligation to me. I (kind of) enjoy writing, and having an (admittedly tiny) audience serves as solid motivation for me to sit down and type. But I’ll feel a lot better knowing, or at least thinking, that those reading my stuff are doing so because they enjoy it, not because they feel compelled to. So with that in mind, I hope you enjoy my stories, and feedback is always appreciated. Except for grammar/syntax corrections; those you should keep those to yourselves.

Anyway, I’m here safe and sound in Auckland, New Zealand. I lucked out big time on my flight; very last row and seated next to a kickass old man who moved to an open row and let me have two seats to myself. When I describe this senior as kickass, I absolutely mean it. This gentleman, first name Thorpe, is an 83 year old Korean War Vet, Harvard and Columbia educated doctor, and started the largest malpractice insurance company in Washington State. He picked tobacco for 10 cents an hour during the Great Depression, currently spends his retirement trading options, and has been married for 52 years (his wife was sitting in 1st Class). He did do some weird old guy things, like accidentally take my fleece (I spent half the flight looking for it) and had a great deal of difficulty working his headphones. Also for all I know all his cool stories were blatant lies and really he spent his adult life directing pornography in the Valley. But I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt; pretty cool dude to be stuck next to on 13 hour flight.

I watched Wreck-it-Ralf on the plane, a solid B+ movie. Maybe it was the Ambien, but I thought the numerous candy-related puns were hilarious. The script showed a lot of creativity in how they tied all the different elements of arcade games together. Or maybe it didn’t. Some commercial for the movie that I saw a while back had a critic praising the film for it’s creativity, so I’m not really able to separate that preconceived notion from whatever my own opinion woud’ve been without that commercial. Either way, decent movie.

I’ve only been in New Zealand for a few hours so I don’t have much to report. It’s overcast and a little drizzly, which is apparently a good thing since the North Island has been having a bit of drought this year. There is a nice warm wind so it’s not bad at all, and frankly I’m too tired to care even if it was snowing. The few people I’ve interacted with so far (bus driver, cafe owner, hotel receptionist) have been stereotypically friendly. Auckland seems like it might be a bit expensive relative to the rest of New Zealand, so I’ll keep an eye out as I go.

I’ll be in Auckland for the next three nights and then I’m hopping on a bus to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, where I’ll be working for my room and board at the Saltwater Backpacker’s Lodge. If you need me go head and throw me an email and I’ll get back to you fairly quickly.

P.S. No new birds yet, just a bunch of House Sparrows. Ubiquitous little shits.