Lots of excitement this week... tonight's Mamma Mia, tomorrow Pam's sister Rebecca arrives and this weekend Sherilyn & I are heading to Waiheke (I like to say it Wai-heeeeee-ke) Island for the weekend! It's not Cuba, but it should be nice.

We were able to snag preview tickets for Mamma Mia (which officially opens tomorrow) and hopefully have decent seats - I'll let you know! I'm really excited for it as it's been a loooong time since I've seen a production like this... like Chad & I in Ottawa seeing Rent long time. I really love the city for this aspect in all that's happening around us. Meatloaf is here next weekend and playing with the Philharmonia. Sherilyn's dying to go but I'm not sold on the idea yet (mucho moolah required)... AND John Mayer is coming in April. Don't know if I'll make it to that one, but chances are I'll put it on my to do list!

Pam's older sister Rebecca arrives tomorrow. I plan to stay at least another week, possibly 2, which may have us living like Chinese in a freight crate, but it should be fun to have another newbie - lessened our rent this week to almost reasonable levels.

Next door to our apartment is the Auckland Chinese Presbyterian Church. I laugh every time I walk by as I think of all the bursaries & scholarships offered in highschool to "the second born child of the Miscouche Fire Chief from 1987-1993 who also sings in the church choir, plays rugby, has suffered personal tragedy and can prove financial need". And the awards were only ever for like $50. You had to have 8 people justify that you meant the ridiculous amount of criteria that were usually mutually exclusive of each other anyway. It was an exhausting procedure that I obviously have not yet gotten over. How the 2 relate, I don't know, but like I said, everyday I chuckle at the thought.

And as for Waiheeeeeke, it's a small island about a 30min ferry ride from here (well the ferry actually leaves from the docks, not the BNZ Tower, but anyway) and it's just a city getaway. There's a small permanent population and many cityfolk have a "bach" (beach house) there. There's beaches and watersports and there's even a nude beach, but I think we'll sit that one out!