oh man - It's Friday the 13th and I never realized! Oh the freaky things to come... Anyone ever see the terrible movie "Saturday the 14th"? don't.

And it's over. I had even progressed to wearing a rubber thimble page turny thing on my finger to improve my filing speed. But now it has all come to a crashing end. My one week as a pro filer is complete.

But maybe not... I have work next week with the corporate office for one of the national banks, a job that could last a few weeks. Could? It will once they get a taste of my filing!

I'm hitting that point where things are starting to become routine and I forget what's new...

I (obviously) frequent internet cafes and try to move around to find the nicer ones (with better rates and comfier chairs). I have been in probably 10 different ones and they are all operated by Asians, making most of the programs appear in a language I can't even begin to understand. The keyboard also has Asian lettering on it. I say Asian because I have no idea how to decipher between the different languages. Ignorance is bliss.

Friday evening already... after a week of watching the sunshine through the office window, they're calling for rain. Oh well, perhaps I be forced to check out these shopping villages and markets....

A recent quote from Chad's blog: "The fact that Becky's blog may be funnier than mine is of great concern. I will be monitoring this closely. Possible, I have forgotten to 'bring the funny'."

Am I posting this to brag? No, more to apologize. My brother knows that I will now feel the need to add funny, funny will lead to corny, corny will lead to pathetic attempts at humour, pathetic attempts at humour will lead to Chad coming off much funnier. I will crack under the pressure and become a miserable failure as a blogger. I will become too ashamed to post anymore and gradually cut off all written communication due to the stress that it brings me. I will lose all friends and family will forget about me. All because my brother feels the need to compete. All because he feels inadequate to his younger sister. Is this really necessary? It's not my fault I'm the favorite Chad, I just happen to live the farthest away. You just have to move past and start being the best you can be without comparing yourself to me. It's apples and oranges my friend, apples and oranges.

Yep, my dreams have come true. I am a pro filer. Not only can I find the paper a home but I can make the paper a home. I have so gained the trust in this work that today I was promoted. I was no longer working under the hand of others. I was freelance. Three large drawers and 5 boxes of random papers. What did I do you ask? Oh I filed. I filed to my heart's content. I filled that cabinet. You can't fit another file in it. And that's how I want it. Frankly, I don't want someone else arbitrarily stuffing files in my cabinet. The labels wouldn't match. It would ruin the feng shui.

I really thought that I could do a job just for the money even if it was mind-numbingly boring. Turns out I need some stimulation now and then, more than the paper cuts are currently providing that is.

We went to see Opius Cactus (probably not the correct spelling) the other night. It was this amazing acrobatic/gymnastic/ballet/physical arts production sort of thing that was simply incredible. It's impossible to even describe it (as indicated by my previous description). It was 2 hours of all physical performance done as multiple one-acts to high energy music. Sherilyn works at the Cdn Consulate and somehow snagged free tickets for the premier. Technically that made me a diplomat right? Being the premier, the place was crawling with NZ's who's who. Unfortunately we didn't know who anyone of the who's who are, so we just said "who?"

I don't mean to brag, but I'm one hell of a filer. People have not seen this in me before, but I'm serious - you give me a piece of paper and I can find it a home. It's only been 2 days of filing work, but already I'm prepared to rate myself as above average in the field. Perhaps not pro, that will have to wait until I have another day or two under my belt, but definitely above average. Maybe this is it. Maybe I've found my true calling. Just me, the paper and the files, together forever. No people, no phones, no computers, definitely no photocopiers - just me and the paper. I could do it.

Lesson for the day...... got one: Kiwis say "ta" for thanks. Other say cheers, but ta is more common. And photocopiers here hate me just as much as photocopiers at home.

New Zealand is the last major land settlement by Europeans in the world. Polynesians set up camp here about 1000 yrs ago but it took a long time for the white men to find them - about 600-700 years. What it has taken Europe 20 centuries and North America 4 centuries to develop has happened here in just 1.

Mammals are not natural to the country, hence why there is such amazing flora & fauna. Explorers introduced rats and dogs which killed numerous plants and birds, with the introduction of Europeans killing even more.

Forgive me as I read a NZ history book and share my new found knowledge...

I didn't realize I had a devoted fan club out there ... miss 2 days and you all think I've forgotten you! Never - I just ditched you for the sun!

With Friday being Waitangi Day, we took advantage by renting a car and getting out of the city for a bit. We headed to the Coromandel Peninsula which is east of Auckland. Friday was again a dreary day so we took the scenic route around the coast and through the towns of the peninsula. The region used to be a gold mining area but has since seen a dwindling population and an economy built on tourism. It had quaint towns with all the shops along one street and a definite lack of main stream stores. The towns are all situated around the coast while the inner peninsula is dense forest. The forests are all filled with palm trees and tropical looking trees. (I need a my esteemed colleague here to learn me all about the plants and trees).

We went off the beaten path to see the "large kauri" - a 1200 year old tree that is 9m in girth and like really really tall. The forests used to be filled with these, but now there are only a limited number left in the country. The one we saw is only the 15th largest on the peninsula. I'm assuming it must be the easiest one to get to--a small climb up 198 muddy steps--and that's why it's the famous one.

After playtime in the forest we continued driving to find some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen. Mountain ranges and forests and bright orange and red dirt (we Islanders are fooling ourselves to think that our dirt is red). The roads were windy ... as in better than a roller coaster windy, pull over before I get sick windy. Once we hit the east coast of the peninsula we realized we had found where Kiwis go to play. The homes were these incredible beach houses that resembled the Hollywood homes of the stars and were set high up in the hills overlooking small little beach towns. Curious as to who could own these mansions, we learned that they are inhabited primarily by retirees who move to the beach as soon as they finish their career. Kiwis refer to beach houses as a "bach" and it's everyone's goal to have one. So, Mom, what does that mean for you?

We kept trucking along, visiting the Hot Water Beach where 2 hours before and after low tide you can dig a hole in the sand that will fill with water hot enough to be a hot tub or spa. Unfortunately the tide schedule wasn't on our side and, with no available accommodations nearby, we had to keep driving. Tairua it was - a charming beachside town facing a mountain that had houses built all up the side of it. (I know much of this won't make sense until I show some pictures - I promise to post some soon. In the meantime, just trust me that it's pretty. Really pretty).

Saturday, glorious Saturday. Finally, a beautiful hot sunny day had come our way and we were conveniently situated 20 minutes from one of the best beaches on the North Island - Whangemata. February 7 and I was sprawled out on a beach. Life is good. The waves were huge (better than Thunder Cove) and Sherilyn has taken up the professional sport of waveboarding so we had a blast! We had strong sunscreen and reapplied repeatedly, but later learned that the UV rating for the day had been throw-raw-meat-outside-and-call-it-a-barbeque high. I am a woman in pain. Lester the Lobster has got nothing on me. It turns out that just as important as applying sunscreen is evenly applying sunscreen. In the meantime I have burnt patches appearing sporadically throughout and thoroughly burnt underarms, upper lip and ear lobes. The simple act of blinking hurts. So anyways, turns out that little hole in the ozone everyone talks about is right over NZ! Imagine that!

So, whimpering in pain today, I sent the others to the beach and am headed to the art gallery. Oh - but not until I tell you about last night! We got back in time to get to the Asian Lantern Festival (in celebration of the Chinese New Year) at dusk. It's in a large park in the city centre and featured large "lanterns" - life size art works made of a silk/nylon on a metal frame and lit up from the inside. They looked like stained glass, but again, pictures will help. There was a dragon, pandas, lambs, swans, a year of the monkey plus more and they where beautiful and colorful. The park was lit by small lanterns strung around and hanging from trees. There were Asian dancers and other performers and food... so much good food! They were selling small lanterns which were lit by a candle for $2 each. As Sherilyn & I went to get one, the guy told us that they were $1 if he had to make them but free if we just took them as is. He showed us how to make one, handed us 6 and said have a good night! So if anyone is in need of a miniature Asian lantern, I'm your woman!

Hope this super long one makes up for my slack...