OUR VAN

garrett and i got a van. a serious van. we're going to make it our travelin' van. campin' van. i can't wait.

check this out.
GARRETT'S BLOG

hallelujah cover...

i just heard this cover of leonard cohen's song from this blog. it's amazing.

Donate Now: 1-877-99-HAITI in US/Canada, or go to www.hopeforhaitinow.org

my ring

From Blogger Pictures

I love it. It belonged to Garrett's great great grandmother. It's old. And beautiful.

rainy day reading

Since beginning this neverending wedding planning thing, I have come across some amazing blogs. Not just wedding ones, but fashion and design ones, too (thank you google reader!). There are a few blogs that i really do reccommend reading, whoever you are.
one is called TEN THOUSAND ONLY
Unfortunately, she is not posting anymore because she is done with her wedding. She is seriously funny, though. Totally worth reading.

Another one is THE SARTORIALIST
Great fashion.

The last one I recommend reading is one I came upon today, which actually made me want to write this post. It's called WHAT POSSESSED ME and it is hilarious. Maybe I just find her humour and approach to the whole pre-wedding process just so funny.

Since it's nice and rainy outside, why not curl up by the fire (or heater) and read some fun blogs, huh?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...

i love this.

i'm such a sucker...

for stuff like this.





and this

you can check out any time you like...

but you can never leave.


I just read this article by a BBC correspondent who has lived in America for the past 7+ years. It is so interesting to hear how an outsider, non native, views our country. Read it here.

Where the Wild Things Are

check out this new clip about the movie.




This is really an awesome website from the makers of wtwta

Seriously...who is this kid?

This is for G. Even though it's your least favorite HW family member, you'll love this.

Something about Vandaveer

I really like this video. Maybe it's the drumming on a shopping cart. I just like it.

Vandaveer - Woolgathering / Roman Candle - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

LA BLOGO...

i love THIS WEBSITE.




i can't get over this video.

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
and i really love this one, too.

#73.1 - A HAWK AND A HACKSAW - Part 1
by lablogotheque

What will transportation be like in 80 years?????

I came upon this video by Honda, and it is really interesting. What will we drive in 80 years? How will we get around?




I remember watching this video about the first electric car...

Apartment Therapy

I don't know how many of you have hear of or seen this website, but it is AMAZING. I mean, it is amazing for those of you who can actually decorate their own place, being that there is a place to decorate. Being quite poor at the moment, I don't have that luxury (read: living with my dad). One day, though, I will be able to have my own place to call home, and maybe even be featured on this website.




There are just so many ideas of how to decorate and beautify your place.




This is just one of the many wonderful ideas...







Here's another.

Apple Products

i agree with Donald Miller,




why don't i have any jumping photos on facebook?




read his blog here. seriously do it. it's funny and true and not funny all at the same time.

Slumdog...Cairo Reminiscing

Tonight I saw Slumdog Millionaire




I can honestly say it is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The reason I say this isn't necessarily because of the story, the acting, the cinematography (even though all that was pretty darn good), it's because of what it reminded me of.




POVERTY




I know it's kind of a weird reason to like a movie. For the reminder of the bottomless, drowning poverty that seems to be everywhere. It reminded me of Cairo. Of 2006 when I spent three months in a city I knew absolutely nothing about save for some old stone buildings nearby. I knew nothing of the garbage collecting communities that littered the outskirts of the city centre. Nothing of the island in the nile, basically a stone's throw from the shores of Cairo city, which didn't even have a hospital on it.




I didn't know anything about the massive amounts of people there who love soccer and mobile phones, are obessed with airbrushed photos and honking horns for any and every reason imaginable. Or that everything, including your skin would have a layer of brown dirt/dust/pollution on it at the end of the day. Or that there are 9 communities in Cairo who collect and sort garbage, who have no infrastructure, who are Christian. I knew nothing of the huge shopping malls filled with Egyptian teens attempting to free themselves from whatever they feel is holding them back, or what being in a Muslim country during Ramadan would be like, or being a blonde, american woman in a Muslim country during Ramadan.

From egypt

No, I didn't know any of this. I still don't really know much about Cairo. I do know that there are some amazingly loving and hospitable people there. Some amazing doctors and volunteers trying to bring some relief to the more than 2 million Sudanese refugees living in the city. Young children begging for less than a cent. For a smile. A high five. Recognition. Love.




So no, despite what they may say about Slumdog Millionaire, it's not "the feel good movie of the century" or whatever. Yes, it is encouraging, but it is also devastating. Bombay to Mumbai. The slums to the sky risers. Cairo.

From egypt

(photo from BH's collection)




I haven't been to India. It's in the top 10 things to do list. Maybe even top 5. But I have been to Cairo, and I have seen wealth blanketing poverty, maybe just for the wealthy themselves, but covering it and coexisting with it at the same time. I have also seen poverty laughing in wealth's face. Smiling. Laughing. Loving.

From egypt

Watching this movie made me realize why I wanted to be a nurse in the first place...to contribute to something...to learn from those many are to busy to learn from...to laugh with those in the dirt. With those who laugh despite everything else around them saying they shouldn't. That they can't. But they do, they sure do.

From egypt

beached whales

we've been seeing these stickers on cars lately saying "beached as bro" and were really confused about what it meant. that is until we went to noosa this weekend and malakai explained it all with this video

soccer and hailstorms

TWO THINGS.





one: i was starting to feel old and slow, so i joined the summer soccer league here. it is 6 a side. i am pretty sure the whole of byron shire is playing on a team. it's fun, but i am unfit. i also haven't played soccer since high school. this basically means that i can only juggle for like two seconds before dropping the ball. perfect.




two: i have never been so frightened for the safety of my car and small children like i was today. hail the size of golf balls were denting cars and breaking rooftops. i was outside, stuck in a partially covered gazebo/awning type thing when the hail started to come down. it was the loudest, most amazing thing i've ever seen. it was so crazy to have beautiful sunny weather turn to icy hailstorm weather.

From Last Import

this is the nursing home i am doing my prac at in suffolk park during the storm.

From Last Import

american things...

it is quite interesting trying to follow what's happening in america (debates, financial woes, palin interviews) from australia. basically garrett and i try to watch videos, read articles and read papers trying to understand what's really happening. 


mostly, though, i have been trying to learn through a comedic eye...

Caring and spring things...

so i started a new job a couple weeks ago. nursing-ish type job. actually my official title is Care Staff Employee. i'm a glorified babysitter/housemom for 75-96 year-olds. i work at a place called Feros Village in byron bay. it's actually really a great way to solidify the things i am learning in nursing school such as why people take anginine. why we should put on lotion all day everyday. have you ever seen an old school 96 year-old sunbaker's skin? you'd wear lotion/sunscreen everyday if you have. 

but really, i sort of love the oldies. they have wild personalities (many due to various levels of dementia). and even wilder shades of blue hair. amazing really. 

sadly, though, i had my first experience with death as a "nurse". i even had to take vitals to see if any life was left. a paramedic ended up coming to confirm our ideas that no, the 93 year old was gone. freedom. release. pain and sadness for some. 

on a happier note, spring is finally here (after a seemingly long long long winter...i may die in santa cruz this winter). warm breezes. snakes. snakes and more snakes. bugs. really strong northerly winds. and the expectation of summer. camping. uni finishing. and putting away my 4/3...yes i've been wearing a 4/3 in byron. crazy i know. 

anyway, it is weird to be feeling spring things and smelling spring smells in september, but i say bring it on. sunshine and flowers...

From Blogger Pictures

Splendour video clips

i figured it out...