Job interview update

I didn't think I'd have an update on the job interview from more than a week ago. But, go figure, Nelson is a small, small town and the talent pool is not what it was in Denver.

For a recap, see the First Job Interview post where Don and I learned that I was competing for a job with his boss' husband, oy! Well, turns out hubby really was interested in the job after interview #1, and I was totally turned off. It was, with no emphasis added, one of the worst job interviews I've been in on both sides. I wouldn't have hired me! My lack of interest must have bled through.

But lo and behold, last Friday I get a voicemail message midday--they want a SECOND interview!! What? You have to be kidding. Something must have happened, I think candidate choice #1 fell through and it was down to the rest of the pickings. I emailed Don, he found out boss' hubby also was called back for a second interview.

Well, like the kind-hearted woman I am, I returned the message and politely withdrew my name from consideration. I mean, 99.9% CMS? Whatever. Anyway, I like to think I am doing all I can to help Don's job aspirations with his boss because she is dying for her husband to get a job (and make some money??) and with me out of the picture, hubby's chances just got a whole lot better.

Goodbye Karen

I received news the other day of a colleague and acquaintance passing away from breast cancer. Her name was Karen Hornbostel and she was an amazing person with an incredible spirit. This photo was taken for a 2001 USA Today article featuring Karen and her remedy for dealing with cancer treatment:

"Originally diagnosed in August 1993, Hornbostel went through a mastectomy and chemotherapy at age 40 and had recurrences in 1997 and '98. More symptoms prompted her to go back on chemo last April. 'It's a low dose, and I seem to be responding well," she says. 'I may be in some kind of treatment on and off for the rest of my life, but as long as I can stay strong, then hopefully I can keep cruising till I'm 90."

Karen was in cancer treatment since then, pretty regularly. Not one to let life pass by, she also founded and worked through the rest of her life for Summit Cancer Exercise Program, a six-month program for cancer survivors to help them regain their strength and boost their physical well-being. We were often co-grantees at foundation events around Denver. Sometimes she'd come to those grant award ceremonies with pink hair, other times blue and spiked. She never stopped living, no matter what. And in these past years, even though the ravages of cancer were quite apparent, Karen was always the liveliest person in the room.

Karen and her passing remind me why I decided to make this move to New Zealand. LIVE YOUR LIFE, life every day fully, live how you want to live, take risks and reap rewards. You never know until you try. Life should be full of risk. Don't let days and days pass you by before you know where the time has gone. Live every day as if it were your last.

Enough platitudes for you? They are platitudes for a reason, the are true, true, true. Bye, Karen, I'm glad I knew you.

Healthcare – Part 1 of 2, The Basics

One of the questions we got from nearly everyone in the US before we left was about healthcare: what kind of insurance, how is the healthcare system, etc. We looked into this before we decided to apply, it’s a socialized system like Canada where everyone gets basic health coverage for free. There are waiting lists for surgeries, and there is a private health insurance industry whereby people who own private policies can get care much faster through private hospitals. That’s pretty much what we knew.

Upon our arrival and landing in Nelson, the immigration service sent us a bunch more information.

What is free:

• Most maternity services
• Treatment in a public hospital
• Flu vaccines for those over 65 and some others with chronic illnesses.

What you pay for general practitioner (GP) visits, whose fees are set on a commercial basis just as any other service or trade:

• Kids under 6, to visit the GP, the government subsidizes $35 of the fee (most of the time, for kids, this ends up meaning the visit is free)
• Kids over 6 pay $15 less than the adult rate.
• Adults, fees vary but range around $50 or so. Don’s paid $53 to see his doctor.

What you pay for prescriptions:
If you are given a prescription, you will have to pay for it. Most drugs are subsidized, so you pay a charge for the prescription irrespective of the actual cost of the drug charged by the manufacturer. Some drugs are not subsidized and can be expensive. If you are prescribed a non-subsidized drug, you have to pay the extra costs.

Subsidized drugs cost:

• Adults: $15 max for each item
• Kids under 6: free
• Kids over 6: $10 max for each item
• Community Services Card (low-wage earner): $3 max

What you pay for hospital treatment:

• Public hospitals are free
• Private hospitals – you will pay the full cost, unless you are covered by a medical insurance. You may need to be approved by the insurance company prior to treatment.

Rainy, rainy days

We're socked in with rain. Today is our third day. Poor Kiwis: this weekend is a national holiday, Labour Day, and they had today (Monday) off, but the rain started first thing Saturday morning after a gorgeous Friday and hasn't stopped. Lucky for our neighbourhood we all have those tiled roofs, so you hear the rain right when it starts all the way up to when it turns to drizzle. And then it starts again.


This is the view out our side window looking toward the Centre of New Zealand from where you've seen gorgeous photos of Nelson. We hiked up there some weeks ago, it's a great spot.






Because I had that job interview on Friday, we moved to Saturday our plans to drive out to the Marlborough Sound, visit that serene part of the country, and do a little hiking and exploring. We got as far as Okiwi Bay (about 1.5 hours drive) and stopped at the bay, and decided that those clouds were coming right at us. Best to cut the trip here and head back. That was two days ago now, we are glummy gusses.


So no cool pictures to share ... other than we finally got a lawn mower--a push mower to cut all 20 metres of grass--and Don was able to cut the grass on Thursday, it was soooo long and the weeds were clearly standing taller and taking over. Our neighbours had stopped speaking to us. This is the side yard, I took the top two photos out the window you see there.



This is the front yard, before cutting. I did manage to plant 3 herb pots last weekend.







So, we resort to cute pictures of Olivia. Here are two. Isn't she the cutest snuggle bear!

Flight of the Conchords

Many months ago, I think last winter, I was sitting alone on a late Saturday night after watching a movie, and I turned on HBO. I started watching an episode of One Night Stand, a comedy series and within 2 minutes I was laughing so hysterically, Don came back downstairs from his busy work on the computer to see whatever was causing the hysteria.

"Flight of the Conchords" is their name: a comedy musical duo from New Zealand. We felt a small kinship with these two guys because we were in the process of moving to New Zealand at the time, but more than anything they were hysterical. Now they have signed a deal with HBO to produce their own show and we just finished watching a NZ documentary about their March (?) trip to Austin, TX to play in a big music festival earlier this year. Their success has started a good deal of talk here in the country, a couple of kiwi boys making it big in America.

They are too funny, you have to listen to their most famous song, a quicktime link is below (give it a second to open, don't just close the window). Their website is www.conchords.co.nz and their stalker-esque groupie fan site is www.whatthefolk.net. Soon these guys will be all over HBO and, even though we only discovered them this year, we knew them before they were huge. Take a listen: "Business Time" http://www.defectiveyeti.com/Business%20Time.mp3

First job interview

Neither Don nor I have had a real job interview until today. We’ve been only to temp agencies and they do a simple, cursory review of your resume and then test your computer skills.

Today I had my first interview for a website coordinator position at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. It’s a great degree-awarding school on the South Island, 100 years old. Someone at my current job referred me to the advertisement. I decided to apply to see what would happen. I figure I’m so experienced doing websites now, with all of 2 months under my belt at the Nelson City Council, that I’d be a shoo in :). I considered it a real achievement to get the interview call earlier this week.

To be honest, I don’t think I want the job anyway. I really like my current job and the people I work with and the possibilities, so I’ve decided to wait it out at NCC because they will advertise for the job I now have closer to the end of the year, and they’ve already made overtures to me. It’s going to be only half-time, but it will pay well and I will have the chance to get another PT job and do different types of work, that sounds neat. There’s no guarantee, so I’m definitely gambling.

Debate raged in the house about what to wear for this “first” of New Zealand events: Don’s recommendation, given his current job of interviewing job applicants, of typical NZ black for every work occasion (BORING) or Angela’s preference of color and vibrancy. We both figured that if I don’t really want the job, I can wear whatever I want. But black won out as I am too darned practical and responsible.

Today, as luck would have it, Don and I were part of a clandestine operation to learn more about the interview. Don went into the office around 1pm and learned right away that his boss’ husband was interviewing right then for the same job. We knew he had applied. Then shortly before 2pm, husband walks into the office to talk with wife. He starts talking about the job, all the questions, what they are looking for, etc. DING DING! Don IMs me, I take notes, blah blah blah, I know what to expect and prepare for my own appointment. Soooo sneaky!

He also learned what the boss’ husband wore: khakis and a shirt. So I scrapped the super-ultra deluxe black suit and went slightly less casual (but no less fashionable). Don’s boss also said what I’ve heard: once you make the cut for an interview, they’ve determined you are qualified. Now the interview is just about fit, will you fit in with them.

I had two interviewers and they were dressed way down, is that just a Nelson thing? Nothing earth-shatteringly different from the US, same types of questions, same BS. Bottom line: a bunch of information in a short interview made me realize it ain't the job for me. It wasn't a good fit at all. Besides, we do it way better at the City Council and I am so glad I work there. I look forward to applying for my job. I think job interviews are the same everywhere!

Our first visitor, YAY!

Last night we hosted our first visitor from our former home in Colorado. My friend Sara Shainholtz arrived in New Zealand for a two week holiday only a few days ago and stayed with us on Sunday night. We took her for some fish and chips, sat on Tahunanui beach and went for a beer in the town centre. It was so nice to see a familiar face, even if for just one night. We're both mildly bummed today to see her go since she was a bit of home and brought that comfortable, familiar feeling. BUT, she is off for an amazing adventure to Abel Tasman and down to Queenstown, hopefully for the same kayaking adventure we went on in Doubtful Sound. She's gotten an earful from us about what to do and see and was absolutely giddy yesterday when she arrived after a day swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura. What an amazing thing, catching up with people you know half way round the world.

The World is in town...

The cruise ship "The World" is in town for a few days. Very interesting concept. You purchase an apartment ($1.3MM to $6.3MM) and sail around the world stopping at various ports (this year the Pacific, next year Europe). Here's the website with all the info, i recommend checking it out - www.abordtheworld.com. I guess Nelson has been working for the last few years to get them to come here. The only thing beyond $ preventing me from participating is it is still just a big cruise ship - not very fun. What a coincidence that they stopped here during the Arts Festival. :)

Here's a picture of Tahuna beach - another one of our bike rides. We strolled the beach and tested the water yesterday on the way to pick up a lawn mower. Nice that you can just stop off at the beach on your way somewhere.

Start of the Arts Festival with downtown blocked off for a street party. This is one of seven bands that were going to be playing.

Arrr, matey. Avast, ya scurvy knave! Brave be ye, for certain, but arrr ye willin' ta die fer that booty?"

Nothing better than a Ferris Wheel attached to a large truck - mobile and safe (i'm guessing).

Reminiscent of a creature from a Mos Eisley bar on Tatooine (if this doesn't make sense, watch Star Wars). Anyway, she was having fun dancing to the music and trying to stay vertical with all the wind.

Tidbits

**The famous Nelson Arts Festival starts this weekend (visit www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz -- another web site yours truly is responsible for, since the NAF is sponsored by the Nelson City Council). We love browsing the web site too, especially because we won't be able to go to many of the 10-day long festivities since they are so freaking expensive!! The feature item, however, is a sculpture of a flaccid penis. I've put up some of the photos of the work in progress, but I have to admit, I just don't see it.

**Last week at the market we bought some organic, free range eggs. Ate 'em right up, I was craving them. Next thing you know, I've got me an alergic reaction to one of mother earth's freshest of foods. My body's probably been so poisoned with GE stuff and manipulated food products that I can't even eat the fresh stuff without suffering the consequences.

**We are hoping to host our very first visitor in the next few days! One of the women who volunteered with Sense of Security emailed me on about October 5 and said "I'll be leaving for Auckland on 10/10, what should I do during my 2 week jaunt through New Zealand?" And just like that, she's on the plane and landed today and will be heading for the South Island. I hope she'll have time to make a stop in Nelson, I highly recommended it. See you soon, Sara!

**We have been suffering--and I mean this--through a week of the most blustery of winds I can recall. Isn't that one of the reasons I left Colorado??? Here I am right back in the wind. Well, they are either s'owesters or n'orwesters, whatever the weather lady calls them and they are pissing me off. You can't wear a skirt (found out the hard way), you can't bike down the road without falling over, and you can't leave the house if the washing is up because that darned winde blows it all down and then it's dirty again. It's been a smashing Friday! BRING ON THE WINE!

Quick note

Shout out to Rich Frey, Don's former workmate ... guess that the Chipotle in the Flatiron Crossing Mall closed up shop!! One guess why. (Do do do do, do do do, do do do do, DO do do do do do. Do do do do, do do do. Do do do do do . Do. Do. BONG bong) <<--Jeopardy theme. Might have missed a do. Anyhoo, as Rich said, because WE LEFT and sent the place to the poor house!! LOLOLOLOL

Select Weekend pictures

--Sunday--

End of our block as we headed out on our bikes - Centre of NZ is the hill on the right. It's spring and things are starting to bloom.








Isel House - we rode our bikes out here for the Isel in Bloom festival. About 10kms from our place. Food, music, arts and crafts, etc. Mainly for the very young or very old.







Girls practicing their dancing, they went on in front of a 100+ person crowd right after this. Notice the pink Crocs on one of them - she took them off when she got on stage.







Some of the musical entertainment - group of about 15 bagpipers (young and old). All decked out with the little plaid dresses as well - yes, I know they are kilts.






My lunch - for some reason they serve hot dogs and brautwurst on white bread (buttered first of course). Either way, it was pretty damn good and for $1.50 the cheapest meal I've had here in some time.

--Saturday--

We rode our mountain bikes about 8 miles out to The Glen (small community of about 100 houses). This is the last subdivision before the highway heads inland. There is a nice hike over those hills (Cable Bay walkway) but it can't be accessed until the lambing season is over. A couple we met a week ago lives out here.

View from the rocky beach at The Glen.

--Friday--

We drove out to Farewell Spit and Golden Bay. Walked along the beach while the tide was out. Farewell Spit is a nature reserve and one of three areas in NZ to be designated a Wetland of International Importance. You are allowed to walk the spit for 2.5kms, after that you have to take a tour. I've read there are some 100 different species of birds out here. I counted 4 but we only walked for about 45 minutes. We also didn't hit Fossil Point - baby seals are rumored to hang out here. Next time.

Tata beach - another beach we've scouted out. Looks like it will be another good swimming beach come this summer. Plus several good hikes in the area.

Pupu springs. Actually Te Waikoropupu. This is a Maori taonga (treasure) and a waahi tapu (sacred place). Some of the clearest water in the world.

Ahhhhh!!! Nature break for me. Not really, Angela just took this as I tested the water but it looks like I am relieving myself, doesn't it?

Politics the way it should be

Having been focused on the political situation in the US for many, many years I admit that I became somewhat annoyed with the current administration and the affiliated party. While it would be a better story, perhaps, if we had moved out of the US for political reasons (like I can't stand to be within 3000 miles of that numnuts), we really didn't.

It's nice to see that politics in New Zealand isn't so different from the US with the dominant 2 parties and the in-fighting and backstabbing and private eyes with the mudslinging about personal lives, etc. At least here they come out and say what they mean, there's no spin in New Zealand!! Really, there is NO spin here. You have to admire the directness of political figures here for that, at least.

But something happened the other day to give me hope for democracies in this age of the corporation (I recommend the documentary THE CORPORATION very highly):

Excerpts from 2 articles in the NZ Herald (and watched on TV3):

Telecom's [largest phone company, serves most of the country] move to stop making donations to political parties is being viewed as a sign of things to come for corporates.

New Zealand's largest listed company said it had polled its shareholders, staff and customers, and found that halting donations "really resonates" with all of those groups.

Shareholders regarded donations as a decision they should make themselves and a lot of New Zealand companies did not make significant political donations, he said. Telecom believed this was what customers and stakeholders wanted.

Public relations consultant Mark Unsworth said he thought listed companies both here and in Australia were getting more nervous about political donations.

Pressure was coming from the public and shareholders' associations, he said, and it was possible some corporates would opt against donating. "It's the negative vibes that come with it," he said. "If you give it to the Arthritis Foundation then you're not going to be in the paper next week. If you give it to Winston Peters [controversial foreign minister] or someone, you could end up there."

It appears that Telecom's decision to stop donations has been in the making for months, and is not a direct result of the recent publicity. The company gave a total of $150,000 to political parties in its 2006 financial year [see below, pretty even and fair based on voting patterns], and always intended to review its policy after the election.

What Telecom gave in the year to June 30, 2006:Labour $50,000 National $50,000 Act $10,000 Greens $10,000 Progressives $10,000 United Future $10,000 Maori Party $10,000

Our 3-month List of Mosts

We get asked these questions a lot, so we’ve compiled a list for everyone. The negatives aren’t meant to be really negative (unless it’s glass or boy racers). PLEASE remember, we’ve been here only 3 short months (though it seems like forever!)

Most surprising thing since we’ve arrived
Angela: I’ve found it amazingly easy to meet people and make friends, we were told by several people Nelson would be cliquish and closed off, we’ve not found it to be that way in regards to socialising. Jobs, maybe.
Also, the cost of electronics is super high here, that is really surprising considering they have so many Asian manufacturers and are in economically beneficial agreements with all of them, you’d think a TV would cost less??

Don: In my new line of work I deal with a lot of blue collar labourers – certainly not what I’m used to. A large percentage of them actually check the box for having convictions against the law (drink driving, common assault, etc). Most are very nice. Also takes extra effort to understand the accents down here but I’m getting used to it.

Most annoying thing so far:
Angela: youths, boy racers, glass. What’s new?? I also don’t care for the fact that the windows here have no screens—way more bugs here than in Colorado. And I don’t like that they have no food delivery service, I actually have to go out, drive and get my own damn Pizza Hut.

Don: ditto all above, especially the boy racers – simply ridiculous, I hate all the cars with the obnoxiously loud mufflers. The dryers here are annoying – they don’t dry and don’t take lint off. Everyone hangs wet clothing outside so I guess the dryers are set up not to work (i.e. putting a couple items in for an hour will not dry them). I don’t like the faucets either. I’m worried about UV rays. [Don was attacked by a UV ray when he was a boy, childhood issues.]

Coolest thing so far:
Angela: Walking everywhere, walking to work, walking home for lunch so I don’t have to make lunch in the morning, walking back to work and then walking home from work. Walking to club to workout. Walking instead of driving, totally awesome. Now that our bikes are built, you can add mountain biking to this category, we also run errands this way now. Gas is sooo much cheaper when you don’t drive :) (current petrol prices: NZ$1.43/litre, or NZ$5.72 per gallon—or US$3.72 per gallon, shocking for you, but lower for us by more than 80c per gallon since we arrived). We just filled up today, first time in a month.
Come December, coolest thing will be the beach, baby.

Don: Swedish rounding is cool – no 1 or 5 cent pieces and when you pay cash everything is rounded either up or down to the nearest 10 cents.
Not sure it is the coolest but something I’ve noticed – the cyclists that are geared out in team kits look like they belong on a bike. You don’t have the overweight chubby guys who wear the skin tight Lycra just to head down the road to get a cup of coffee. I’ve yet to see one heavy set person decked out in a team kit – everyone in gear looks fit enough to be in the peloton. I’m pretty excited because I did find a place that has group rides 3 times/ week – looks like a group between 10 - 20 people all with high end gear, hope I can keep up.
I also love the Nelson area’s geography – we are bordered by hills on a couple sides and a bay on the other. I love the weather here too – a lot of sun but some days of just clouds and rain. The city center is lively with all sorts of great cafés and the Saturday market is a great place to get fresh vegetables and fruit.


What do you miss most about Colorado?
Angela: I really miss the NHL, the Avalanche. I’ve sent off numerous emails about watching or listening via the NHL site, no go so far.

Don: Friends (Tequila night) & Parents (LePeep breakfasts). Chipotle. Cheap beer.

What do you miss most about the US?
Angela: family and friends, of course!! But also LINT ROLLERS! No one in this country uses clothes dryers. And the dryers we’ve used don’t take off lint, so arggghhhhh, very annoying if you have cats, especially. Mom already sent me a stash of lint rollers for my bday.
I thought it might be shopping and clothes, but I really haven’t been in the mood to shop or spend money on clothes here, there is no money to spend! We’ve really downshifted coming here and excess money is a luxury right now. Even if we have it, we’ll probably buy a house with a view and then I can wear that one day and night.

Don: Chipotle [surprise]. TV season starting on time – we’re off by at least a month, if not months. Football – although I can watch the Sunday night and Monday night games live (Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon respectively).


What have you found that is drastically different than in the States?
Angela: One thing I can think of right off hand is that you will see nudity on television here and hear swearing on TV and radio. Songs aren’t bleeped out, they play the explicit versions of everything. (Not that I like the song, but Fergie’s London Bridge—in the chorus the background singers are really saying “oh shit” not what you hear there.)

People don’t have an issue here with nudity on TV shows or even the news. Remember we wrote about the erotica festival in Auckland some weeks back? First time we heard of it was on the 6pm news, boobs everywhere during the story. Three days later they commented that some people wrote them and called them, suddenly the boobs were blurred out. But blurring is not the norm.

Don: side of the road that people drive on. The weather report on the news – gets about 3 minutes at the end of the show not the typical 20 minutes like in the States.

Anything the same?
Angela: More appropriate to Colorado or even the Denver/Boulder area, lots of cyclists all over and people in Nelson are very particular about natural foods and are very green.

Don: They have mountains here. Weather report – they can’t predict it down here either.

What don’t I miss?
Angela: Stress of a high-powered job, the dry climate and cracked skin and fingernails, traffic and cars for miles and miles, listening to that a-hole who runs our country say the most idiotic things ever.

Don: This time of year at my old job – after 6 years of it I was ready for something new. The urban sprawl of the Denver/ Boulder area – I love that you can just drive a short distance to be away from the city (loosely termed city since Nelson is only pop 45k).

American politics- I don’t like that lying deceitful a-hole bastard either. To quote Teddy Roosevelt, “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.” Also by TR, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.” And he was a Republican.

Do you have a wish list of items you’d want from the States?
Angela: (YES, we have been asked this a few times!!) What a GREAT question for any of you visiting or just clamoring to send a care package :) Lint rollers, any except 3M brand. glucosamine chondroitin from Walgreens, COLD EAZE, plastic hangers (they are like 3 for US$4 here) good tequila (ask first), cinnamon chewing gum, lint rollers (did I mention that?), something totally awesome from Banana Republic—perhaps a dress. A good selection of sandals from Nordy Rack for the upcoming summer season. A great leather Fossil purse, red.

Don: bike tires – new set of high performance treads will set me back $75 each. SLR Pentax digital camera – very expensive here. Energy gel packs and power bars are very expensive too.

Our two countries are not so different

As we watch over here in New Zealand about the violence in schools—even Amish schools—going on in the States, it’s all the “water cooler” talk in my office. Terrible. Tragic. Our nightly news shows American reports on the situation and details the grizzly horror of these violent school killings.

While we kiwis watch from afar in amazement, there seems to be a growing problem ignored in our own country. And I have to say, it’s not due to the lack of awareness on MY part, people.

Yesterday’s Nelson Mail featured a national news story headlined “Violence Fuels Crime Increase.” Here’s an excerpt:

Two Christchurch men are recovering from vicious, unprovoked assaults as police figures show violence in New Zealand is increasing at an alarming rate.
A 10 per cent increase in the amount of violent crime helped drive up the overall crime rate almost 7 per cent last year.
Police are downplaying the significance of the increase, saying it reflects increased public confidence in reporting crime and changes to the way data is collected.
However, they acknowledge violence is a growing problem in New Zealand and say alcohol and drugs are fuelling the jump.
BREAK
The amount of reported violent in crime in Canterbury [Christchurch area] increased almost 10 per cent last year, although overall the district's crime rate fell 3.4 per cent. Violent and sex crimes in Canterbury increased 9.3 per cent and 4.1 per cent respectively, and murders up 33 per cent.
Police Minister Annette King said increasing violence was an international problem. "There is an increase of violence in the community, not just in New Zealand but internationally," she said. "But our streets are relatively safe compared to other places in the world."
King said excessive drinking and drug-taking were linked to most violent attacks.
This was an issue that needed to be addressed not only by police, but by community agencies and the public.
A 17 per cent increase in reports of domestic violence had contributed in part to the overall rise in violence.

So what happened to one of the Christchurch men in the story’s lead?

One of the men was hit over the back of the head with a weightlifting bar by a group of youths outside his Linwood home. He suffered a suspected fractured skull, requiring 15 stitches, in the attack, during which he approached the youths, who were smashing bottles outside his house about 1am on Sunday.

YOUTHS!! BE BANISHED, YE AND YOUR DAMN GLASS.

Don and I were aware before we came, and we are more aware now, that we didn’t move to a paradise. It’s not perfect here, this society definitely has it’s issues. My opinion to date: this is the most important one.

BTW, Livvy says to tell Porter, “Hey, go shove off, loser.” That’s a quote. But tell Porter mom and dad miss him heaps.