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eclipsing
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Boomerang

I was just reading Lynn's blog post, 2 years ago. ( A reflective look back). It was so weird because I had just finished writing her a letter about the past two years of being with James and living in England. Trying to find the right words. Trying to encapsulate the lessons and challenges. Trying to express the joy and happiness. And there it came boomeranging right back to me,' We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned as to have the life that is waiting for us.'

Perfect. Synchronicity.

Milk and Honey

Yesterday, James and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Two years may not sound like a lot to some people, but to me, it feels like quite an achievement. And this is just the beginning.

I got a bouquet of flowers sent to work. The florist apparently got too excited with his twigs and bamboo shoots as it looked more like a forest and was probably half my size, taking out everyone that came too close on the tube. We had dinner at this fabulous resturant in Covent Garden called Maggiories. It is internationally acclaimed for its modern European cuisine and was awarded, at it’s first attempt, the prestigious Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’ in 2002, and has since gone on to win the “Best of Award of Excellence” for a further two consecutive years (2003 and 2004). James and I shared a Yering Pinot Noir (Australia). After James had his port, expresso and a try with his Japanese with the Japanese people sitting next to us, we headed off for a nigth cap at Milk and Honey. It is a private members club, with just one other one in NY. With membership costing £300 a year, after a few pina coladas, James was convinced we could afford it...we even progressed to discuss who we would invite to 'our' private booth. There is apparently a three year wait, so I told him to start saving now.

So, the highlight of the night was when the waiter ( he was more than a waiter though, because he wasn't wearing the waiter costume, maybe the 'host?') came over to take our orders, James ordered me a vodka martini ( three olives, remember) and then the guy asks me what kind of vodka? It casually rolls of my tongue , 'Chopin.' * pause * 'Interesting,' he says. 'Hmmm, Chopin...I am not sure we can offer you anything like that.' He proceeded to reccomment the house Russian vodka, which I considered, then said,'yes.' So once he left the table, James and I seriously start cracking up, because in the middle of this snotty private members club, I had stumped this guy. He probably looked at me and was expecting Smirnoff, Skky, maybe Grey Goose...but nope, caught him off with the Chopin. Classic.

Check out their HOUSE RULES:

http://www.mlkhny.com/houserules/

And like, OH MY GOD, what kind of bar doesn't allow 'star-fucking?'

Hey, Hey, We're the Monkeys

This is probably one of my favorite pictures. Ed lived in Guatamala for a few months helping to release baby turtles into the sea and then working at a monkey orphanage...not sure what he was actually doing with the monkeys apart from making them fall in love with him. This monkey's name is Monolu. I love the way the light catches the tip of his tongue.
Anyways, it was Ed's birthday last weekend and we all went out to a bar in Camden to celebrate. For some reason the bar reminded me of being in Vegas. Not like the bars with girls dancing on planks above the bar or bartenders doing fire breathing tricks and everyone sparkles and looks beautiful, but the bars that have no character with its checkered carpet and apolstered chairs. Everyone there was trying to pull by pulling off the lastest trend. Too many accessories, and they only things they were left with pulling was themselves. Off. It just goes to show that as long as you have good friends you can have a great time anywhere...which we did.


from left clockwise: Jude, Ed, Neil, Stu, Becs, Brendan, James, Kerenza and Matt

Travel Bug

Once you get it, there is no getting rid of it.

Growing up in Hawaii, I always knew there was a bigger world out there that I wanted to see and experience. I started off slow, went to university in Oregon, then Massachusetts for a bit, even with that move I was already singing, " Oh my god, I can't believe, I have never been this far away from home." After I graduated, I lived and worked in San Francisco and traveled to Mexico on my own. Soon after that, I up and left a city that I love and still miss everyday, to teach eigo in Japan. My Travel Bug follows my journey from there...have a sneak peak and watch this space.

Once, over one of the best martinis (three olives, please), a wise bartender quoted Kurt Vonnegut, 'Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.' Maybe that lesson has been hula over the years, because the further I move away from home the more I appreciate the beauty of Hawaii and now no matter how much I fight it, my hips will always naturally sway to the rhythm of the islands.

Imagine All the People

Failed rains have created massive food shortages in East Africa. Oxfam has already distributed emergency food aid to 170,000 people living in Turkana and Wajir. But the situation remains dire: fertile pastureland has dried out, mothers are struggling to provide for their children, and cattle are dying. Currently, they are trucking in 20,000 litres of water each week to people in Wajir, Kenya, who previously faced a 60-kilometre trek to find water, or were forced to drink dirty supplies. - ofxam

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/emergencies/country/eafrica/

It amazes and saddens me that in this world today there are still people that don't receive the very basic of human needs. How can I bear to turn my back now that I am aware of the suffering that is taking place? How can I not give and help in order to make a difference?

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.