Hell's Pizza

In the U.S. we have dominos, pizza hut, hungry howies, and Tony's for pizza. In New Zealand we have Hell. Complete with clever branding (which I love) they have misfourtune cookies , Lamb shanks (ad has a 3 legged lamb) and all sorts of funny goodies. I posted my faves below

Dave Dobbin Concert

Palmerston north held two Rugby World Cup games including Georgia, Romania, and Argentina. Oddly enough the guy I couch surfed with and was my first friend in NZ moved to Georgia so it was kind of ironic. As part of the festivities they held a free concert in the park and I'm pretty sure all of Palmy was there. The highlight of the night was Kiwi artist Dave Dobbin who was pretty good. Esp to get these guys up and dancing because Kiwi's don't dance for anything!

Dave Dobbin

Argentina fans partying hard, using flags for capes and the like

more Dave Dobbin concert

Crazy

Matt and his band playing the other night

Tasmanian Sea

Rachel was kind enough to invite me for a drive to the beach. The water is much colder than the Gulf of Mexico and the shells are different too. The sand is black and it doesn't have a strong smell either but lots of wind and rocks. Fun little trip!

Beach

Evan like to push his own stroller until he gets tired

tractor to put boats in and out of the water

Me and Evan

Late night pranks

This year New Zealand was host to the Rugby World Cup and of course had many guests from overseas. Most countries drive on the same side of the road but England, Australia and New Zealand prefer to be a bit different and drive on the opposite side. Remembering this fact, the local governments painted giant arrows on the road to remind guests which way to go.

 After driving my scooter on the wrong side of the road (but immediately fixing) Rachel said she would come to my house and paint big arrows on the road. The other night, I beat her to it

hehehehehe

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, thanks for being awesome. You are and always shall be my design/geek rockstar.

Live Long and Prosper!

According to the Associate Post:

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Leonard Nimoy has attended his final "Star Trek" convention.

The 80-year-old actor, best-known for playing Mr. Spock in the original TV series that began in September 1966, formed four fingers into a V for Vulcan sign and intoned to fans Spock's most famous phrase: "Live long and prosper."

Nimoy has said the convention in suburban Chicago celebrating the45th anniversary of "Star Trek" would be his last.

He spoke for an hour about his life and career, and thanked fans for their support over the years. Some held signs saying: "We love you Leonard! Live long & prosper."

Creation Entertainment organizes the "Star Trek" conventions. Company CEO Adam Malin says the company has toured and collaborated with Nimoy for nearly three decades and that Nimoy "will be missed."

This story came from Yahoo! News.

Happy Feet

Emperor penguin found in New Zealand and returned to the ocean may have been eaten – or his tracker may have fallen off

Happy Feet, the emperor penguin who became an international celebrity after losing his way and ending up in New Zealand, is missing presumed eaten after being released into the ocean this month, scientists said.

Concerns were raised over Happy Feet's fate when the tracker device attached to his body stopped sending signals on his trip home to Antarctica.

Kevin Lay, of Sirtrack, the specialist firm that fitted the tracker, said no signal had been received since Friday, when the penguin was about halfway home. He said it was possible Happy Feet had been eaten, but he remained hopeful.

"There are some species that will forage on emperor penguins. It's not likely that it has happened to Happy Feet because of the area he was in."

Lay said the tracker was meant to transmit a signal every time it broke the surface of the water, and had been working perfectly. It was intended to remain attached for months and be shed in the new year moult, but may have fallen off.

Sharks, seals and killer whales are among the creatures known to eat penguins.

The three-and-a-half-year-old Happy Feet was found emaciated and exhausted on a beach near Wellington in mid-June, only the second emperor ever recorded in New Zealand.

He was nursed back to health at Wellington zoo, undergoing surgery to remove several kilos of sand he had swallowed having apparently mistaken it for snow. The zoo's visitor numbers doubled as people tried to catch one of his rare public appearances.

Colin Miskelly, a wildlife expert who advised on the penguin's treatment, said the truth about his fate would probably never be known. "It is unlikely that we will ever know what caused the transmissions to cease, but it is time to harden up to the reality that the penguin has returned to the anonymity from which he emerged," he told AFP.

There are plans for a book and documentary of Happy Feet's story, but the ending may remain a mystery.

The tracker firm posted what may well be the last news of Happy Feet: "Finally, as we expect many people are, the team at Sirtrack are disappointed that we are unable to track Happy Feet's progress any further. We have enjoyed being part of this project and hope that Happy Feet is making his way home."

Fake Batman goes to Christchurch police

Today in New Zealand:

A fake Batman has marched into Christchurch central police station demanding to know what emergency had triggered the 'bat signal' - white light beaming through the sky.

The caped crusader, dressed in full superhero garb of mask, cape and tights, was insisting that the White Lights of Hope, which commemorate the earthquake anniversary, bear an uncanny resemblance to the bat emblem that flashes through the night sky.

In the comic, it's police commissioner Gordon who orders the call for Batman to come to the rescue, so who better for the Canterbury faux hero to ask for.

'First of all he wanted to speak to the commissioner,' Sergeant Chris Jones told The Press.

'And then he wanted to know what was going on and why he'd been called, because he'd seen the lights in the sky.'

Sgt Jones, who was just clocking on when the hero arrived on Sunday, said he was too 'scrawny' to make a convincing Batman, adding Robin would have to be '6 foot 4 and built like a tank to help him out'.

After a brief chat, the superhero, who was being filmed by a friend, made a quick exit, leaving the officers chuckling.

'Contrary to popular belief, the police still have a sense of humour,' Sgt Jones said

Empanadas!

Well they stock Maseca now at the New World (grocery store) here in town so I am finally able to make my own mexican food including Empanadas which are amazing! Sadly I still cannot get Mexican cheese to go with them but I'll live. El Gusto Mexican Canteen has also opened up in town which I have started to go to every thursday before Catan. They have something new I haven't had before called Sangria which is a truly delicious punch that has oranges,wine, some other stuff and tequila. soo good! Well off to work I go!

Spring Forward!

Notice: NZ time is now one hour a head. so if it's 12 pm my time, it's now 6pm your time :)

cheers.

Scooter

Since my old scooter is still in bits needing one teenie weenie part; I opted to buy a new scoot!

my sad old scooter

My new scooter needs some love from a paint job and some cleaning up but it runs good! It's a PGO Comet. Kind of like a Comet 260. It's not in the same league as a Nimbus and is commonly passed by butterflies but it's still a scooter!

Getting ready for Halloween

Testing out costume parts for halloween at work - mwahahaha

I Remember

Sept. 11, 2001

Ten years ago today I was a freshman in high school. It was still warm but I wore blue jeans and a t-shirt to school instead of shorts because the rooms were too cold with the air conditioning. I had band practice that afternoon and we were hashing out a new set for the game. My first class was Biology with Mrs. Gurosky and I sat in the middle of the row on the far end of the room. We were talking when the principal came over the PA system and this little brown box told us that a plane had hit one of the world trade towers. I thought it was an accident. To be honest, I didn't even know what the towers were although I had seen them on tv. Within minutes a second announcement told us both towers had been hit.

The rest of the day in every class was spent on the edge of our seats. Some teachers told us it was the beginning of a war. Others told us not to worry. Girls cried because they feared their boyfriends would be called to a draft. Some used cell phones in the bathrooms trying to call family in New York. I worried about my aunts friends. I feared war.

Silent students sat in front of televisions showing the news. It was improbable to believe as the destruction looked like a film. Like it could not be real, except that it was real. Real enough it would define the world my generation grew up in, real enough to change everything.

Where were you?

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today I had 3 plane tickets. The first plane ticket took me on my first flight; I had never flown or been in an airplane and it was wonderful. The second ticket took me to LA, the furthest west I had ever been to a state I never thought I would see in a city I never dreamed I would visit. The third ticket took me to New Zealand. The first country I had ever visited and a world of excitement. 

I had packed my life into four small bags for the journey. In retrospect I could have fit it in one but then again this is what I was allowed to carry so I did. All I really need is chuck t's, blue jeans, a dr pepper shirt and macbook. 

I said goodbye to the family and mexican food and greeted a great adventure.

Me and my sis

Me and the family. We love Auburn if you can't tell

Sis, Dad, Me

Now I live in New Zealand and love it. I host couch surfers from Australia, Germany, Russia, and God knows where else in my flat. I work at rockin little Design Studio and design everything from Magazines to displays.

 I freeze my butt off in winter but love traveling to crazy places.

And of course have weekly 'parties' with friends. It's a good year.