Well i have to say this past week has not been my week. I've been sick for most of it and finally gave in to seeing a doctor and was promptly given anti-biotics and told no work. While i love Michael Moore, socialized medicine isn't all that great as i still have to shell out $66 to see the doctor and another $62 for my drugs.

I'm sad to say that my last entry, was the last thing ever done on my hard drive. Yes, the computer that was known as "This bloody machine" and more affectionately "lappy" has died. To be fair, my computer didn't die, my hard drive did. I wrote that last entry, fell asleep, woke up when Matt got home at some ridiculous hour and decided that i should turn off my computer and do my bit to conserve energy. Well we can all see how that panned out as when i went to turn my computer back on on Sunday morning, i was told i have no operating system. I'll spare you most of my angst to say that despite putting it in the freezer for an hour and having a colleague look at it, i'm still missing all of my photos since moving to New Zealand (which is really the only material not backed up on that machine).

It's funny how love shows its self in different ways but love to me was coming home on Friday night to notice my computer was on and working with a brand spanking new hard drive and background screen/picture reading "I love you baby" all courtesy of the man i love. Aren't i a lucky girl?

I'm losing steam on this entry so i'll get to what i meant to write about which was Caitlin and Oisin's wedding which was on Sunday out on Waiheke island. It was a small ceremony with just Caitlin's mom and boyfriend, Oisin's sister (and husband/newborn), 2 other mutual mates from Ireland and someone else Oisin worked with. It may have been small but it was lovely, very short and sweet. The ceremony was indoors as it was pretty windy but we did make it out for a few photos.

Here are my favorites that i took:

Me and my "thelma and louise" do to keep the wind out of my hair on the ferry


Caitlin and Oisin outside


Me and Matt


Saying their vows..


You may now kiss the bride...


Oisin's sister's and one of the cutest babies ever!


My favorite artsy shot


Me in B&W


All of us


The rest of my photos are up at http://www.flickr.com/photos/15155257@N07

Not much more to report. We have a nice 3 day weekend here (it's Labor day on Monday) and i'm definitely looking forward to it-no real plans just a chance to relax.

And with that i shall leave you all!

Love,
L

I can't help but think as i'm lying here on the couch how many subtle litte differences there are between every country i've lived in and the US. Right now i'm thinking of 2 things-the Rugby world cup and the news. I'll start with the news really. It's funny how a constant criticism i hear about US news is that it's just that--US news. Even programs called "World news" seem to have a distinct US focus. Here in NZ it seems like the opposite mostly. Whether it's a focus on Hollywood celebs or what the Aussie's are doing (or perhaps it's just that nothing that exciting happens here) it's all very much global. Maybe nothing of huge note happens here and they've gotta keep the viewers watching. It does however just have it's own "what does this mean for us" spin. Maybe everyone is incredibly narcissitic (maybe not quite the right use of the word) but people only seem to care about what affects them. Either way tho i do like being informed of things on a much wider scale. Scale seems to be the key tho. In the US everything is geographically centred because let's face it--the US is huge. I read recently somewhere that New Zealand is like the size of Colorado. And that's it. A whole country. Not that Ireland or the UK (the last 2 countries i've lived in) were all that much larger. But Australia's pretty large and i didn't think that their news was particularly insular (at least what i saw of it). And speaking of scale brings me to my next item--the rugby world cup. The kiwi's are mad for it! It's brought out something i'm not used to having--patriotism. I was vigrously following the US in it (well as much as one can when the games are usually at like 6am) and despite failing to win one game i kept cheering them on because i have this feeling of pride. I think what makes it wierd is that other than the Olympics i don't feel as though America takes part in any world games. Let's face it the World Series is hardly a "world' series and the sports that we see as American institutions (baseball, american football, and basketball) don't seem to have any major global showdowns (Soccer does but no one in the US really cares about that). I can't help but wonder if they did have a major worldwide event for those games would we (Americans) be so patriotic about it? Is it because i'm abroad and i feel so isolated i cling to any bit that i feel identifies me?

Right well enough of that 2am rambling. Unfortunetly i've been sick this week which has been a bummer and may be the reason for any non-sensical bits of this entry. I did manage a first tho--Caitlin's hen night (aka Bachlorette party) which was fun despite not feeling in top form. I even made her a little banner (i can't think of what they're called---like what the beauty queens wear) saying "bride to be". Matt's off at Oisin's stag do as we speak (well as i type).

I think i shall give in to sleep. But look, i've made good on my promise to write more! Maybe i'll even add some more photos in soon.

:-)