Current temp in melbourne; 14 degrees.

I'm on the roof, freezing my hands to get the best wireless reception in order to update. I've probably forgotten half of the things in my mind, even though i curse at myself to remember them.

First off, I'm going to address the issue that all you concerned have been bringing to my attention. No, I am not an alcoholic. In fact, when i mentioned this to a, probably alcoholic, australian( whom i spent most of my drinking with) their reply was ' but you don't even drink?!'. Maybe the folks i am comparing myself too aren't very good choices; the english, the irish, the australians ( a dangerous combination of the two, evidentally). I am okay, I promise.

So last wednesday and thursday nights I spent drunk. Then hungover the next day, to repeat it all over again. ( repeat; im fine)
Wednesday evening was spent at the builders arms. It's really nice to go back after work and have a few drinks, but when i walked in i wasn't really expecting a full night. A couple guys from that folky-rock band i saw, with death somewhere in their title, and then the rest of the builders crew were asked to play a few acoustic songs. It reminded me of home, and being with friends, but with legal drinking age involved and mostly radiohead.
The next morning was difficult trying to act like a functioning human being. I didn't get over my hangover until 6 o clock, at work mind you. Then at 9, I started all over again. I was not really planning on drinking much, just a few glasses of red - but when the bartender ( who is leaving soon, so could care less in the world ) was giving me free drinks...what the hell!
I felt it friday morning, and spent most of the day cuddled in bed between the sheets. It was anzac day(anzac stands for australia and new zealand army corps. It's just a day to commemorate when they fought in Gallipoli. Kind of like memorial day, but more specific), so i didn't have to work.

I had been talking about going to see 'Gallipoli'( Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I) with Andrew in Fed Square, but i was nervous about how crowded it would be there. We went anyway, and to my surprise there were many banana seat, things, left. We got a good spot and set up camp for the next 2 hours, unfortunately there wasn't dinner with the show, and it was a bit cold. But a neat experience.
The movie was depressing, just like most war movies, and as they should be. Mel Gibson was played one of the sprinters, and it was funny to hear him with an aussie, almost bogan accent.Doesn't Mel look dear?

I spent the rest of my friday night chatting to reception and watching the drunks stagger in through the life/elevator/magic box.

After looking at practically porn, in aussies equivalent to cosmogirl, with kate duffy and andrew - i went shopping - with money i don't have! ( when do i ever? ). I had a good time, we practically went all over melbourne. I tried on way too many skinny black jeans, that cost over 100 each and chewed my nails at the thought of buying them - came to the realization i'm a backpacker and i'm poor and left with only a pout. Sigh. I should just get a visa and be in debt like the rest of the westerners?
Did a little grocery shopping, had too much fun - as i always do in Coles. Made orgasmic organic soup with poisonous white bread and garlic spread for dinner...mMmmm.
Then duffy and I strut through the rain to catch a drink before footy at our new joint, cocoon ( it has been compared to seeming like an airport bar, not the best( but it has old 50's movies on loop and mixed nuts!) until Kate's cheap nokia lit up and vibrated, kicking our asses telling us to go to the AFL/footy game.
(excerpt from wiki)

Australian rules football, Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply "football" or "footy" is a code of football played with a prolate spheroid ball, on large oval shaped fields (cricket fields), with four posts at each end. The inner pair of posts on each end are known as the goal posts, while the outer posts are known as the behind posts. No more than 18 players of each team are permitted to be on the field at any time, with four interchange players on the bench,^[1] and the primary aim of the game is to score by kicking the ball between the posts. The winner is the team who has the higher total score by the end of the match.

Still raining, we caught the tram Paul and Tony were on for a quick ride, and then our stop! Speedwalking to the arena and we still missed the first 20 minutes. Boo. Purchased our tickets and beer and stood around. Our initial seats were poor, seeing how they were standing at the back of the first level. Immediantly before 3rd quarter we charged up the 3 levels of stairs, high off of the freshly cut field and lack of oxygen, and grabbed some nose-bleed seats. Duffy said it seemed like we were playing a video game, she was right. I had fun, probably because Paul's team lost and he gets a little toooooo into the game, if you ask me. We all know those types.The arena, and pretty much the exact same place our seats were.
The outside of the telstra dome
The two teams we saw playing.

Holding my full bladder, isn't saying alot, on the never-ending cab ride was bringing me to tears. I burst into the bar toilet to find all three stalls taken. Torcher. Kate came in after me, to find me yes - doing a little pee song and dance. We stayed there the rest of the night( far past lock-in), some of Paul's mate's came to join us and we had a good time. I went to bed first, because I am an old lady.
I woke up the next morning, at 2 0'clock. I don't know if you have that initial morning 'i feel fine' after drinking, probably because you're still asleep. Only to be disappointed when a few minutes later you're hit with a wave of ' don't ever move again '. Well, I do.
I was in bed until 4:30 pm, when the only thing pulling me up was my lack of food for 12 hours. I astonished myself by showering, getting dressed, and walking down the street to gorge on a falafel. The rest of the night was spent on advil,tea and talking to reception.
Monday, I made the mistake of staying up far too late watching movies and goofing off. I just couldn't sleep, probably because i slept in soo late that morning. Watched a bit of batman begins, it is a story of the beginning of batman. I only watched the beginning though. Of batman, that is.
I got to sleep at 2, waking up numerous times in the middle of the night, to get up at 6:30. It was torcher, but i had to do it and i knew that in an hour i would be perky and awake ( with the help of coffee, of course ). So i worked yesterday morning at the cafe, and almost saw every staff member from the greenhouse come in for coffee, i like visitors :)
I went to my data job, and i was literally falling asleep on the job. During my ten minute breaks I would put my head down, and get to that state where my muscles start twitching. It's embarrassing, luckily i am unsupervised and there is only one other person working with me. Last night I got to sleep at 10. When Harrison and I got to our room, Claire and Kate were reading - preparing for sleep. We were all laying in bed, and it seriously felt like i was a kid at camp. We were giggling so much, and our neighbors were banging on the wall telling us to shut up, making me feel like my dad just told me and my slumber party to be quiet at 3 am.

I work today, and tomorrow. Half of friday off, and then it is Claire's birthday - so we're doing something fun for that,and more drinking... of course. I'm fine!

Poor photo, but this is where i work.
7 eleven and edelweiss, have i really left home?

oh and just to remind you, where i am ( dont let the weather fool you);

A REMOTE Queensland hospital has been forced to shut while it deals with a redback spider infestation.

There were fears the arachnids could fall from the ceiling on to beds.

So pest controllers have been brought in to fumigate the 10-bed health service at Baralaba, a town of about 290 people an hour's drive from Moura, central Queensland.

Fumigator Bruce Dekker, of CQ Propest Services, said the hospital's ceiling was infested with hundreds of redbacks.

"What we're concerned about is that we may get redbacks dropping through some of the airconditioning ducting or through . . . exhaust fans," he said.

"We're concerned that some of these openings are above the patients' beds."

Two aged-care residents have been taken to Moura Hospital to allow fumigators to treat the hospital today. The process will be repeated in another few weeks.

Queensland Health nursing director for the area, Ellen Palmer, said a general practitioner's surgery would be available for anyone needing medical treatment during the fumigation.

Mrs Palmer said Queensland Health had decided to evacuate the hospital as it was the safest course for both patients and staff.

"I know it's a drastic thing, and yes, it will be disruptive," she said.

"It's not something that we took lightly. Nobody's been bitten, but it's purely because the staff are very vigilant."

Mr Dekker said he had been inundated recently by calls from central Queenslanders wanting to rid their properties of the redback spiders.

Up to 10,000 Australians are bitten by redbacks annually, and 30 to 40 per cent of those occur in Queensland.

speedwalking and photographs

It's getting to that dreaded point, when i log on my laptop to see that kitchener is warmer than Melbourne. Yes, it's true folks. Soon i will be wearing sweaters and socks while you are laying in your basement, in your underwear, with fans coming from all directions.
I like it though, it's nothing compared to our cold season- although Aussies make it seem like we're about to be hit by a blizzard with their wool coats, fleece scarves, and knitted hats..

Cafe job is good. I've only done a few shifts, but i like interacting with human beings ( surprisingly, i know ) like my old job at molly's and beings on my feet. And after 7 hours there, it doesn't seem so bad to sit for 5 hours in an office building, listening to Jeff Buckley or Cat Power, cross legged and barefoot typing in meaningless numbers.
I was excited for the weekend to arrive, because of work, it has meaning again. I had Friday morning off, and Harrison( from bern-nihn-ahm) made me a drunken promise to go shopping with me. He needed to get boring boy stuff like socks and undies, and i needed to pick up some mascara from the body shop, since my eye had clearly infected the entire old tube and was giving me eye rabies.
Was a good morning, even though i kept repeating everything he was saying just to mimic his cliche accent. I went into my first Target that day, and my first Big&Tall store ( obviously for myself...). We grabbed some sandwiches for lunch and sat outside while being harassed by red cross people. Ergh.
When i got back from work, i made some strange burrito creation that turned out, to my surprise, to be delicious. I couldn't figure out where anyone was, no one ever goes out on Fridays. I sat around and read for a few minutes, until it clued in. I popped the door open to the roof to see the whole 'gang' and more. Initially my plan was just to steal beers off people, the usual agenda. I think people ( adrian and claire ) cracked on to the fact that i have 2 jobs now and am not on the edge of bankruptcy, therefore forcing me to walk the WHOLE 5 minutes down to the bottle shop.
Drank on the roof with everyone till 12, i managed to reminisce over Canadian music, spill over a beer bottle and create an uproar from the crowd, and then the friendly drunk conversations. I went to sleep early, because i am, after all, an old lady.

Next day i spent almost entirely on the roof with Claire and some of the English. What am i saying, every here English! Just reading The Beach,drinking lemonade, and ending up with a little tan. Later that night, Kate came back from wherever she was, and we went out for a drink. We wandered down swanston and found a pretty class and relaxing bar. With big mirrors, great for looking at myself, and comfy chairs. Even complimentary nuts! Oh my! We had some pints, and then i decided to Carrie-Bradshaw it up and had my first cosmopolitan. It was 15 dollars, well AUS $. But still. It was nummy, but also just tasted like cran, vodka, and lime...?
We met up with some of her mates from work a bit later on in another pub. The one couple there was engaged, and the girl Trista, was really friendly and outgoing - from New Zealand. I assumed she was Aussie at first, and then felt embaressed remembering from Deathproof that line where says ' you never, and i mean never, call a Kiwi an Aussie'. So i mentioned that toTrista, and she starts laughing and says ' zoey's my good friend mate! oh yeah, we went to school together and everything'. It was way too exciting. I mean, she was Uma Thurmans stunt double. It was the highlight of my night, and i actually said ' this is going in my blog'...yes, i did.

Sunday morning was spent as they should be. Long Black Coffee, newspaper, a cool breeze, and then there was the complimentary touch of the beetles playing over the PA. Kate came and found me a little after lunch to ask me if i wanted to come with her to go with Paul to his mate's place in richmond to watch footy.
We took the train over. I was 4:20, 4/20. So exciting.
It was pretty much a boys club- which is nice when you are in a room with 4 other girls. Bra's and undies everywhere! Pretty much drank all day, had pizza ( such a staple of my home life ), watched footy, and then we played poker. I did really kick ass, AND WON, no i didn't. I cleaned everyone out, and my chips started to resemble colourful skyscrapers...until Paul came back and ended up taking me out. Sonofa. So close.
Then they put on cricket and it was like someone turned the light switch off in my brain. Who understands that sport?

I had a day full of work and errands yesterday. I was late for work, because i was stuck at the bank trying to sort out my stupid debit card. My dinner consisted of a muffin and a large strong latte. I was buzzing again. When i got back to the hostel i made a beautiful salad and a poor attempt at a wrap. Did my laundry from 11-2 in the morning, and struggled to sleep.

Today, I wanted to post, but realized i'd probably get shit if i didn't take pictures. So i did a random square trip around the CBD and snapped some touristy photos, just for you guys.






This is in magnation, every magazine imaginable. It's like a library, you can just go in and read them - no purchase
Manchester lane cafe, and slutty red light

The main reason i chose melbourne over another other city, duh.
China town!
and more!
sigh..and more
The forum theatre ( i promise to go inside, i was just on limited time today )
I think this is where bands load their equipment
against me is playing there
One of the main reasons i love melbourne is that there are big beautiful trees, like this one, acting like canopies for the backward roads.

Yes, going down this staircase DOES make you dizzy.




Andrew taking pictures of me again, i dont know what in the world i am doing...
I went all cam-whore and took a picture of myself
Cass ( events organizer at the greenhouse ) and Sarah Murphy making the free pasta dinner for tonight.
haha. I think this is funny. It is on the wall, several times, on this straight tunnel under the trainstation. It is completely unnecessary.
No one in Melbourne works. This is beside the yarra, one of the many cafe's.

Buenas Noches!

Today was such a nice day, who know how i can tell? There were sailboats on the bay again. They've been in the marine for a couple weeks now, and it was uplifting to glance up from the thousands of numbers and be reminded of the sea.

Nothing incredibly exciting happened last week. I've been drinking a lot of red during the weeknights, and waking up with wine lips. Crappy television, almost like I'm being forced to watch it. I'm soaking in the laziness before i have to start being a big girl and working 60 hour weeks.

Friday was nothing big. I sat on the roof for hours and watched people get loaded while i sipped at my drink. Duffy, however, had a big night. And the next morning she was 'horrendous'. She's quite the drinker, and her body finally told her to 'fucking stop' by screwing with her health and giving her a nasty cold. That's what you get, Kate!
I am literally encircled by Asian people right now, googling 'soul mama' ( vegetarian restaurant ). hah.

Anyway. Most of us spent the day trying to get kate feeling better, i mean...she's usually hungover, but not ACTUALLY sick. I spent the day on the roof, laying on Claire, reading, drinking tea and then a gradual slip into TED's. There are so many English people here right now, i swear they are going to take over. I think i was the only person not from the UK on the roof, most of the time.
I made a hearty dinner, and watched a little of Harry Potter ( horrible, i know ). While trying to convince Duffy that she was well enough to go to Cam's party. I'm a bad influence. I replaced her with Harrison, and we headed out around 10 o'clock. When we left he was saying he was going to have a few drinks, and with my amazing peer pressure talents, when we got off the tram he was acknowledging the fact that he was getting drunk.
We met at the builders arms with Paul and his mates, they were at a previous party. We had a few drinks there before going. We got some take away beers ( yes you can do that in Australia ) and walked a few blocks to Cam's.
The party was mexican/cuban/south american themed. I did little but put on a beaded top and a flower, atleast it was real, in my hair. Other people there went all out. Josh had a beard and sombrero on. Krissy and Jess had the whole peasant top and glittery skirt, big hair. And oh my god Cam. he had these pimp baby blue, high waisted trousers and...well you'll see the rest. Let's just say he looked like a crime lord. Diana, you might agree?Cam and Paul doing some sort of dodgy(sketchy) drug deal.... If you didn't catch on.

When we first got there I saw Tristan, another reception guy, and chatted with him - then he pointed cam out. When i saw him i honestly thought he was a completely different guy, probably cause he shaved some sketch stash and side burns. The next time i saw cam, he was dancing by himself to some cheesy 80's music in the living room alone.

So. I was just standing in the kitchen, and i kept noticing this girl thinking ' she looks framiliar' - but then again, i'm used to thinking that - living in a hostel, new country, whatever. I forget about it, and a few minutes later she grabs my arm and looks my in the eye and asks ' did we meet in the airport?'
In pearson airport, this girl my age, asked me to watch her bags. It was sketchy, but i didnt think of it. Then we met again in LAX, we chatted for an hour and really got along well. We discovered we were both heading to Sydney, then Melbourne, and were in very similar boats. She gave me a sleeping pill ( probably not the safest thing to take from a stranger in an airport...) and then we parted as we boarded.
I was hoping to see her when we landed, luckily i did, but it was in customs and we only had time to say a quick ' goodbye and good luck' to each other. As i was walking away i thought ' fuck, i should have got her name...or e-mail. Something'
And ever since then, she would pop up in my mind, and i would regret not trading info.
But hey! Fate intervened, we found each other in a city of millions, at some tiny random house party. We completely clicked, and in no time were already being sarcastic and Canadian with one another( she's from Ottawa ). Yes, i got her name, and have added her on facebook.
I was so excited after that.

I managed to pry myself away from our miraculous moment. I had a good time. Some how the living room was converted into a VIP, standing-room-only rock out venue. How might you ask? By the power of Bon Jovi. I was really reluctant to dance at first, but i just couldn't hold back. No one could. It was a magical moment. Luckily i went to the bathroom for the beginning of Africa, i might of had an overload of cheesy music.
Then it hit me and i was really tired, ready for bed. Don't worry, I stayed long enough to see Cam, who was now wearing a lampshade on his head accompanied with my dying flower, dramatically wipe out in a vveerryy (lettersx2) drunken way. The next day, im sure his only recollection of it was the huge bruise on the back of his ribs.
We managed to get out, alive, and make a slow decent back.

The next morning I woke up very, very hungover. I layed in bed for a good few hours, until i managed to convince someone to go out for breakfast with me. I spent twenty bucks on breakfast. Then spent the rest of the day trying to stay as still as possible. It was nice outside, so we sat out back and half read the paper. I really just sat there.
I finished the hangover day with How to Loose a Guy In 10 days, what could be better? huh? huh?

Monday, I woke up early and got some errands done. Grocery shopping, cleaning. ETC. Caught an early show out in Carlton ( the Italian area ) to see Before The Devil Knows You're Dead. I really liked it, although depressing, and about fuck up brothers just digging themselves and their families deeper and deeper. Went shopping, thought i didn't purchase anything, afterwards. Tried on some sexy hats, and drank some coffee. If you haven't' clued in, I called in sick to work, i had pink eye and just felt like I had been hit by a bus.

I worked a total of 12 and a half hours today. I work the same tomorrow, but on friday i can sleep in and i am more than thrilled. I apologized for the lack of pictures, I have been busy. I didnt even take that one, stole it off facebook.

the roof is on fiire

I'm sitting on the roof at the hostel, drinking TED's ,reading The Beach, and wah-lah sitting on my laptop checking the mail.

I love Saturday's.

I got the cafe job, and i start Wed. I will be working 60+ hours from mon-fri for a few weeks.
I got my hair cut, as you can kind of tell in the picture.
I got into Guelph for co-op psych, not that big of a surprise.
and it's the weekend!

karina and the chocolate factory

The back packers is becoming a ghost town. Slowly our group is dwindling down, and only a few are left. chris squared left on friday, and it was tough saying goodbye to them - they became the furniture ( in a good way ). When i walk upstairs into the common room, i expect to see them there eating, because honestly- they always were. And then i would go over and naturally steal whatever vegetarian food was left on their plate.
Sigh.
We're getting down to the last few, and soon enough we might be able to fit them all in one dorm.

Last thursday was the last real pub crawl. I have been in a crummy mood, as you can imagine, for the past week or so. But when i got back from work, i was immediately giddy seeing everyone sitting around having a good time, and drinking. Usually it is a huge ordeal organizing everyone to go out, but because ti was the last crawl, the room was eager to get out.
Just leaving the hostel, skinny chris was almost charged for having an open beer bottle in public. Well, he was the only one caught - as soon as the others saw the police all over him, they turned their backs, crept away, and found a bin to trash their goods.
We went to this bar crash, or whatever it's name is. Where drinks go up like stocks? Its confusing, and i didn't pay much attention. It wasn't the greatest place, but we got in for free and everyone was there. Almost everyone was drunk. Then the people leaving got really sentimental, and i had some drunk heart-to-heart's that night. It was a good time, but sad because we knew this was the last time with certain people. We caught up with the pub crawl, and then everyone just got smashed. I snuck away with Luke and Chris and got pizza instead, waiting back at the hostel to watch the others crawl in. Drunk but hiding it under the fluorescent lights. Pizza was fantastic.

Went to the National Gallery of Victoria, again, to finish up on the third floor; contemp and photo, with Michael. I was feeling really tired though, so was excited to leave. Caught a glimpse of the shop on the way out, and thought of soo many gifts to buy rach. If only i had money.
Got back in time to eat and say goodbye to the chris's. It was tough, and i wish i was better at it - - i have had some practice, but it sucks cause the chances of seeing these people again are slim to none. I walked to work afterwards, sullen and listening to cat power. And the weather, a perfect pathetic fallacy.

I can't believe how i have mastered sleeping in, i woke up on saturday morning at 1 o clock. Barely had time to eat and shower before Kate and I were rushing out the door. Paul made it seem like it was life or death to meet him at his flat before 3, so we are power walking to Fitzroy. We get there, making a bet on if he is either still in bed ( he was very hungover ) or has already started drinking. We approach the bar and i lost, he has started drinking.
Turns out his friends are meeting us there. All that rush, just to kick back outside with some pints. Alright? We drank for a bit there and then walked down brunswick to a bar to watch the AFL game between WCE and Fremantle. I wasn't paying the best attention, but getting into just yelling out whenever something great or disappointing happened. or to piss paul off cause his team was loosing. And then i had kate too, to turn to when i had a.d.d and could not focus anymore.
We had a good time though, there was a nice beer garden out back. With a lime ( or lemon, it wasn't decided on ) reaching over the fence. And a banana tree, too green and far away to show that much interest in.
We got some pizza afterwards, and i ended up having a religious talk/argument the guy working. It was random, and i was drunk. We went to simons new flat and watched anotherr game on tv. I was tired, it was 9 but felt like 2 am, since i had been drinking since 3 pm. We listened to music and just hung out, and the night slowly died down.

Yesterday, Sunday. I wake up with my left eye stuck together, and as i wake up i am tearing black tar off of my eyelashes. Then i start moving my eye, and feelign around it. Its soo sore, and swollen. Fuck, another eye infection. I go look in the mirror, and my left one is half the size of my right. I look ridiculous. Put on my sunny's and away we go.
I felt like i had been hit with mono all day, and was debating the trek and hassle of going bowling. Michael took me out for dinner, for out goodbye/my birthday outting. We went on the strip beside the yarra, expensive but nummy. We had turkish bread with olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. I had a Twin Islands Sauvignon Blanche and a Vegan salad ( MMmm) and he got bacon parmesan penne, i think. It was a really nice dinner, and it's too bad that he's leaving tomorrow. Sigh.
Took some vitamin C and Visene drops ( which was haarddd to do, i took a little hissy fit with it). Ended up going out, i always get ID'd there. Eugh. I did well at bowling though, i was in second for almost the whole thing - but wasn't feeling it. Luke brought his new girlfriend, and it was strange but cute to see him with someone ( permanently, because he's known as a sleeze). I left after the first game, in hopes of getting some fries. Everything was closed, and i just ended up eating some power bars and reading my book.
I crawled into bed.

This morning me michael rhys and andrew had plans to go to max alsdkfjks( cant remember the full name ). It's this amazing chocolate place, specialized in drinks like hot chocolate. It ended up just being me and Michael. But we did a little backtracking, and saw some neat places along the way. Went to the big grocery store and got bagels and cream cheese, im sooo excited.
I ordered a peanut butter chocotail. It was sooooooooooooooooo good. I can't explain how fresh and natural and real it tasted. Michael got an american marshmallow hot chocolate, which is beyond words. I thought of you wagner, and your obsession with chocolate, and hot chocolate.
but the willy wonka theme obviously reminded me of someone else.
They had these two huge bins of chocolate, being stirred electronically and then sucked up with a pipe, on the roof, and to the back of the store ( just for drama, im sure ). Mmm.


This is degraves st. This is where, when i have change in my pocket, i eat breakfast/lunch. It's a 2 minute walk from the hostel. It looks small, but there are probably 30 cafe's all bunched up in here. I like this picture, minus the flash.

The max alkdfjda place.

My drink. It's the Alice in Wonderland drink, hence ' drink me'. Sooo good. Michael, and his favorite shirt ( wears it way to often ). Drinking the hug- mug properly.
mmm, hug mug.