December update: Back home in Kawakawa where it's nice and warm. I've started working at Bay of Islands hospital and I really like it. It just doesn't seem like Christmas is coming! There are ads on TV and in the newspapers, but having experienced the hoopla around "black Friday" before coming back to New Zealand, it seems pretty modest, here. I'm looking forward to the Kawakawa Christmas parade next weekend.

Malcolm was working on the boat a few weeks ago, when he heard a big "splash". He turned around and there was a pod of about 50-60 dolphins swimming around all the moored boats in the bay! He said they stayed about 15-20 minutes. The locals told him they do that now and then, and clean out all the fish, then move on. True enough, as he didn't get so much as a nibble the rest of the week. That would have been so cool to see!

I really, really miss all my friends in the Tri-state area!

Kiwi"isms":
1. "Box of fluffies" (from "box of fluffy ducks" from "box of birds") When someone asks "How are you?" the response is "box of fluffies" or "box of birds". It means, "I'm fine". No idea where this comes from.
2. "Ta" - "Thank you". Think it comes from the Dutch, and is very common here.
3. "Cheers" - also sort of a "thank you"
4. "She'll be right" - everything will be okay.
4. "No worries" - no problem
5. "Zed" - how they pronounce the letter "Z". No idea why. Guess it's like how the English say the letter "H" as "haitch".
6. "Bob's your uncle" - that's okay or that's good
7. trolley - any kind of cart for moving things around.
8. carpark building - parking garage
9. "Tea" = supper, "supper" = a mid evening snack, "Pudding" = dessert, no matter what it is. "biscuit" = cookie, "mince" = ground beef, "kumara" - sort of a not so sweet potato, they also eat a LOT of pumpkin here (which don't look anything like American pumpkins - here they are green or white and small, taste like pumpkin and are sweet), and lots of potatoes.
"Jelly"= Jello, "jam" or "preserves" = jelly.
10. Ute - any kind of small pick up truck
11. Footpath - sidewalk
12. "Sweet as" - that is really good

I've been on POF for about 3 years, and made lots and lots of friends, male and female. I have female friends I would do anything for. And I've met some wonderful men and sadly, more than one man that can write a great profile, but when you finally meet them and get to know them, they are not what or who they say they are.

But one day that changed. About two years ago, I was contacted on POF's IM by a gentleman, and I looked at his profile. I didn't think we would have anything in common, but he sounded like he might be an interesting character to talk to, so I agreed to meet him the next day. Little did I know that day would change my life.

He has been a catalyst for some remarkable changes in my life. I trusted this man enough to come half way around the world to be with him. I love him to bits, and I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about me. He still is the most generous man I've ever known and he has taken good care of me. Sometimes things just don't go the way we hope they would all the time. I've had one helluva time trying to find work here, and he has supported me, kept me fed and with a roof over my head. Now, I'm the one with the job and he is looking for one, so it all works out.

To everyone who reads this, remember that life is an adventure. There are so many things out there to try, places to go. If you never open yourself to the idea that you can do something, and always can come up with a dozen reasons why you can't do something, your life will be the same every day. So, write an email, go meet someone and stop being afraid. The worst that could happen is you and that person won't click.

The best that could happen, is that you could meet that special someone. And isn't that what everyone is really looking for? Maybe you will love someone, and don't worry if they don't love you in return, for you have been the fortunate one - to have that ability and capacity to love someone else with out reservation.

But maybe, just maybe, you will find that special someone that loves you just as much as you love them, and that's just the best thing ever!

Just have one. Doesn't matter what you do. I met Malcolm at McDonald's for coffee in Ohio and that was September 29, 2007. And here I am in New Zealand, living in Kawakawa. By the way, New Zealand is NOT part of Australia! Look at a map, for heaven's sake!