SD

 

Don't let us stay at your house. I am horrible at parallel parking a 14 foot trailer. We will stuff goodie bags on your lawn while you are out at work. We use your kitchen. For my birthday (this Friday) Mojdeh made me some cookies. We will probably be camping in Santa Barbara Friday night.

We like San Diego. The weather has been great. We ran along the coast this morning. I rode my bike slowly for an hour and a half yesterday. I need to get in the water. The ocean is 51 degrees and murky. Not my idea of fun. Even with my cool new XTerra wetsuit. It is almost like I am training for a half Ironman. Tomorrow, we head North.

Almost over.

I leave for Hawai'i in two days. I can't believe it. I can't believe that I have been in New Zealand for 3 1/2 months. I can't believe that I have done so much here.

Another amazing day.

I can't believe that I got a job. Everyting in the news is about how bad the economy is. Everyone is being laid off. People can't keep their homes. Obama is having trouble getting his economic stimulus package passed. I am having a great time. I have had an endless summer since... February 2008 when I was in South America. Looks like that will continue until November 2009.

 I no longer have to beg for rides with strangers.

I have learned lots of Kiwi slang. I have tested my outdoor gear in all kinds of conditions. I can survive with the gear on my back for about a week. I want very little and need even less. That being said, I love coffee shops that offer free wireless internet. I enjoy Starbucks, but not as much as Rachel. I found a new passion, fly fishing. I have amazing friends all over the world. I enjoy reading other people's blogs. The more I think that I know, the more I realize that I know nothing.

 I had a lot of fun learning about NZ wines.

My life is great when I eat a lot. Traveling has made me appreciate good food. If you can't laugh at yourself, life will be miserable.

 

Good food and good friends.

I have been traveling for over a year, but I don't feel like it is coming to an end. I have learned that I love the beach and the ocean. It is difficult to swim with seals, but easy to outrun them on land. Going home to Kona will be my first vacation in a while. I watched "Into the Wild" and "Slumdog Millionaire" recently. I liked them both. SM imressed me more, but one thing that I remember from ITW:

HAPPINESS IS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED.

Jobs.

Yesterday, I watched a lecture about labeling on food products. Kimberly Lord Stewart, the author of "Eating Between the Lines" told everyone the difference between "cage free" and "free range" poultry. The part of the lecture that I saw discussed eggs, poultry, and pork. I wont make you read the book, the important things to look for in poultry are: organic, humane, no antibiotics, naturally raised, and/or pasture raised. Ignore things like: hormone free, no steroids, cage free, natural, free range they mean nothing. With your eggs, look for: Vegetarian fed chickens, DHA omega 3 (fish oil), or cage free eggs. Those are good.

After all that excitement, and a great run, I went to a meeting at Eco-Cycle. It was a meeting for volunteers to help make the community get closer to producing zero waste. It is a great idea.

This morning, I was checking the Giro results, hoping my team in argyle was doing well, when I got a call from my potential employer. Out of a couple hundred applicants and over 60 interviews, I was in the top 5. However, I was not number 1. So now I am off to drop off applications at companies that are inferior, but will help me pay the bills. Such is life. And it can always be worse.

Pau.