Day 18: Something you miss

Australia. So Much.

I wrote a post about it awhile ago....check it out.

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Day 16: Something you're looking forward to

Christmas at home with the family! I haven't seen my family since October when they were down here for my birthday and I miss them alot. For the past 8 years, aside from the year I lived in Australia, they were never further than half an hour from me. It's been a bit of a change now that a 8/9 hour car ride separates us.

VERY much looking forward to spending the holiday with them.

Christmas last year

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A decade ago....

Yup. I'm 26. And when I look back at where I was a decade ago, it's pretty incredible. I don't really even recognize that girl anymore.

Matt & I on my surprise birthday San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

* * * *

Ten years ago I just gotten my license.

Ten years later and that license has cost me

hundreds in parking and speeding tickets.

Ten years ago I was at my first job.

Ten years later & I have worked in restaurants, retail,

management, offices, event planning & now a HR firm.

Ten years ago I was applying to colleges.

Ten years later and I have attended 4 different colleges.

Graduated from SFSU with my BA, studied abroad for a year

at Griffith Uni (Australia), started working towards my Masters at SJSU,

and tried to 'reinvent' my career path with a stint at CCSF.

Ten years ago I was living in the Sac area and had never left the country nor really cared to.

Ten years later and I have lived in the Bay Area for 8 years,

lived in Australia for a year, am currently living in San Diego

traveled all over Australia, Ireland & have my next trip in the works.

Ten years ago, I had never had a 'real' boyfriend

Ten years later, I find myself madly in love

and living with the most amazing guy I have ever met.

Ten years ago I had two best friends that I still have today.

Ten years later, I have given speeches at both of their weddings

and seen one of them bring two beautiful babies into the world.

Ten years ago I didn't give what I ate a second thought.

Ten years later, I am a vegetarian and

look at the food label of everything I eat.

What a difference a decade makes.

Wonder where I will be in a decade from now....

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Singles Awareness Day is Coming

Valentine's Day is rapidly and inevitably approach us....oooooh goody. 

In my 25 years of existence, I cannot recall having a single good, happy, romantic Valentine's Day. I've always either been single, in a long distance relationship, or dating someone who didn't understand the significance behind a sweet gesture.

I think the "best" Valentine's Day I had was in High School. It was my sophomore  year and school was cancelled for the day because of a power outage (awesome!) so a bunch of friends and I hung out. My boyfriend, who I had only been dating for like a week mind you, gave me a card and in it wrote, "I love you." I knew right then and there he was full of s#&! and I think we broke up not too long afterwards because he knew I was a good girl and wasn't going to give it up to him.

Or perhaps even better, was Valentine's Day 2006. I left for my year abroad in Australia on February 13th, and due to the time difference I landed on February 15th. V-day literally didn't exist for me that year. Brilliant planning on my part ;)

This year I really don't have any reason to believe it will be anything other than another day in February. Aside from the huge bowl of Sweethearts I will be devouring while watching some sappy love movie (Dear John or Valentine's Day anyone?). It's a tradition that I have really come to enjoy, especially those little white Sweethearts, they're my favorite ♥

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Sunday Video: Cane Toad Races

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Sunday Video: Bats FILL the Australian Sky

When I was in Australia in January of 2008, my (now ex) boyfriend and I were driving  and suddenly came upon thousands and THOUSANDS of fruit bats filling the sky. Check it out...it's insane! You can see them clearly by the minute marker.

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F My Life

Thought I would share a very ironic story with you all. 

First of all, a little history lesson: I lived in Australia for a year, had an Australian bf, moved back home, did long distance for over a year, made plans to move to Australia but chickened out at the last minute. My ex currently works as an IT manager for a really nice resort in Australia.

The other day I got a random IM from my ex saying "Sooo....that main guy from Twilight is checking into the resort on Monday,  we are having dinner with him Wednesday."

I then challenged the validity of his claim with a series of  "OMG!" "You are full of crap!" "There is no way!" To which his defense was "I hate Twilight,  I don't give a shit about that actor, why would I have any reason to lie?"

After prying for more details, he informed me that the actor he was referring to was infact ROB PATTINSON and that he was invited to dinner with him by the GM of the resort. However, my ex insisted that he probably wasn't going to go cause he wasn't interested in making conversation and kissing someone's ass all dinner long. Whatever.

Then he decides to drop a bomb on me. My ex's new gf works at the same resort he works at. She was working the front desk but, as he informs me, she just got promoted to the Event and Conference Coordinator of the resort. That was/is literally my dream job. One of the reasons I chickened out with my final move to Australia was that my visa would have made it really hard to get a job I really wanted over there. I was afraid I would be stuck waiting tables. We broke up a year ago...I am still waiting tables here. Isn't irony great? FML.

So while I am down from this news, he proceeds to kick me where it really counts. He tells me that his newly promoted gf has been asked by the GM of the resort to take out "Edward" with her girls for a night out on the town!!!!! WHAT THE F!!!!! That literally could have been me. 

Karma.   is.   SUCH.   a.   bitch. 

So basically, this 'bitch' who has my dream job, dating my (ex) boyfriend, living in my apartment, LITERALLY sleeping in my sheets, living my life, is taking out my Edward!

FML

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I miss Australia

I miss my fabulous roommate, Jane.

I miss kangaroos and wombats.

I miss vegemite and avocado on toast.

I miss Tim Tam Slams.

I miss the Gold Coast.

I miss clubs being open til early in the morning.

I miss the heat and the beach.

I miss being tan.

I miss not having a car to worry about.

I miss the carefree, 'no worries' attitude.

I miss everything being a new experience.

I miss being cool by default because I was the one with the accent.

I miss traveling all over that country.

I miss seeing kangaroos while driving.

I miss snorkeling.

I miss hearing the kookaburras in the forest down the street from my house.

I miss having tax included in prices.

I miss searching for wombats at night on a 4x4 with flashlights.

I miss the nonexistence of pennies.

I miss Sydney, the harbor and nights on the yacht in Sydney Harbor.

I miss Neighbors, Australian Idol, Biggest Loser Australia, Big Brother Australia, Deal or No Deal.

I miss Australia Faire.

I miss missing home.

I miss everything being so cheap.

I miss feeling on top of the world.

I miss the Surfer's Night Markets.

I miss meeting so many new and interesting people.

I miss 'heart attack pizza.'

I miss Mr. Sushi and Salmon Chamonix.

I miss walking everywhere and taking the bus.

I miss Byron Bay and Cheeky Monkeys.

I miss driving on the opposite side of the road.

I miss the gorgeous parrots that would sit in the trees at my house.

I miss the intense thunderstorms.

I miss children with adorable accents.

I miss everything having a cool aussie slang term.

I miss Australia. Alot.

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I could have been having dinner with Rob Pattinson...

So today I was just partaking in some usual internet usage when *chime* I get an IM from my ex.

Quick backstory on the ex: Met him while I lived in Australia for a year. Fell in love. Moved back to Cali. Did long distance for over a year with visits here and there. Was supposed to move back to Aus for good and live with him, get engaged etc etc, but chickened out at the last minute. Have been broken up for about a year now. He currently works as an IT manager at a really nice resort in Australia (yes ladies, he's Australian).

So, where was I...oh right *chime*

Rick: So....'Edward' from Twilight is checking into my hotel on monday. We're having dinner with him on wed night

Me: WTF!!! LIAR!

Rick: Why would I lie, I hated that movie.

Me: Shut the F up! No way! Who is "we"

Rick: The GM invited me. And I guess whoever else he invites.

Is this karma or what!? Is this God's cruel joke on me for being too chicken to follow through with my commitments? I think so. 

Yes,  it would have be messed up for me to be drooling over Rob Pattinson with my boyfriend sitting right next to me, but the whole time I would have been pretending he was really Edward and since Edward doesn't really exist...it would have been ok! But none of that matters cause I didn't move to Australia. And Rick and I aren't together anymore. And I have an AMAZING boyfriend who I would never trade anything for...even Edward.

Which brings me to my next problem. Rob (bf) says he'll read Twilight if I start to eat meat again! I must say this is very very very tempting cause I really want him to read the books and cause I have been craving meat A LOT lately. 

What's a girl to do?

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