To stay, or not to stay

That is the question after a subway ride like this.


(note the following: his constant monitoring of himself in the subway car windows, the various duets he has with himself, and the rest of the subway car slowly warming up to him)

GM

Mike and I were offered tickets to George Michael at Madison Square Garden last night, and I'm so glad we took them!

We had a great time - he's really an awesome performer, and I can't believe how many of his songs I knew. Not to mention his Wham songs!

Weekends with the Tip

For the last two weekends I've gotten to travel with Mike's band (Just the Tip...there, I said it). First they played a show in Madison, CT, then last weekend was a show in the Hamptons (West, to be exact). Here are some photos from the trips:

CT...














Hamptons...

Yay!

Special needs monkey's home saved

SAVED: Natureland curator Gail Sutton (left) and Ricky the capuchin monkey's foster mum Casey Howse (right) tell Ricky the good news.

By HELEN MURDOCH - The Press | Thursday, 10 July 2008

Nelson's Natureland Zoo will be managed by the Orana Wildlife Trust.

Nelson City Council made the announcement today after months of uncertainty for the petting zoo's staff and animals.

Earlier the year the council's proposal to close the zoo, because it was uneconomic and outdated, was met with public outcry.

Today the council agreed to providing ongoing funding or up to eight years while the trust revamps Natureland to focus on education and conservation programmes.

The trust operates similar facilities nationwide, including Christchurch's popular Orana Park.

Natureland is home to a special needs capuchin monkey, Ricky, whose future had been in doubt when talk of the zoo's closure began.

Staff are delighted that the futures of Ricky and the other animals are secure.

http://stuff.co.nz/4614337a11.html

My favorite meal

Green-lipped mussels and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc at Nelson Blue.

Is it possible to love a photo?

Thanks to my upcoming 20th high school reunion, there have been all kinds of photos from the 80s making a resurgence. This is the most recent and probably my favorite so far.
If ever there was proof that my high school years were filled with angst, here it is:

Pohutukawa

One of the many things that I missed out on while living in New Zealand was the summer. I happened to get there just as it was ending, endured the winter, and then left just as summer was starting again. While winter in Wellington isn't nearly the same (read: brutal) on that side of the world as it is here, I still wish I could have partaken in the usual summer goodies: cookouts, beaches, baches, Oriental Bay in the sun, and the flowering pohutukawa tree.
We had a MASSIVE pohutukawa tree in our back yard at my house on Thompson Street, and while it was beautiful in the off-season, it really hits it's prime during summer. In fact, it's considered the kiwi Christmas tree as it's covered in beautiful red flowers when it's at full bloom.
So, yeah, I never got to see "our" pohutukawa tree in full bloom in person, but thankfully Steven (my fantastic former house-mate and current great friend) took some photos over the summer (our winter) and has shared them with me. Now I, of course, will share them with you: