Veronica's birthday and Kangaroo Valley

Well kids, it has been an action packed week and a half since we last made a post. After filing our taxes we drove down to Kangaroo Valley for the weekend to celebrate our friend Gavin’s 30th birthday. Good times. Gavin’s family has a ranch down there and it is absolutely gorgeous. Good food, good beer, and a great bonfire all contributed to making it a great weekend. Perhaps best of all, Gavin’s girlfriend Martina surprised him by buying him a Ducatti motorcycle (his dream bike). The utter amazement and shock on Gavin’s face was priceless. Unfortunately the trip failed to produce a single kangaroo citing. Kangaroo Valley my ass. (Sorry about the college talk family)

After recovering from the weekend the week was dominated with work and surfs in the morning. Incredibly, the Australian government wired our tax refund to us on Thursday, one week from when we filed. I am beginning to think that maybe John Howard isn’t such a bad guy. If I could vote I am thinking $5000 would buy my vote. Pretty pathetic I realize, but you have to forgive me, I spent two years in Chuuk where every single vote was bought with either a boat or a bag of rice. Apparently I have been influenced. On Wednesday (after enjoying a nice surf where I saw two dolphins out at Narrabeen) I received my Patagonia wetsuit in the mail from Momma Maria. I nearly wept tears of joy I was so happy. I tried it on and the large fit like a glove. The next day the waves were pretty fun and I had a great surf in my new wetty. I chalk this up to the lightweight neoprene that is super duper flexible. J

This past weekend was nice, largely due to it being a 3-day weekend, Monday being Labor Day. Friday night we went out for one of Veronica’s coworker’s birthdays in Double Bay. It was a good time, and even though we left at nine we still didn’t get home until after 11. If you are laughing about me whining about 11, your obviously not 30 yet.

Saturday we headed over to Brenda and Jase’s for an afternoon barby. Afterwards we headed home, cooked dinner and had movie night at home. We rented 5 movies for $10, and 4 of those movies were pathetic. Be forewarned, if you are in the video store and you see the movie “Heaven” with Cate Blanchett and Giovani Ribisi, run away as fast as possible. This turgid Italian art house film made me physically sick from its pretentious story, acting, and the worst, over the top cinematography. But I digress, since there were no waves on Sunday, Veronica and I ran some errands and then went to a friend’s barby to watch the Rugby League Championship. Manly was playing Melbourne, and Manly got annihilated. I was ecstatic due to the fact that one of the owners of Manly happens to be the real estate mogul who screwed me over with a verbal job offer that he never followed up with a written offer. Needless to say I felt that the universe had delivered some justice, so my loathing of that Napolean-esque douchebag has since simmered down.

Monday we awoke late, went and grabbed a flat white and a waffle, and then went shopping for Veronica’s birthday. We found a very nice dress and sunglasses, and then went and had lunch at the Barking Frog. After an extended lunch (this place is the slowest restaurant on God’s green Earth) we went home to watch a movie. As the sun was going down we took a nice walk around the Harbor, enjoying the nice weather before picking up a pizza for dinner.

Tuesday was Veronica’s birthday, and even though she was turning 29, I think it will be a birthday we will always remember. Veronica went off to work early and I went for an early morning surf. I ended up getting 2 really nice waves, and I had a sense that October 2nd was going to be a great day. I got into work and went and met with a client for lunch. The day was going along fine and I was leaving work when I was pulled into the office of the company next door (that happens to be a property developer). I had talked to them late the previous week and had sent them my CV. However, they never received my CV, but the 10 minutes I talked to them basically must have convinced them I was the right person, because I was offered the job without the company having even seen my resume. Yeah, I was almost speechless I was so freaked out. Already on a lucky streak I surprised Veronica by having some of our friends meet us at the Bavarian for her birthday dinner, and we had a great time. Like the moron I am, I brought the camera to dinner yet I did not take a single photo, I apologize!

Yeah, I’d have to say it’s been a good couple of weeks. Oh yeah. (Sorry about not posting any pictures, I've been trying to post this blog with the pics for the past hour and I've decided I am sick and tired of waiting.)