HAIR CUTS and VISAS!

Before...
After...


Goodness my Hair was loooong! It's good to have it gone, a change...makes me feel older, time for a more sophisticated look. I was starting to feel a bit frumpy or something...it will be an adjustment. I think it was fun for the hair dresser too! It felt like a real make over sort of thing but I wasn't very attached to my hair so there wasn't much drama. Next step...some funky colours but that will have to wait. Luckily my workmates gave me a voucher to one of the hippest/most expensive places in town for a going away prezzie so this cut was totally FREE! but it wasn't cheap....thank you Carl and Sorrel!

We are off to Auckland tomorrow night. Our interview is on Thursday morning at 9AM. I can't help being super stressed and anxious but after a moment of panic, I know it will be fine and will all work out some way or another. Hopefully next time I post, Mike will be a US visa-granted kiwi :)

ChCh Arts Festival Opening

Last night I went with my workmates to the opening of the ChCh Arts Festival in Cathedral square. That big blow up organ looking thing is meant to be an iris...sort of freaky.

Mike is the number 1 salesman in all the Kodak chains in all of New Zealand. Go Mike!

Colorstrology

I love colour and I love Pantone. Wish I could just eat them up. If you go here you can find out what your own personal colour is and it tells a bit about you, gives your 3 adjectives to sum it all up and the pantone number so you can have everything from paint, ink, to anything really done up in your colour. I like the whole intro of the Flash show and I think it's quite a clever lil website. I love doing stuff like this. Not so sure about my colour, Dawn Pink, but I like what the blurb says well for the most part. Yes, Artistic, Sensitive, Innovative. Maybe if I surrounded myself in a little more Dawn Pink things would be even more great than they already are. I like what some of Mike's says as well about his lively spirit, being a good teacher and friend, and he is very romantic. What's yours? Tell me. I'd love to know.

What will your obituary say??

Thanks for this link Anna. It was just what I needed to lift the afternoon

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

My answers..finally

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mom's Bestfriend, Chris, and My Aunt Beverly2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night over the stress of getting Mike's US visa application done. Yes, I am a crier 3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? sometimes 4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Smoked chicken, thinly sliced5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? no. 6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? sure 7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT? not very well because when i am sarcastic people think i am serious. 8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS Yes 9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? did it once off one of those Bungee ramps that wasn't that high but never again! 10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Bunches of Oats 11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes, until I decide they aren't new anymore 12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? not really 13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? I prefer Lime sorbet14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their style 15. RED OR PINK? pink 16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?my crooked tooth and nose 17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?My family all of them!18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? sure 19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? jeans and green keens. 20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? apple 21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Mogwai and other cool tunes on my Boss' playlist. 22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? turquoise FAVORITE SMELLS? lilacs, lily of the v alley, garlic being fried up24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mike25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Gail was the first to post this and she rocks!. 26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Figure Skating but it doesn't feel very sportish. Mostly I like to mock their outfits. 27. HAIR COLOR?Browny blonde.28. EYE COLOR? Blue 29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?Glasses all the time 30. FAVORITE FOOD? Fresh Fruit Salad and Pad Thai but not together :)31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?happy endings butt a good suspense is nice. 32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?Transformers.33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?Black 34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Thinking summer as I am in the middle of winter and soooo cold 35. HUGS OR KISSES?both, kisses are more fun but a hug from my and sister would be nice36. FAVORITE DESSERT? anything with cream cheese frosting 37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?I think I am the last LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND ?? 39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? PhotoShop Tutorial DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? No 42. FAVORITE SOUND? A Summer on coming Thunderstorm in Vermont or Illinois 43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Not a big fan of either actually but Rolling Stones mroe 44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?New Zealand I think, but where is home?? 45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? i seem to pull out pretty good lip sync performances. 46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Tooele, Utah 47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyones 48. FAVOURITE TV CHANNEL???Too long since I've had a TV to have Channels on 49. HOW MANY PETS? 0 50. FAVOURITE PLACE? Wherever I can be myself :)

Visa Interview

We have just been notified that Mike's USA visa interview is on August 2nd up in Auckland. It hasn't been a very difficult process, but it has been an involved process so fingers are super crossed that it all works out well and we are able to get his visa which will eventually turn into a green card. Thankfully, our interview won't be as stressful as the one in the movie, but there is a mist of stress that seems to be float in and out of my day. So for all those out there who read this, send your positive thoughts, prayers, or happy wishes to us and the immigration officer that will be interviewing us. I hope that our officer has had some really positive experiences in their recent life and we are on the receiving end of their gratitude :)

Alice's Sweet 16!

Yesterday we had a BBQ/Lunch for Alice's 16th birthday. It was a really nice sunny day, great food (as always) and I think she had a good one. Chuck and Evie were down from Hamilton and Tom's parents are back from the UK.

LARSONS UNITE

So 3/5ths of the Larson clan is living in Windsor, Vermont now. Brig and Chelle have just arrived and closed on a very cool house just down from Nate and McKay's house. Some brilliant summer photos of the kids. I LOVE THEM! I CAN'T WAIT TO KNOW THESE KIDS!Summer Snow cones....Max, Austyn and Wyatt
Sydnie and Madeline, the babies of the bunch
Fun summer hats at their very own parade

I guess all the kids showed up one morning wearing red...Wyatt, Max, Austyn, and Anders. Man, I loved Vermont summers. Loved them. The thunder storms, the muggy weather ( you love that too when it's freezing in your wintery home), the smells, the feels......wow, can't wait.

Working...

My work family....we took these for Kara who is leaving to be a happy preggers woman. They guy making all the funny faces is Carl, the boss man. Bruce is the web/code due. Sorrel is a designer and Bean actually doesn't work for The New Embassy but was just walking by...

Goodbye Work mate...

These are my cool workmates, Kara and Sorrel. Kara's last day is tomorrow so I wanted to get some pictures with her before she is gone. She has been so good to me, letting lil ole Chris, the wanna be Graphic Designer come work at her company. As you can see I am feeling a bit more myself after my illness but not quite 100% but on my way.

oh my goodness

Isn't she just the cutest....Brig and Chelle just stopped in at Joy's place on their big move to Vermont. Oh and that is Maddie, Brig and Chelle's lil one. Here are all the cousins lined up on the deck. Anders looks a little grumpy there in the middle. Too many girls perhaps. I just can't wait to see them all!

I can see the light...

Well people I can see the light through this cloud of illness I have been immersed in these past 5 days...nearly 6 I guess. Wow, that totally took it out of me. I am up out of bed and loved this picture my friend Gail took of her 4th of July, hey, maybe it cured me!

and the monster takes over...

This is how I feel about being sick...THEIR WAR.MY BODY. Not a happy camper. Overnight, it has taken siege on my throat. The sort when you avoid swallowing because it hurts so much, but not the shattered glass kind, just the throbbing, almost aching kind. Anyone want to diagnose me? I've been watching the 2nd Season of House while in bed so I am all about the diagnostic. I think I need a LP to determine the BP of my hypersyslertesion. I think I just haven't been sick in a long time and it's winter and it is inevitable.

On another note...We went to see Transformers the other night. That's right, it came out here a whole week before it did in the states...I guess since there is no independence day here they needed to strategically release on. Boy, did I feel America as I watched it...good ole US of A. Guilty pleasure, I really liked it! When I heard the voice of Optimus Prime (actually the same guy as the cartoon) some bit of youth full of hope and dreams was reawakened and I sat through the movie in (quite close to) giddiness. I was taken back to all of our toys (we had lots of Transformers) and hearing my brothers try to make the "transforming sound" and I quote, "Chk, Chok, Chotk, Chik, Tchcok Schikck" but boy was that "sound" pretty darn cool in a big theatre with big speakers...Sure, the teenage, very Armegeddon and every other 4th of July, plot was dumb but that didn't even bother me because the Transformers were so cool. I mean, I actually wanted to be friends with Optimus Prime. As in, I walked out of the theatre and thought, "He's so cool" like he were Brad Pitt and yes, this was before I was sick. The CG was a step above. Very cool. It even had some great little subtle (or not so) lines that were no doubt placed in with Steven Spielberg's overseeing prowess about America. Although as a disclaimer, I am a sucker for the 4th of July movie, should I admit that? Tis true. I don't like them later but I love them in the moment. Ok. back to being really sick now.Happy 4th to all those celebrating!

Old School Pics...

A few old school pics from my first trip to NZ...Rosie, I couldn't get yours all turned around...

Can't be that easy

Well after a day of complete bed rest, it's 8PM and I feel a heck of a lot better. can't you tell??? But there must be something wrong with me that I willingly post photos of myself when I am sick, unshowered, and drooly. See, I know my mom would love to see a picture of me no matter what state I am in. Here's to you mom!
Also you can see the stacks of exams that I have to finish marking for Pete. Must get onto that. But really I slept from about 1PM to 6PM. One of those sleeps that felt very turn of the century, like I was sweating out the bad germs and if I could just make it through, she'd be alright. I don't know if it it's over, can't be that easy. We'll see.

On another family note. Joy posted some pictures of her family road trip. I really liked this one. Nothing like the long empty roads of Wyoming to come across a town call Buford with population 2. Love it! Okay back to being sick again.

Birthdays, Sickness, and Family

Home sick today. I have the tired bug I think. Too many late nights and my immune system couldn't handle the winter bugs floating around. I think being sick is probably numero uno on my list of things no likey. I've never been a good sicky but I think I have improved the older I get. It doesn't help that I have a work deadline amongst other things to do. But herein lies the issue, Chris always has things "to do" or things that "could be done" or things "i would like to or have been waiting to do". A-ha. Anyway just staying home means I am being responsible before this invading parasite festers.

On a lighter note here are some great pictures from my nephew's, Max, 4th B-day party. This also means it's been 4 years since I've known Mike. I don't really keep count of months and days but I know when Max's b-day swings around that it's been another year knowing Mike. (Max was born the day before I came to NZ the first time). Looks like he had a cool party at McKay's parents solar heated pool. I love the big inflatible ball and so cool that Jordan, Keighty and the kids could be there to celebrate as well. Probably one of the first intra-cousin birthday parties yet. More of those to come in the future!




Ok, ok I am off to be sick again.