Now what?! If you’d told me even 3 days ago: “You will be in the USA on Friday,” I would have replied: “You are insane.” And yet, “here I am,” as Skid Row so aptly said. After this layover, and on into Los Angeles, I honestly do not know what awaits me.
Breaking News from China
(apologies for cut off words) This will most definitely alter the course of my current flight itinerary–I’m at Queenstown, NZ airport now–as well as my life…
The Crossroads
It’s taken around 12 hours in the past two days, not to mention more time over days before, to finally secure a reasonable route out of New Zealand. Very few flight routes are available. Every Southeast Asian nation I can name has closed its borders, even to transiting passengers. Prices are so outrageous you’d be…
The Haunting
It’s all gone down in a matter of hours. Shuttered. So sad. It’s all a ghost town now. Guess it takes an aggressively paced, swiftly enforced lock down to finally drag me away… 48 hours notice for anyone who needs to leave. Otherwise, 4 week minimum lock down. Universal. Even includes restaurants. No “takeaways.” Apocalyptic…
There is Light All Around Us
…even in moments of darkness
8 Week Anniversary in New Zealand
I know I’ve been in New Zealand for a while because… The trees are changing from green to red, gold, yellow. Seasons have changed from my mid-summer arrival, to early-mid fall weather now. Early mornings here on the South Island have been around 33F. My full tube of toothpaste has been depleted: Even though I…
What the F**k is Happening?!
Just received this from boss. If you were here now, in New Zealand, and this was your local neighborhood trail, what would YOU do? I’m in peak marathon condition. I’m consistently running 140+km per week. I’m strong and ready to race. I feel like a prison sentence looms over me like an executioner’s blade.
Peter’s Coming Over for Dinner
Meanwhile, Melissa and her future mother-in-law Karen need to discuss September’s wedding guest list. Ethan changed plans and didn’t come home last weekend, but it’s okay since his mates were also scheduled to arrive and it ended up quieter around here. These are the days of my adoption within a New Zealand family. Originally scheduled…
How is New Zealand Different?
Running down the trail, sulphur fumes permeate my nostrils. Steaming gases rise in the distance. Blackened craters spew acidic steam. Just down the road, a traditional Maori village welcomes foreigners to watch–and learn, for men–the Haka war ritual. Sacred Maori lands are home to Middle Earth, where I ran as close to Mount Doom as…
New Zealand Adventure!
I have to use the ! when writing about this place. There’s a reason it’s become the place to be. Here are annotated photos from my first full day in Auckland and running on Waiheke Island. 😭😭😭Her visa application was rejected. So, my beautiful girlfriend is in the Philippines right now. 我是一个人。 This tree is…
Charlie Forever
Dear Son–Charlie, We could not even see you at first. You were curled up in the back of the cage, behind the other really cute cat that everyone wanted. After he was pulled out, your first human Mom and I peered in, seeing you looking so helpless, eyesight obscured by redness. You looked so sick….
