no internet, and a serious shoulder injury.... 2010 is going out in an interesting way.

People seem to think that using the disclaimer "I don't mean to be rude" gives them the right to be rude.... I don't think so... you're either rude or you're not.... it's not brain surgery.

I ran into a guy I dated in High School the other day. I don't think he recognized me. I almost didn't recognize him. I have certainly aged in the years since, to be sure, but he looked 10 years older than I do. I'm not trying to be nasty, it just took me by surprise. I was shocked actually. I feel bad for him, it was a rather harsh reality check for me. Good to see him though, he seems to be doing orright for himself.

personal email hacked, not impressed

busy and computer still dead.

Computer dead... yay for warranty and data recovery techs.

We know why the birds sing

A common saying among skydivers. We know why the birds sing. It's true.

I taught my dad how to drive the quad this weekend. We went around in 1st gear with a top speed of 8. I told him how to shift up and was informed that he was quite happy where he was. At least he tried something new, and had fun with it. Baby steps. Next weekend, reverse maybe?

Nothing Changes

I'm sitting here with my dog. Sometimes I envy her. She's got it pretty good. Comfortable place to sleep, plenty of food and people that love her, and a job (chasing cows) that she lives for. She is very content, yet she has that uncanny compassion that animals are famous for. She knows when you are hurting, and despite of how good she may have it, she genuinely hurts with you. You can't get a better friend than that. No judgement, no dishonesty, no blame, just a desire to share your journey.

I spent the week handing out resumes. The last person I worked for, well, it didn't go as expected or hoped. The logical side tries to convince me that there was no malice intent. The experience side reaffirms that you can only rely on yourself. Sadly, the experience side tends to win these internal conflicts when it comes to judging human nature.

I made a choice regarding my career future when I got back. The factors involved placed the choice I made at the top. It seemed the best option I had at the time. I made a decision based on the information I was given, and with faith that the promises made would be fulfilled. Didn't work out despite my best efforts. Sometimes things fail, that's alright. Sometimes people fail, that's forgivable. Sometimes people don't seem to care and put you in a position causes you in long term harm, regardless of their intentions. Call me rigid, unforgiving, cold, what ever, but I have a hard time accepting that one. As they say "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions".

I've been having some conflicts with a friend lately. As with all things, it takes two to have a conflict. I believe I take responsibility for my actions, I do my best to anyway. I trust this person not to have malice intent, but it still hurts to be in the situation. It can feel like it's one sided, like the other person isn't willing to see your perspective. I have no doubt that they feel the same way toward me. Hopefully coolers heads will prevail, and the situation can get sorted. The alternative keeps me awake at night.

A friend of mine was killed in the war 3 years and 3 months ago. His birthday is on Monday, he would have been 35 this year. I miss him.

So many more have lost their lives in the past 3 years. I've watch so many friends leave. I wait for so many more to deploy. I pray they come back to those they love, not back to their graves. There is nothing I can do for them, I feel completely helpless. Our government wants to extend the occupation of the Middle East. They don't listen to the people they are supposed to represent when we call out for them to bring back our troops safely. I would like them to look me in the eye and tell me why. What is more death going to get us? Is it really in our nature to destroy ourselves? Sure seems that way.

Play the cards you're dealt, guess that's all any of us can do.

Embrace the Fear

"Embrace the Fear

I must not fear, fear is the mind killer
Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration
I will face my fear
I will permit it to pass over and through me
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing
Only I will remain"

Frank Herbert

Sometimes I think I'm not dying fast enough

I have a nasty flue and a migraine.... Coughing makes my head want to explode, and I wouldn't mind the dizziness if only I could regulate my body temp... ice cold one second, sweating bullets the next. If I were a horse someone would have the good sense to put me down. I hate being sick. Can't last forever though... right?

Moa

The Moa bird was one of the last giant birds. It was a native of New Zealand and consisted of 11 sub species. They were the only species of birds that were truly wingless... lacking even vestigial wings that other large land birds have (ostrich, emu, cassowary, etc). They were a "running" bird, but they were very unique from their distant cousins.

For starters, New Zealand completely lacked mammals (with the exception of bats) until it was colonized by the Maori people. It also lacked reptiles with the exception of the skink and the gecko. This translated to having no land based natural predators. New Zealand (a very young land mass, as they go) was pretty much populated by birds only and was one massive rain forest. Now, thanks to human influence, it has more sheep than people. Seriously, it has around 13 times more sheep than people, and the forests have been clearcut to a large degree to make way for agricultural interests.

But I digress. The Moa birds were a giant flightless bird. They were unique in that their growth rate took several years to mature, and this was evident in rings in their bones, much the same as rings of trees. All other birds mature with in a year, as rapid maturity helped protect them from enemies and gave them an advantage for quicker procreation and therefore survival. Having no natural land predators gave Moa's the freedom to grow slower and to much larger size than all other birds (with the exception of the elephant bird of Madagascar, also extinct due to human over hunting). The elephant bird was of similar height, but much heavier.

The Moa's were the dominant herbivores and ruled both the north and south islands for hundreds of thousands of years. They reached sizes up to 13' tall and weighed up to 606.5 lb. The females were up to 1.5 times the size of males, and could get up to 3 times the weight of males. The eggs were 10" by 7". Very impressive.

The Moa's extinction is a direct result to the colonization of New Zealand. Having no natural land predators, and being quite large, they had no fear of humans. The Maori literally just walked up to them and killed them. Being an easy and strong food source had the Maori hunting the Moa extensively, and their slow maturity made their numbers drop exceedingly fast. They were completely wiped out in a matter of years.

There are still Moa sightings, but again most of that is just wishful thinking.

Thylacine AKA Tasmanian Tiger

My love affair with Australia started as a small child. Any time we were given a research assignment throughout school I would report on Australia. Ayres Rock, Olgas, Aboriginals, Wild life... you name it, I was fascinated with it.

Especially wild life. I have always had a special connection with animals. People through out my life have been very cruel. To this day, I have little or no trust for my fellow homosapiens. But animals were another story. Animals are instinctual. If they did things we humans found cruel, it was because that is the way they are made, not the way they chose to be.

Australia has by far the most unique animals, be them reptilian, mammalian, or avery. Marsupials exist no where else on the planet with the sole exception of the Water Opossum (strangely found in Mexico, Central and South America, and Argentina).

Australia also has the worst track record in history of any other country on the planet when it comes to the extinction of it's native animals due to European colonization. A staggering 50% of all the native animals have become extinct in only 200 years. Hunting, introduction of K9's and felines, deforestation and encroachment into habitat have destroyed some of the most unique and oldest wilderness. A tragedy that cannot be reversed, regardless of desire and intent.

The Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger is one of the most recent victims. A very shy and misunderstood creature that was hunted to extinction due to ignorance and intolerance. The last known Tassie Tiger died at the Hobart Zoo in Tasmania on September 7, 1936. His name was Benjamin, and he was thought to have died from neglect. He was locked out of his shelter exposing him to the extreme Tasmanian weather - blistering heat in the day, freezing temperatures at night.

Benjamin and his kind were of the only two known kinds of marsupials that had a pouch in both sexes. Once again the other being the Water Opossum. They (Tasmanian Tigers) were the largest living meat eating marsupials. Very few marsupials are carnivores, making the Tigers even more rare.

Thylacines first appeared on the planet 4 million years ago. 4 million years of survival, only to be wiped out by humans 74 years ago. Says a lot doesn't it?

They populated Australia and New Guinea, but closer to modern times their last refuge was Tasmania. They had similar body type to canines; sharp teeth, powerful jaws, raised heels, and similar body form. They were sandy to red in colour and had 13 to 21 bold black stripes down their backs and into their tails. They were short haired with a stiff tail which extended from the body in a similar way to that of a kangaroo. Unlike other marsupials it's pouch opened to the rear of it's body.

The Tassie Tigers could open their jaws up to 120 degrees. Longer snout with muscular and powerful jaws, housing 46 teeth. They had one of the strongest bites for any mammal. Despite it's many combative attributes, it was an extremely shy animal that would go out of it's way to avoid conflict with other animals and humans. (completely unlike it's cousin the Devil).

They had a stiff gate and would often stand upright on it's hind legs for brief periods of time, much like the kangaroo. It would growl and hiss when angry, and show it's threatening "yawn". It did not bark as K9's do, but would give a series of rapid guttural cough-like yaps. It also had a long whining cry, and a low snuffling noise used for communicating with pack members.

Little is really know about this amazing animal. They were nocturnal, and they were pretty much gone before study and preservation of their kind was entertained. The young were called Joeys and up to 4 were born in a litter, and they were carried in the pouch for up to three months.

They were exclusively carnivorous. They were known for hunting both large game, Kangaroos, Emu's, and anything smaller including possums.

They are officially considered to be extinct, but continued (and unverified) sightings have people hoping for the best. I hope they have managed to survive somehow. But more importantly, I hope that people have learned to respect these creatures, so that if they have survived, they will continue to do so. Again 4 million years is a most impressive run, to bad we ended it.

Old Friends

Every year the farm is blessed with some very special guests. A family of Bald Eagles come every spring and stay around 6 weeks.

I was tramping across Australia when their yearly visit happened this time... or so I thought. They are back. Not the whole brood mind, just the parents. The father eagle is massive, and momma is no slouch either.

This is the first time I remember them visiting twice in one year. But it makes me feel great that they are here as I missed them the first time around. Just thought that was pretty cool.

A Valley of Mist and Shadow

I was driving home last night, and it was beautiful. Funny, somehow that word seems insufficient. It was shortly after 22:00hrs, and the sun was finally beginning to reach the horizon. Canadian twilight lingers for hours. That's not an over statement. It began to drop around 20:30 and finally set by 22:30. Something unique to northern countries. Something I had began to forget living in the south. Sun set in the US, Austrail Asia, and most of Europe is lightning fast compared to Canada. In Australia the sun would begin to set at 17:00. By 17:30 it was pitch black.

But I digress. I was driving home last night (I live in rural Alberta) through the rolling hills lush and green from all the rain. The humidity has been very high for this part of the country (southern Alberta is a semi desert) and the mist was rising off the fields, ponds, and creeks. From the top of hills, it was a shrouded valley floor with mounds of emerald breaking it's grey blanket. The clouds were a flame with the reds, blues, and purples that sun set brings, and it framed the landscape with an etherial contrast. Light and dark stretching out, enveloping the land, creating a flow of colour on the brink of losing definition.

I found myself thinking (as I did many times in my travels) that this place is beautiful in it's own right. Sometimes you need to look away to see what's around you.

A Thought, Perhaps a Memory

I had a really special Sunday. It was unique in it's simplicity. When I saw my mates last weekend, well the welcome was amazing. Amy hugged the stuffing out of me, and I'm surprised she let go. I missed that girl.

This Sunday was more of the same. My mates that weren't around last weekend hugged the stuffing out of me this weekend. It was great, but the simplest welcome came from someone I respect and love with all my heart and it meant the most to me. Lyal simply said, "It's good to have you back girl." I missed him tons, and getting to fly with him again was so much fun. Viva sunset load.

I taught the First Jump Course the last couple of weekends. One of my students Sunday ran up to me after her jump and threw her arms around me. She thanked me and said she couldn't wait to continue her training in the sky. Passion for the sport is easy to kindle, and it burns with a strength like almost no other. Magic.

While in New Zealand, Tina and I met a wayward Canadian at the drop zone in Christchurch. We just happened to be jumping the same weekend at the same place. Small world. While there, we chatted about home DZ's and he mentioned that he was coming back to Canada and was looking to relocate for the summer. He mentioned that he had been in contact with Lyal when he found out we were from Eden. We assumed that he had already decided to call Eden his home. We miss understood. Apparently talking to us and listening to the passion and love we have for our DZ made up his mind. We had no idea. I showed up and Ray said to me "So I hear we have you to thank for Greg coming here." I'm like "Whaaat? No, he was planning to come here, we just bumped into him on the tramp." I was wrong. Turns out, Tina and I made an impression on him. One he chose to trust and follow to our home, 2 months ahead of us. Not knowing anyone and willing to walk into complete strangers because we happened to meet.

He has joined my family at Eden and an idea has become reality, will become a memory. He also had a huge smile and hug for Tina and I when we finally ran into each other yesterday. He's such a great kid.

Humans are creatures of habit. We have limitless creativity, yet it's rarely acted upon. We aspire to be like those who take thought and turn it into memory. Those who act on their passion, belief, imagination. When they seek out others like themselves, they create a community stronger than the bonds of most families. These people are family to me. I have, and willingly continue to, literally put my life in their hands. I have no doubts that it is safe and that my happiness and well being is in their minds.

We take our thoughts, turn them into reality, and they become wonderful memories. Ones I cherish.

Home is where?

Some say home is where you hang your hat, others where your heart is. I don't know. I've seen a good chunk of the world and there are several places I could easily call home. I keep getting the same two questions. You glad to be home? and You back for good now? The answer is... no clue. I feel no different from when I was living out of my swag. Fact is, I'm still unpacking and getting myself sorted.

I'm back for at least 6 months. I'm not making any promises. I don't know where home is, but I do know that there are some things that are going to keep me in the country for a while at least. Things are simpler and more complicated at the same time. I'm used to being the stranger in town, and being here is no different. Things have changed, things have stayed the same, and I find myself circling it like it's a strange cat.

It'll get sorted and she'll be right.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada

Flights missed

So I'm still in Germany. Long story (involving construction) short, i didn't make my flight home. check in for my flight home is at 0500hrs tomorrow morning, so there's no point in going back to my cousins'. The guy at the ticket office did me a (favor) by charging me 150 euro rebooking fee instead of making me buy a new ticket. not aI'll just sleep in the airport tonigh, won't be the first time. Till tomorrow when I'm in a better mood

Copenhagen

So I'm in Denmark... and I'm thinking I should have stayed in Ireland. Not that Copenhagen isn't cool, I just really, really, really like Ireland. It's a place one has to experience. I never ended up on the north part of the Island, I went to Killarney instead. It was fantastic.

I've been trying to get to Oslo Norway today, but even though I left Cork before the sun was up, I wasn't in time for the last train to Norway today. The first (and only) train to Oslo tomorrow is leaving around noon. So I have an over night in Denmark and another flag to find. I have to say that the World Soccer Championships has made collecting national flags much easier.... Thank you FIFA.

But I digress, I need to have a shower, find the laundry, and get some food.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Copenhagen, Denmark

Have you kissed the Blarney Stone Goodbye?

I'm in Cork, Ireland, on the southern tip of the Island. I spent the day at Blarney Castle, and yes I kissed the stone.

London was, to me, a bit over rated. The sights were excellent but I found Vienna more to my taste. I walked from My cousin's flat on the east side of down town, to Buckingham Palace and then some. There was a garden party with the Queen of some sort going on and all types of muckymucks were dressed to the 9's and admitted into the grounds. We peasants stayed outside (not that I care) and I went about getting some good shots of the external grounds and the exterior of the Stable Grounds. Was alright, but again Vienna was much more to my taste and lets face it... it's very hard to compete with the Lipizzaner Stallions and the Spanish Riding School. (also built by and utilized by Royalty)

The highlight of my time in London was spending time with my cousin. He is 17 years older than I am, but there is no difference in generation when we are talking. He filled me in on things I hadn't known from the past, and I did the same for him. He had totally forgotten that he used to read to me, nor did he know that I have zero memories of his one brother at all until my grandmothers funeral when I was nearly 22. I have vivid memories of his other brother and himself, but there's nothing of Kev. (To this day I love to be read to.)

We taked about the farm, life, and all that good stuff. We discovered we have a lot in common even though we see each other Maybe once every 10 or so years. We made dinner in his flat and watched video's and listened to music. It was extremely nice. I left early this morning, but last night before we turned in, he pulled out a very well loved hard cover copy of "The Prince of Tides" his favorite book. He read several passages that were the work of a gifted writer. I can't wait to read it.

I got into my cab to the airport at 03:20 this morning, flew to Dublin Ireland, and promptly got on a train for Cork. I spent the remainder of the day walking the city and taking a trip to Blarney Castle. Again, I highly recommend Blarney Castle. It was quite unique, and Blarney house can rival the best mansions Europe has to offer. I am very impressed.

It's nearly midnight now, and I'm dog tired, but I wanted to get some of this down before turning in. I had 2 of my all time must do experiences today. Kissing the Blarney Stone and sitting in a small town Irish pub, having a meal and a traditional beverage. (For all of you that asked me to enjoy a beverage for you, I did, it was just the same one for all of you. I'ld still be there otherwise.) For me it was a reconnection to my Irish roots. My mother's family is a boisterous mix of French and Irish. The German side of my family has always been very close, and the Russian side almost non existent. It was important to me to experience rural Ireland. And I am. And I Love It!

The funny thing is, my mother has always told me I have a very European look to me. (what ever that means). I don't really look like either of my parents, though my one brother and I have some similar features. Other than him, I look nothing like the rest of my family. But I digress, apparently I look very Irish. People I have spoken with have automatically started speaking to me in Gaelic. I have also discovered the reason there are so few red heads in the world is because they are all here. It's like a convention. You can't swing a stick with out hitting a red head. Kinda makes you feel like you fade into the back ground.

But I have to get some sleep. I'm going to grab a train in the morning to the north side of the island. I'm trying to make Norway by Saturday, and Germany again by Monday. Long as I'm in Frankfurt Wednesday to catch my flight, everything else will get sorted.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Cork (both town and province) Southern Ireland.

I'm in London England with my cousin. We stayed up to 2 am chatting. The tunnel under the English Channel was very neat. It too about 20 mins on the high speed train, and thinking that you are traveling under the ocean is quite impressive. Paris was a bit frustrating as I lost my phone and no one saw it. I retraced my steps but that thing disappeared faster than a pizza at a weight watchers convention. oh well, worst thing they can do is burn up the $10 on the pay as you go card. The phone cost me $30 so all in all, I'm out 40 Euro. Not the worst thing that can happen by far.
Tomorrow morning I go to Dublin Ireland. I am still conversing with my friend in Norway as to what his plans are. He was going to go out of town this weekend, and the soonest I can get to his place (that I've found so far) is Saturday. I don't want to mess with his plans and I fly home Wednesday, so we'll see. I am still planning to go to Norway for a couple days, but I might just travel around the south instead of up to his area if he's busy. No worries.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, London, England

Biel

I am in Biel, Switzerland, staying with my friend I met in Australia. We are having a great time and the country here is amazing. There are wild swans with their young swimming in the rivers and the valley is sorrounded by forested peaks and wide green waters. It is very quiet an relaxing.



I attended her sons graduation from post secondary this morning, took their dog for a walk along the river this afternoon, and tonight Christine and I are going out to a friend of hers. Last night we went to a movie (the Young Victoria) which was excellent. We both really enjoyed the film.



Tomorrow is going to be a hard day for me, personal history and all that, so I think I will go for a walk up the mountains. Monday I head for Ireland, and most likely Thursday to Norway. Then back to Germany Sunday and spend the last few days with my cousin in Heilbronn. Then home.



I have been collecting flags in each country I have visited. I am a little dissappointed that the railway does not stamp your passport everytime you cross the border, but the flags will do. Its all good.



Lisa Freitag

Silent River Kung Fu, Biel, Switzerland

Wien

I am in Wien, better known as Vienna, in the province Lower Austria. I spent the morning watching the Lipizzaner Stallions being put through their morning training. After that I took a tour of the facility. They are truly Magnificent! I have always wanted to visit the Spanish Riding School, and sadly I will no longer be in Austria this weekend. I would love to have seen a performance in the foundation of this cultural icon. They only hold performances on the weekends so I'll just have to come back I guess.

I have purchased a new train pass, and am still trying to get the disaster of the last one sorted. I had better get a refund, or there will be one very unhappy camper on their hands. Grrrrrrr!

I highly recommend visiting Vienna. I have seen some amazing churches and buildings. They can't be described. I only hope the pictures do them justice. It is a very friendly city, and I am enjoying it very much. I might stay one day longer. But I am trying to get to Ireland by Sunday. So I need to looking at hitting the trail again sooner rather than later.

Most likely tomorrow I will head to Switzerland. I have a friend there and am going to spend a day or two with her while down here. I'm looking forward to that.

I am finding it very difficult to write blogs this last month as I have been with my family in Germany, and here in Austria, is also a German speaking country. I find myself translating things into German only to translate them back into English. It's silly, but when you are using a language and then switching back, it's hard to use the original language. I don't know if that makes sense but it's difficult. I find myself using broken English as much as broken German. Very frustrating.

But that's it. I will try to post something from Switzerland, Ireland, Norway, and of course Germany should the opportunities present themselves. My trip to Ireland will most likely take me through France and the Netherlands, but I probably won't be stopping there. Depending on the route to Norway, I will most likely travel through England, Denmark, and Sweden. Other wise I will go back down through the Netherlands and across Denmark from there. Meh, what ever.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Wien, Lower Austria, Austria

One winter night

I was at a castle ruin yesterday that was built in 200 AD. It survived being attacked, plundered and invaded for almost 2000 years. It was rebuilt a total of 3 times. One invasion (1563 ish) had the attackers allowing the women to leave with only what they could carry, the men were remain inside to be slaughtered. So the women holding the invaders to their word, carried out the men on their shoulders. Girl Power!

The Castle and surrounding city, again dating back to 200 AD in some places, went from being 100% intact to being 70% levelled in December of 1945. One night took out 2000 years of history. 600 homes were destroyed in the air raid and 1200 people were on the streets. Many others were killed.

War sucks.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany

Every Town Has It's Castle

I'm in South Central Germany, Heilbronn to be exact. My cousins live about 5 minutes from here in a small town called Talheim. I've been here almost a week. I left Canada last Wednesday and arrived here Thursday morning. Once again a long flight.

Every town has it's castle. Perhaps not 100% true, but close enough. I've been to 3 already and that doesn't count the ones we drove past. The buildings in rural Germany are a mixture of old and new. When I say old, I mean dating back to 1388 and then some. Pretty cool.

My cousins are wonderful people that I get along with very well. Their 3 year old is reasonably cute but small humans and I don't mix. Limited time is all good, but 24/7 with no end in site is a bit much. There's a reason I'm not a parent. The temper tantrums are starting to get to me. They are good parents and deal with her moods like any parent, the best they can... but I'm unused to living with a child that age and am pretty much stuck with out a vehicle. (Looking into that as we speak.)

I don't mean to sound ungrateful for anything, just being honest. I came here to see them, but also to see a good chunk of Europe. I am ticked off that my train pass got all messed up, and I'm with out one. Not impressed about that. I just need to make alternate arrangements. I'm nothing if not resourceful.

I just don't do well with children. It's the same at my sister's place in Toronto. A couple of days with their kids and I'm done, and looking for an alternative. When a couple of my sisters kids come out to our area, I have a break. I go to work, I go home... ect, it's much easier to deal with.

Back to Germany. It's a beautiful country and full of history and heritage. I visited the town and house my grandfather was born in. The house was in our family for @ 500 years (give or take). My dad's cousin sold it not long ago. Not impressed, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Against the wishes of the entire family (both here in Germany and back home) she decided to sell it. (she was "handling the estate"). So we drove past the house, but I was unable to go in. I'm very disappointed about that, but that's life.

Anyway, I have to figure out my transport situation and internet cafes are not cheap.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

I Come From a Land Down Under

"Travelling in a fried-out Combie. On a hippie trail, head full of zombie. I met a strange lady, she made me nervous. She took me in and gave me breakfast. And she said 'Do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder? Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you getter take cover.' "

I am back in Stony Plain for a couple of days. Staying at the farm, hanging with my parents. Seen my brothers and one of my sisters. It's been interesting the last couple days. Was up for 40 hours straight while traveling back from Brisbane. Time change is really messing with my system, but the fun continues. I'm headed for Germany in 2 more sleeps. I really am starting to hate airports.

"Buying bread from a man in Burssels. He was 6'4" and full of muscle. I said 'Do you speak-a my language?' He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich. And he said 'I come from a land down under. Where beer does flow and men chunder. Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover.' "

Things I learned in the outback...

Vegemite smells worse than it looks, but if you can get past that and the texture, it actually doesn't taste all that bad. It's full of vitamin B, and goes quite well on toast.

I can not be left unattended on beaches unless I have a goal, be it surfing, tanning or swimming. Just walking on the beach presents shiny objects know as sea shells that I for some reason am unable to walk past. I like to pick them up and look at them. The problem is I tend not to put them back down. Very shiny.

How to properly deal with a snake bite. Most snakes fangs are not long enough to reach the blood stream and venom is injected just under the skin, traveling through the endocrine system as apposed to the circulatory system. A tensor bandage, they type of snake involved, and medical attention are a must.

There are bull sharks in most of the rivers, and further north there are also Crocks... use caution when swimming. So long as you are smart, things are fine. If you are dumber than a hamster, then you run into problems.

"Dying in a den in Bombay. With slack jaw, and not much to say. I said to the man 'are you trying to tempt me, Because I come from the land of plenty?' And he said 'Oh you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder? Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover.' "

I spent some QT with my horses and dog today. I really missed them. My dog went spastic when I got home, and decided that my lap was the place to be. Your legs tend to go numb with 40lbs of dead weight piled onto them. She's such a weirdo. My horses tried to crush me between them. One requires the ability to scratch 3 horses at the same time, or good dodging skills. Both are handy when taking extended leaves of absence from the farm.

But that's pretty much it. I'm still on Australia time and my brain isn't working. I should probably eat something. It's after 15:00 and I haven't had anything yet. Meh, she'll be right.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada (until tomorrow that is).

I just got back from Brisbane this morning. Naomi and I spent the night at our friend LJ's, and hit the road at 04:45 to drop off the dogs and get her to work on time. I took a taxi from Maroochydoore (where she works) to Mooloolaba (where I'm staying) to save her time. It's all good.

Went and had a nap when I got to the hostel and have been taking it easy today. It's chilly and overcast and I'm not hugely motivated to partake in anything involving water. I'm slowly turning into a giant pansy. Oh well, another winter working outside will thicken up the blood again, and I'll be back to my tough, grumpy self. That is assuming that I come back to Canada to live. I can handle this warm winter thing. Very nice.

We got to Brizzy Friday and I got rained out for my rock climbing (again). Made it all the way to the bottom of the wall with the ropes down and everything. Then the sky opened up and we got a good soaking. This Friday coming up is my last shot at it. I'm really hoping I get to do it, but if not I'll give my ticket to Holly. She really wants to rock climb the Point, so at least my cash won't go to waste. Naome and I had a great time visit with Holly at her B-Day. Really glad I got to chat with her again. Nice talking to someone about back home who knows what you're on about.

Holly is Australian (Brizzy native in fact) but she has spent a couple of summers out at Eden (that's where we met). She knows the people I know and it's just nice to have that connection. I've been COMPLETELY isolated since March, and that's not going to change anytime soon. So yah, nice to have some sort of point of reference with someone.

Naomi and I headed for Willow Bank (Brisbane Skydive Centre) Saturday morning. They had the sky van up from the south and a bunch of our mates were wanting to jump from the Box. Naomi wasn't jumping, and I still had tickets for Toogs, so we just hung out a bit. I've jumped from sky vans before, so not doing it was no big for me. Though I have to admit that you can do some very cool exits from the Box. One of my personal favs is the W.E. Coyote exit. You know when W.E. goes running off a cliff and his legs keep going until he realizes what's in the works, looks down, waves bye-bye and then drops off screen? Well that is a blast! Run out the back of the van, and just keep running until you come off the hill and end up on your back. It's harder than it sounds, but man is it funny. I'll have to get someone to get video next trip to Eloy.

We stuck around Willow Bank for a little while then headed for Toogoolawah. I burned up 2 of my 3 remaining tickets and cashed in the last one. Pulled off a beautiful cross wind landing Sunday (not going to get into the technical of all that) and we headed back for Brisbane. Stopped in at one of her best friends for a couple of hours and had a great visit. Richo is a great guy and I enjoyed meeting him. Then we headed back to LJ's and spent the night there. We watched some movies on TV, cooked chicken fajitas, and went to bed early. You have no idea how much I have missed good mexican food. Austral asia is loaded with fantastic asian and sea food. No Mexican what so ever. I was ready to get physically emotional for a burrito, any burrito. Yo Quiero Taco Bell!

Out at Toogs, I met Chris Gay (Mr. CRW). He's a world famous skydiver with the CRW competitions and an old friend of Lyal's. It was great chatting with him for a few minutes. Super nice guy! You know it's so cool to meet someone who is really great in their discipline. They are always the ones who are the most humble. I asked one of the guys doing the CRW how the course was going and he made a point of letting me know that he wasn't on a course, he had been doing CRW for years. That cracked me up. He's a great guy too, but it's just so funny that they can't just say "yah, she be right". Where as the guys that are truly great don't feel the need to justify themselves. I find that so refreshing and something to aspire to. Chris also singed off my cross wind landing, that was Some Cool! I've collected some great signatures in my log book. Chris Gay, Doug Fourth, Lyal Waddell (as well as all the Plaid Jackets and Tropical Fish), a bunch of guys from Arizona Airspeed... the list goes on, and will hopefully continue. Call me a nerd, but I think it's pretty awesome.

Don't really know what else to say... I'm headed for Germany on June second, that's only 9 more sleeps. My time in Australia is pretty much burnt. Where did it go? I still have a list as long as my arm that I haven't even gotten to. Three months is not enough. I guess I'll just have to come back.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia

Warm, what a good feeling

I've been back in Mooloolaba for a few days now, and have been having a nice relaxed time. Tasmania was fantastic. I got to pet a Tasmanian Devil (she was sooo cute) and drove around seeing some beautiful country side and meeting wonderful people. I went to the platypus house and got up close and personal with some platypus and echidna's. The platypus were behind glass but were very active and the guide was most informative. Did you know that the male platypus is the only venomous mammal? The echidnas were very friendly and would climb up onto your feet and have a look at you. extremely cool animals.

Yesterday I went on a day trip with my flatmate Lucy. The hostel makes a trip to the Eumundi Markets, which are held on Wednesdays and Sundays. So off we went. The markets are a large out door farmers market set up and they had some cool stuff. I'm not much of a shopper but it was a nice way to kill the morning. Then off to the Glasshouse Mountains. There we went to the Garden Falls and swam in the billabong at the base of one of the falls. Man was that cold! Had my instinct to prevent drowning not been as strong, I would have screamed a string of profanities when I hit that water that would have made a sailor blush. Good thing the water was deep, as I got myself composed by time I broke surface. I headed straight for the sunny rocks to get out and warm up. Unfortunately the sunny rocks were on the opposite bank from where I could get back out, so in I went again to make the other shore. In nice and slow this time and swimming for all I was worth!

Today Lucy and I are going to the river paddle boarding and then kayaking this afternoon. Tomorrow Naomi and I are going paddle boarding again (or surfing, what ever) then the three of us are headed back down to Brisbane to do some rock climbing, and possibly bike the river bank. That evening my friend Holly is having her Birthday Party at South Bank on the river. I've been here almost 3 months and haven't been able to get together with Holly yet. How silly is that? So I'll be getting together with her tomorrow night.

Saturday morning Naomi and I are headed back out to Toogoolawah for some skydiving. We'll spend the night out there and then come back up here Sunday night. After that... I'll just see what happens.

Blue skys

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia

Tasmania

K so here's a blog post from Tasmania... TADA!

I got in to Launceston yesterday and headed for the coast. Made it to St. Helen on the South end of the Bay of Fire last night before I decided it was time to crash. Slept in a camp ground in my car (froze my noody while I was at it, had to wake up every 3ish hours to start the car and warm it up inside). Got up bright and early (ugh) and went for a 3 hour hike up the coast. Got some good picks and drove along the ocean for a couple hours. So worth it.

On the way back, took a different inland route to Launceston and found a great lil pub/diner. It was called The Pub in the Paddock.... and it literally was in the middle of a cattle field (and they had a pet pig as a mascot). It was just too good not to stop. Had a piece of warm chocolate cake with seriously awesome ice cream and a drink. It was a true Outback experience. The people were fantastic and the dining room had an old brick fireplace with waves of heat coming out of it from the fire. The wooden tables were shined with in an inch of existence as were the hardwood floors. It was just magic, and I loved it. Now if I could only get it into my suitcase and bring it home.

So I'm back in Launceston tonight, and am headed for the Zoo tomorrow. They have Devil feedings through out the day, and photo ops. Yah, I so gota get in on that. Petting a Tasmanian Devil? Talk about once in a life time. If only I can resist the urge to go pblablllubladplulllblah pllllllllllh while holding the lil critter. Pretty sure I'll get bitten if I don't, but it would be a true Bugs Bunny moment.

K, gota find a place to sleep for tonight... maybe a hostel, as they cost about the same as a camp ground, and I've less chance of waking up with ice on my nose.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.

PS for those who didn't know, Tasmania is a province of Australia not a separate country. Aussie's say it's the Newfoundland of Australia, and they are right... totally Newfie!

Sunshine Coast

So I'm back on the Sunny Coast, and just chillin'. Spent most of the last 3 days on the beach, swimming, tanning, surfing... Lazy days in the sun. I could get very used to this, very quickly. Tomorrow I fly to Tasmania for some camping on the Fire Coast. I pick up my rental car and head for the beach. I might spend some time in land, but at least one sunset and sunrise over the Tasman Sea.

My friend that I met here Naomi and I have been spending a lot of time together since i've been back up north. We went for walks with her dogs on the beach and then for supper the last two nights. Tonight we are going to head in to town and get a movie. Don't know which one but I don't really care either. Just having a good time hanging with her.

She is coming to visit me in Canada in January. I kinda chuckled at that, but she wants to go to the Rockies skiing, and then to the Invasion in Eloy. We are both really excited about that happening. She's one of the few people that I have gotten attached to this quickly. We're pretty close and I'm going to miss her hard core when I leave. But I still have a couple of weeks here and we are going to make the most of it.

My surfing lesson went well this morning, and my instructor reminds me of one of my mates back home... if my mate were about 15 years older. I had to keep resisting the urge to call him Blair. I have been noticing that with a lot of my friends. Maybe I'm just thinking of them, but there are a lot of doubles over here. The pilot in Toogoolawah is a vertically challenged, good looking 23 year old blonde. The pilot back home is a vertically challenged, good looking 24 year old blonde, and they actually have similar facial structure as well. My friend Kim and I have seen probably 6 people that could be from back home. Some are dead ringers, right down to mannerisms and speaking patterns. It's cool, and a little creepy.

K well I'm out of things to write. I'll get something up when I get back from Tas, but right now the beach calls, and it would be rude to keep 'er waiting.

Lisa Freitag
Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia

Adelaide

So I'm in Adelaide, and I really don't feel like blogging. I've managed to keep on top of it thus far, and am nothing if not driven. So here goes.

I miss my dog.

Adelaide is a very cool city. It's got a very small town feel with the comforts of a city. It has the largest in door shops in the southern hemisphere. It has Australia's only giant pandas. I've been walking to the city centre quite often which is about a 8 km (probably more, I haven't figured it out yet) round trip. I went to see Iron Man 2 yesterday... meh, was alright.

I miss my horses

I went swimming with wild dolphins on Saturday morning and in the afternoon went to the indoor gun range and cracked off 120 rounds. Fired a .9mm, .45mm, .357mag, .44mag, and as the arms instructor called it "big daddy" the 50cal Desert Eagle. I thought about having a go at the 12 gage rifle, but it was another 25 bucks for 10 rounds and I wasn't sure I wanted to put my shoulder through that type of punishment and then do pushups. For those wondering I'm a good shot, if a little rusty, and the Desert Eagle and I will be seeing more of each other when I get home. Me likey!

I miss my truck

Back in Sydney I scuba dived with nurse sharks... very cool. Was going to plan a dive with Great White Sharks, but would have had to fly out to another part of the coast, spend the $500 bucks for the dive and then wait 24 hours before flying back... so that's 2 flights, three nights stay, and a nice big chunk of change for the white's. Not that they weren't worth it, but perhaps another time when the hours are working with me. For those wondering about the time delay, you can't fly with in at least 24 hours of scuba diving because nitrogen can't escape from your body while under and if you fly you get altitude sickness... that can be fatal. Sifu Hayes knows more about it than I do, so if I've given not 100% accurate definition he can straighten it out.

I miss my family

I've been to the major Zoos on the east coast (minus Melbourne, haven't been to that city at all). I got to see a duckbilled platypus at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Worthy highlight. They are truly amazing. I've held a Koala and taken pictures of everything and anything. I rented a scooter today and drove out of the city into the hills and had a look at wine country. Very pretty, but the "mountains" are no Rockies.

I miss my friends

Been staying in touch with everyone as much as I can. I'm off again tomorrow, another flight. I'm getting tired of airports, but them's the breaks. I had a hotel in Sydney for a few days and I unpacked... you have no idea how excited I was about that. Anyone who's backpacked knows that as much fun as it can be, it is very tiring living out of a duffel on your back like a turtle. Maybe I'm just getting old and should have done this years ago when sleeping in a room the size of a postage stamp with 3 other people who like to be up all night wouldn't have made me insane. Funny, us grumpy old farts like to sleep... go figure?

But that's it. I'm going to have some supper and hit the sack. Got an early flight in the morning and we know how much I like getting up early. Who's idea was mornings anyway? They need a slap!

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Adelaide

I'm in the south state of South Australia, in the city of Adelaide. It is a great city and the small town feel is really amazing. My friend Tina's brother in law has been showing me around. I'm having a really good time and am looking forward to swimming with wild dolphins tomorrow.

While in Sydney I scuba dived with nurse sharks (they were huge) and it was completely indescribable. There are some tours to go in a shark cage with great whites, and depending on how much it is, I'll do that as well.

But I should go, Michael is taking me to the local pool and then he'll probably pick me up and go for dinner again tonight. My turn to pay and I'm not accepting "no worries I got it" again.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Sydney

This leg of the journey had started a little rough. My hostel was a disaster (lets not get me started) and I wasn't having a good time. Funny how life takes care of you, even when you aren't expecting it.

I was supposed to stay with a friend from back home while here in Syd, but I was arriving 2 days before her. So I booked a hostel for those two days and figured the rest was history. Turned out that she was going to be sharing a hotel with her work mates and I had to find my own place for the rest of the trip. No worries, Just figured I would extend my stay at the hostel. That lasted until I saw the place. Needless to say I was on the internet right quick and found a deal on a hotel.

HUGE UPGRADE! I was worried about the conditions but am so pleased with the change. I'm a short walk from the harbour, the botanical gardens and the Opera House. The room only has 2 single beds, but they are actually comfortable and my back doesn't hurt for the first time in days. I'm no longer in a dodgy area of town and I don't have flat mates waking me up in the middle of the night after they are finished clubbing. SAWHEEEEET!!!!!!!!

The adventure is just beginning here, and I am looking forward to it. Keep you posted.

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

She lay dying while we sleep

I snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef today. Yesterday I took an eco tour through the Daintree Rainforest, which included a river cruise crock spotting (we saw several including a She with 4 babies... seen for the first time by our guide...very lucky and rare sighting according to him)

The Rainforest is the oldest on the planet (over 100 million yrs) and still has plants that date back before the dinosaurs, living and thriving in the forest. Sadly the forest is a fraction of it's former size, and though strong measures are being taken to try to rebuild what can be, Not all the damage will Ever be repaired.

Today I swam the Reef. Beautiful and unique, the largest living thing on this planet and the only living thing that can be seen from space is becoming nothing more than a memory. Pictures of brilliant colours spark our imaginations, and though there are amazing things to see, the amount of dead coral is startling and the damage to these brown dying sea creatures is all too apparent. It's breath taking and heart breaking all at the same time.

The earth is our home and we have both actively and inactively sentenced her to death. A very slow painful death. She lay dying while we sleep

Lisa Freitag

Silent River Kung Fu, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Living the Dream, Surviving the Nightmare

I'm back in Brizzy, and things are going okay. Planning my next move as it were. The Rock is very impressive, and the upshot of tramping the 9.5k Valley of the Winds trek is it's very lightly traveled. I didn't find it all that hard, granted there were a couple of spots that you were almost on all fours to make up the side, but it was still great. Something I would have done a second time, had I an extra day.

The 3ish hours (allowing for pics and video) of alone time was just what I needed, a reset I've been looking forward to. I was able to clear my head and do some good old physical work. Always makes you feel better to push a bit. My flat mate turned out to be really great and she and I have gotten on quite well. We are friends on facecrack and when I get to Europe she has invited me to stay at her house in Switzerland (should my travels allow). In turn she and her husband have an open invite from me should they ever get Canada bound.

Back here in Brizzy, I'm staying with a friend I met in Toogoolawah. Again she has an open invite to come out and I really hope she takes me up on it.

I'm going to be headed to Cairns, and to Sydney at some point. Again in the process of planning my next move. I'm helping my friend here move this weekend (she's headed to the sunshine coast, so there's surfing in my very near future).

It's not all just giggles, but life rarely is. I'm a little disappointed with the whole UBBT thing right now. Just had a meeting for our team 7 and I'm coming away from it on a less than positive note. It was tricky listening on the skype connection as it was cutting in and out (made it hard to follow) and it quit all together a couple of times. More so, it's the same old story. The blogging is a problem. Sorry guys, but I have not pity for you missing getting something up. I've blogged in airports, walked 30 minutes down an highway each way with semi's wizzing past to get something up. I could have shaved 5 mins off the highway walk if I went through the bush, but I've seen too many poisonous snakes in the lawns to tramp through the bush. I've spent a small fortune on internet access and still every week something hits that internet. Regardless of what country I'm in, or where I'm at in it.

Bottom line? Cram your excuses and just do it. You decided to take on this challenge of your own free will, so get off your butt and make something happen. We are supposed to be a team, and though I'm half a planet away, I'm still trying to lead by example. I'm not a perfect example and it's very hard pulling together when you are literally all alone, but nothing worth doing is easy. Make a choice, take consistent action, and quit making excuses... they don't mean anything to anyone else, do they really mean anything to you?

But I gota go.

Lisa Freitag, Silent River Kung Fu, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Rock

Ning seems to be taking a nap and I can't log onto it for love nor money... stupid computers! Who's idea was that anyway?

Moving on... I have arrived at Uluru and have to say that I am very disappointed and offended with the culture here. I don't really know what I was expecting... I'm staying at a resort... I should have been ready for the dredges of humanity to rear it's ugly head. This has to be one of the most expensive places I've ever been to. The food and trinkets are extremely over priced (even by tourist town standards), food is insane, and as an example Corona is over $10/unit. You can bet your behind I'm not going to pay that for something to drink even if I was so inclined! Not to mention that every one seems interested only in their own desires and have no concern for the environment, other people, or anything else for that matter.

The Rock is Impressive. It's a 3 hour hike around the base of it.. average 4 miles an hour walking speed and it's about 12miles around. The Valley of the Wind hike is also a good 3 hours and is rated difficult.. I'll be challenging that tomorrow. Major thunderstorms have kept me indoors this afternoon and this evening. I did make sunrise on the rock this morning and did some hiking in the gorges and around the park.

Only to have it reaffirmed that you can't let people out unsupervised. Signs that say "sacred ground... please stay on the paths and don't climb on the rocks" may as well have said.. "bunnies have pink noses"

People are so rude. Do you have any idea how hard it is to take a picture with out a sea of people jamming in or walking in front of you? People letting their little yard apes run rampant over everything and anything... even the elderly people crossing the barriers to get a close up shot of a butterfly (or something) when there are a billion of them fluttering around.

One guy walked out into the middle of the bush with back packs and tripod to take pics with enough equipment to film fargo.. only to get in an argument with the ranger who told him to get out of there. Some kids were digging up rocks and plants right in front of their parents and again.. not supposed to do that.

Then we get to the litter... There are smoking cans EVERYWHERE so one does not have to throw their butts on the ground... sadly, only the smokers have difficulty finding them. Lids to disposable water bottles are abundant and lets not get started to the lack of recycling that tourists are famous for.

If you want to travel to a place of beauty... make sure you don't look down. That's were the real impact takes place.

On to the Rock's energy. I was looking forward to just sitting alone and doing some meditation. So far I've managed to get about 5 minutes total where I'm not swamped by people. Loud, mammals who are interested in nothing but their own desires.

But I digress... Back to the energy... It really seems no different than any other place on the planet. Some places have very strong, unique energy, and I was expecting Uluru to be one of them. Far as I can tell, I was wrong... and very disappointed. I'm headed back out tomorrow, hopefully I'll find myself with some more time and space to connect and will feel the magnetic energy. Maybe not... it could be just a rock.

The up shot was I had the hostel room to myself last night. It appears I've gotten at least one more flatmate, possibly two. I knew that was the chance I was taking to get a place at $40/night as apposed to $160/night (with out a bathroom) or over $200/night for a proper hotel room. Hopefully my new flat mate won't make me insane. But I'm not overly hopeful.


I guess that's the rant for tonight. I'll try to get back on ning now. Hopefully it's back on line

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia

Uluru

I just got back to Brisbane tonight. Tina and I had a great road trip. I didn't do everything I wanted to do, nor did Tina, but we got in all the main ones. We even got in a 10 point skydive this morning. It was a lot of fun. Had to pack fast and hit the road to make my flight back to Brisbane, but it was all good.

Tomorrow begins the journey I have been waiting for my whole life to make. Tomorrow I fly to Ayres Rock (Uluru). This is a place (thought up to now I have never set foot on) I have always felt a very deep spiritual connection to. So far, my experiences have been wonderful, but as with everything else in my life, has been muted by the dark places that haunt my mind. Perhaps the healing energy and peace of this sacred stone will help quiet my mind and allow me to ground and centre.

Since I was a child, I have studied Uluru. I have spoken to locals who strongly believe that everyone should experience sunrise and sunset on the Rock at least once in their lifetime. In their words "It's pure magic". Tomorrow begins my 4 day retreat into the heart of this country. My journey to the Rock.

I will try to sleep tonight, but somehow I think it will be an excercise in futility.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

South Island

Okay, so sorry about the last post... It was kind of a get something up before the window closes, kamikaze internet strike. Hopefully that explains the spelling mistakes.

As it turned out, I got to the zoo on the north island the next day and didn't make it out quadding. A little disappointing, but I have a quad at home, and the Rockies are only 3 hours away.

Thanks to hanging with Tina, my Aussie is practically gone. Back to talking like a Canuck, for the most part, she is picking up a bit of the Kiwi, and I still have a shade of the Aussie. Meh, a week back home and there will be no difference.

So we camped the first night of our trip in the Caitlins, slept in a parking lot (we have a campervan) literally steps from the beach. We got up and watched the sunrise over the cliffs, and spent the morning collecting sea shells by the sea shore. But we didn't sell any (hahahahaha).

We drove out to the petrified forest in the Caitlins and the New Zealand version of Niagra Falls... don't ask. Then up to the Fiords at Te Anau. In Te Anau we took a cruise trip out to the Tasmanian Sea (spotted some sea lions on a rock) some great waterfalls coming down off the cliffs, and had a captain that was a blast... completely off his rocker. This is where we met the first set of stranded fellow travellers.

5 young men from the US had not noticed all the signs that there was no gas up in the fiords. Last gas station was an hour away back in Te Anau. So they were pretty much stuffed. They asked the captain to ask the other cruisers if anyone had spare fuel, and Tina and I felt that it was the right thing to do. So we tried to siphon some gas out of our van for them, but that didn't go so well. (we gave on of the boys milk as he was looking pretty green). Turns out there is a screen in the tank so it can't be siphoned. Who knew. We decided to follow them back to town, as we had heard there was a hunting camp where they might be able to get some. As it turned out their luck was in and they managed to get enough to get back. They bought us lunch... sweet kids.

Today I went on the Canyon swing www.canyonswing.co.nz and that was fun. I wore my camera helmet and got some good footage of zipping down the cliffs. I think, I haven't downloaded the footage yet and had a go of editing it. I'll get on that at some point. Electric is harder to come by than internet, so I've been saving battery power every chance I get.

The second strandee we happened across was earlier tonight. We were looking for a camp site where we could (if possible) free park. On the winding "mountain" roads of Queenstown, we spotted a young french guy with a blow out, and by the looks of it, he was having a rough time of changing the flat. So we whipped about and went back to see if there was anything we could do. His jack was useless beyond reason, and cell service was totally non existent. So we drove him back into town, and dropped him at a hostel. He has my cell # and we told him we would be in town until around noon tomorrow. If he needed help, he could text us and we would do what we could.

So far so good I guess. We'll see what tomorrow holds.

Lisa Freitag

Silent River Kung Fu, Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand.

Queenstown

Tina and I have been on the road for a couple of days, round the south end of the south island.
It's been great. done lots of stuff, but can't chat long as I'm' on my way to the canyon swing for a 220k ride in about 8 minutes.

no worries, once I have time and access there will be video

Cheers

Lisa

Silent River Kung Fu, Queenstown, South Island New Zealand

New Zealand, North Island

I'm back in New Zealand for a couple of weeks. My friend Tina is living on the south island while she is going to school. I'm currently on the north island for 2 days (or what's left of them). We are going on a road trip around the south island starting on April 1... no fooling (hahahahahaha)

This morning I did the skyjump, www.skyjump.co.nz , and got a second jump free because they weren't busy. So I was thinking that was a pretty good deal. I was going to head to the zoo and maybe to the beach and do some surfing or perhaps go kayaking again. Hasn't really worked out yet. Tomorrow I'm going to go on a quading expedition and then to the zoo in the afternoon.

I have to be back at the airport for 2:30 to make my flight to the south island. Meh, it's all good. Figure I'll rent a car and figure it out. The "Explorer Bus" is $35 for the whole day pass, but a car is just as cheap and I wouldn't be bound to the schedule of others. So I'll go that way.

I've been trying to keep the slang straight so I could blog about it, but I'm getting so used to it, it's hard to remember what's here and what's home. Meh, here goes.

Thongs (Australia)- also know as Jandals(New Zealand) and Flip Flops
Cuppa - Tea/coffee... very important not to get between someone and afore mentioned beverage in the morning
Roos - kangaroo, known as a pest but cute and soft. I got to hand feed one at the Alma Park Zoo (and cuddle a Koala)
Possum - these are very different to the ones you find in north america. They are actually cute and very soft and fluffy. There is on that lives at the DZ in Toogoolawah with it's baby. Apparently they love apples, and come right up to the table if they think they can sneak one. Also known as a pest.
Caravan - A camper or fifth wheel trailer.

My mom tells me that I'm picking up an accent. The locals used to tell me I have an accent, but not as much anymore. One person thought I was local. I don't hear it, but apparently I'm picking up the Aussie. More so around the fire in the evening, or when I'm talking one on one. I still here all the normal chatter of the place and then my own voice is like the braying of a mule. Startling to hear something so different than what you are surrounded by.

Well that's it for now, I'm starting to get hungry, so I'll go pick up some take away. Maybe I'll eat in. I'm sure I'll find something if I tramp about long enough. Cheers

Lisa Freitag
Aukland, New Zealand, North Island.

posting

don't have a lot of time, so here's a quick post. Back in Toogoolawah and living at the DZ. Have a trip back into Brisbane on Monday. Will post more then.

Weekend

Spent the weekend in Brisbane. I was supposed to be living here, but it didn't work out. Actually I was supposed to be living on Kangaroo Point and that's where I have spent most of my weekend.

Yesterday I went kayaking and to a museum, I was supposed to go rock climbing but got rained out. Today I went to Alma Park Zoo, hand fed some roos, ostrich, got a pic with a koala, all that good stuff. Was to go rock climbing this afternoon when I got back, but managed to get every part of my public transport there and back wrong. Took several hours each way when it should have taken half the time.

Frustrating but didn't ruin the day. I have a gift certificate for when I get back down here to get my rock climbing in.

Lisa Freitag
Brisbane Australia

Kangaroos in the front yard, Spiders under the bed

And I mean that literally. In fact when you are coming in for a landing you have to make sure that you are not going to crash into a kanga. You would think the fluttering of the parachute and the movement would scare them off the landing area, but no such luck. They apparently are used to such things and sunset load (I've heard as I've only done one jump so far) they are under foot... literally. So I've gotten some good footage of the the local pod and they are something else.

As for the spiders. Not so crazy about them. And they are EVERYWHERE!!!! I know we are supposed to be enlightned and non violent... but when it comes to hundreds of spiders in the bunk house... sorry but they gota go. I'm not spending anymore nights with one eye open to keep them from getting me. YUCK!

I've been staying at the DZ pretty much full time. Still no internet, so have come back into town today to keep up. I'll be making a day, possibly weekend trip into Brisbane on Friday. Looking forward to that.

I drove for the first time today. You have no idea how wierd that is. I've been having nothing but trouble trying to get into the proper side of a vehicle as the passenger side is opposite to home. Now I drove into Toogoolawah and had to keep reminding myself that oncoming traffic from the right side was normal and not to lose my mind. It goes completely against the grain for everything I have ever learned of driving, but I'm getting the hang of it. Still one of the strangest experiences yet.

but that's it for now.

Blue skys

Lisa Freitag

Silent River Kung Fu, Toogoolawah, Queensland, Australia

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Here I am in an internet cafe in Ipswich (just outside Brisbane). I'm waiting for my bus to Toogoolawah which leaves at 17:10 hrs. It's currently 12:13 hrs. I've been in town since just after 10:00 hrs. There is about a 3.5 hour change from here to Dunedin, so once again I'm dealing with getting my system fooled into not being hungary, sleepy, and just plain confused.

I can't even begin to describe the feelings I had when we flew in over the coast and I caught my first glimps of the mainland. As if for the first time I was truly home. I was in a place my soul screams to be, and the sudden peace of arriving was almost overwhelming. I admit I fought back the tears.

As long as I can remember I have dreamed of being in Australia, visiting Uluru, surfing the Great Barrier Reef, and exploring the outback. Though until today I have never set foot on this contenent, I have always had a very deep connection, desire to be here. I have studdied this place of wonders my whole life; a place unique in every way. Animals that exist no where else in creation call this place home. It is a harsh land and a demanding mistress, but the beauty that survives her expectations are truly remarkable. I am in awe.

I can't explain it any better than that, so I will move onto something I can.

I took the train from the airport in Brisbane, and as mentioned before am waiting for the bus. Just killing time really. Couple of neat things and points of reference from here to there as I'll probably be using the Aussie/Kiwi terminology right quick.

Tramping - this is our term for walking or short day hiking. tramping about town is like going for a walk to get groceries, liesure, what ever

Hiking - this is used only for multiple day hiking excursions that include sleeping in tents and such (the west coast trail is a perfect example of hiking) Hard core outdoors types hike. Everyone else tramps.

The Chemest's - This is a pharmacy. (Australia) New Zealand uses pharmacy also.

Judder Stripps - theses are speed bumps

Jandals - we call them flip flops, however in New Zealand they are known as Japaniese Sandals and there fore Jandals

Sneans - Sneakers worn with Jeans... also a major fashion no no. So I'm not in style... there are worse things.

Cheers - very universal, most often used for thank you and good bye.

Way out - obviously exit and on the signs

Give way - again means yeald, and is on the street signs.

I guess that's it for now. Tonight I'll get to Toogoolawah, tramp out to the Drop Zone, and get settled into the bunk house. I'll figure out something more perminant living wise as the week progresses, but for $10 a night, I might just live out there. The bus is a bit of a round about, but it's transport and I'll figure it out as I go. I'll have to use it even if I'm right in town to get to the beach and of course to the DZ.

meh no worries.

Lisa Freitag

Silent River Kung Fu, Ipswich/Toogoolawah, North Queens Land, Australia.

(booh yah!)

posting

I've been in Dunedin for a couple of days now, and it's great, loving every minute of it. The internet is a little dodgy where I'm staying and I can't sign in with my computer. I'm using my friends to log on right now. She's in class and dosen't need it. I'm trying to make a video diary and hopefully will have it up on my computer and linked here to keep in touch. I'm here for a couple more days, then I fly to Brisbane. The life dream is becoming reality. Even though I'm here it's still a bit unbelievable. In a few short weeks I'll be standing at Uluru. A spiritual journey. I'm so excited. There are no words. But there will be video!

Lisa Freitag
Dunedin, New Zealand (South Island)

Walk About

So this is my last blog entry from Canadian soil. I've dedicated the better part of 20 years to SRKF and it's time to start living the dreams I've always put on hold. Life's too short, and there are certain things that will never happen if I don't make them.

They say don't let anything stop you save fear and common sense. I say why let those things stop you. Here's to old fashioned having more guts than brains.

See ya

Lisa Freitag
Silent River Kung Fu, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada.... well for a couple of hours at least ;)

Taking Steps

They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That's crap. It begins long before you start walking. Where are you? What is motivating you to make that journey? There has to be a reason, other wise you wouldn't walk away.

Some like to think that you are walking toward something... maybe. But with every step, you are leaving something behind. Sometimes it's a case of being too tired to try to keep up when others have left you, so you choose a different direction. Sometimes it's because you realize that you are not where you want to be and you have to find a way out. Sometimes there's just nothing left.

So where do you go? Why do you go there? How do you get there? Something you have to ask yourself before you start walking. Don't you think? If you just forge ahead with out knowing theses answers, how can your destination be any different from what you left behind?

I wish I had the answers. I've spent my life in the darkest corners of this world. I've learned to fight through the adversity, the obstacles, the demons. I've watched people walk out of my life and then wonder why I don't see them as a part of it. I have to actively choose to trust, and it is a fragile thing. Easily broken and rarely mended. I try, but experience has taught me people are cruel beings who rarely see anything beyond their own perspective. There are exceptions to every rule, but having the wisdom to see the exceptions is not always easy.

People try to say "you're not alone" yet I continue to experience the opposite. When it comes right down to it, we are all alone. There are others we can share with if we choose and if they prove worthy, but we still have to decide our own fates. We are born, we live, and in the end no one makes the final journey with us. From there we walk alone.


The journey does not begin with a single step, but with the desire for something different, the courage to begin, and the strength to keep walking once you start. Perhaps it ends with the wisdom of your travels and the support of those who you meet along the way. Perhaps not. I'll let you know when I get there.

TGIF... well almost

Chinese New Year is finally over. Thank God. I feel like my brain is going to explode. 1 2 3 and rest

Happy Lonely Pathetic Single Looser Day

So it's V-Day again. My date got sick and so this year we're not doing dinner & a movie. Meh no big. I have a million and one things to do anyway, so not having to go out and kill a couple of hours is a blessing in itself.

Not that I'm happy Turtle is sick, but it does ease up some of the pressure with all the other stuff on the go right now. My friends are great, and I want to spend time with them, but this is the worst time of year for me. Darlana's birthday is the 20th, and has invited me out for dinner (which I'm not attending obviously) and Henry has invited me snow boarding the 27 after the ASPA AGM in Cowtown. Made no promises, but it would be sweet to see these guys again. Winter is a long dry spell. When you spend every weekend with people during the summer, you really miss them in the off season.

The yearly Arizona trip helps, but I didn't make it this year. Oh well, winter can't last for ever... or can it?

meh, no worries

all righty then

Since I began skydiving my Dad has been trying to get me to do 1 of 2 things.

1, quit skydiving (like that's gonna happen)
2, write out a Will

Today I did option 2. I wrote out a "Do it yourself Will". This caused me to experience (and continue to experience) 3 major things...

1, I'm too young to have a Will, and denial is a happy place
2, Writing out a Will is both materialistic and creepy
3, I have a lot of crap I don't need.

But it's all done except the signing so I guess that's a positive.

I was talking to my brothers about it when they walked in on my pensive writings. I told them what I had planned to leave them, and asked if they wanted anything in particular. Jake gets the Wii, Gord gets the horses, Dad gets the dog, Erna gets the skydiving equipment, Jo gets the books, Mom gets the truck, ect.

Awkward conversation or what, but better than the legal system getting their fingers into everything and running a muck. I'm not planning on checking out just yet, but one never knows what the future holds. Not to mention doing stupid dangerous things is my idea of fun. Meh, whatever.

Between Darkness and Light there is Grey

Existence is not living. Wake up, work, work job 2, sleep, repeat. Weekends? Wake up, work, work at the farm, sleep, repeat. Where is the colour, the flair, the diversity? When you allow the time to speed by, to release the reins of that volatile horse you lose yourself in a mundane grey sludge of wakefulness.

Stop, reset, engage, see. They are things we are told to do, things we try to do for ourselves. But what determines success? By what gauge do we measure the transition from apathy to passion?

When does colour reenter our sphere of influence? When we make it reenter. When we give up passive desire and take consistent action. When we realize that wanting is not good enough, and we actually do something about it.

But I could just be out to lunch.

meh, whatever.

Something Funny

1.A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture most people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the heck happened?'

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your behind tomorrow.
25. Another depressing thought from Bill........while you are indeed the oldest you have ever been, you are also the youngest you will ever be........it's all running out pretty fast, make the most of what's left!!!!!

got this emailed to me. I like #17 the best

Filters and Chains

How we interact with others directly dictates how they view us. In their perspective is their view of the truth. This is accurate, your intentions are irrelevant in the eyes of others, only their perception of your actions matters to them.

Their perceptions dictate how they filter the things you say and do. Are they being filtered positively or negatively? What has the filters they have in place affected the way they interact with you? What if you are no longer the person they have known? People age, mature, are affected by their environment, and for the most part evolve through out their lives. It is rare for someone to be the same person decade after decade.

Yet the filters people have for you do not always evolve as you do. Some times they evolve reasonably in pace, sometimes very slowly in comparison, sometimes not at all. What do you do in a situation where you are no longer the person others think you are? The decision to show them who you are now, or to exist with the current perspective is one you have to make for yourself.

Changing how others see you is an extremely long and difficult process. I'm talking decades worth of vigilant, consistent action. One digression can potentially whip out years of work. It doesn't even have to be a serious digression depending on the person's mind you want to change. Judgments of others are often harsh and unforgiving.

Sometimes you are chained to the old perceptions and to be honest, most people do not want to change their perceptions. They are very comfortable with their view of the world. To admit change is to admit they are wrong about what they believe. Or perhaps they are experiencing something that makes them feel overwhelmed and to a degree unwilling to try. What do you do then?

It is extremely frustrating to be in a situation where you are chained to an old opinion. It is tiring, mentally draining, and can make you feel like no matter what you do, you are never going to succeed in changing someone's mind. Your voice is never going to be heard for what it is saying, but for what the people filtering you want and don't want to hear. Again this situation is a huge challenge. One that is almost with out end.

Will you decide that it's not worth it after all. To let them think and act as they will and take a fatalistic approach that indeed you are powerless? To "quit" or "give up". Will you forge ahead, and make the best of your digressions, try to minimize them, and to continue to work toward change?

Do you admit defeat, and if so when? I know there are some people in the world I will never forgive or see in a different light with out something earth shattering to prove they are sincere. And yet the potential for a second chance remains, even for them. So do they give up in the face of someone who remembers all to well who they used to be? Or do they produce the earth shattering evidence?

Second chances are something that are precious. Too many people squander them, too many undervalue them, too many are unwilling to give them. Does everyone deserve second chances? I can't answer that. The world and it's people are a quagmire of diversity and danger. A blanket answer is not something that can be given. But if a person is sincere, truly want's the opportunity to change their situation, or the opinion of others, then yes they deserve it.

It is difficult to struggle through the tough times. When you feel alone and like you have no voice. Like no matter what you do, nothing is going to open the minds of those you desire to influence. When reaching out is seen as an attack. Or worse yet, not seen at all.

Sadly the only answer I have is just keep digging deep. If they are worth the effort, faith and hard work will prevail. If not, well that's something you have to decide for yourself.

Going to the Dog Wash

Have you ever tried to blow dry a dog? They don't like it...

Usually when my K9 side kick becomes filthy, I just get into my swimmers and we both hop in the shower. She really hates it, but I find I stay drier if I don't try to stay dry. That being said, I thought I would save myself the hassle of picking all her hair out of my drain, and take her to the "Dog Wash" down the street.

Kija hates baths at the best of times, and usually I just wash her, towel dry her and let her go so she can sulk in her bed and give me dirty looks. Perhaps not the best approach, but it's a system. This time I took her to work with me, and stopped in afterward to give her a scrub. There was the usual pulling against her collar, the passive defiance, the pitifully hard done by looks, but after much effort, she was clean. Sopping wet, but clean. Now I love my dog, but I love my truck too. There was no way she was getting into my nice clean truck with out being dry. There's a reason they don't sell wet dog scented air fresheners.

I towelled her off, and put her up on the grooming stand. I clipped her collar to the tie, and turned on the dryer. WOW! Holy not having any of that Batman! She twisted, and squirmed, and pulled, and scratched, and gave the most pathetic puppy eyes in history. There was fur everywhere, I got soaked, and she refused to even look at me for a couple of hours. Seriously, when she rides in the truck with me, she puts her head on my arm rest and gives snuggles and licks. She got into the truck and promptly turned her butt to me and refused to eat the cookie I bought her.

She wouldn't even look in my direction. I tried to pat her, and she jammed her head down between the seat and the door. I realize collie's are very sensitive (I've had collies all my life) but when they decide to pout, I mean really pout, they could put a spoiled 3 year old to shame. She could have taught advanced classes at the Ukrainian Babba's School of Guilt Trips.

She'll get over it, but not anytime soon. Maybe in a week or so.

Doodie Duty

I've had a very long and trying week. Sparring the gory details, I've cleaned up more human waste from more public places and private residences than I had ever pictured myself doing in a life time.

PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTING!!!!!!!

The week started with a call in emergency service clean up at a private residence Sunday. I still had a migraine (day 4), but was functional enough to go to work. Again, we'll skip the details of the job, but needless to say, dude would never set foot in my house with out having his rear end stapled shut first.

Monday through Thursday had me continuing this trend, be it animal (pet) or people droppings. Wednesday I was called off one job site to go to a couple of storage rooms in an underground parking lot down town where people had been "living". It had me wondering where to flush those rooms, literally. Even my dog has enough manners to take Mr. Hanky out to the snowbank be it -40 or not.

Yesterday was no better. Granted I didn't end up cleaning up the swirling sea monster, but I was scheduled to do a hallway visited by the vomit fairy. As it turned out my truck mount broke down, and that job had to be rescheduled.

The job site I did manage to finish should have taken me about 30 minutes, 45 at the most. It took 5 hours. Mount wouldn't start, when it did get started the water pump blew a fuse, finally got that figured out and bypassed, the pressure line started to freeze up, got that cleared and the vacuum line froze up... twice. Well you get the idea...Not a happy camper.

But a pay cheque's a pay cheque right

new year

on my third day with a migraine. I hope it does not last through tomorrow.