trying to get to Mt St Helens from Lakewood... Australia?!

Mom and i are getting out of the house....going for a drive despite the weather forecast.

I need to get out of the house as sleeping in and wearing PJs gets old.

On the way I searched for Lakewood to St Helens.... and randomly got directions from Lakewood Australia. Taking a mere 55 days and includes a Kayak from Northern Oz to Japan, then another 5k km kayak to Hawaii and yet another to 5k km to Seattle.

Had a great laugh, now its raining....we ate our picnic lunch already in the car. Let the adventure continue....

I MADE IT HOME!

Well after much trepidation over airport assistance, temp cast issues on the plane, 4 70lb luggage check in, upgrade - need for elevation, etcetc. I made it HOME. 24 hours later.

My last day - SNIFFLE.
Becks brought me brunch, after our last game of sequence and a teary goodbye. Caity picked me up, took me to the junction for some final errands, lizzy met us there and help get me sorted and to the airport. IT ALL WORKED OUT. grabbed a bite to eat and off I went. V australia pushed me to the gate and I was first on. Got a great greeting and personal staff to help me to the seat. I was wheeled to the plane and crutch it to the back, where they gave me a whole row of seats so I could elevate.

I was worried how my ears would do, my ankle expanding and sending a bloody clot to my death. The plane was brand new, I played pac man on the take off, with several drinks I was relaxed. I HATE flying.

When I got to LA, they had someone assigned to me. He was super nice. I was worried about the connection only being 2.5 hrs but he took me to the front of every line - customs and getting my luggages from international and to Alaska.

I got to the next flight early. Since I was stuck literally - could go to the bathroom as I couldnt crutch and carry my carry-on. So i asked to hop an earlier flight and got on! Everyone was so nice and helpful. THANK GOD!

I was wheeled out and to my folks - we were in tears. what a great Reunion - i was sooo happy.

Ready to be home, taken care of and heal!

My folks have been great. And I am healing now! See slide show below

Its just so crazy how immobility effects you. You cant do anything, i mean getting on the toilet is hard, showering is impossible, getting something to eat...nope. I got to the Doc ASAP and I will be here healing for some time!

Everything happens for a reason - sometimes the reason is not known and I accept that. I have such an appreciate for handicapped people now and immobility. Watching time go by and a bone heal has tested my patients, acceptance and overall me. I had to pull out of a trip that One I didnt get my $$ back and 2 I have been planning for over a year. China, Borneo, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.....but health is more important. I have good friends - THANKS lizzy who helped me see this.

Maybe if I could walk and drive I wouldve died in a car accident while here...you never know why things happen but they do. And they could always be worse. people keep saying "what bad timing" But i respond what is good timing? I mean really...think about it. It was right when i was going home and what better place to be broken at....a place where mom and dad can help fix me. Which they have. thank god for my family and friends! i feel blessed in every way....

Soaking in da 2 5 3 - it hasnt been easy. Definitely been sad and trying to stay positive. But I am prepping for London now, the bone seems to be healing! EUROPE here i come!!!! May 2010!

This is my parents new House, took many drives, spend many night playing sequence and bingo, eating out and in. I think i watched every show and movie possible. Read books, played Sudoko and got shit done for my next move. see slide show below

Amnesia Flash Back!

My GOODBYE party

I stayed the second part of my last week posted up in Kristen and Lizzy's place. In my nook in their living room. MAN you dont realize what immobility is like until you experience it! it is scary, hard and just horrible.

I found it so hard to rely on people and i am soooo thankful i had such great friends and people. It brings tears to my eyes to think about it - words cant express.

Kristen and Lizzy still throw me a Mexican BBQ my last saturday. we stayed at theirs vs going out as planned. Kristen is my angle - she helped me bath...man being cleaned was amazing. I still cant get my ears wet with my ear issues - she tried to wash my hair with a coffee pot! then paid for me to go to a salon to get it done. How nice is that!! Felt good to be pampered - was hard to crutch it there but it was very close. Lizzy got me the cute flower!

It was such a fun party - everyone was there. The entire party Shot Gunned beer!! it was great - one last one. For those that dont know, it is my hidden talent and was a binding friendship moment on a camping trip down south a few years ago. Ha!

Aranka brought tequila - i dont do shots but we had to do one! It was fun!

Man it was hard to say goodbye, it was all happening. Words again cant express how hard it was.

At one point Kristen got everyone in a circle to say one memory about me. It was a touching moment and highlight of my life. I really found such great friends and people. I feel blessed and always wanted bonds like this. I will never forgot this moment and these wonderful people. I cherish our time we had and look up to each of you in a different way. You are beautiful inside and out. I love you all.

Lizzy that knife is a little big!! lol

ELODIE - i will miss u daily! my partner in work crime
such a beautiful person - hard working, living and loving life to fullest. see u in france in september

maura!! our sushi lunches, wine chats, fashion tips, you are so driven, dont loose touch

Jen, my sister, i miss riding into work in Coops, the advice, the goss, teaching me so much. cant say enough

caity - i miss our bondi nights, rock band, tv, boys, beach, roadtrips, getting ready, rocking out, ahhhh the hang over stories...

Ross! elodies boyfriend...you are such a nice great guy. take care of El.

Drew, Ali and Saunders!!

Ill miss those crazy nights!!

Ali - i know we will stay in touch. i miss our girls nights, good outtings, good luck on the wedding. we will always have hawaii! :) the green floaty and my horrible burn

aranka - the best work partner ever, sweetest dutchie...come to london! i miss u

Mels - my Cho Tai Tee gaming partner, you will always be Champion of the Universe! you showed me sooooooo much about FOOD - girl you can EAT. dont work so much and hope u choose london to work.

Jen + Tequila = trouble. dance party!!

Dr Pongs Party! Lizzy and I....she is coming to London to (well back to london, she is british). glad to know her when i get there

The MEDIA TEAM

Kirsty - my client. we both almost cried, so sad to leave

the trio

Somers - bye!!

ahhhhh Bux (Managing Director of Amnesia)!! i gave him a nice card, thanking him for everything. he took a chance on a small town girl who never flew on an airplane by herself.

We really did some amazing things professionally - growing the media team from 4 to 25...and personally we had some great times!!

Andy!! such a sweet, creative guy. crazy contacts

JCB!!!

the last time the team is together - this is my core team at Amnesia. Thanks for all the hard work ladies, keep on making digital magic!

Part of the Manly Crew" becks and gina!

Everytime I come around ur city BLING BLING. Lizzy just won a swimming competition, she brought home this crazy watch.

Moving Out - Life Changed....a bit

After crazy weeks of preparation, throwing away, nerves around leaving, excitement....a ball of emotions... this was my last weekend in my apartment.

After girls brunch, i moved my stuff to Kristens with the help of becks, lizzy and K. I had cleaners in and while they did their deed I had drinks at revisis with deke and becks...

Then lizzy met up with us at South Bondi RSL. Becks and I were spending the night together to celebrate my bday as she was outta town last weekend. We were going to the out door theater with Take Away din and New Moon. However Jen met me at my house to move my last suitcase...I was RUSHING as i felt bad inconviencing her and I was trying to get to the movie.

The last suitcase just wouldnt move down the stairs, I got in front of it (BIG mistake), yanked it and it came down on me! I feel down the stairs and heard my ankle POP.

The rest is history. Jen rushed me to ER - my god their medical system sucks. Even Jen, an aussie whos dad is a Doc, couldnt believe the nightmare. No communication, we were just left in random places...then one doc waved me over, um dickhead i cant walk!! then after 2 sets of zrays, several docs and getting a temp caste twice...from a doc that never put on on, we were off. Or so we thought. The ER was on locked down due to a crazy. 1am we just sat in the waiting room. However they didnt bother to tell us there is a backdoor way out. ANNOYED.
After getting some pizza, crawling up Jens stairs, we come home to a cockroach infrested place (sorry Jen, she is NOT dirty and never had this before). It was terrible hot with no air con. Lets just say i didnt sleep, pain, bugs, sweating.... let the nightmare begin!

I didnt work the last week. Several peeps seemed annoyed but believe me I would give anything not to have this happen! However I was very positive and now everything happens for a reason. Jen is my lifesaver - she is my aussie sister but she went way above, taking care of me and helping mentally and physically.

I was bummed as this obviously changes everything - my last week I didnt get to go my fav places to say goodbye, the parties, the last work things, and what about my big world trip I have been planning for a year. I just stayed strong, get home in one piece, let mom and dad take care of me - health is number 1! "Bring it on life, Ill see your lemon and raise you some tequila and salt!"

I went back the hospital a few more times to confirm the Talus Dome is broke! Jen got me into work one day to do Hand Over things - however after struggling to get in, they tell me I have to get out of the building!! WHAT - i mean it was very very hard to get there and I had no where to go! I cried and they let me stay (pretending i wasnt there).

We headed to Dr Pongs for one of my going away parties. So hard to say Goodbye! Change is hard. I love all these people, places and its sad to just uproot again. But very exciting at the same time (see going away pics in another post).

This is the view from becks studio!!

Happy 29 years to me!

Such a relaxing weekend - meditation, walks, yoga, classic bondi weekend.

Kristen coordinated an amazing girls brunch in balmain, best brunch place in sydney. sooo much food for such a good price! champers and great chats.

Pretty flowers, orange yoga mat i always wanted and a yoga class GC. sooo sweet!!

Pancake heaven - sparkles!

After a bikram class, i met back up with Kristen and Jacko - i crashed their V day date night :) we went to din and comedy. was a blast!

Bondi Byes

Team lunch for a friday arvo - Seans Panarama. Such a family home resturant, right on the beach. We had good wine and food. Jen and I proceeded onto a drink at North Bondi Italian - the happening spot Jen loves.

Then after sorting some funiture stuff, off to Revesis. Lots of Wine and Caity met up with us. We ended with Dancing at White Revolver.

What a good last Bondi night!