So I would say right now I have four major hobbies in my life. I thought I might just throw in an update on how they have treated me here and where they are at.
Ultimate: I've been playing ultimate out here and I have mixed opinions. I am playing with a club that is going to going to nationals in Christchurch in December. I like a lot of the people on my team, I just don't like my team. The play is a much lower quality than I am used to and I am struggling to adapt and not get frustrated. I can deal with players that aren't good, that is fine; but the problem is they think they are good, so they try to play outside their limits and it doesn't work. If they learned to work harder adn be more conservative it would be a lot more fun, but that just isn't the culture out here. I am forced to run idiotic drill planned by well intentioned but skillless leadership who talk and talk and talk. I really don't like going to practice. The truth is Ben and I would probobly quit (we've had an offer to play with a club from Auckland) except that we would feel too bad and don't want to burn any bridges with people that off the field we like very much and as bad as they are now, they would be awful without us.
I am also playing 'competetive' (I'll let the term slide) league on thursdays. This is a lot more fun, no drills, no talking and Henry and I have taken it upon ourselves to organize post game drinks at a place called 'the office' that has 10 dollar pitchers. That I enjoy.
Mountain biking:
I have been doing more lately and it has been great. Wellington is surrounded by hills and Pjay and I have been trying to go after we get off of work because it stays light until 830pm these days. There is one single track called the 'rollercoaster' which has a downhill only section which is sick. There are some jumps people have built which are pretty scary for someone at my skill level, especially because I am riding a bike with a rigid fork (no shocks). There are more trails than we will ever get a chance to ride but I am looking forward to hitting more of them.
Running: Running has found a renued place in my life now that I am trying to train for a marathon. As I've said before Welly is the best city I have ever been in for running. Every run is a new adventure and I find some new place to discover every time. Unfortunately I've been off the habit for two weeks because my knees were hurting after the Taupa hat tournament I wrote about. I think I will start again on Sunday.
Writing: This is a new one and the one I am most excited about right now. About a month or so ago I was telling Henry a story about a guy I used to work with Darrell and my regret of never having helped him. Henry thought it was a great story and commented that it would make a great short story. I figured, why not, so I wrote it, and Henry edited it for me. Oh, and it was fun. I really enjoyed it. So I started writing another, this one was longer. By this time I had decided that I was getting a lot of enjoyment out of this and started to hash a plan. So right now I am writing an anthology of short stories about my life. Writers get made fun of for writing memoirs I know, these aren't meant to be for anything other than my enjoyment and to try to get better. I think I will write 8-12 depending on length. After that I have some thoughts, but I'll hold onto them for now. In any event it has been a big focus for me lately and has taken up a lot of my time, though I don't regret it. I have written three stories so far and have just started a fourth. I don't think I am particularly talented, but maybe some people I know will at least enjoy them. We'll see.
Joey
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Taupo Hat and science of dance floors.
Went to a hat tournament in Taupo this weekend, I'll give ya'll a mini-rundown. In case you did not know a hat tournament is where you sign up without a team and they make teams randomly out of the players.
We drove up in a one of two vans that had been organized by some Wellington players, it was really fun. You can drink in cars if you aren't driving here, and we did. We one of my new favorite drinking games, team choose your own adventure. The way it works is that one person (in this case me) reads a choose your own adventure. When you come to a decision you do a thumbs up thumbs down vote as to what to do. Majority rules and if you voted for the decision that did not get picked you take a drink. However if you voted for the majority decision and it ends up leading to an ending you drink 3. If it ends up leading to your death you finish your drink.
We stayed in a hostel where most of the people in the tourney were staying. My team wasn't that good and I ended up getting a little frustrated but still had a lot of fun playing. I got grips of D's but my team would just turn it over again. We went 0-6 which was kind of weak. We lost two games by 1 point. I think I got the most MVP votes on my team, so that was nice Ben and Henry were on other teams and they made it too the final and were actually picked as tournament MVPs, I think because they were the highest vote getters from the two finals teams so that was awesome. The three of us gained a good amount of cred. NZ ultimate is small and everyone knows everyone. We have been thinking about putting a team of our own together for the men's championship in April and this was a good first step to helping us recruit.
The highlight might have been the party. The theme was French. Ben, Henry, and I dressed up as three french kisses. Henry made stenciled shirts with the French flag then a pair of lips (get it). They below that we were each a 'type' of kiss. Henry, Ben, and myself were tasteful, recreational, and playful respectively. It was at a bar and everyone got two free drink tickets though I was able to score more later.
After we had been there for just a bit I decided I should kick start the party and get the dance floor started (cue Blake's laughter). I recuited about 8ish people, only 2 of which I really knew and we got that shit started. It was interesting to see to see the dynamics of it from there. We got that little flame going and with the right song it got a little larger. After a little while we were in a steady state of abotu 12 people all dancing in a circle. This was good, but not ideally sustainable or good for growth. It made it hard for new people to join and a single dancing circle much like a single cell is very vulnerable to annhilation if circumstances aren't as good. So Pjay and I did what any smart single cell life form does. We divided. We went into the middle and created two circles. With two smaller circles it was easier to join one and made it comfortable for people to start their own. Soon we had about 20 people and I knew I had created a self sustaining lifeform and no longer had to nurture it, we had reached as they say in nuclear physics, critical mass. Would people have started dancing on there own, yes, but I think I accelerated the process by between 30-75 minutes.
So I took a break and had a beer, my work was done. Not to say I wouldn't be back. I mostly just danced for the next 4ish hours. It was a really fun group and the bar got pretty crowded with us and others. All and all a great night. The tournament as a whole was really fun, not too expensive and we got to go to some amazing natural hot springs while we were there. I enjoyed it. Now I'm back in Welly working, resting, training, and thinking up plans for the weekend.
Joey
Just finished: Foundation and Empire
Currently Reading: Special Topics in Calamity Physics (a novel)
Up Next: ?
We drove up in a one of two vans that had been organized by some Wellington players, it was really fun. You can drink in cars if you aren't driving here, and we did. We one of my new favorite drinking games, team choose your own adventure. The way it works is that one person (in this case me) reads a choose your own adventure. When you come to a decision you do a thumbs up thumbs down vote as to what to do. Majority rules and if you voted for the decision that did not get picked you take a drink. However if you voted for the majority decision and it ends up leading to an ending you drink 3. If it ends up leading to your death you finish your drink.
We stayed in a hostel where most of the people in the tourney were staying. My team wasn't that good and I ended up getting a little frustrated but still had a lot of fun playing. I got grips of D's but my team would just turn it over again. We went 0-6 which was kind of weak. We lost two games by 1 point. I think I got the most MVP votes on my team, so that was nice Ben and Henry were on other teams and they made it too the final and were actually picked as tournament MVPs, I think because they were the highest vote getters from the two finals teams so that was awesome. The three of us gained a good amount of cred. NZ ultimate is small and everyone knows everyone. We have been thinking about putting a team of our own together for the men's championship in April and this was a good first step to helping us recruit.
The highlight might have been the party. The theme was French. Ben, Henry, and I dressed up as three french kisses. Henry made stenciled shirts with the French flag then a pair of lips (get it). They below that we were each a 'type' of kiss. Henry, Ben, and myself were tasteful, recreational, and playful respectively. It was at a bar and everyone got two free drink tickets though I was able to score more later.
After we had been there for just a bit I decided I should kick start the party and get the dance floor started (cue Blake's laughter). I recuited about 8ish people, only 2 of which I really knew and we got that shit started. It was interesting to see to see the dynamics of it from there. We got that little flame going and with the right song it got a little larger. After a little while we were in a steady state of abotu 12 people all dancing in a circle. This was good, but not ideally sustainable or good for growth. It made it hard for new people to join and a single dancing circle much like a single cell is very vulnerable to annhilation if circumstances aren't as good. So Pjay and I did what any smart single cell life form does. We divided. We went into the middle and created two circles. With two smaller circles it was easier to join one and made it comfortable for people to start their own. Soon we had about 20 people and I knew I had created a self sustaining lifeform and no longer had to nurture it, we had reached as they say in nuclear physics, critical mass. Would people have started dancing on there own, yes, but I think I accelerated the process by between 30-75 minutes.
So I took a break and had a beer, my work was done. Not to say I wouldn't be back. I mostly just danced for the next 4ish hours. It was a really fun group and the bar got pretty crowded with us and others. All and all a great night. The tournament as a whole was really fun, not too expensive and we got to go to some amazing natural hot springs while we were there. I enjoyed it. Now I'm back in Welly working, resting, training, and thinking up plans for the weekend.
Joey
Just finished: Foundation and Empire
Currently Reading: Special Topics in Calamity Physics (a novel)
Up Next: ?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
This might just be it
So I was going on a nice run yesterday down Happy Valley Road; a two lane road that runs through a fairly narrow and attractive valley on it's way to the south coast of Wellington. It was the first time I had gone running in a while without my music and it was great, I forgot how much I like to think when I run.
During this run I was feeling great and was overcome with a feeling of contentment I dont' think I have ever known except for perhaps in my best times at camp and maybe one other time. I realized how happy I am with the way my life is right now, today (or yesterday as it were). Even for me, someone who lives a pretty easy fulfilling life it is hard not to look to the future or the past with anticipation or longing.
Right now I am exactly where I want to be and I couldn't be happier. After5 weeks almost everything has finally come together for in my life here. I have a day job (Data work at the Ministry of Justice) that although not exactly exciting, pays well, is pretty easy, overall pleasant, and may even be interesting every once in a while. I have my 'Batman' job working for Baxi where I get to make money, have a blast, meet people, and feel like the king of late night bar scene.
I've found an ultimate community here which has been welcoming and I am getting to play a couple times a week, which is all I want. The people are great, the competition is reasonable, and I love playing on actual grass. I am going to a hat tournament in Taupo (4 hours north) this weekend that I am really pumped about.
If there was ever a great city to train for a marathon then Welly is it. I haven't gone on the same run twice there is so many great and scenic options. Every run I explore a new little part of town with some cafe or movie theater that looks nice. I am totally getting sucked into cafe culture. Wellington has more cafes then New York, Seattle, or San Francisco per capita. They are everywhere and I find myself caught in the infectious pull of a long black, flat white, or double mocha on a chilly spring afternoon.
I work a lot between the two jobs but am packing in as much of Wellington as I can while I am here. I love the city and it is amazing how much there is to do in such a small city/region. I have been mentally compilling a list of everything I want to do while I am here and will make it a written list soon.
I'm not even looking forward at traveling in a few months. I'm sure it is going to be great, but I'm in no rush at all. Working, really getting to know this city and becoming a part of it in a meaningful way is what I really wanted when I came here and I really am living my NZ dream.
This doesn't mean my life is perfect, far from it. There are many people who wouldn't want this at all. I live in a flat where there is no light in the bathroom right now, Some nights I only get 3 hours of sleep and most others I get 6. I dealt with an arduous job hunting prospect rife with disappointment, during which I went into a little dept and which led me to two jobs that seemed great but were really not well represented and I was forced to look again. In two months my contract is over here and I will have to do it again. Plus it is freakin cold here, a lot, in the spring.
Still for all my life deprecation it really is great. I am so excited about 3 months of saving money, late nights ruling cuba mall and courtney place on my baxi, overpriced movies at gorgeous movie theaters, places, rugby matches, cricket matches, long blacks in the cafe or in the baxi garage, running all over the city, the Newtown shops, John's Kitchen, biking through wine country, Te Papa for the 7th,8th, 9th.. times, lunches in the park, plays, music, fireworks, views, ultimate, Mr. Bun, Havana, Southern Cross, the Kelburn butcher, Lamb Salad, Thanksgiving picnic, and whatever else I can squeeze out of the next few months, before we head south. I was about to type 'it's gonna be great', but here's the thing: It is great.
Joey
Finished: Brief Wonderous life of Oscar Wao
Currently Reading: Foundation and Empire- Asimov
Up Next: Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norell or the Yiddish Policeman's Union or the Omnivores Dilema.
During this run I was feeling great and was overcome with a feeling of contentment I dont' think I have ever known except for perhaps in my best times at camp and maybe one other time. I realized how happy I am with the way my life is right now, today (or yesterday as it were). Even for me, someone who lives a pretty easy fulfilling life it is hard not to look to the future or the past with anticipation or longing.
Right now I am exactly where I want to be and I couldn't be happier. After5 weeks almost everything has finally come together for in my life here. I have a day job (Data work at the Ministry of Justice) that although not exactly exciting, pays well, is pretty easy, overall pleasant, and may even be interesting every once in a while. I have my 'Batman' job working for Baxi where I get to make money, have a blast, meet people, and feel like the king of late night bar scene.
I've found an ultimate community here which has been welcoming and I am getting to play a couple times a week, which is all I want. The people are great, the competition is reasonable, and I love playing on actual grass. I am going to a hat tournament in Taupo (4 hours north) this weekend that I am really pumped about.
If there was ever a great city to train for a marathon then Welly is it. I haven't gone on the same run twice there is so many great and scenic options. Every run I explore a new little part of town with some cafe or movie theater that looks nice. I am totally getting sucked into cafe culture. Wellington has more cafes then New York, Seattle, or San Francisco per capita. They are everywhere and I find myself caught in the infectious pull of a long black, flat white, or double mocha on a chilly spring afternoon.
I work a lot between the two jobs but am packing in as much of Wellington as I can while I am here. I love the city and it is amazing how much there is to do in such a small city/region. I have been mentally compilling a list of everything I want to do while I am here and will make it a written list soon.
I'm not even looking forward at traveling in a few months. I'm sure it is going to be great, but I'm in no rush at all. Working, really getting to know this city and becoming a part of it in a meaningful way is what I really wanted when I came here and I really am living my NZ dream.
This doesn't mean my life is perfect, far from it. There are many people who wouldn't want this at all. I live in a flat where there is no light in the bathroom right now, Some nights I only get 3 hours of sleep and most others I get 6. I dealt with an arduous job hunting prospect rife with disappointment, during which I went into a little dept and which led me to two jobs that seemed great but were really not well represented and I was forced to look again. In two months my contract is over here and I will have to do it again. Plus it is freakin cold here, a lot, in the spring.
Still for all my life deprecation it really is great. I am so excited about 3 months of saving money, late nights ruling cuba mall and courtney place on my baxi, overpriced movies at gorgeous movie theaters, places, rugby matches, cricket matches, long blacks in the cafe or in the baxi garage, running all over the city, the Newtown shops, John's Kitchen, biking through wine country, Te Papa for the 7th,8th, 9th.. times, lunches in the park, plays, music, fireworks, views, ultimate, Mr. Bun, Havana, Southern Cross, the Kelburn butcher, Lamb Salad, Thanksgiving picnic, and whatever else I can squeeze out of the next few months, before we head south. I was about to type 'it's gonna be great', but here's the thing: It is great.
Joey
Finished: Brief Wonderous life of Oscar Wao
Currently Reading: Foundation and Empire- Asimov
Up Next: Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norell or the Yiddish Policeman's Union or the Omnivores Dilema.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Joey the Baxi guy
You may recall that last time on this blog I mentioned Baxi the bike taxi service I was interested in joining. So on Wednesday I went down to meet the guy who owned the company, Thomas. He has a little garage near the night life area of town. He told me about the company, I learned that they had just started a week ago, it was completely new here. That had been doing alright so far though and had gotten some good publicity. Basically you rent the bikes from Thomas and then whatever you keep is your own. He had me try out riding one around the alley and saw that I could handle it. I decided to try it out for real the next night.
I came around 7pm to the garage on Thursday. Normally he would charge straight off for the bike but since it was my first night it was free. If I didn't do well or didn't like it no charge, if I made some money then we would work something out. I went out and road around with Thomas for a while, each on our own bike just getting a feel for things. He is a great guy and we really got along. He has been a bike courier in 4 cities and lived for 6 years in Austria. He is working crazy hours right now getting this business off the ground while working full time for the post. Luckily he's got a free espresso machine in the garage.
After a little while I got my first fair. A couple around my age wanting to go to a bar/restaraunt called the Southern Cross. Fares are negotiated on ride by ride basis. Normally this would have been probobly a ten dollar ride. Instead we agreed on 5 bucks and they'd buy me a beer. So I took them there, we chatted a bunch. James, the guy, told me they were celebrating him having a won a entreprenuership contest for his new company which sells bottled water with biodegradable bottles (made from corn, a very American idea in a way). They bought me a Montieth's Black (a boutique beer out here) and we shared a large antipasta platter. We had a blast as we hung out with each other and two girls they were meeting there. Eventually I left, though we may hang out in the future.
After that it was work, kinda. I loved it. In some ways it was one of the coolest nights of my life. Craziness packed into those next 6 hours. A fight practically broke out on my cab, I was kissed on the cheek by a transvestite passenger, I got a much more real kiss from a much more real woman, drove around promo girls from a strip club whilst they handed out flyers, and made countless new friends. People loved me, the idea is so new here that people are just curious and intrigued. I thought I might have issues with the local cab drivers or police but they were all great and I talked to a lot of them. When Thomas txted me and the other guy that was riding to bring the bike back I had made 150$, even after giving Thomas 30 for the bike. That makes me the current company record holder for one night, though to be fair the company hasn't exactly been going that long. Thomas really liked having me out there. As the company is young he is very image concious and feels like I am doing what he wants. I got home at 315 and got 3.5 hours off sleep before waking up for my day job with the ministy of justice (a post later this week about that).
So that is my new night job and I couldn't be happier about it. I quit the promo job. I hated it. Bad shifts and boring work. I am supposed to ride again tonight. The weather looks awful so it could be tough, we'll see. I am also set to work Wednesday and Thursday.
In other brief news:
-We moved into our flat today. I am so happy to finally be settled in somewhere. Details to come
-I am going to Taupo (a town 4.5 hours north of here known for its large lake) for a ultimate hat tournament next weekend. Details also probobly to come.
Joey
I came around 7pm to the garage on Thursday. Normally he would charge straight off for the bike but since it was my first night it was free. If I didn't do well or didn't like it no charge, if I made some money then we would work something out. I went out and road around with Thomas for a while, each on our own bike just getting a feel for things. He is a great guy and we really got along. He has been a bike courier in 4 cities and lived for 6 years in Austria. He is working crazy hours right now getting this business off the ground while working full time for the post. Luckily he's got a free espresso machine in the garage.
After a little while I got my first fair. A couple around my age wanting to go to a bar/restaraunt called the Southern Cross. Fares are negotiated on ride by ride basis. Normally this would have been probobly a ten dollar ride. Instead we agreed on 5 bucks and they'd buy me a beer. So I took them there, we chatted a bunch. James, the guy, told me they were celebrating him having a won a entreprenuership contest for his new company which sells bottled water with biodegradable bottles (made from corn, a very American idea in a way). They bought me a Montieth's Black (a boutique beer out here) and we shared a large antipasta platter. We had a blast as we hung out with each other and two girls they were meeting there. Eventually I left, though we may hang out in the future.
After that it was work, kinda. I loved it. In some ways it was one of the coolest nights of my life. Craziness packed into those next 6 hours. A fight practically broke out on my cab, I was kissed on the cheek by a transvestite passenger, I got a much more real kiss from a much more real woman, drove around promo girls from a strip club whilst they handed out flyers, and made countless new friends. People loved me, the idea is so new here that people are just curious and intrigued. I thought I might have issues with the local cab drivers or police but they were all great and I talked to a lot of them. When Thomas txted me and the other guy that was riding to bring the bike back I had made 150$, even after giving Thomas 30 for the bike. That makes me the current company record holder for one night, though to be fair the company hasn't exactly been going that long. Thomas really liked having me out there. As the company is young he is very image concious and feels like I am doing what he wants. I got home at 315 and got 3.5 hours off sleep before waking up for my day job with the ministy of justice (a post later this week about that).
So that is my new night job and I couldn't be happier about it. I quit the promo job. I hated it. Bad shifts and boring work. I am supposed to ride again tonight. The weather looks awful so it could be tough, we'll see. I am also set to work Wednesday and Thursday.
In other brief news:
-We moved into our flat today. I am so happy to finally be settled in somewhere. Details to come
-I am going to Taupo (a town 4.5 hours north of here known for its large lake) for a ultimate hat tournament next weekend. Details also probobly to come.
Joey
Monday, October 27, 2008
Bars, Bush, and Baxis
So Saturdy I was working my Bar-Promo Job, which has been alright. The shifts are short, and it is a lot of handing out stuff. Anyway when I finished up (Midnight), the manager of the bar I was working for that night asked if I wanted to work for a while longer, they were short handed. I said sure and worked as a bar back for 4 hours. It was pretty easy. Pick up glasses, clean glasses, put glasses away mostly.
Apparently though all the staff were pretty surprised at how well I did considering I started when it was already packed and supposedly did better then most of the people that had been around for a while. It was pretty fun actualy. Lots of music and free red bull. After working for about an hour or so the manager asked me if I wanted a job at one of their other bars doing this. I might take it, I enjoyed the work and it goes quick. He is supposed to call me today. We'll see. At 4am when we were done working all the staff just hung around and drank for free for a little while. It was pretty sweet. The staff were all really appreciative for my help and we got on great. I enjoyed myself. So we'll see.
On Sunday Pjay, Ben and myself went on a tramp (hike). It was a two day trip, and we stayed overnight in one of the many 'huts' that are set up on New Zealand trails that you can stay at overnight for pretty cheap. We got a much later start than we originally intended because Peej had to work in the morning so we had to alter our plans a little. Still the hike was great both days. The taxi driver had told us that it was some 'rough bush' (country) and it was a little, though we didn't get to the toughest parts. It was quite muddy though. The highlight though wasn't looking up as looking down. They ground was really neat. There were all these mossy, fearny, soft spots that made the ground feel like a trampoline or memory foam. It was really cool. There was also some great river crossings, some easier than others.
Staying in the hut was great. There was one other group there (this one slept up to 20). We talked a lot to them and shared some of our food. We had pasta, apple crisp and s'mores (though Kiwi Marshmellows are not quite the same). They have gas stoves in the huts which is nice. Combined with a roof, and fireplaces, and some camp mattresses it was pretty comfortable. The next morning we hiked out a different way which was also great, very steep in the beginning. A nice little trip. With work it will be a while before we are able to get out and do something like this again I think.
The other night while working promo stuff I started talking to a guy would was baxi (bike taxi) driver and started asking him about. He told me a bit and said he had only done it a few times but thought it was cool. I got the phone number for the guy that runs it and called him. He said they are always looking for new drivers. It is an independant contractorship so, basically, you rent the bike, and then whatever you make is yours. You just let him know when you would like to work and it works on a first come first serve basis. He said the first time out the bike is free to try it out no-risk (just like crack, right). I told him it sounded good and asked if I could give it a go on Thursday. He said I could and that I should just come by for a quit orientation on Wednesday that he gives to everyone. So I am going to do that tomorrow and ride Thursday. I don't know how much I will make but if it is anything at all I might do it just for the fun one or two nights a week. Updates to come.
Oh and I am cooking lamb salad, tonight, I'm pumped.
Joey
Apparently though all the staff were pretty surprised at how well I did considering I started when it was already packed and supposedly did better then most of the people that had been around for a while. It was pretty fun actualy. Lots of music and free red bull. After working for about an hour or so the manager asked me if I wanted a job at one of their other bars doing this. I might take it, I enjoyed the work and it goes quick. He is supposed to call me today. We'll see. At 4am when we were done working all the staff just hung around and drank for free for a little while. It was pretty sweet. The staff were all really appreciative for my help and we got on great. I enjoyed myself. So we'll see.
On Sunday Pjay, Ben and myself went on a tramp (hike). It was a two day trip, and we stayed overnight in one of the many 'huts' that are set up on New Zealand trails that you can stay at overnight for pretty cheap. We got a much later start than we originally intended because Peej had to work in the morning so we had to alter our plans a little. Still the hike was great both days. The taxi driver had told us that it was some 'rough bush' (country) and it was a little, though we didn't get to the toughest parts. It was quite muddy though. The highlight though wasn't looking up as looking down. They ground was really neat. There were all these mossy, fearny, soft spots that made the ground feel like a trampoline or memory foam. It was really cool. There was also some great river crossings, some easier than others.
Staying in the hut was great. There was one other group there (this one slept up to 20). We talked a lot to them and shared some of our food. We had pasta, apple crisp and s'mores (though Kiwi Marshmellows are not quite the same). They have gas stoves in the huts which is nice. Combined with a roof, and fireplaces, and some camp mattresses it was pretty comfortable. The next morning we hiked out a different way which was also great, very steep in the beginning. A nice little trip. With work it will be a while before we are able to get out and do something like this again I think.
The other night while working promo stuff I started talking to a guy would was baxi (bike taxi) driver and started asking him about. He told me a bit and said he had only done it a few times but thought it was cool. I got the phone number for the guy that runs it and called him. He said they are always looking for new drivers. It is an independant contractorship so, basically, you rent the bike, and then whatever you make is yours. You just let him know when you would like to work and it works on a first come first serve basis. He said the first time out the bike is free to try it out no-risk (just like crack, right). I told him it sounded good and asked if I could give it a go on Thursday. He said I could and that I should just come by for a quit orientation on Wednesday that he gives to everyone. So I am going to do that tomorrow and ride Thursday. I don't know how much I will make but if it is anything at all I might do it just for the fun one or two nights a week. Updates to come.
Oh and I am cooking lamb salad, tonight, I'm pumped.
Joey
Friday, October 24, 2008
The grind
So I am no longer working at Leuvan and start a different job on Friday. Basically I hated my boss, and the pay wasn't near good enough to make me put up with it. The guy was just a big jerk, it is no surprise they had employee retention issues. Pjay is still working there and doing alright, he works nights so doesn't really deal with the him that much. Apparently though, the guy has been out of character nice since I left. Maybe hearing that I was leaving purely because I though he was a jerk made some impression, I doubt it though.
So on friday I start a job for two months doing data entry for the Ministry of Justice- Office of Coronial Services. Yep, I work with coroners. Basically I will be entering in info about people that have just died under any type of suspicious circumstances. As data entry positions go it is pretty weird, but it pays okay, 17/hour and the hours are good.
I have been doing my bar promo job recently as well. It has been mostly just handing out cards for free drinks. It is pretty cool. I just hang out and see a very different side of the city. I meet all kinds of people. Last night I got a free hot chocolate from the salvation army and was talking to a bike taxi guy about his job. I'm actually going to look into doing it a couple nights maybe, we'll see. People's responses to getting the cards are interesting; everything from enourmous gratitude to anger. All and all it is a pretty chill job. I don't usually work for more than 2 hours at a time so it is a nice extra little bit.
So that is it for now. All of us have Sunday/Monday off work so we might go hiking, camping for the night. Ok Peace.
Joey
Just Finished: Entire Hitchkiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series
Currently Reading: Foundation- Asimov
Up Next: The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao- Diaz
So on friday I start a job for two months doing data entry for the Ministry of Justice- Office of Coronial Services. Yep, I work with coroners. Basically I will be entering in info about people that have just died under any type of suspicious circumstances. As data entry positions go it is pretty weird, but it pays okay, 17/hour and the hours are good.
I have been doing my bar promo job recently as well. It has been mostly just handing out cards for free drinks. It is pretty cool. I just hang out and see a very different side of the city. I meet all kinds of people. Last night I got a free hot chocolate from the salvation army and was talking to a bike taxi guy about his job. I'm actually going to look into doing it a couple nights maybe, we'll see. People's responses to getting the cards are interesting; everything from enourmous gratitude to anger. All and all it is a pretty chill job. I don't usually work for more than 2 hours at a time so it is a nice extra little bit.
So that is it for now. All of us have Sunday/Monday off work so we might go hiking, camping for the night. Ok Peace.
Joey
Just Finished: Entire Hitchkiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series
Currently Reading: Foundation- Asimov
Up Next: The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao- Diaz
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Absolutely Positively Wellington
... is the slogan from the Wellington city council for promoting Welly and things to do here. It is a nice evocative slogan and I like it, much like I like Wellington. I have actually been in the city for a week now and the more I get to know it the more I like it. Welly combines so many of the things I look for in a city. It is a cosmopolitan city with a great deal of art of culture, partially stemming from it's status as New Zealand's capital. Welly is also just in a beautiful setting, it's harbor is gourgeous no matter how many angles see it it from and it is sliced through and closed off with hills and small mountains. You are never more than a few kilometers from both no matter where you are. Wellington also has benefited from these two natural barriers in another way. Its forced the city to stay very compact. You can walk most places and bike anywhere it no time. Welly has suburbs, but they are true, well defined suburbs, not sprawl.
Wellington is also just small, there aren't that many people here. The city proper has about 170,000 and there are another 200,000 in the burbs. Many people talk about big cities that feel small, I think Wellington is a small city that feels big. With all the culture, large buildings, and restaurants and cafes (Wellington supposedly has some of the most such establishments per capita of any city) you feel as if you are at the center of some huge city. Instead it is all just right there.
For a city of its size there is so much to discover. I have been the national museum, Te Papa, 3 times now and haven't seen half of it. Today Ben and I went on a great hike that took us from one of the suburbs (we took a train) through mountains and parks back into the city. During this we saw the South Island for the first time. Yesterday Pjay and I went mountain biking and found ourselves in a Newtown, a working class neighborhood of Wellington that we immediately fell in love with. On Friday we went to the National Rugby League semi-final, which the local team, the Lions were playing in and won. I've been running a good deal (I'll get to that) and have been discovering some parts of the city that way as well; little enclaves of shops that the top of hills, stairwells that provide convenient short cuts, and new places to eat, though mostly we just cook. We eat well though, we have been having a lot of Lamb, I love reasonably priced Lamb.
I've been working at Leuvan, a Belgian Beer Cafe for a few days now. I think I am going to stick it out there. I am waiting tables, it was tough at first, the place is very busy and there was a lot of stuff to learn, but I am getting there. They like me, though the owner is a bit of jerk, one of the assistant managers is awesome. It is good experience. They have a real nice menu and a great beer selection. They needed more people so Pjay went in and applied and he is working there now too. The money isn't great, but it's money and the hours are steady. Plus I get off from 2pm-3pm each day so I have enough time to go to a museum or go mountain biking or just get a beer and relax each day. Though it is tough waking up at 545am, I just kinda do it.
Also I have become pretty committed to running a marathon. Actually I have found the one I want to do and it is ambitious. It is an off road marathon in the South Island in March. It looks hard, a lot of hills and you have to carry some of your own water plus some bad weather gear. Still it looks awesome and would be a great challenge. I think I am going to run a 1/2 marathon in town mid December. I'll let you know how it goes. Here is the Link to the marathon.
Other than that, life is good, I just can't wait to get out of the hostel and into our own flat in a couple weeks. Hope all is well with you all. Bye.
Joey
Wellington is also just small, there aren't that many people here. The city proper has about 170,000 and there are another 200,000 in the burbs. Many people talk about big cities that feel small, I think Wellington is a small city that feels big. With all the culture, large buildings, and restaurants and cafes (Wellington supposedly has some of the most such establishments per capita of any city) you feel as if you are at the center of some huge city. Instead it is all just right there.
For a city of its size there is so much to discover. I have been the national museum, Te Papa, 3 times now and haven't seen half of it. Today Ben and I went on a great hike that took us from one of the suburbs (we took a train) through mountains and parks back into the city. During this we saw the South Island for the first time. Yesterday Pjay and I went mountain biking and found ourselves in a Newtown, a working class neighborhood of Wellington that we immediately fell in love with. On Friday we went to the National Rugby League semi-final, which the local team, the Lions were playing in and won. I've been running a good deal (I'll get to that) and have been discovering some parts of the city that way as well; little enclaves of shops that the top of hills, stairwells that provide convenient short cuts, and new places to eat, though mostly we just cook. We eat well though, we have been having a lot of Lamb, I love reasonably priced Lamb.
I've been working at Leuvan, a Belgian Beer Cafe for a few days now. I think I am going to stick it out there. I am waiting tables, it was tough at first, the place is very busy and there was a lot of stuff to learn, but I am getting there. They like me, though the owner is a bit of jerk, one of the assistant managers is awesome. It is good experience. They have a real nice menu and a great beer selection. They needed more people so Pjay went in and applied and he is working there now too. The money isn't great, but it's money and the hours are steady. Plus I get off from 2pm-3pm each day so I have enough time to go to a museum or go mountain biking or just get a beer and relax each day. Though it is tough waking up at 545am, I just kinda do it.
Also I have become pretty committed to running a marathon. Actually I have found the one I want to do and it is ambitious. It is an off road marathon in the South Island in March. It looks hard, a lot of hills and you have to carry some of your own water plus some bad weather gear. Still it looks awesome and would be a great challenge. I think I am going to run a 1/2 marathon in town mid December. I'll let you know how it goes. Here is the Link to the marathon.
Other than that, life is good, I just can't wait to get out of the hostel and into our own flat in a couple weeks. Hope all is well with you all. Bye.
Joey
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