I know that accidents happen but when it's your fault it's hard to let it go. Last week I was walking the laptop from one room to another and sure enough, it crashed to the floor. The screen was gone instantly and looks so sad I hate to even look at it. The good news is that the computer part of it works just fine so I had to go buy a TV. to hook it up to as a monitor and waste more money. The one good thing that I had on my side is a patient wife that isn't attached to "things" and just said "don't worry about it tonight and just go get a screen tomorrow" . Such patients! I also had a gift from Bob, A BOOK!!!! I know that sounds crazy for anyone that knows me really well, I read a lot I just hate books. I want news, weather, sports and any weird stuff and move on. The book is about self deception and thinking about other people and not just yourself....... Hmmmmm so not just how I'm frustrated with the computer maybe how my wife is feeling? It was a literary punch in the face to read a book that is about life and real things that happen to you and that has been my whole problem with reading books in the past. I don't want nor care to read fiction but if it's a biography or a history book I'm in.
This whole trip and experience has brought out the best in us so far and it continues to every day. We are trying new things (swing class, painting, BOOKS!) and so far loving the fact that we are the type of people that are willing to try anything once and put our old perceptions of things aside and get outside of the box. We are growing together and as individuals and that is going to keep us strong and happy for a long time to come and is just one more reason this is such a great time in our lives.

One little wonder that we never knew we couldn't live without is a authentic Kiwi Spoon. We have been eating more Kiwi, makes sense right?, and it's really cheap. On one special day at the super market we found a tub 'o' kiwi and for a limited time only KIWI SPOON included! We saw it and both without speaking a word grabbed a case each but did put one back, which was a mistake since we are going back for another one right now. This thing is great knife on one side and spoon on the other and since getting it has made our kiwi eating much more efficient and safer now that we have the proper equipment. Maybe a kiwi spoon could be in your future......?

p.s. picture of the spoon is on its way, something that cool takes a while to upload ;)

mk

This one is a little later than I had hoped but better late than never I always say, and Bob keep quiet I can hear you now ;) Since we are on this little (biggish) island we just had to see the cool little surf towns that are spread throughout the country and we had just found a place so we took a great drive as a treat for working so hard to get settled. Even on the van ride from the airport people had been raving about a little ocean town called Raglan, even one offer to couch surf there from a lady..... with no house!!!! This was also the 3rd or maybe the 4th time drive a great distance and it was like I just got my license at 16 again, butterflies, anticipation, freedom, and pure FEAR. It is tough to get used to the other side of the road and the car so I always just say "stay on the left" to help remind myself and with my great co-pilot with me we got it under control......somewhat. Ok enough about the driving but seriously the drive so fast and fly around the round abouts and sharp curvy roads and the posted speed limits are 100KPH or 60MPH, they are both some of the best and craziest drivers.
Alright back to the point here, we start out on the drive and the landscape here is just stunning. The views are amazing and the amount of open unused country is just incredible. You drive and drive and all you see is farm land with cows and sheep then out of nowhere boom you hit the town with no warning. The greatest way to see the people and culture is to hit the farmers markets, so we went straight there and grabbed a little lunch and bought some pictures from a guy that he took of places here all over the country and he went on and on about what we should see and do and he kept saying the south is even more stunning and if his pictures are an indication then he is so right. A good trip already and we hadn't even gone to the beach or the town yet so off we went and were greeted by helicopters and cars flying through town for the World Rally Championships. Not that we are car people but it's just one more thing that makes a day great.
We hit a few surf shops and got a couple lessons set up for a few months down the road and to the beach we went. It was a black sand beach too, which I had never seen and is really soft much softer than white or our gravel sand back home. First thing Laura does is rip her shoes off and go running towards the water, I must say she does keep it fresh and fun so I had to follow suit. After playing in the water for a bit we started our walk down the beach and couldn't help but see these beautiful shells everywhere and started picking them up and well since Laura was carrying her shoes they became buckets for the shells. Most people wouldn't even think about filling their shoes with sand and water but not LB and we found out just how much a chuck taylor aka "The Travel Shoes" can hold and now thanks to her we have a huge vase full of shells for decoration :) I know I rambled a bit on this one but it's all the little things that don't cost money that you don't plan and let yourself do that make each day great and exciting. Next time you're at the beach don't hesitate to fill your shoes with shells and walk barefoot the rest of the day cause you'll have a great time and we are all better off when we let go a little bit. Love ya'll and missing you guys.

mk

I think I read somewhere that all travel journeys should include the following elements... "Eat, Pray, Love." I am pretty sure I have managed to accomplish the Pray and Love part, but the "Eat" part has proved to be much more difficult in NZ. I have never considered myself a "foodie" or anything close to it, but I have been blessed with a husband who loves to cook. Michael, is the king of spices and for the last few years I have been able to rest assured that every meal will be packed with flavor. Michael can be seen on most occasions tasting a bite of dinner and then adding heaping piles of crushed red pepper to his plate. I hate to admit it, as lovely as NZ is thus far, it truly is lacking in the culinary arts. So far, apart from our family and friends, we are most home sick for FOOD with any sort of flavor. On multiple occasions, we have ordered meals that taste a lot like paper. This is the first experience I have ever had where a meal can actually taste like nothing. Since we have been without a kitchen for our entire traveling experience thus far we have reverted to eating Bananas for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Well... Bananas and Tam Tams the most delicious cookie ever created). This is all OK, because here in NZ calories are refereed to as "Energy" and you can never feel badly about consuming too much Energy. So, as Michael and I try to survive the foods of NZ we pray you will have pity on us and ship us some items on the craving list: Me: spray butter (Michael says he will destroy any spray butter that arrives, as he is detoxing me for the benefit of our future offspring), ketchup (real ketchup not the sweetened stuff), STEAK, and sugar free red bull. Michael: Hot Sauce, Crushed Red Pepper, COSTCO size version of Chicken Breast and basically anything at all from Costco (including any samples one is able to aquire.). We love you all and felt it was necessary to warn you of the food "situation" before you arrive to visit. With much love and a little bit of hunger... LBTK

Its a good thing we bought a car we can sleep in..... We decided that the 3 days we have until we get our keys to our new place that we would just drive to a couple of spots on the Bay of Plenty and just see what all the fuss is about. We got into Tauranga at 830pm or so and got denied at every backpackers and since we are bringing back the cheap knapps, and don't want to pay for a hotel we just crashed in the back of the Vectra. We went to a grocery store and bought a single sheet set and a fleece blanket and made quite the palace in the back. Though not a move everyone may choose to take, we did pick a great spot, right on the water and next to a TRAIN TRACK!!!!! After the first train went by at 11:00pm, while we were sipping wine from the bottle and just enjoying our time together, Laura looks at me and says "will that happen all night?" I said "I hope not..." Boy was I wrong, 6 trains later and one at 630 am for a perfect wake up call, we had a good nights rest and went about our day of hiking Mount Maunganui and sitting in the salt water hot pools at the base of the mount. Another beautiful setting to spend a few days in, even if we continue to sleep in the car.
See above picture for the view from HOSTEL DE KNAPP.

Oh I know bathroom talk is not appropriate but what about bathroom fixture talk. ....? I know what everyone back home is dying to know, "which direction do the toilets swirl?" THEY DON'T! The water comes flying out of two spouts front and back at break neck speed and never swirls just straight out to sea. I was perplexed and tried a few experiments, try the half flush , the hold the button the whole time flush, added clean paper and flushed, no change just scary amounts of water. So, and this hurts me to say it, the water doesn't swirl the other way, it doesn't swirl at all!

So we bought a car.... A Holden 1997 Vectra Wagon. What is that you ask? Well, We don't really know. It is made only in New Zealand and has been quite popular among Kiwi natives. Perhaps, the car will gain us a little street credibility here. We purchased this beauty at an auction. Auctions are quite popular in New Zealand and you can acquire anything from a house to a large freight of doll pieces or even ten tons of shampoo at this event. People come by the masses to bid on cars and as the only Americans in the room this was quite intimidating. WE made two attempts to purchase a car before we were successful, but got so scared when it came time to raise our bid card that we ended up with a car not exactly on our top ten list. Nonetheless, we have acquired a car that has plenty of room in the back for visitors and for us to spend the night in. We are truly homeless for at least three more days.. so as you can see, this will come in handy. I would like to note that this vehicle is a 1997... so clearly, an upgrade from the 1996 Camry we were previously driving. Also important to note.. We could have bought the 1996 Camry at the auction except this version was in purple (Classic)!