Friday Fun

After about a month of mostly partying at the Arts Factory, I finally got all dressed up and went out with my friend Lois. I put on a dress, put on make-up, and even curled my hair.  A couple of friends didn't recognise me. 

We had a few drinks at the AFL and eventually headed into town.  We had heard that there was a band at The Northern, so we figured we would head there first.

Originally, we were planning on going out with the boys, Douglas and David, but we ended up splitting up early in the night.  We all went to The Northern right away and got a beer.  Everyone else seemed to be in a dancing mood, though, so we finished our beers and headed out to a different bar.  

This is where we split up.  The guys wanted to go to Cocomangas, but Lois wasn't so enthused.  I had never been there so I didn't really have an opinion, but Lois thought that it was a really tacky club.  The guys were intent on going and didn't want to go anywhere else so we let them go and headed to a club called Woody's.

I had never been to Woody's either, but I knew that they gave away surfboards and skateboards weekly and that it was also a big dance spot.  They had 2 big bouncers at the door before you stepped into the building, which was crowded with people.

You immediately encounter the bar, occupied by 4 or 5 bartenders, and then to your right is the elevated dance floor.  If you continue walking, you'll eventually get to the outdoor patio which is filled with loads of smokers.

We got a drink and started dancing in the beginning, but when I wanted cigarette, we headed outside.  I got into a conversation with an Australian guy and never really left.  I honestly couldn't even tell you what we talked about, but at the time it was a good conversation. 

Lois went back inside but I just wasn't really in the dancing mood.  Even in Australia, I prefer a more laid back bar setting.  I think that's a bit of a hint that I miss Kelly's back home.  I always used to just sit around, talk with friends, and play pool.  It was nothing extravagant, but I always liked meeting people more than I liked dancing.  I would have to be in the mood to go to a club.  It must be the Wisconsin girl in me.

Tomorrow is a Mystery

Bartending during Pub Crawl

A year ago, I would've been excited for the week because it would mean the school week would have been over.  I always bartended on Friday nights, but work was more like a party anyways.

Now all I can think about is where I am going to be in a year from now.  I'm unable to get a second year working visa, because Americans are unable to get them, but I think I do want to live in Australia.  It's just a matter of how.

Attempting to surf this past spring

It's interesting because my boyfriend and I have been talking about marriage in the future a lot lately, however, that is something that would happen down the road from now.  It's truly exciting, though, to think about the future, especially since I'm done with school and can begin life as an adult.

I already started that life, but it's going to be different when I have a salary and probably work during the week, having weekends off. I want to keep surfing, and hopefully can on the weekends or even in the mornings.

When I was younger, I always wondered what I was going to be like when i grew up.  To be honest, I still wonder the same thing.

Trivia Tantrom

I wrote earlier that Wednesday is trivia night at the AFL.  Most weeks I just watch everyone compete against one another.  It's worth putting in effort because not only can you win all of the money if you have the high score, but 5 other prizes are given out randomly.

Everyone puts their first name, last name and favorite sexual position on a piece of paper and the names get thrown in a pot.  As the game progresses, Paul picks names for the different giveaways:

• Snorkeling
• Mojosurf surf lesson
• A trip to Nimbin
• Sea kayaking
• Skydiving

I swear some people only play to have a chance at winning the Skydiving voucher.  Some people have even won it twice.  I can be real competitive so I just want to actually get all of the questions right, and winning the money wouldn't hurt either.

The only problem with trivia is that the answers to some questions are certainly debatable.  For example, last night, our first question was, "Which sport uses Eskimo rolls?"  I looked at Lois, who was on my team and also works for Mojosurf, and we both mouthed the word surfing and felt confident about our answer.

After all of the questions were asked, we went back through and corrected the answers.  We weren't even worried about the answer to the first question, until Paul yelled out, "Kayaking!"  Lois and I looked at each other, completely clueless.

You are able to debate answers if you find them to be incorrect, but it's truly up to your peers.  Paul will hold a vote to determine whether or not your team gets the point that they ask for. The problem with this system is that everyone is so blood thirsty for the win that they will sabotage anyone if given a single opportunity.

Needless to say, our team didn't get the point.  And I was furious.  I was specifically taught about Eskimo rolls when i was at surf camp.  I don't doubt that they are named from kayaking, but you can still execute Eskimo rolls in surfing.  

Our team didn't end up winning and I'm definitely still a bit salty about last night.  I plan on doing trivia next week and I just know one of the days my team is actually going to win.

Too Much Beer

I honestly rarely go out to party anymore.  Occasionally, I will drink a bottle of wine with some friends back at the AFL, but that's about it.  It gets really expensive to go out and party, plus my friends are always on different schedules, so trying to figure out a time when we can all go out together is tough.

Last night was a blast though.  I actually got to party with Lois and one of my Mojo bosses.  Lois and I went to the brewery just for a beer, and my boss was there.  He was with a group of people, who invited us into their private party.

Everyone was dressed up in fancy clothes from the 80s and 90s.  They all worked for a travel company called G Adventures, and they were having a company party.  The people were so welcoming and genuine.  We even got denied drinks because the bartender didn't think we were a part of the party, and the company boss came out and told us she sorted it out, and that we should come back in and have a drink.

So we hung out and partied with G Adventures employees until midnight, which was when the Brewery closed, and then we got into a bus to town to go to Cheeky Monkeys.  We came with a massive group of people and just swarmed the bar.

People were already dancing on tables and making fools of themselves, so we had to add to the chaos.  We danced for what seemed like forever.

Eventually the MC announced last call for alcohol, turned the lights on, and started kicking everyone out.  We were meant to wait for Morgan, but he wanted to go to the beach party that everyone was continuing after Cheeky Monkeys.  And we needed to go to bed.

I'm still tired today, but last night was worth the fatigue.  It wasn't anything crazy, just one of those nights that makes you feel less like a grown up.

Sulking: No Surf

Because of the long weekend (Labour Day weekend), I got another chance to surf yesterday.  Lois had to work, and she was my board hire connection, so I just assumed I was going to have a lazy day at the beach.  However, two of my friends (Douglas and Tice) were already surfing when we got to the beach.  

Within 5 minutes of us getting to the beach, Douglas was ready to retire his board so he asked me if I wanted to try.  I don't think he expected me to want to surf as badly as I did, but he didn't end up getting his board back the rest of the day.  

I spent the next 3 hours surfing.  It took me a bit to get back into the hang of things, but eventually I was standing up and riding waves in.  I even had some private lessons from one of the men out in the water.  He must have been able to tell I was quite the beginner.

With a scratched stomach (because I didn't wear a rashie) and a sun-kissed face, I finally went in for the day.  It was lucky anyways because about 5 minutes later, a lifeguard called everyone out of the water because a shark was spotted.

Our view of the beach this morning

I decided that I really wanted to surf in the morning before work, so I made a point of going to bed early and setting two alarms for the morning.  I actually got up this morning, got dressed and ready to go, and headed into town with Lois and my board. 

When we got to the beach, however, we were wildly disappointed. The waves were small and extremely choppy.  We walked up the beach trying to figure out how we could possibly ride some of the waves. In the end, we just decided to walk back to the Arts Factory.

I was quite angry just because we got up early, got ready, and walked to the beach with our heavy surfboards, only to find that we couldn't surf.  At the same time, I think this morning taught us a few things as novice surfers:

• Surfing isn't always better in the morning
• Walking to the beach with a board sucks, so make it count
• ALWAYS check the conditions
• Always give yourself enough time

We have yet to successfully surf in the morning, but one day we will.  Hopefully even this week.  I know for sure though that I will ensure that the conditions are worth waking up and trekking down to the beach for.

Thursday Movie Night

If you want to party in Byron Bay, there is something for you every day of the week.  If you stay at the Arts Factory, most of the time you don't even need to leave to find a party.

Otherwise, bars are open 7 days a week, many of which host themed party nights and bands.  There is no shortage o party opportunities.

Sometimes, however, you just want to avoid alcohol and the party scenes, and just relax.  That was how David, Lois and I felt last night.  Quite a few of the backpackers from the AFL headed out of town for a Wolfmother concert--I was told it was a really good show--but the three of us just wanted to relax and go to bed early.  We came up with the perfect solution.

About two weeks ago, when our friend Louise was still here, David downloaded Crazy, Stupid Love so we could all watch it on his iPad.  Partying got in the way, and we never seemed to have an open opportunity to watch the movie, until last night.

I grabbed one of my big, blue, fuzzy blankets from my tent and a bar of chocolate from the vending machine.  David grabbed his iPad, and Lois just grabbed a seat.  We all squeezed onto one of the couches right outside of the rec area, propped the iPad up, and chilled out.  It was a really great, simple night, and I woke up feeling fresh and ready for the weekend.  Happy Friday!

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

When I first got to Australia, I had a nasty cough.  I would imagine it was from my poor diet and drinking habits from before I left the States.  I celebrated a bit too hard during my going away party, which seemed to last for about two weeks straight.  And I wasn't eating very much.  When I was eating, it was terrible food.

So I got sick.  Luckily, I got over my sickness relatively quickly.  I was able to run, go hiking, swim, surf, whatever.  I woke up every morning quite early and went for a walk into town.  

Then everyone at work and the hostel seemed to be getting sick.  I figured that I would be fine since I had just gotten over being sick.  I wasn't that lucky.

I started getting the sniffles and was sneezing all the time.  Then the cough came.  It kept me up at night so then of course I was tired all the time.  One morning I even woke up with an irritated eye.  I was just useless all around.

I haven't stopped smoking yet either, which is something I desperately need to do, both for my health and my wallet.  Combine my smoking with staying up late and occasionally partying, and you have the recipe for a poor immune system.

I'm getting so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want to just be healthy, ready to wake up early each morning and attack the day, as cheesy as that sounds.  What I really need to do is stop complaining and talking about what I am going to do, and just do it.