New Orleans

Winding up my 12 day Contiki tour in New Orleans..
Travelling through the countries heartland has definetaly been a highlight, seeing city's that probably most tourists don't get to... Chicago, St Lous, Loisville, Nashville, Memphis etc... I chose this tour as a fan of music, and i haven't been dissapointed in the least. The quality of live music in the bars is amazing. Blues, Country, Jazz.. There's a true heart and soul within the people of this part of the world and music is their voice. A voice that is spoken so well.

Diving into American culture has really been better than i thought. I think the US has always had a slightly negative attitiude as a place to travel but I could not recomment it more.
A Ball game in Chicago, An insight into the last moments of Martin Luther King, The home of the King, Bad Coffee, Budweiser Beer, the land of excessively large servings of junkfood, the joys of deep south cooking, music that draws you in and takes you to a better place.

I believe in the promised land......

As with most travel groups there is always a contrast in dynamic and personality and this is what also makes these tours so good I think. The people you meet on the journey... Some you get along with better than others... 26 or so people on our bus.. Overall i've had a fantastic time. Perhaps I've struggled with the late night a little more so this time around, but thats getting old!

Tonight we hit some jazz bars on Frenchman Street then tommorrow it's time for New York!

Finding time

I really thought I'd manage to find the time to write mire often but that's proving tough.

With a holiday like this comes the fact one must cram in as much ad possible as soon as possible.

I did the Hollywood LA thing then ventured on an intrepid tour up through California arizona and Nevada. It was great but felt a bit rushed. Vegas was awesome
But wasn't what the hype suggests because of a group that really dud their own thing and I felt I was left to wonder the strip at night on my own... Still I saw some amazing things.,


Now my heart is in San Francisco and the last two days have been spent without a breath of relaxation trying to see as much as possible. Truly an amazing town!

Tomorrow Alcatraz and clam chowder.



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Location:Post St,San Francisco,United States

Packed up my bags and moved to be error

After delaying my flight for 24 hours I am now here!! Hollywood is like surfers but magnified by ten with it's cheesy moviestar hype.. I love it!!!

Bus tour Today that highlighted lots of useless facts.. The bar river Phoenix owned, the hotel john belushi died in, where axl foley visited the be error hills police department...

I walked Hollywood boulevard and then went down rodeo drive!! Little sleep but feeling great...


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Location:N Hudson Ave,Los Angeles,United States

Countdown USA

One more sleep then I'm leaving on a big jet plane!





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Location:Templestowe

Trying to write again isn't easy when lately my creative juices have been blocked. I finished my course ( Cet IV in graphic design) just before Christmads and it went well. Having goals and direction again was reassuring and I think I applied myself to the best of my ability. But since then I'd hoped my motivation would would stay up. Instead it's been a somewhat weird comedown, going from every day filled up with things to do to now over summer awaking with no set routine or task. Pondering around the house with what to do next. Still a few nights at the Termi but it's not enough. Looking for more work again in either graphic design or just another hospo job to pay the bills has not been easy. Financially times are tough and i crave so much more out of my life. I do need change as I've been saying for a long time now. Im 30 and I've rarely in my life had to put myself out there, sell myself to the world to find my direction. And yes I find that hard. So we'll see. Something WILL come soon.

Despite monets of boredom I have been doing lots lately to. Having a couple of German backpackers stay with us last week enabled me to play host and see Melbourne in a different light. Going to Museums, parks wherever. Days down the beach swimming. Taking photographs with my SLR. I know that im my happiness when things seem the simpliest. No excess baggage, pressure or restrictions..

Recently I found out one of my oldest and dearest mates is very sick. I found this out one afternoon via facebook. Reading messages and hearng the news via this meduim was very surreal and strange. Not that I'm complaining about it, I guess thats the way the world is these days. I havent talked to Hamo since but rather opted speaking to his mates and sending him a text message. All my issues really are petty and insignificant and I wish I could do more to help but my thoughts are always there. Get welll soon mate!

Ah another weekend over..For me though every day seems to just gel into one, the side effect of hospitality.....
I drunk to much friday night and really the whole night seems like a blur. Like a dream in which i wasn’t in control.. I just went with the flow…I hate those night, well ok i love to go out and have fun like most people, but when it gets to a point where my world spins and the next day im left with nothing but a headache and a blurred picture of a scotch induced reality.. It makes me question why i do shit sometimes.. Still it was fun…
I slept all day Saturday only to get up for work ... Finished at 4.45 am totally mentally and phyisically fucked so of course i slept most of today before working again.. Oh went to JB with sticks and cully for a while…
Sundays are a strange day.... The clientel at work even stranger. Fucked up describes some of.... Crazy girl who wouldnt shut up, had bad breath and rambled about past relationships.. Then there was happy/angry man who just wanted to talk everyones ear off about useless BS.. A few girls at the bar seemed more than happy to give him the time of day.. Only after others simply walked away. An actor type guy got involved in the conversation ... Come closing time the air was getting tense and i was glad to get rid of this guy… Would have kicked him out sooner but the other customers at the bar didnt seemed to stressed about having him there, rather getting off on his antics…Closed up on my own and went to the GB for a few well needed wind down ales…Jimmy was there and we spent our time doing puzzles and problem solving things… That place is my sanity some times.....
Oh and people need to get more spacial awareness. Last night trying to get around people with a bazillion glasses stacked up in my hands or whatever was a challenge.. Its funny how people just wont/dont respnd to excuse me several times when your obviously needing to get through.... Sorry… im whining!
I bought this cd on friday after a random trip to chadstone shopping centre. Haven’t been that way in years. “Make some noise: Save Dufor” is a 2 cd collection of different artists all covering John Lennon songs in aid of Amnesty International and the inhumane treatment of those in Dufor. Anyway, although all cover versions, I love hearing fresh music and in this case others perceptions of songs i already love. This album has been a wonderful thing over the past few days. Definately recommend it…
Im wide awake and in the mood for some braindead comedy.. The Threeeee Amigos!!!

4am!!!!

I worked tonight. Bingo hasn't been as busy lately and now we have to stay open to till at least 1am, preferably 2. Depending on the people there... Closed at 1.30, all staff thre at this stage anyway. Tobes and Jason cleaned the beerlines tonight so it was an excuse for em all to pour through the wastage and get on it. I stayed for about 10 minutes afterwards and came home....

I just read through an old diary of mine, from late 2001. When i was in London town. Things were recalled i hadn't thought about and or forgotton. Was that possibly the best time of my life? The people, the places. The Beauty. Yet as i read through it all the good times, there were still elements of uncertaintity that is evident in the writing. I guess that comes with any big journey.

The new Crowded House single 'Don't Stop Now' has just made it's subtle way into the world. I've been anticipating this. In true Crowded house style, it grabs you in an optimistic and content way. It's an easy listen. I've listened to it a few times for it to sink in. Late at night when the silence ensures the music gets into your head...

Tonight i decide to write. I'll just start typing and see whatever comes out...
Maybe it's cause i'm coming down with a cold and have needed a few nights in to relax. I find time to write....

So today... Today was i guess a day like any other.
I awoke around 10am after a fairly early night, early being around midnight for me...
After fucking around on my computer with emails, news etc (todays top story was 30 or so people shot in an American college). I don't know these people, ive never even been to the university yet still i felt ill from the news. I dunno.....

So anyway yeah went a did an afternoons work for the folks today. A break from the nights of the pub. Home around 6ish, went to the supermarket and stocked up with things for dinner, my original idea was just the basics for some pasta but i find the supermarket somewhat theraputic and i get carried away so naturally i ended up buying other stuff as well...

Cooked dinner, ate dinner, which was pretty darn good.
... then watched the film Únited 93.
I still remember that day so clearly, as im sure does everyone.....

Now....Now i write, i comtemplate and i guess i'll sleep for tomorrow....
Tobes just called. I did have an option of going out earlier and can still go out now if i so desire. But seriously... Fuck that.. I need to be normal for a while....

Oh, i came across some old cd's containing old music, computer files etc...
Made me realise.. I need to reclaim my direction in life again.. What makes me passionate?
What do i do to drive me fwd...
Serving beer sure isn't it!!!

Friday Afternoon,

As I prepare for the shift ahead I think I'll just get a few things down....
It has been quiet at work of late, people away on Holidays or elsewhere in the outdoors. I ran the bar on my own last night, sending Colin home. No point. Dinner service was steady so the nightly take was still up there but was easily managable with one. Oh Mum, Dad and Damian came in for dinner as well so i took 45 minutes to have a meal with them whilst Ruth covered the bar...... It's good to know I have family that take an interest in what Ido and come and see me at work.....

Clósed the bar at around 11:30pm but it took me almost an hour and a half to finish cleaning up and do the tills. Normally i have someone else to clean up so I was doing the work of two people at close. All good though. After knocking off i sat back alone, with a beer and my thoughts. Listened to some music and relaxed. Played Kite from the Telstra Dome concert, the closing song from the recent Vertigo tour . At Peace...

Got home and couldn't sleep, instead opting to watch 'Rain Man

almost 4pm. Hi Ho Hi Ho off to work I go......

2007

I never thought anyone ever read this thing, i only post on the odd occasion these days. Life always gets in the way..... And then someone i know comes up to me and mentions this blog of mine. Someone whom i had no idea would ever read this. Guess that's the beauty of having an online blog. Private thoughts on a public address system....

Here i am, diving into another year.... Where do i begin??

Christmas this year was rather nice, spending it with family and freinds. Always appreciate them more this time of year. Not that i don't otherwise but...you know??

Christmas eve mass with the family at my old school/church. Been a long time since i've ventured there and memories came flooding back.. All good ones. The to the Pavillion with all the old crew, few drinks and good times.... Stayed at mum and dads chrissy eve. Damian was there to. With the whole family waking up together in the morning, exchanging presents and all that sort of stuff. Lunch at Johns in Toorak was relaxing, mind you the overload of food made the stomach sore. Bloody great food though.... Chrissy night at Don and Glens (mums side of the family) more to eat and a few Corona's....

With this time of year comes an extreme excess of not caring, letting loose and drinking, drinkign and drinking. From nights out at the GB, The Belguim Beer Garden, The Terminus or ending up at stupid places such as Revolver or Room at stupid hours of the morning.

Worked New Years Eve, with a full doorlist and a big function upstairs was always bound to be a busy one. Had alot fo mates come down, making the night that extra bit special, despite not being able to spend all that much time with. We shut the bar just before midnight for about 20 minutes. Gave the staff a chance to take a breather and have a beer. Myself and Nat dressed up in Sumo suits and danced behind the bar looking like complete idiots. Was fun and moreso the crowd seemed to like it.....

Today i've been doing bits and pieces around home. Writing on here, burning cd's, designing cd covers, organising photos..... Work soon......