All Blacks @ MindSay 
The Longest Day
I rubbed my eyes wearily and glanced at my watch. Wha…? Three in the morning? Why was everyone yelling? Wait a second…where was I?
I pulled myself into a sitting position, the airport chairs utterly unforgiving. Ah, yes. Auckland. Awaiting my flight to Dunedin in the morning. With just my backpack, because my luggage had once again been lost, this time simply left in Sydney for no discernable reason. Oh well, it was just all of my clothes and most of what I owned. Just everything I need.
I shook my head to clear it of the crankiness. Now wasn’t the time. People yelling in an airport at three in the morning does not often bode well for anyone. I adjusted my glasses and looked around. Everyone was staring, transfixed, at the television screen. Was everyone waiting for a flight or something…?
Then it clicked. The All Blacks were playing Ireland. The time delay. Ohhhhh.
It was going to be a very long day. Literally. With time changes, and heading back to Houston, one day was going to be stretched across forty-one hours and still retain the same date. But the day got better as it progressed, though it was still frenzied. I flew from Auckland to Dunedin later that day, took a shuttle back to 10c Moat, stuffed my few remaining belongings in a bag, ordered another shuttle, and sat down to breathe while the flat descended into full chaos. Marco, Dan, and Christa were also leaving the same day along with a couple of friends and a neighbour, headed for the north part of the South Island for weeks of tramping through forest, mountain, beach, and everything in between. Some of us would not return to 10c, and so the frantic packing was tempered with a few moments of sitting around and talking as though we’d see each other the next day and the day after that, and the one after that, though this was really goodbye.
I’ve never been good at goodbyes. Period. There simply haven’t been many times when I had to look someone in the eyes, and know that I probably will never see him or her again. So rather than tears being shed, jokes were exchanged, and 10c was as vibrant as ever in its final moments.
I was the last to leave, the flat strangely quiet while Hayley and I stood by the door waiting for my shuttle. This really was it. She and I joked a bit, avoiding acknowledgment of the end. 10b and 10a Moat were similarly quiet, as the occupants had also mostly emptied out.
And then it was time. There was a honk, and a driver strode to the door briskly, calling loudly. I picked up my bags, gave Hayley a tight hug and a few hurried words of goodbye, and walked away from Moat Street. I glanced back once, but Hayley had already disappeared from sight.
The day passed in moments that lingered, hours that flew. I claimed my luggage (though I can’t say “without incident”…grumble) upon my return to Auckland, and met up with only two other Arcadia kids, a trio of three from the original thirteen. Others had gone home early or delayed their trip, so we stuck together throughout our wait and flight, and toasted our time in New Zealand with one final glass of chardonnay, as two of us would soon relinquish our freedom and be underage once more. I chuckled quietly to myself as I glanced at the nighttime sky. I arrived in New Zealand in the early morning, and was leaving late at night. How appropriate.
In the hustle and bustle of clearing customs in LA, I lost sight of the other two Arcadians as I was accosted by a solicitor who told me that he used to go to Rice University, and played football for “Coach Ken” and he even designed and did the tattoo on his arm himself, in just under three hours, and…the tales grew taller. I rolled my eyes and walked away, knowing that I had just bungled yet another farewell.
As I waited for my flight, I wondered at the knot of anxiety growing in my stomach. What was wrong? My luggage was fine, I had all of my documents, customs had found no flaw in my belongings, yet…I looked around at the drawn faces around me in the airport terminal. Every face was a reflection of my own brooding, and I realized that this tenseness, this anxiety, this worry that I felt was just how it was to be in this place. The politeness and smiles I had received from the New Zealand staff were replaced with harassed-looking faces, half-snapped commands. I supposed then that this was my critique on American society after being away from it for so long. Many people comment on the rampant materialism and like things, but Australia and New Zealand are cut from similar molds, and so to me, there was not a major difference in that realm. The difference was in the attitudes. Even in bustling Sydney, the mood was relaxed, a sort of “Eh…whenever” feel about the place that told all who entered to just chill, everything would work out in the end. In LA, I could feel the stress, desperate to consume my newfound calm. On that final flight to Houston, I thought wearily, How can people live like this? How can people exist in such a worked-up state?
Suddenly, it was all over, and I was greeting my beautiful girlfriend and brother at the baggage claim. After all that time, some things hadn’t changed, and for a moment, for one single moment, it felt like I hadn’t left at all, like my entire experience was already a fading dream.
I walked out into the night with my companions and luggage. Back in Houston…what would it be like?
I pulled myself into a sitting position, the airport chairs utterly unforgiving. Ah, yes. Auckland. Awaiting my flight to Dunedin in the morning. With just my backpack, because my luggage had once again been lost, this time simply left in Sydney for no discernable reason. Oh well, it was just all of my clothes and most of what I owned. Just everything I need.
I shook my head to clear it of the crankiness. Now wasn’t the time. People yelling in an airport at three in the morning does not often bode well for anyone. I adjusted my glasses and looked around. Everyone was staring, transfixed, at the television screen. Was everyone waiting for a flight or something…?
Then it clicked. The All Blacks were playing Ireland. The time delay. Ohhhhh.
It was going to be a very long day. Literally. With time changes, and heading back to Houston, one day was going to be stretched across forty-one hours and still retain the same date. But the day got better as it progressed, though it was still frenzied. I flew from Auckland to Dunedin later that day, took a shuttle back to 10c Moat, stuffed my few remaining belongings in a bag, ordered another shuttle, and sat down to breathe while the flat descended into full chaos. Marco, Dan, and Christa were also leaving the same day along with a couple of friends and a neighbour, headed for the north part of the South Island for weeks of tramping through forest, mountain, beach, and everything in between. Some of us would not return to 10c, and so the frantic packing was tempered with a few moments of sitting around and talking as though we’d see each other the next day and the day after that, and the one after that, though this was really goodbye.
I’ve never been good at goodbyes. Period. There simply haven’t been many times when I had to look someone in the eyes, and know that I probably will never see him or her again. So rather than tears being shed, jokes were exchanged, and 10c was as vibrant as ever in its final moments.
I was the last to leave, the flat strangely quiet while Hayley and I stood by the door waiting for my shuttle. This really was it. She and I joked a bit, avoiding acknowledgment of the end. 10b and 10a Moat were similarly quiet, as the occupants had also mostly emptied out.
And then it was time. There was a honk, and a driver strode to the door briskly, calling loudly. I picked up my bags, gave Hayley a tight hug and a few hurried words of goodbye, and walked away from Moat Street. I glanced back once, but Hayley had already disappeared from sight.
The day passed in moments that lingered, hours that flew. I claimed my luggage (though I can’t say “without incident”…grumble) upon my return to Auckland, and met up with only two other Arcadia kids, a trio of three from the original thirteen. Others had gone home early or delayed their trip, so we stuck together throughout our wait and flight, and toasted our time in New Zealand with one final glass of chardonnay, as two of us would soon relinquish our freedom and be underage once more. I chuckled quietly to myself as I glanced at the nighttime sky. I arrived in New Zealand in the early morning, and was leaving late at night. How appropriate.
In the hustle and bustle of clearing customs in LA, I lost sight of the other two Arcadians as I was accosted by a solicitor who told me that he used to go to Rice University, and played football for “Coach Ken” and he even designed and did the tattoo on his arm himself, in just under three hours, and…the tales grew taller. I rolled my eyes and walked away, knowing that I had just bungled yet another farewell.
As I waited for my flight, I wondered at the knot of anxiety growing in my stomach. What was wrong? My luggage was fine, I had all of my documents, customs had found no flaw in my belongings, yet…I looked around at the drawn faces around me in the airport terminal. Every face was a reflection of my own brooding, and I realized that this tenseness, this anxiety, this worry that I felt was just how it was to be in this place. The politeness and smiles I had received from the New Zealand staff were replaced with harassed-looking faces, half-snapped commands. I supposed then that this was my critique on American society after being away from it for so long. Many people comment on the rampant materialism and like things, but Australia and New Zealand are cut from similar molds, and so to me, there was not a major difference in that realm. The difference was in the attitudes. Even in bustling Sydney, the mood was relaxed, a sort of “Eh…whenever” feel about the place that told all who entered to just chill, everything would work out in the end. In LA, I could feel the stress, desperate to consume my newfound calm. On that final flight to Houston, I thought wearily, How can people live like this? How can people exist in such a worked-up state?
Suddenly, it was all over, and I was greeting my beautiful girlfriend and brother at the baggage claim. After all that time, some things hadn’t changed, and for a moment, for one single moment, it felt like I hadn’t left at all, like my entire experience was already a fading dream.
I walked out into the night with my companions and luggage. Back in Houston…what would it be like?
Coming to you from lil' NZ
Hey guys,
Just thought I'd write and let you know about all the fun stuff I've been up to while on my quick trip home!! It's been one crazy week so far; I got in on Friday afternoon, flew into Wellington which put on the most gorgeous weather for me, I could see right down the south Island, was beautiful. Pity that has been the best of it, haven't had weather so good since!! Went and surprised my best friend on Friday night that I had come back to her 21st, she nearly had a heart attack!! And then on Saturday morning I was straight into it with a friend from schools chanmpange breakfast for her 21st which turned into an all day affair, then at night had another girl I went to school with had her 21st!! Which was awesome and it's been so good to catch up with everyone!! But then I wouldn't miss it for the world, the all blacks were playing the english in a rugby test at 3:30am, so that just added to the excitement of the night as we beat them in a very hard fought test match!!
Since then I have been recovering mainly. Have been out for dinner on a few nights and have spent the rest of my time catching up with my boyfriend and my dad!!! What a combo!!
Well for the weekend ahead, it is my boyfriend's birthday and we are going to a foo fighters concert, with around 18,000 other NZ'ders (and by the way that's huge for us on concert size, I know it's nothing to you Americans though!!) so im real excited about this!!! Then I have the real reason I came back my best friends 21st which should be a cracker of a night, have spent so much time writing my speech and stuff for it. I'm sure we will be heading out to town once we have drunk the bar tab. Then once again we have another test match, against scotland this time, and they shouldnt put up as much of a fight as the english but it will be a huge feat for the all blacks and cap off a huge year and a grand slam (you probably have no idea what I'm talking about - I'll try and explain, pretty much it is a southerm hemisphere rugby nation going to the 4 home nations of ireland, scotland, england and wales and beating their teams at home - it's not often done and a very hard feat all the same)
And then ofcourse , there's no rest for the wicked and I fly out at 11am on Sunday morning!!! Should be one very quick flight back as I should sleep all the way, as I certainly won't get any before that!!!
So will be back at school sometime on Monday, will write again then and update you all on the antics of the night and of course that the all blacks have made history!!!
Speak soon
Kez
Hey guys,
Just thought I'd write and let you know about all the fun stuff I've been up to while on my quick trip home!! It's been one crazy week so far; I got in on Friday afternoon, flew into Wellington which put on the most gorgeous weather for me, I could see right down the south Island, was beautiful. Pity that has been the best of it, haven't had weather so good since!! Went and surprised my best friend on Friday night that I had come back to her 21st, she nearly had a heart attack!! And then on Saturday morning I was straight into it with a friend from schools chanmpange breakfast for her 21st which turned into an all day affair, then at night had another girl I went to school with had her 21st!! Which was awesome and it's been so good to catch up with everyone!! But then I wouldn't miss it for the world, the all blacks were playing the english in a rugby test at 3:30am, so that just added to the excitement of the night as we beat them in a very hard fought test match!!
Since then I have been recovering mainly. Have been out for dinner on a few nights and have spent the rest of my time catching up with my boyfriend and my dad!!! What a combo!!
Well for the weekend ahead, it is my boyfriend's birthday and we are going to a foo fighters concert, with around 18,000 other NZ'ders (and by the way that's huge for us on concert size, I know it's nothing to you Americans though!!) so im real excited about this!!! Then I have the real reason I came back my best friends 21st which should be a cracker of a night, have spent so much time writing my speech and stuff for it. I'm sure we will be heading out to town once we have drunk the bar tab. Then once again we have another test match, against scotland this time, and they shouldnt put up as much of a fight as the english but it will be a huge feat for the all blacks and cap off a huge year and a grand slam (you probably have no idea what I'm talking about - I'll try and explain, pretty much it is a southerm hemisphere rugby nation going to the 4 home nations of ireland, scotland, england and wales and beating their teams at home - it's not often done and a very hard feat all the same)
And then ofcourse , there's no rest for the wicked and I fly out at 11am on Sunday morning!!! Should be one very quick flight back as I should sleep all the way, as I certainly won't get any before that!!!
So will be back at school sometime on Monday, will write again then and update you all on the antics of the night and of course that the all blacks have made history!!!
Speak soon
Kez
Saving Light from a Black Sun
14-08-05 05:25 - Saving Light from a Black Sun
So Mark Shelton had this as a new post today, but I'm sure I've read it before:
"There was this huge hurricane in the Nevada desert, and it uncovered a huge statue of Jimi Hendrix (about the size of the Statue of Liberty, maybe bigger).
It became a Mecca for hippies and rockers from all over the world. They all went here, played good music, smoked lots of drugs and had a good time, it was like Woodstock all over again. Of course, Aidan and I went along, and had a damn good time.The government saw this as a threat to the status quo (not the band, you know what I mean), and decided that they needed to do something. They couldn't get rid of all the people, because there were literally millions of us, so they couldn’t make us leave. They couldn't bomb us, because genocide doesn't look too good on CNN. So they devised a plan to make us leave.
They infiltrated the camp, and turned up all the stereos so loud, that the vibrations would shake and destroy the statue, leaving us with no alter. They tried, and the music blared, we partied harder, but the statue stayed strong, they tried harder and harder, louder and louder, but the statue stayed strong...
but what it did do made a whole new problem, the vibration shook down a mountain and revealed something else, another statue, and I knew that all hell was about to break loose!"
I can't think of where I know it from, but it does remind me of something else Hendrix related.
Achewood is a web comic about the lives of some anthropomorphic cats & their stuffed animal friends living in a suburban town in California. The writer & artist Chris Onstad is a master of character observation & has a wry sense of humour that often leaves me gasping for air between guffaws. He even goes so far as to give blogs to his main characters. Ray Smuckles is a millionaire cat in a thong & medallion, who likes to throw regular parties for his friends. A recent party of note is related on his blog.
Yeah, as this entry is stillborn I'm just gunna talk about movies & shit. Hey that's what I do anyway.
Timeline is shit, even the inclusion of Billy Connelly couldn't save this steaming pile. As much as I love the guy, I'd of left him in the past just to get the movie over that much quicker. The best part of Shanghai Knights is the end credit bloopers of Jackie Chan getting hurt. WTF was that Westminster Tower bullshit? I still don't like The Man With Two Brains but I did get a few laughs this time, so maybe when I'm fifty or something it'll be my favourite movie. I like Aliens better than Alien, I didn't know this before as I've never watched them so close together. Dana Carvey is almost funny in Clean Slate. The movie is easy to watch, & I don't regret watching it. That's as positive as I can be on that one. Dave was more optimistic than I remember it. A good performance by Kevin Kline at the beginning. Chris Rock runs for President in Head of State, no further acting required. First time I've laughed at Bernie Mac. Crossroads is a movie I doubt I will ever watch again. It was spot on to what I expected, by the easily scripted numbers. After an episode of Charlie Sheen era Spin City, I watched Free Money. The Blue of tv light & the Gold of good beer. The Blue & Gold? Hey Hey Otago! I can't remember any other movies I've seen recently, but then my mnemonic device for remembering is that I play Six Degrees of Lexa Doig with every movie. Speaking of Rommie, in the end of season five Andromeda, after she gets back from birthing her baby, she manages to get all of the good lines of every episode. In Angel I just saw the origin of Evil Fred (Amy Acker), who already looks a dozen times better than Evil Willow (Alyson Hannigan) ever was. I like how Spike (James Marsters) & Angel (David Boreanaz) almost get along now, Caveman vs. Astronaut. Then I remember the puppet episode. Joss Whedon makes a vampire with a soul turning into a puppet almost believable. Which reminds me that I saw the Serenity trailer. I hope that movie rocks as much as I hope it will.
I restarted playing Mario 64 as I never finished it. My success rate is sucky, mainly relying on fifty percent luck, forty percent replaying levels over & over into the early hours & ten percent shouted threats of cybercide. There was a really gushy thread on I-Mock about Earthbound, an old SNES RPG which I had never got around to playing. So I interupted Mario & scooted around on my harddisk for the rom. A couple of years ago I played the SNES versions of Final Fantasy & part way through Chrono Trigger before getting extreamly bored with constant 'leveling up'. Even after all this time Earthbound is pushing my flipout buttons & cookies & characters named after old loves don't be helping at all. GTA: SA is biting me in the butt & I don't even have it. How hard is two MegaBytes to download anyway? The internet hates my electron stealing ways.
I've been trying to catch up on my music magazine reading, something I've neglected since moving to New Zealand, & the reason I missed the conception of this new version of Emo. I have a listening list as long as my arm & I'm still reading from Twenty Oh Two, I hope there is less good music in Oh Three & Four. I'm still slogging through Isaac Asimov's Foundation saga, I'm currently slowly creeping through "Foundation's Fear which isn't written by Asimov at all but by Gregory Benford who at times I doubt has even read a real Asimov book. Plus his detailed 'data existance' sections leave me bored & probably confused, but I'm not gunna admit that.
The All Blacks beat the Aussies in Oz, but lost to the Springboks in South Africa, we need to win both home matches or the Springboks will take the Tri-Nations on points again.
So Mark Shelton had this as a new post today, but I'm sure I've read it before:
"There was this huge hurricane in the Nevada desert, and it uncovered a huge statue of Jimi Hendrix (about the size of the Statue of Liberty, maybe bigger).
It became a Mecca for hippies and rockers from all over the world. They all went here, played good music, smoked lots of drugs and had a good time, it was like Woodstock all over again. Of course, Aidan and I went along, and had a damn good time.The government saw this as a threat to the status quo (not the band, you know what I mean), and decided that they needed to do something. They couldn't get rid of all the people, because there were literally millions of us, so they couldn’t make us leave. They couldn't bomb us, because genocide doesn't look too good on CNN. So they devised a plan to make us leave.
They infiltrated the camp, and turned up all the stereos so loud, that the vibrations would shake and destroy the statue, leaving us with no alter. They tried, and the music blared, we partied harder, but the statue stayed strong, they tried harder and harder, louder and louder, but the statue stayed strong...
but what it did do made a whole new problem, the vibration shook down a mountain and revealed something else, another statue, and I knew that all hell was about to break loose!"
I can't think of where I know it from, but it does remind me of something else Hendrix related.
Achewood is a web comic about the lives of some anthropomorphic cats & their stuffed animal friends living in a suburban town in California. The writer & artist Chris Onstad is a master of character observation & has a wry sense of humour that often leaves me gasping for air between guffaws. He even goes so far as to give blogs to his main characters. Ray Smuckles is a millionaire cat in a thong & medallion, who likes to throw regular parties for his friends. A recent party of note is related on his blog.
Yeah, as this entry is stillborn I'm just gunna talk about movies & shit. Hey that's what I do anyway.
Timeline is shit, even the inclusion of Billy Connelly couldn't save this steaming pile. As much as I love the guy, I'd of left him in the past just to get the movie over that much quicker. The best part of Shanghai Knights is the end credit bloopers of Jackie Chan getting hurt. WTF was that Westminster Tower bullshit? I still don't like The Man With Two Brains but I did get a few laughs this time, so maybe when I'm fifty or something it'll be my favourite movie. I like Aliens better than Alien, I didn't know this before as I've never watched them so close together. Dana Carvey is almost funny in Clean Slate. The movie is easy to watch, & I don't regret watching it. That's as positive as I can be on that one. Dave was more optimistic than I remember it. A good performance by Kevin Kline at the beginning. Chris Rock runs for President in Head of State, no further acting required. First time I've laughed at Bernie Mac. Crossroads is a movie I doubt I will ever watch again. It was spot on to what I expected, by the easily scripted numbers. After an episode of Charlie Sheen era Spin City, I watched Free Money. The Blue of tv light & the Gold of good beer. The Blue & Gold? Hey Hey Otago! I can't remember any other movies I've seen recently, but then my mnemonic device for remembering is that I play Six Degrees of Lexa Doig with every movie. Speaking of Rommie, in the end of season five Andromeda, after she gets back from birthing her baby, she manages to get all of the good lines of every episode. In Angel I just saw the origin of Evil Fred (Amy Acker), who already looks a dozen times better than Evil Willow (Alyson Hannigan) ever was. I like how Spike (James Marsters) & Angel (David Boreanaz) almost get along now, Caveman vs. Astronaut. Then I remember the puppet episode. Joss Whedon makes a vampire with a soul turning into a puppet almost believable. Which reminds me that I saw the Serenity trailer. I hope that movie rocks as much as I hope it will.
I restarted playing Mario 64 as I never finished it. My success rate is sucky, mainly relying on fifty percent luck, forty percent replaying levels over & over into the early hours & ten percent shouted threats of cybercide. There was a really gushy thread on I-Mock about Earthbound, an old SNES RPG which I had never got around to playing. So I interupted Mario & scooted around on my harddisk for the rom. A couple of years ago I played the SNES versions of Final Fantasy & part way through Chrono Trigger before getting extreamly bored with constant 'leveling up'. Even after all this time Earthbound is pushing my flipout buttons & cookies & characters named after old loves don't be helping at all. GTA: SA is biting me in the butt & I don't even have it. How hard is two MegaBytes to download anyway? The internet hates my electron stealing ways.
I've been trying to catch up on my music magazine reading, something I've neglected since moving to New Zealand, & the reason I missed the conception of this new version of Emo. I have a listening list as long as my arm & I'm still reading from Twenty Oh Two, I hope there is less good music in Oh Three & Four. I'm still slogging through Isaac Asimov's Foundation saga, I'm currently slowly creeping through "Foundation's Fear which isn't written by Asimov at all but by Gregory Benford who at times I doubt has even read a real Asimov book. Plus his detailed 'data existance' sections leave me bored & probably confused, but I'm not gunna admit that.
The All Blacks beat the Aussies in Oz, but lost to the Springboks in South Africa, we need to win both home matches or the Springboks will take the Tri-Nations on points again.
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