2nd half of New Zealand

There is something truly magical about taking a photograph.  I think we all have an innate part of our self that is drawn to a specific scene that we just must capture on film.  For me, and many others, it is the ocean and the sun.  The sun and the light/ darkness that it creates is something I have always loved to take pictures of.  Ask Todd, he is constantly giving me grief for taking so many pictures of the sun instead of more important things like my friends :)  Todd is drawn to people and I am drawn to the sun and the water and the beautiful symbiotic relationship between the two.  In any case, Becky and I woke up at 5:30, which is actually sleeping in for me, and walked to the tip of the Queenstown bay in order to watch the sun rise over the mountains.  It was so beautiful and calm and we froze our fingers while happily clicking away.  The rest of our voyage consisted of eating at a lot of amazing restaurants and visiting the cute little souvenir and knick knack shops in Queenstown and Arrowtown (the gold mining town near by).New Zealand was absolutely beautiful and I definitely hope I get to return at some point to do some more exploring!!

From New Zealand I have headed directly into hermit mode as I am working 8 hours or so a day on my dissertation.  It is coming along nicely and I am desperately trying to only work during the week so I can have my weekends free!

Last Sunday, Todd and I biked to the Carrara Markets, an outdoor farmers/ random stuff market, and then biked to Pac Fair where we watched “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”  It is a Swedish movie based on the Millennium series by Steig Larson and we both thought the movie was just incredible.  It is a pity that Hollywood feels the need to remake this film because the story was edited perfectly and the acting was superb.  I highly recommend it! 5 gold stars, two thumbs up, etc :)

My bike has been an absolute life saver.  I use it daily and bike to the gym and the market and home and back, round and round in circles.  It has saved me so much time and money and I love how I must be helping my carbon footprint at least a little ;) Seriously though, best present ever!

Some updated count downs:

9 days till Becky leaves :(  

42 days till my paper is due

71 days till Mom and Jan arrive!

110 days till I go home