X days to go!

Omg! Only 10 days left until our fabulous, fairy tale cruise of the Caribbean!  I can hardly wait :)  Cozumel, Belize City, Roatan Bay Islands and Costa Maya, here we come!!  Oh, that's not even all - we're also spending the day before we take off in one of my most favourite places ever: New Orleans!  Hooray!  

I feel like I'm constantly daydreaming about the palm trees, aqua water, coral reefs and Mayan ruins.  All I have to do is close my eyes and I'm there with white, powdery sand beneath my feet, iguanas scurrying around and island music ricocheting off the dark green jungle background, as I sip a pina colada straight out of a coconut.

We've researched each destination and have every day roughly planned out.  I say roughly because Will hates binding schedules and timelines on vacation ('the point is to relax...') so I've left him several unplanned, carefree days, but what we do have planned is: 

- riding scooters around Cozumel with stops at San Gervasio ruins, San Miguel for lunch and some pristine island swimming 

- a cruise down a river lined with crocodiles and monkeys swinging tree to tree, in the middle of a jungle until we reach two thousand year old Mayan ruins!   

- going snorkeling in the worlds' second largest coral reef Honduras, where a buffet lunch, open bar and live, chilled Island music awaits us on the shore

- more Mayan ruins and a meet and greet lunch with an actual, surviving Mayan family and their traditional cuisine!

This is shaping up to be the best vacation we've ever taken.  I'm so excited, I already have all my outfits planned and necessities bought: my seasick bands, biodegradable face wipes, sun cream, bugspray and waterproof camera (I'm so excited they still make these!!) 

major anniversary news

Looking back, Will and I agree that getting married in December was a mistake; especially on a date that falls smack-bang in between Christmas and New Years Eve.  The major reason is that due to family traditions and expectations etc., that time of year can never truly just be about the two of us.  Other reasons include not being able to go anywhere alone (without majorly hurting someone's feelings or removing ourselves from family fun) and the fact that after the mountains of presents and travel expenses are paid for, we couldn't afford it if we tried!  We always go out for the customary dinner date, but sometimes it doesn't seem like enough.  

When our anniversary rolled around just recently it was a big one: five years married! and as we were trapped amidst three dogs, a car full of suitcases, forced family fun and a sixteen hour drive back to Austin; we were bummed that we couldn't commemorate it in any remarkable way.  That's why we've decided to do something different and start celebrating our unofficial anniversary of the day we met, Feb 21st, instead.  That gives us a chance to replenish the old bank account a little - and recharge our over-socialized batteries as well.    

So how are we celebrating our five years of marriage / six years of knowing one another?  We're going on a cruise!!! 

Yep.  A seven day cruise of the Caribbean that includes two bucket list items on both our lists: ancient Mayan ruin sites aaaaaaaand a day tubing through a river in the rain forest of Belize!  I'm so excited, I can hardly contain it!  

fun times and panic attacks

I've been busy catching up on work assignments since we got back from South Padre Island last Thursday and I'm almost up to date so I'll be posting all about our trip and sharing lots of photos etc over the coming week.  We had a brilliant time with lots of opportunity to unwind and refocus, and I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you in a new (and very exciting!) way.

One thing I briefly mentioned a while ago, but haven't touched back upon, is the topic of house-hunting.  Since Will and I moved to Austin without knowing anything about the area, we rented the place we're in now, to scope things out and find our niche.  While we love the area we're in, we've decided for various reasons that we aren't going to stay here.  It became apparent pretty quickly that we need to be close to Austin, but not in it.  So here we are.  Swiftly approaching the end of our lease (just three months to go, eep!) and looking at places outside of Austin's metropolitan zone!  This is very exciting for me since my whole life I've lived in big cities but at the same time, it's very frightening.  So frightening that yesterday I had somewhat of a panic attack thinking about moving 'into the county' and 'being remote.'

This will be my 10th move in 8 years.  Will has had a similar amount. Not all of those moves have been inter-city or major; but all have warranted moving trucks, lots of cleaning and rearranging furniture.  It will be my fifth major move into a brand new city where I know no one and that's always frightening.  I have hope that as we are buying our new place of residence, we may spread some roots there at last, I am weary of moving and anxious to build a home, yet simultaneously nervous about committing to a community we are unfamiliar with.

I often smile when I think of just how many of life's biggest decisions Will and I make based on our intuitions.  I know this makes little sense to many, but it has truly worked for us thus far.  Sometimes we feel different things - like yesterday when I let fear grip and shake me wildly, while he drove steadily on to our destination, unyielding and determined: his logical left-brain rationalizing the decision his gut has already made.  I admire that about him so much!  And while I'm not a fan of sexist stereotypes that dictate all men are logical while all women are emotional, in our case it holds true.  When we are deciding a massive, life altering choice - I truly take comfort in the constancy of Will's resolve.  Once he makes a decision, he rarely wavers on it, unless my gut is absolutely screaming NO!

Then again, that's the thing about soul-mates: you're usually intuitively connected.

u is for the USMC

Will is a Marine.  Although he's been out for years, I say is a Marine because once a boy becomes a Marine, he remains one for life.  I wanted to write about the Marines because of my own experiences: my first impressions, my prejudice, my deep dislike that transformed to endless love and what it's like to be married to one.

My first impressions were horrible but this can probably be attributed to the time and place.  When I met my first group of Marines, I was a full-time university student working part time at a restaurant/ bar to pay my bills, in a small town called Rockhampton, in Central QLD Australia.  Not far from this town was a military training ground, Shoalwater Bay, which facilitates simulations and exercise for militia from several different countries, one of these being the United States Marine Corps.  I won't go into detail about other countries but I will say that none of them behaved the way the U.S. Marines did.  Whenever they had free time, they would storm into Rockhampton, drink themselves stupid and crack onto every female with a pulse.  If you were even semi-attractive you were in serious danger of becoming a victim to incessant bull-whistles, vulgarity and all manner of propositions.  Myself and the other girls in town quickly understood why the Marines had such an awful reputation for womanizing and although we thought it shocking that any girl could fall for such sleaze, we each sincerely worried for our friends, hoping no one we knew would add to the 'surge in local pregnancy' statistics that followed the Marines whenever they left a town.  My opinion was set: I hated every one of them.

As I've mentioned in the past when I met Will two years later, I found him arrogant.  Within the first hour, I'd also discovered he'd been in the Corps and thus thought my dislike justified.  His cockiness, to me, was surely a result of spending too much time womanizing and I could never give someone like that the time of day.  Yet within the next few hours, I thought myself in love and by the end of our first week together, I was certain of it.  Of course his own merits had everything to do with this, but his Marine-ness was more of an obstacle than I could have predicted, I flat-out refused to get involved with one. As the weeks went by, my resistance began to crumble and after several frank arguments, Will helped me to better understand the mentality of the boys.  He told me what being deployed, boot camp and war is like, in a way that movies and songs can never convey.  He made me aware of things from their point of view: their desperation, their struggle, their need for intimacy and their 'frankly, not giving a damn.'  They go in as boys: wide eyed, looking for honour and glory.  They become hardened men within months and perhaps for this reason, they are fortunate to be part of a militia that allows them some kind of outlet during their free time.  Although I don't condone their actions in Rockhampton and firmly believe in subtlety, my anger at all of that has dissipated and has long been replaced by pity.

It makes my heart hurt to think of Will as one of those boys, but at the same time, I feel safe knowing my husband is a Marine.  Not only because he's had the training but because of how emotionally strong he is.  I am awed by the sheer amount this man can handle.  And the way he deals with one problem at a time, giving each his full, undivided attention.  He has carried me through physical and home sickness, arguments, grief and more: standing firm and strong just like I envision a soldier would in the face of danger.  There are times when he breaks.  There are times when he needs to be alone.  There are times when he cries. Some times he becomes pensive and just doesn't talk. During all those times I remember what he told me to make me feel pity instead of hate. I remember what he's been through and I give him as much time as he needs because it's worth every hardship, a thousand times over, to be married to a man like Will.

More than anything else, being married to a Marine is like having an enormous family.  Every one of the boys from every one of his platoons is a brother to him and every time I meet one, they become a brother to me as well.  These boys are so real!  So honest and loyal. I love watching them interact, always with heartfelt emotion, kindness and genuine affection. Yes, they are rough as hell and when they're drinking it's best to leave them be - but they are tender when they need to be and I know within my heart that I can call anyone of them, anytime, and they will be there for Will, for me, for our family. The bonds they made, they've made for life and perhaps beyond, for their souls are joined for eternity - of that I'm sure.

a weekend in Dallas 2 | April 19.20

I'm starting to look forward to the finishing the A-Z challenge so I can begin writing what I want to again!  It's not that I'm not enjoying it - I've just been holding back so much of what I want to say because I don't want to bombard my blog with too many posts... but a lot has been going on.  April has been an eventful month with plenty of highs, blissful weekends, snapshots and a couple of lows - all of which I've held back sharing, wanting to wait for May, but I can't take not sharing this weekend (and not bragging about Will: the best husband in the world) so I've decided to slip this post in...

Some of the aforementioned lows had been weighing on Will and I last week.  Life threw us a few curve-balls and both of us were starting to feel a little overwhelmed. Instead of wallowing however, Will selflessly surprised me by giving me one of the best weekends I've ever had!

He began by researching, visiting and organizing doggy boarding so we could take the weekend to ourselves, something we never do.  This meant the world to me because I'm very protective and particular about who our dogs precious angels stay with and even though Will's not as particular, he went out of his way to make sure I would feel comfortable with whom he chose - all without me knowing!

Then he whisked me away to Dallas for a night so we could let our hair down, let loose and forget about all the bad stuff - which seemed non-existent after a surprise like that anyway!  From the moment we left the house, it was a wonderful weekend.  The road to Dallas was canvased by wildflowers and blue sky - so vibrant and picturesque - like straight out of a dream!

When we arrived we met with friends, ate, laughed, went to a baseball game and delighted in youth and life and everything about it that makes it wonderful.

By the time we drove home, we were feeling rejuvenated and blessed once more, only to pick up two happy puppies who had fun and remained unscathed. And then, as if it could get any better, I received a new, very exciting freelance job offer!  So win all 'round!

Oh! And I got a brand new pair of sparkly shoes! 

I'm feeling wonderful and ready to take on a new week! I'm so happy to be starting a new project and having success in every major aspect of my life.  I hope everyone who reads this is as happy and has enjoyed their Easter weekend as much as I have!

Blast from the past: Kalgoorlie/ gold and mining, WA

There are so many insanely beautiful places in Western Australia worth visiting and just to give you an idea of how big WA is, I've included this pic from sedevacantist.com which shows how much of the world's land mass could comfortably fit inside of it:

Most people know that the center of Australia is a dry desert of rich, red soil but many don't realize that this soil is home to copious amounts of mineral as well.  Over the centuries of European settlement, discoveries of coal, silver, lead, copper, gold and many types of gemstones have caused mines and small towns to sprout sporadically throughout this region and when gold was discovered in Kalgoorlie (kal-goo-lee) during Australia's gold rush in 1893: it too became one of these small towns deep in the heart of WA's desert.

While living in Australia, Will's job as a salesman in the safety industry meant that he did a lot of work with these mines and that's how we came to visit Kalgoorlie for a few days in October of 2009.  We're so glad that we took this trip together because both the drive and the town are so unlike anything else we've experienced, making it a great way for me to wrap up my blasts from WA.

Many squashed bugs on the window!

Rich red and orange soil

A rather pretty desert weed

Due to draught conditions in Aus, this water pipe was built to supply mining
towns with water and runs alongside the road all the way from Perth to Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie has become known as the gold capital of Australia and you understand why pretty quickly.  When you enter its historic downtown district you see billboards, A-frames and posters in shop windows all boasting about the superiority and products made with the local mineral.  There's gold everywhere!  As a couple actively planning our wedding, Will and I easily got swept away by gold fever as well.  You would't believe how many jewellers there were and how cheap gold was!  So without hesitation, we bought Will's wedding band and many other gold-related souvenirs for our families as Christmas gifts that year too.
 
Proud of its history and its gold, Kalgoorlie transformed one of its ancient, original mines into a museum: complete with functioning shaft and small town!  Being a complete history buff, I ended up spending an entire day there - totally absorbed until Will called me for dinner.

13 stories underground, reliving the old mining experience with my tour group

Actual entrances into the mines - now boarded off but once used daily

How the very first gold rush camps were set up

And the houses later...

Surprisingly, despite constant mining for so long, the gold mines in the area have continued growing.  The vein of gold there is so large that in 1989, the Super Pit gold mine was created - which is the largest open-pit gold mine in the world - the provider responsible for the gold capital's reputation.  I can't describe the feeling I had in my stomach when Will and I stood on the edge of this pit but it was something like a dawning comprehension of just how enormous and majestic our planet earth really is.  You can't ever match the sensation of seeing the layers of earth exposed before you:

Layers of earth and the bottom right photo shows how big the trucks are -
those are just the tyres!

it's awing and saddening all at once, when you see firsthand the destructive capability of man against our mother planet, all for a shiny piece of gold.

Gold was molded and weighed on site of the old mines

Blast from the past : Scarborough Beach, WA

Of all the experiences within my life, few compare to the sunsets on Australia's western coastline.  For half the year of 2009, I would try every evening to be by the shore to bear witness to another glorious sunset over the beach.  Scarborough Beach. 

orbville.com

Prior to moving to Scarborough Beach, I had seen many pristine beaches along the Australia's east QLD coast, including the Great Barrier Reef; but this new beach had a completely different kind of beauty.  Its sand was powder soft and white; its water was sapphire blue with enormous and angry waves and its seashells were types I'd never seen before.  There was a raw, untouched authenticity to its shore; where tall grass grew right onto the sand and rabbits would hide - real, adorable rabbits on a beach - nothing else I've seen yet beats that.  There were giant pine trees growing at the border line where sand met soil; and Rosella parrots were seen everywhere and  heard above beeping horns and crashing waves. 

This was our first home; Will and I.  A more magnificent backdrop we could never have imagined as we were consumed by our love for each other and took our first steps into a shared life.  It was on Scarborough Beach that Will proposed to me - surrounded by rabbits, gum nuts, crashing waves, those annoying parrots; and a setting sun that still takes my breath away just remembering it. 

Scarborough Beach was where I met Will's mum for the first time; where Will and I had our first argument; and there in that tiny, one bedroom apartment on Pearl Parade that I cooked our first dinner, paid our first bills, ruined our first load of washing and got my first taste of homesickness - when I missed QLD so much, that I stayed up and cried in private while he slept. 

It was there on Scarborough Beach that I realised for first time that I would spend the rest of my life with someone, as Will and I sat on a blanket sipping champagne (shhhh, alcohol wasn't allowed!) and watched as the sun set over the beach and that very first, very amazing chapter of our joint life.  At times, I close my eyes and I am right there again.

Rosella Parrots

The Esplanade, Scarborough Beach 2009

love

My fabulous New Years Eve dress

After posting yesterday about New Years Eve sparkle - I headed to the nail salon for a shimmering manicure and then to the shops in search of the perfect, glittery NYE dress.  I didn't really have anything specific in mind, only that it needed to have sleeves because of how cold it's going to be tonight.  (Of course I love the anthropologie dress I posted a pic of yesterday but even the sale price of $265 it's expensive straight after Xmas and a trip away).

My perfect dress evaded me store after store and I felt quite down by the time Will met me a little later, freaking out because I'd left everything until last minute.  Little did I know however that Will: my husband, best friend and knight in shining armor had a surprise waiting for me back at the house.  He didn't act or say anything suspicious on the way home but the surprise dress was hanging in full view the moment we stepped inside! It was my perfect dress!

A dress I've had for two years but worn only once: a dress that was sparkly and sleeved: a dress I'd forgotten all about! Will had fished it out of my wardrobe after my earlier despondent phone call and cemented once more his position as #1 in my life as a smile crossed my lips and I began to envision the accessories and shoes that will go with it! This sequined, classically cut Rachel Roy mini dress ticks all of my criteria for the perfect, sparkling NYE dress!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you greet 2014 looking good, feeling great and surrounded by love so that the spirit of NYE brings you all that and more for the year to come!

Opposite ways to travel

Austin is still new and very exciting.  There's a lot to see and so much yet to do but with Will out of town, me not having a car and being a writer means I'm at home a lot.  On a positive note, this gives me plenty of time to reflect, look at photos and remember past trips we've taken.  I'm starting a weekly segment called Blast from the past where I will share my journeys and highlights but I thought talking about how we travel is the first place I should start.

Will and I have complete opposite ways to travel and relax.  He likes to go with the flow entirely and wing activities based on spontaneous recommendations by locals (or SIRI).  Whereas I like to research the area, shortlist activities by our interests, popularity and ratings, availability and practicality; then I like book in advance and draft out a map and schedule (which I am flexible about, I promise!) - it's not set in stone but always I like to know where I'm at and squeeze in as much as I can).

Now that we've been travelling together for several years - a little of both our tendencies and preferences has rubbed off on each other and I'm no longer completely anal; while he's no longer completely aloof.  I still like to research the area and book in a tour or show but now I no longer organize every hour, nor do I draft out schedules.  I now make sure to leave one full day and evening of 'nothingness' to allow for spontaneity and have found that some marvelous experiences can result.

We definitely mesh better these days and have found ways to compromise but don't get me started on his take on airport security!!

who cut the cheese?

For as long as I've known Will, he's been saying that the height of success is to receive a wheel of cheese because this gift can only mean two things: 1) you've made it in life and people know there's no other earthly item you doesn't already possess or need OR 2) you've surrounded yourself with well-to-do people that give these types of gifts. 

While we've had this conversation many, many times; the after affects have never been discussed, namely what happens after you receive an enormous wheel of cheese?  That's why when he found out our local grocery store was having a 'cheese cutting' ceremony at 2pm yesterday, Will took it as a sign from the universe, arranged his lunch break accordingly and dragged me along to learn how to cut and properly store large amounts of cheese.  The whole five minute drive to the store, he was giddily making fifth grade jokes about cutting the cheese - if you know what I mean.

I normally frown upon Will's hair brained schemes and talk him out of them but as I saw no negative repercussions to this one - other than loosing some time out of my day and a few fake laughs at the fifth grade jokes - I went along and with considerable embarrassment stood in the crowd (which consisted of employees out of the deli section and a few day time pension shoppers).

As I looked around, I realized that the only two people actually excited about being there were my husband and the man cutting the cheese.  Everyone else was red faced and cross armed - hoping that no one they knew from the outside world walked by to witness this mandatory work event.  Then the funniest thing happened - the cheese cutter who was giving an excited cheese history lesson and presenting like this was his shot at an Olympic title, snapped the cheese cutting wire and became distraught about his demonstration not going to plan.  His utter depression actually eased the tension in the crowd, as people smiled and several uncrossed their arms.  During this whole time, Will had been grinning and taking photos for future reference.  

This might be the dorkiest thing we've ever done - cheese cutting at HEB

Once the cheese was cut with a regular knife (anticipation palpable) we were given our first taste of a 200LB Swiss cheese wheel.  The first bite went down well but then bitter disappointment set in as I realized I still don't like cheese.  Will was disappointed too since he'd arrived here expecting to leave with at least a quarter of the wheel but the taste of it didn't justify the expense.  I'm not sure why he was expecting a wheel of cheese to taste different to regular cheese...

On the drive home (that I was expecting to be filled with Will's disappointment and abandonment of the with the cheese-wheel/ success theory)  he informed me that he thinks we don't know enough about cheese and should therefore take a cheese tasting course, or perhaps enroll in a season of classes.  I starred out the window in shock - afraid that I might have supported the wrong hair brained scheme after all.

Welcome to my life

Hi.  Here's a little about me: I'm a girly-girl, wife, mother of two puppies, daughter of a happily married couple who live in Australia, bilingual, a free spirit; lover of wine, music, antipasto and sitting around a campfire, under the stars, with friends.

My background is: born in Kazakhstan, grew up in Australia, moved around a lot after university, which I never finished so that makes me a failed business graduate but also one of the lucky few in this life who find their passion: writer and world traveler. My husband, my best friend and my all shares my passion for travel and it's because of him that I'm able to see so much of planet earth.  We travel a lot.  We move a lot.  

I named this blog the Unwavering Part of Me to signify the unchanging part of who I am inside, in amongst all the constant moving, exploration, lessons and changes in my life.  At times I feel homesick and lonely so I want this space to be my home and a place where I can reflect on experiences.