December 7th, 2008

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY THOR!!!!!


Second of all, someone told someone who told someone who told someone who told Ari to tell me I'm in trouble for not updating recently. :)


SORRY!


I do have so much to tell and I know I've been neglectful! I promise to try not to go so long without writing...it's as enjoyable for me as it is for you. :)


Okay!! So, we have done it!! We did a lot of research and we decided on two places that we loved and wanted to approach the managing company to see the places. We hunted them down and they were hard to find...we waited for a long time to get in touch with the woman. We finally stalked her enough that we got to talk to her. The first one we wanted, a furnished house was under discussions with someone else. The next one, a furnished apartment on the third floor was actually unfurnished, but we wanted to see it anyway. It had a great location. We met her anhour later there and we had a look. It was a beautiful, modern 3 bedroom apartment with a patio that looked out towards the water and was right downtown. in Mt. Maunganui. As we were looking around she let us know that she had just found out the people wanting to rent the other house fell through. We got really excited. We told her that we wanted to see it as soon as possible. We needed to head back to Auckland the next morning, but we could push it back to leaving later in the day if we could see the house tomorrow morning. She said she would phone us back.

20 minutes later our phone rang and we had an appointment for 10:30am the next day.

So we bummed around Tauranga for the rest of the day and then parked over by the bay and the allnight toilets.

The next morning we went and met Sharyn the management lady at the house. We took a look and immediately said YES! now, the owners want a minimum 6 month contract. But we asked her to negotiate to 5. She managed to get 5 and if we give them enough warning and find people to move in before the end of the contract, we can get out of it! :)

So, we went to the bank, and we paid the letting fee. On Wednesday we go back to her office, pay the deposit and the first week's rent and get the key!! :) The nice thing is that rent here is paid weekly! :)

So, the house:

location: 2 blocks from downtown, less than 1 block from the beach, 2 blocks from the bay, and 2 blocks from Mt. Maunganui!! :) I can't tell you how excited we are. The boys are already looking at bikes and surf boards.

The house: Fully furnished (including a bbq!!:) Three stories. First story: Garage, bedroom, bathroom with shower, washer, back patio with line for drying. Second story: living room/dining room with window seat! Kitchen. Patio that looks out to the street, but you can see the beach to the side, patio furniture and of course bbq. one bedroom and toilet. Third story: master bedroom with view like the patio. Main bathroom with seperate bathtub and a two headed shower stall! :)

WE CAN'T WAIT!!

Then Ari and I headed to Auckland and we left Mitch behind in Tauranga to scope out jobs and whatever. We went on to Auckland and had a nice couple of days to ourselves. We went to the horseraces....because I love it! But it wasn't the type of horse racing I'm used to...it's real horce racing...with the jockeys on chariots behind the horses!!! :) So much fun! But so hard to bet on because I didn't know what I was looking for in a horse and jockey! who knows. But we had a lot of fun and managed to loose some and win some.

Yesterday we drove down to Raglan which was nice, but people talked it up way more than they should I think. The beach was beautiful and the waves were awesome. But it was crowded and a lot of people were kite surfing.

Then we went to Taupo where Mitch had arrived and we met him at a hostel. Taupo is awesome too! :) We're at the north end of Lake Taupo and we can look across the lake and see snow covered mountains. The sunset was an amazing array of pinks and purples and absolute beauty! :) Today we're going to explore Taupo a bit and then move on to Napier on the East coast.

Ari has picked up a job with the old consulting team he was working for before we left Palo Alto. Which has been good because they're paying him a nice fee for one job and it'll basically pay his rent for the next month...lucky bastard. :) But it has meant that he's been spending a lot of time with his nose in the computer instead of looking out the window. But it's almost done. That's why I have so much time to write to you now. because we're at an internet cafe. But also why I haven't had much time to write...he's been on the computer! Anyway! We're excited!!!

I'll try and keep you posted more as we go along!

mad love to all!!! Oh, and I've started an account with webshots under a similar name as this page. When I get the photos uploaded, I'll give ya'll the web address!

We miss everyone!!

Good luck Spartos with going back to work. Take it slow and easy! I know you! Don't let those dang students push you around!

i saw pictures of Embassy halloween party...man, made me sad. Wish I coulda been there!!!

xoxo

Alissa