A New Decade Begins...

So here we are at the beginning of not just a new year but a new decade as well. Looking back at the two-thousand aughts, I have to say it was quite the ten years (more on that in another post). I have to say, however, that I'm hoping the next ten years are better. While the past decade saw many beginnings (and a few ends), I simply don't feel that I really got anywhere with my life. Perhaps the next ten years will see what started come to fruition in many areas. Will this year be the year I follow through on everything I've promised myself to better my life? Will the end of this decade finally see me with Justin in our home, a full-fledged career, and a better sense of where I fit into the world? I guess we shall simply have to wait and see. I want to start unloading myself of the negativity and frustration that I've built up and begin being happy again like I was at the beginning of 2000. With that in mind...away we go!

D(U)-Day

Today is Down Under Day! After a rather dull and irritating flight (why do I always wind up behind someone who has to lay the seat back from the beginning of the flight all the way through to the end?), I finally arrived in Sydney, Australia around 8:20am local time. Once a trip to Vodafone for an Aussie-numbered cell phone, an informative taxi ride, and a bit of acclimation to the heat was over, we arrived at our hotel--Swissotel Sydney. Now, for a five-star hotel I was both extremely pleased and a bit 'eh'. The living/sleeping area isn't much above what an avergae hotel in the States would be; however, the bathroom is amazing! For some reason, I would actually prefer the bathroom to be nicer anyway--go figure.

After settling in a bit, we decided to walk a bit on George Street to do some light shopping and orient ourselves a bit. It was at this point that I started wondering if Sydney was going to kill me. First, a bird decided to shit on me. Yes, a bird shit on me right in the middle of an urban city. Seriously, how the hell does that happen. To make things worse, it started raining a bit, and I had on some extremely well worn and slick-bottomed Crocs on. The combination of crap shoes, rain, and the fact Sydney sidewalks are made of some slick stone proved to be a dangerous combination! Trying to cross the road, my feet went right out from under me, and *wham* I wound up a pile of clothes and flesh right smack in the middle of a busy intersection. Now, I've been shit on and have road rash on my leg--not the start of vacation I had dreamed of! I basically tip-toed and clung to the buildings as I made my way back to the hotel.

We rested for a bit and then headed off to the George Street Cinemas to see New Moon. The movie theater was the coolest theater I've ever been in! One walks up this steps and then the theater space just opens up below and above almost like an amphitheater. The sounds quality was fantastic, and the seats were heavenly--big, cushy, tables between, and lots of leg space with stadium seating. It was definitely my favorite movie venue. Later on, I came back and got the Internet up and running in my room before crashing for a very much needed night's sleep. I'm really looking forward to exploring the city. I think Sydney is going to be wonderful--so long as I can avoid being shit upon and falling on my ass! Heres' to a wonderful trip! *cheers*