"Life is Short, but Sweet for Certain....."

What a fantastic week has just gone by! I think that I have officially gotten through the patch of homesickness I was experiencing recently and am just really loving Australia and life in Carins.  Although I do miss all of my friends and family so much!

I had my 30th birthday last week and I have to say it was so much fun, but I missed talking to my friends and family on my birthday, especially my big 3-0.  We celebrated on the Saturday night prior to the actual day since all of my friends schedules in Cairns are work dependent.  I was so surprised that my friend Lyndal (who is from the States too), actually bought me a cake, a hot pink boa and put lost of love in to making my day so special.  We all had some drinks at their apartment, well lots of drinks actually, before heading out to some of the Cairns bars.  I must say that a party isn't actually a party unless jello shots are included and I do believe we had a few of those. 

Lyndal and I...I am so lucky to have her!

We ended up at a restaurant called the Salt House on the harbor.  They had an awesome live band and we danced all night.  And yes I danced so you know it was a good night with plenty of alcohol.  On the actual day of my birthday I had to open at work at 6am and when I got home around 3pm my wonderful Swedish housemates had decorated the house with balloons and had the candles burning on my birthday cake! Another really great surprise!

Me and my birthday cake!

Emma, Carolina and I!

We also had an impromptu trip last Thursday to Port Douglas which is about an hour north of Carins.  We are in the rainy season now, so it was a sunny day and we took advantage of it.  Lyndal, Nathan, Joe, Dan, Brennan and I piled into our cars and took the stunning drive up to Port Douglas.

Port Douglas is a beautiful little town that seems to cater to a posher, quieter crowd than Cairns.  We walked around town for a bit and enjoyed a few moments and some photos on the beach before heading to a bar on the harbor for drinks and some lunch.  We were the first ones in the bar for the afternoon and got the VIP seats right on the water and watched the dive boats come in from the reef.  We hung around until the evening grouper feeding which I wasn't able to get any photos of the actually grouper but it was pretty cool.  This grouper is about 5 feet long and probably 100lbs and they feed it nightly and it attracts quite a crowd.

The beach at Port Douglas

The boys and I at harbor bar....

After that we headed home for a BBQ at the apartment.  On the ride home Lyndal spotted a field full of kangaroos and we quickly swerved, safely of course, the car to the side of the road and ran out in the field.  As you can see from the photos below, it was a pretty phenomenal site.  Seriously one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my life.  I couldn't have asked for a better day with better company! Cheers!

Nathan, Dan and Brennan at Rex Lookout

The stunning scenery!

Kangaroos!!! Everywhere.....

Joe got quite close to the big guy....

I have just been working the rest of the week and I joined a gym here on the Pier which has been one of the best things I have done for myself.  I seriously missed my workouts and now feel so much better.  I also get access with my membership to this really awesome rooftop pool which I have been taking advantage of too!  I also was offered and accepted a new job at a restaurant called Splash here in Cairns.   I am so excited to start working there this week.  The owner and my new boss Megan is just the most lovely person and they are so excited to have me.  It is a much smaller restaurant with a focus on customer service which is right up my alley!

I hope that each of you had the happiest Thanksgiving in the States!  I know that I have so much to be thankful for; my beautiful friends, the best mom in the world, a loving family, a thriving business, a new job here in Carins and the trip of a lifetime.  I truly cannot imagine if I had have not come to Australia.  This trip has been life changing and I still have more time here.  I would recommend to each and everyone of you to take a trip or do that one thing that you have always wanted to do. 

Scare yourself a bit and take a leap of faith. 

And as Dave Matthews puts it best, "life is short, but sweet for certain...."

All my love from beautiful Cairns!

Cheryl

You Probably Think This Blog is About You Don't You?

So much to blog about, but on this rainy day in Carins it seems like a good day to blog.  I have been working a week now at the new job here in Carins and I must say although I am glad to have the work, but it is no Village Conery or Boardwok South.  I have a heightened appreciation for the business my mom and I own, my employees and my bosses at BoardWok Gia and Ty! 

I think the word pompous best describes the people who are my "managers".   One is your typical nasty female manager and the other just thinks he is the cats meow.  It is funny coming from a VERY customer service oriented way of conducting business and now working in an Australian restaurant.  You are not tipped generally here and as your wages are much higher than in the States.  While it may be a good thing if where you are working isn't very busy, but I believe it leads to poor customer service and understaffed restaurants where you have no time to take care of your customers. Quite an adjustment for me and I am just doing my best to figure it all out. 

I have moved into a really nice share house this week as well and it is awesome to no longer be living the hostel life.  I will probably move again in the next few weeks though since the house is just too far away from town and it's not safe to ride your bike or walk home at night.  But for now it's great and my housemates are couldn't be better. 

Although things in my dating life are seemingly always below par, I think I have had some clarity and insight into the opposire sex and dating in general.  I actually couldn't resist the the tarot card readings that were offered at the Esplanade markets last Saturday.  And I know that it's sort of hokey and can't be taken as facts, she did tell me some things that I needed to hear.  The biggest one was that I have to stop trying to please others and focus on myself and what truly makes me happy.  I am not exactly sure what that is at this very moment, but I am surely going to see what I can come up with while I am here in Oz.

And as for the title of my blog, I am just tired of guys always being so self-absorbed and assuming things about girls that may or may not be true.  It's always so funny to me how I guy will court and chase you and then when they get you and you are kind and caring, they either A) freak out and get weird or B) or retreat and ignore you.  Now, personally I think that's just shit (sorry for the language but it's how I feel).  I am sorry but I am not very good at playing the whole cat and mouse dating game I simply do not have the energy or care to play.  It's stupid.  If I like you and you like me, really what is the issue?  And if you aren't interested in an intelligent, witty, fun, caring, compassionate, giving and kind woman than I am clearly not your girl.  I also find it unfathomable that anyone genuinely "likes to be alone".  What kind of life is that?  Life is so much better shared with someone who enjoys you and life equally.

Granted I am not in anyway, shape or form perfect, but who is?  I am 100% aware of my faults and shortcomings and try to be a better version of myself everyday that I am lucky enough to be alive.  But even more important what gives any other person the right to make some feel unworthy or not wanted.  I do believe in karma, both good and bad, and don't be surprised when it returns to you in an unwanted way.

If we have ever dated or had any sort of relationship and you think this blog might be about you, then you could be spot on.  And if this does hit a little close to home for you then maybe today should be the day to make some small change in the way you treat people.  Everyone deserves to be respected and the honest truth so give it, good or bad.

Be true, be genuine and be warm always....

Cheryl

Cairns or bust.....

I am here! Yesterday I had a quick flight up from Brisbane and checked into to my 5 star hostel (insert sarcasm here).  I am looking at a place to live today so this will hopefully be my only post from here.   As soon as I put my bags in my room, I headed over to a restaurant on Esplanade (the main road on the water) called La Pizza for a quick interview with the manager.  It's a busy Italian joint that serves the trinity and was told to come into work Sunday morning.  So I will now be working, making some cash and friends too.  

A quick update on the Skipper for you all.  Got a note from him that he's basically not interested, which was surprising and not all the same.  This is pretty much the standard response when a man just doesn't "like you enough" as I like to say.  It's all good though, but after chatting last night with an old friend, I need to share an email with you that sums up dating, for me at least. Enjoy!

"Ahh, don't get down.  I mean after all, the dude drives a boat for a living.  I mean seriously.  Men are bastards and are threatened by smart and strong ladies.  So that is two strikes against you.  You need to find a guy as equally smart and strong that doesn't play games.  I think some of your troubles come from the fact that you give too many schleps a chance.  Schleps never work out because they are schelps and aren't worth a shit.  It will happen but in the meantime, enjoy yourself and don't sweat it." - A good friend  

 

Told you that was a good one.  And pretty solid advice too, all of which I know but seem to forget in the moment.  Oh well, moving on.  I also had an interesting experience at the bar last night.  The same bar and restaurant that we went to for our boat party is literally attached to my hostel so after my interview I went down for a happy hour drink, I thought I deserved one.  I found myself a nice seat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine and was pretty content.  I felt like there were one-thousand pairs of eyes on me, sort of like I imagine you feel if you were stuck in a dark cave with a bunch of hungry rats.  Low and behold the girl behind the bar says that the guy at the end of the bar wants to buy me a drink.  I say "oh geez great", but sure I will take it.  Thinking that the guy is going to actually come and speak to me I mentally prepare myself.  And nothing.  That was a win on my part.  I order another drink from a different server a little later and then the bartender tells me that the guy who bought me the first drink is now upset that I bought a drink and that I should order a bottle of champagne "whatever I want", yet he still hasn't even spoken to me. Um no thank you, but thanks for the little boost of confidence. 

I went up to my room to change and freshen up and then found a different area of the bar to sit and have some dinner.  I thought I was safe, but again an Aussie guy comes up to me and asks if I am waiting for someone.  Good line buddy, do I look that pathetic?  Well he was actually a really nice guy and went to college in the States so we had a good chat.  He of course bought me a couple beers and then starts talking about how he is house sitting for his boss next weekend and I should come.   Seriously?  Is this my life and what it has come to?  You should at least ask a girl out for dinner before you invite her randomly to a perfect strangers home for the weekend.  So I said I was going to the bathroom and moved to table in another area of the bar to finish my beer and then went back to retire for the night.  Odd.  

The dating rituals that single people have to endure truly are grueling and not for the faint at heart.  It's amusing, but stressful at the same time and I would prefer a man to do a little leg work first to see if I am interested and then ask me out on a proper date.  Too much too ask these days?

It's another beautiful day here in Australia and I am going to look at my possible new home in a few hours and go buy some clothes for work tomorrow.  Also after a talk with my girl Megan last night, throwing around the idea of putting all of my "misadventures" of love and life into some sort of compilation.  I do think it would be an interesting read and I have the perfect person in mind to help me edit it too!  So I will update on that soon! 

So from HOT and sunny Cairns make it a great day!