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!

Cairns Part 2 and Gordonvale....

The night after the boat returned from the GBR we were all to meet at a local bar in town called the Rattle and Hum.  It's huge bar with lots of food, drink and people wondering about.  We all met up around 8pm and were just having a good time getting to know each other better, talking about the trip, laughing heaps and drinking quite a bit too. We thought for a bit that the crew had just told us to meet there and that they had no intentions of coming, but they did show up "fashionably" late.

All of us at Rattle and Hum

Julia (Canada), Arek ( boat Supervisor), Me and Vivian (Holland)

Adrian (France/The Chef) and Vivian

Me and Jeff ( The Skipper)

So as you can tell by the picture above "the skipper" and I sort of hit it off and really enjoyed each others company from the moment we met.  It's good to know that there are actually good men still out there!  After we were all sauced up we headed to another "infamous" bar in Cairns called the Wool Shed.  We had only been there to eat dinner previously as our hostel gave us "free" meal vouchers that we just couldn't pass up.  The food was terrible but the bar was lots of fun.  The drinks kept flowing and by the end of the night our stomachs hurt from laughing.  It was one of the best nights I have had in Australia for sure.

I was scheduled to fly back Brisbane the following afternoon, but The Skipper asked me to stay and I thought you only live once so why not.  I called the airline to hopefully get some tiny credit and cancel my flight.  Someone up above was giving me approval to stay, because the women at the airline informed me that there had been an "error" and I wasn't booked on the flight and my card was never charged! SHEW! That was a tiny bit of fate that worked in my favor.  Jeff lives in a gorgeous town right outside of Cairns called Gordonvale.  The first day I was there we went for a swim in this cold, but beautiful river, cooked some good food, drank a few beers and relaxed.

He had to go back to sea in two days, but again we decided I should stay until he returned so we could spend more time together.  While he was away at sea, my friends Vivian and Ralf from my dive class came back through Cairns and came to stay out in Gordonvale.   Jeff graciously let us stay in his home and when he came home from sea took us on the best sightseeing day. 

The view from Jeff's truck on our off-roading adventure!

Ralf, Viv, Me and Jeff....Can't remember the name of the mountain

Jeff and I at Lake Eacham after our picnic and XXXX Gold's (Beer)

Lake Eacham

Ralf and Vivian left for the rest of their trip down the Australian east coast.  And Jeff had to go back out to sea.  Now, I am not one give a play by play account on my blog, but I will tell you that I do really enjoy Jeff's company and hope that we see each other again.  When he left yesterday to go on the boat it was sad, but I do know if things are going to work out they will and then need to happen organically ( that's for you Kev :)

And that also leads me to the next part of my story.  Before I left Cairns, I scored two job interviews and am fairly confident I will have a job tomorrow after I interview with one of the restaurants.  I have been applying for jobs for weeks in Brissy and nothing has happened.  And since I love Cairns, living on the water and want to dive as much as possible Cairns seems like the perfect place for me.  Plus I will have work finally!  I am flying back up tomorrow and will stay at a hostel for a day or two until I can find a more permanent place to live.  I have a couple places to look at tomorrow when I get there as well so maybe sooner than later. 

So again I feel very lucky to be here in Australia and making so many awesome memories!  I will keep you posted and promise to be better about writing!

Lots of love from Oz!

Cheryl

It's Pronounced "Canz"....

That's right Cairns is pronounced "canz".  Weird I know, but hands down my most favorite spot in Oz I have visited! I started to write this before I left Brisbane, but once I got here got distracted with diving and doing all the fun stuff so below you will see my horoscope that I saved before I left.  Funny how sometimes they are true and you have to read on to find out more. October 26, 2010 Sagittarius...taken from Yahoo Horoscopes As you well know, life is a series of extended vacations that we're fortunate enough (hopefully) to take alongside a number of carefully chosen, well-suited travel companions -- aka our friends, family members and select strangers that don't stay in that category for long. You're due to meet someone new and wonderful now -- at least one new someone, that is -- who'll want to go along for the ride on the next leg of your trek. Ready?