Sunday-Thursday

Nothing too exciting has happened these past few days.  I had to work Sunday and Monday and work was pretty slow.  The penthouse got TRASHED over the weekend so Monday was a busy day to clean it up and make sure everything was back in order before the next group came in to stay.  That pretty much kept me busy all day Monday, taking pictures, helping clean, making sure everything was cleaned and we didnt miss any spots, and then helping the new group, Billabong, move in and set up for their event this week.  After work I was ready to just relax, I met up with the girls and we went to a Soup Cafe for dinner (delicious) and then back to the apartments to hang out and talk.
Tuesday and Wednesday I had the days off so I got up and went for breakfast and skyped with my family, did a little shopping, went to the wildlife world (again), relaxed in the park and read my book (finished the 2nd book since I have been here, big accomplishment for me).  Then the girls and I went out for dinner and enjoyed Japanese food both nights, we found a delicious place just around the corner from the apartment, cant believe we JUST found it.
Thursday I had the day off again and it is THANKSGIVING!!! Yayy.  My favorite holiday and they dont celebrate it here :(  Good thing I am with a lot of Americans here so we can celebrate together.  I went on a coffee cruise around the harbour (Adrian pulled thru for another free cruise, he is the best) with Brenda's (one of the girls doing the internship program too) sister then we walked around Circular Quay, went to the opera house and I went and bought the 3rd book in the series I have been reading and did some souvenir shopping (yet again).   I have been finishing up my shopping though so its been good, Christmas shopping is almost done.  Now I am sitting on the couch, just finished reading some of my book and am about to go downstairs to Sarah's apartment to help her cook for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Should be an interesting one since we have no place to cook anything, so we are modifying Thanksgiving :(  oh well ... were in Australia!!! Cheers

Saturday, November 20th

Today I was able to get off of work and go to the Blue Mountains again with the group.  It was a lot of fun and I am really glad that I went.   The tour that I went on with my parents was a lot better than this tour but it was still a lot of fun with the girls.  This tour took us into the town of Katoomba (which is where the blue mountains is located) and showed us around there and then took us to a few look outs to see the mountains.  We did not pay to do the rainforest tour this time, which was perfectly fine with me because I did not think i twas work the money.  We were able to just hang out at a coffee shop and do a little hiking ourselves while the group when into the rainforest.  It was really great to spend the day with the girls and get to get out of the city a little.  We also got to go to the Olympic Stadium for a little stop.  It was amazing! So big and just really neat to see in person.
After the Blue Mountains I went out for dinner and drinks with a friend from work.  It was really nice to get out and hang out at Darling Harbour.  There were fireworks and lots of tourists there but it was such a fun night.

Thursday, November 18th

I had to go back to work today L  It wasn’t too bad, I was in housekeeping which I thought meant I was going to get out early but now that I know how to work at reception they made me stay the whole day .. bummer.  After work I met Sarah at the park and we went to a bar/restaurant for their 2^nd birthday party.  Adrian (the concierge at the hotel) put us on the “list” so we could get in for drinks and appetizers.  After a few hours there we met the whole group at Bungalow 8 (a really nice restaurant on Darling Harbour) for our bimonthly dinners.  It was really nice to all get together since we don’t get to see everyone in the group very often.

Wednesday, November 17th

Day #3 off of work.  Yahhooo! I went back to the cafe to have skype with Kristi and mom.  They have 4 little puppies they are fostering and they are soooo cute.  I wish I was home to play with them.  After skyping and another fantastic breakfast, I did some more shopping .. im trying to get Christmas gifts so I have less to worry about when I get home.  ( good excuse huh ;) )  I went back to the Wildlife World to watch the crocodile feeding and other animal feedings.  I love having an unlimited ticket.  It was another rainy morning but it ended up becoming a nice day.  After shopping and watching animals eat other animals, I went back to the apartment and went on the balcony and wrote some post cards, watched some tv, and just enjoyed the nice weather.   Now I am at the Coffee Pitt with Sarah and we are all going to make some dinner tonight and watch a movie.  Back to work for me tomorrow :(  No more fun and games for the next 5 days!  Oh well I guess this is what I came to Australia for, to work!

Tuesday October 16th

Another day off :)  So amazing!! Nicola stayed home from work today so she made us breakfast and we hung out for a bit and found out that Sarah came home from work early .. really early .. she was home by 11am! So we all went for a walk to the botanical gardens.  We walked around for about 3 hours and then Sarah and I went shopping (I didnt buy anything, surprisingly) and decided we are going on a diet because we are eating too much here. lol as if we just realized that with 3 weeks left.  Speaking of food for dinner Sarah, Steph and I went on a Pirate Dinner Cruise.  We had a buffet dinner on a pirate ship.  I got to help the "lead mate" hoist the sail and then take them down when we were heading home.  It was so much fun.  Dinner was really good as well, prawns (shrimp), pasta, bread, potato salad, chicken kabobs, sausage and onions.  And then Cream Puffs for dessert.  YUMMYY! While we were eating we just sailed around the harbour and the "Lead Made" gave us the history of the harbour (dont ask me what it was we were too busy laughing at the group of drunk old ladies sitting next to us)  These old ladies were soooo funny.  They bought the ticket with unlimited drinks and boy did they take advantage of that.  They were so funny and telling us where we had to go, outside of the city, the next time we come to Australia.  And as long and they arent "pushing daises" (as the one lady put it) we could visit them in Queensland.  That would be so much fun, they were awesome.  After all the excitement of the pirate ship and freezing our butts off, Sarah and I went to the jacuzzi in the apartment and then made hot chocolate and had cake, (this was our exception night for our diet because of the pirate dinner). haha

Monday November 15th

I had the day off which was so nice because I got to sleep in, well I woke up at 9, and then went to the cafe around the corner for breakfast and some skype time with my parents.  It was a crummy, rainy day so there wasnt much to do, but Nicola came home from work early because her uncle had passed away so she was having a rough morning.  I was not in the best mood today :( so I went shopping, which cheered me up.  Such crummy weather is just not cheery.  I did a lot of souvenir shopping and went to the Sydney Wildlife World and saw the koalas and kangaroos!! After I spent wayy too much money I met Nicola for lunch at Nando's and then we bought a cake and beer and hung out inside for the rest of the afternoon, watching the disney channel and talking.  It was a really good therapy session for us both :) then we met Sarah and K at the coffee pitt for internet.  Subway for dinner and just hanging out watching tv.  Our nights are becoming so predictable these days.

Thursday-Sunday

Thursday I worked all day then Sarah and I made pasta for dinner and watched a movie.  Nicola and Katherine joined us for the movie later on after their dinner plans.  It was a relaxed night.

Friday I had off of work and Stephanie and I went whale watching in the morning.  It was so cool.  We saw a few pods of whales, and followed one pod for pretty much the whole time.  We spotted the whales pretty much as soon as we got out into the ocean and followed them for about 3 hours.  They are only on the surface for like 30 seconds at a time then they are under water for about 10 minutes then back up.  I got to see the fins of them mostly, not really the whole whale.  Even if I didnt see any whales it was really cool to go out in the ocean on a big boat and see something other than the city.  After whale watching I just hung around until the girls got out of work and did a little grocery shopping.

Saturday I had to work :(  My first weekend I have worked and it wasnt that bad, just really slow and boring.  I pretty much just played on the computer the whole time and ran some errands for the hotel but most of all I just looked for jobs and apartments in Colorado, booked our dinner on a pirate ship, and talked to people on facebook. A very successful day of work id say.  After work I met up with the girls and we went to a korean bbq restaurant.  It was awesome.  You cook all your own food, they bring out plates of raw meets and veggies and then a table top grill and you cook your own food.  Then Sarah stayed over because her roommates were really loud..so we had a sleepover :)

Sunday I had to work again and it was the same, boring, and slow.  Surprisingly the day goes by pretty fast though.  It is fun because the girls I work with are awesome and we have a lot of fun together and there are no managers so its pretty laid back.  After work I just sat around, made spaghetti for dinner and went to bed early, I get to sleep in tomorrow so I am ready for a good nights sleep.

Tuesday, November 9th & Wednesday, November 10th

Tuesday- I had to go back to work, but it wasnt too bad.  The day went really quick, which is good because it is my parents last day here. :(  I met them after work and we went for seafood with Sarah and Steph.   Dad has been looking forward to this since he got here, so have I.  It was sooooo good.  Then we went for gelato (for my parents 2nd time of the day and their last).  It was a sad night because they were leaving but they are ready to get home.
Wednesday- I got up super early to have breakfast with my parents before work.  Our last meal together before they head back to the states :(  We skyped with Kristi (which was great to talk to her .. i miss her just a little bit)  and i think we talked my parents into getting another dog ;) (even tho I am going to be moving out..oh well).  We said our goodbyes :'( and I went to work.  It was so great to have them here.  I am so glad they came, it really broke up my trip.  I was gone for a month when they got here and I get home in exactly a month from when they left.  It was sad saying goodbye but I know they are ready to get home and I know this next month is going to go by so fast, which makes me sad because I dont want to leave here but I am very ready to start my next adventure, which is in the works ;)

Monday, November 8th

Today we went to the Blue Mountains.  It was AMAZING.  Another early morning pick up but we slept on the bus.  We went to the Featherdale Wildlife Park where we were able to play with the kangaroos.  You just walk into the park and they are just hoping around and you can feed them and pet them.  It was awesome, they are so cute.  After the wildlife park we got back on the bus and went to a look out to see the Blue Mountains - did you know that the Blue Mountains are really blue . they get their color from the eucalyptus.  We went to a few look outs and then had lunch at a beautiful golf club.  After lunch we went on a walk thru the rainforest.  Our tour guide knew so much about the history of Australia and the rainforest .. it was so educational.  On our last lookout stop we had champagne and had the best view of the mountains .. that view can never get old.
We got home pretty early and then went to Nando's for dinner and then my parents came to my apartment for the use of my washer and dryer.  It was an early night for us!

Sunday, November 7th

Today we had another busy day planned.  My parents and all 5 of us girls went to breakfast at Pancakes on the Rocks (where my parents have eaten at now 3 times) and then we went to the Tarongo Zoo.  It was amazing!!! The zoo overlooks the city so while you are looking at some amazing animals, like the elephants and giraffes, you also get an amazing view of the harbour, the opera house, and the bridge.  Its unbelievable.  We saw baby elephants, wallabies, giraffes, a seal and a bird show, and KOALAS! I love zoos and so does my mom so we had a lot of fun there!

After the zoo my parents, Sarah and I went to the Entertainment Center at Darling Harbour for the recording of the Hillsong Church’s CD.  They played some really good music and had great worship time.  The theater was PACKED, thousands of people came and it was fantastic.  Now its time for bed, preparing for another long day tomorrow.  Cheers.

Saturday, November 6th

Today we went to Hunter Valley for a wine tour.  It was an early morning and a long drive on a rainy day but it was still a lot of fun.  We went to 5 different wineries, a cheese shop and a chocolate shop.  We had atleast 5 different wines at each winery so after the first 3 we were starting to feel it a little. Lol I had never been to a winery so it was really cool to see how they make the wines and all the vineyards.  We also saw Kangaroos in the wild. It was neat to look out into the fields and see little kangaroos jumping around.  After all the wine and only buying one bottle of a raspberry dessert wine (so I can bake with it) we heading home and ordered a pizza and mom and I took a nap.  It was a LONG day!

Wednesday (3rd)-Friday(5th)

Sorry I have been MIA.  It has been so much fun having my parents here the past few days.  I have had to work everyday but they have been able to walk around and see the city during the day and then we go out for dinner and walk around a little more at night.  They are getting their exercise here :)
We mainly have just been seeing the area. I have been showing them the places that they wouldnt have found just being here a week, like Hyde Park (its a really nice park in the middle of the city) and the QVB (Queen Victoria Building, which is a HUGE indoor mall that is just amazingly decorated).  It has been fun to be their tour guide, since I am the new weekend concierge at the hotel I need to be able to do this.
Thursday after I got off work I met my parents and we went to the Aquarium.  I had been wanting to go there since I first got here but noone ever wanted to go with me so I made my parents go with :)  It was a lot of fun and there was a shark tunnel you walk thru and they are swimming around you, really neat.  After the aquarium we had a really good dinner at Tony Roma's and caught up on EVERYTHING!!
Friday my parents met me at work and I was able to show them around the hotel, they got to meet my bosses and co-workers, and finally meet my roommate (she has been working nights so she hasnt been around).  Then we walked around my work.  I have not explored that area (Potts Point) yet so we were able to walk around and see what was there.  It was raining so we didnt explore too much but Sarah met us for dinner and then we walked home and watched tv while eating our desserts that we had picked up from a cute bakery.  It has been a really nice, relaxing week with my parents.  Its nice that during the day they get to do stuff while I am working so when I get off of work we are all tired and hungry so we eat and just hang out.  It works out perfectly.

Tuesday, November 2nd

Today I was actually excited to go to work because I knew once work was over my parents were going to be here :)  Work was so slow because it was the Melbourne Cup (Horse races) and everyone was watching them so noone was really calling or coming into the hotel.  I still had a lot of errands to run and things to do to make time go some what fast.  Once I finally got out I like practically ran home to see my parents.  I went straight to their hotel and they were waiting outside for me.  It was so nice to see them, its only been a month but still it seems like forever.
We walked to the harbour so they could see the Bridge and the Opera House.  Then we had dinner right on the water at a cafe, which was really good.  After dinner we walked back to Darling Harbor, by their hotel and I showed them around a little so that they had an idea of what was by their hotel for when they wonder while I am at work.  Sarah met up with us at Darling Harbor and we got Gelatissimo (gelato) for dessert, Sarah and my favorite place.  We went back to my parents hotel room to see if there was anything good on TV and to figure out the phone situation (I have a phone here now so I can not receive text messages here, yayy) and caught up on life.  It is now time for bed, a long day of planning at work tomorrow with Adrian (the concierge at the hotel, who gets me discounts of trips) as to what I have to see with my parents while they are here.  SO HAPPY MY PARENTS ARE FINALLY HERE!!!

Monday, November 1st

Today was a pretty boring day.  First day in Concierge, which is a lot better than housekeeping.  I got to walk all around the hotel, run errands, help guests, learn about the local area, and play on the computer.  It makes the day go by a lot quicker.  We had a fire safety class for 2 hours and then I got to leave.
We got tickets to the X Factor again so I was going to walk there but it was pouring rain so I had to resort to getting a cab (which I hate doing, I'd rather walk).  Enrique Inglesias (sp?) sang as well as Mike Posner. It was really cool to see them, where last week there were 2 people from Australia that I had no idea who they were.  It was a lot of fun, despite the rain.  The walk home wasnt bad until after we got our Mexican food for dinner because then it started to POUR! We were completely soaked once we got back to the apartment, even with umbrellas and hoods.  It was a lot of fun anyway!