Sub Zero!

Today is Wednesday, the 5th of May. My how the time flies! Well, I think last I left off I was in the process of moving in to Unit 11 in Kangaroo Point. I was also on my way to Big W to buy a fan. Now please, if you will, imagine Brisbane for a moment. Hot, muggy, 27 degrees, IMPOSSIBLE to sleep without some sort of air agitating device present. Now, picture my face when I walked up to Customer Service after a long and fruitless search. "Excuse me, where might I be able to find a fan?" I asked politely. The large woman behind the counter chuckled jovially, "Not this time of year honey, it's winter!!" All I could do was sputter in disbelief. Despite being in the depths of winter in Australia (pause to roll eyes) I never thought I would say this but I actually miss the cold. I miss rugging up in an oversized sweater (jumper) and woolly blanket (duna) and the numbness of my cheeks when I've been out in the cold for too long! I can't believe I have been here for 6 months already! Things have changed erratically once again so I will fill you in. I have got a new job (my fourth in 4 months!) at Pareto Phone. We are a fundraising company and do a lot of work with a variety of Australian charities. I am campaigning on 3 at the moment. Life Flight (the equivalent of Stars Air Ambulance in Edmonton), Canteen (Camps for adolescents suffering through cancer) and my FAVORITE (NOT!!) Green Peace (an organization which takes direct action to prevent environmental crimes like whaling and pirate fishing.) My job is to phone potential donors, explain the values of the charity and ask them for donations. The job comes with the good - I was calling on Green Peace and an elderly woman donated and then asked how she could send a little gift along for me to keep me motivated to the BAD - on the same campaign I spoke to a man named Mr. Snowball (I kid you not) who asked me what PARROT fishing was repeatedly and then said he had to go because he was right in the middle of his whale burger. (Gasp!) One of the really great things about the job with Pareto is that, because the wage is so good, I've been able to quit Strike Bowling and have most of my weekends free to do whatever I please. I've even decided to pamper myself this weekend coming with a pedicure, a back massage, and a new hair do! As well, I have started Biggest Loser - Unit 11 : Kay, Ziby, Magda and I are all looking to shed a few pounds (or Kilos) and have started training and dieting - so far I've been quite good (I am choosing not to count the 3 consecutive roast beef dinners I ate in a drunken stupor last Saturday night!) Whoever loses the most weight at the end of the 6 week weigh in gets 100 big ones so the pressures on. I've got a couple of big weeks ahead - Luke's birthday on Saturday at the Jade Buddha, then on the 21st of May I'm flying to Melbourne for the weekend. Anyways, it's time I get going here but I will do my best to keep you all up to date on my comings and goings. Love your comments as well, they make me happy! I miss you all so much. xxx Claire