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| Wednesday, December 27th, 2006 | | 1:53 pm |
Gidday
Hi there! Just an message to say hello, and to catch up with you all. First off, Merry Christmas! I hope that u all had a fantastic day and that you all got totally spoilt! Also, Happy New Yrs to, I hope 2007 brings all your hopes, dreams and wishes true. So - whats new? I would love to hear your news, and whats going on with you. Life is very busy with me - the past month especially. I have now offically finished my Customs training and working hard. Im working at Auckland Airport. Its really cool! Very busy, its a buzzy atmosphere, with heaps going on and the shifts go quick. I work 6 days on, and 3 off. I do some pretty crazy hrs, some of them night shifts - but its not to bad. Everyone is really nice who I work with and im still learning things every day. I had my graduation a couple of weekends ago, which was really fun - my Mum came up for it. And we had a ceremony followed by a formal dinner and then went into town. The same weekend I moved into a lovely little flat! Its a cute 2 bedroom unit in Mt Wellington. Im flatting with a workmate Sharon, and we really love it there. Its very tidy, new, and in an absolutly perfect area. There are shops everyone in the area, and we are near Syliva Park Mall. Its also convenient to work at the airport, about 15 km and its very direct, and not bad traffic. Excellent! So my new address is: 3/38 Bertrand Road Mt Wellington AUCKLAND. I will also get a landline on soon, and will keep you posted. Then I can also finally have net access at home again! So life has been just finishing training, moving all my stuff up from Chch, moving into a new flat and buying everything for it, and starting my new job properly. I havent had much time to breath or relax, but now everything is settled down, and I can FINALLY settle into making a go of everything up here, and getting on with life. I spent xmas day working and sleeping as im on night shifts this week, but had a lovely meal and caught up with a couple of friends so that was good. I do have New Yrs off, but im not sure yet what ill do for it. I hope you are all fine, and happy and having loads of adventures. I would love a call, txt, email to hear how you are going! Also - I really need a list of everybodys birthdays, so if nothing else please email or whateva back with your birthday! I bought a lovely BDay book I want tof fill..... Anyways, BIG HUGS and all my love, -KERI xoxoxoxoxoxox Current Mood:  tired | | Sunday, November 5th, 2006 | | 9:44 pm |
One Hundred BAGAZILLION
One Hundred BaGaGillion is how much I *LOVE* Sarah for kidnapping me 2nite. AND bringing along cool friends who really cheered me up. I needed it after my afternoon and how I had been feeling all weekend. Saah, u are truely the bestest. Luv u long time xoxo Current Mood:  grateful | | Sunday, September 10th, 2006 | | 10:29 pm |
| | Saturday, September 9th, 2006 | | 10:27 pm |
Training so far
Hi there peoples. Just a quick update how stuff is. I have had a hugely busy and insane 3 weeks in Wellington for my Customs training. It was long days, and information over-load but tons of fun. I just got back to Chch tonight. We stayed at NZIC - a campus in Upper Hutt and it was basically a halls of residence. There were 30 of us - 16 girls and 14 guys. Everyone got on really good, and I have made some choice friends - it made the whole thing easier! Dynamics are interesting when you throw 30 people who don't know each other and expect them to live and study together 24/7 for 3 weeks. So its a interesting way to make people bond! Very cool that we all got on so good. The topics were interesting, learning the structure and history and make up of Customs, and then all the intensive law stuff, and powers, and we had all sorts of weapons, drugs, intelligence etc modules and lessons. Also about searching bags and persons and cargo/craft etc. So I learnt a lot and it all sounds pretty exciting! All the tutors were excellent and the course was well run. And YES the drug guys came in with the dogs! 2 labs, a black and golden. Very cute and clever! I got cuddles and licks from the black one so that was cool! I learnt tons about what they do and how to get into it and the life style it involves. So im still insainly keen to get into the dog work down the track, thats for sure! We also did wicked self defense classes with a guy who trains all the military and correction officers and is ex police and he was amazing! We did some physical training sessions with the army, cos the Trenton Army camp was right across the rd, and that was scary and full on! A *lot* of achy muscles after those sessions I can tell you!! :( I tell you what, I would never survive the army! I had basically 4 days off over the 3 weeks and caught up with friends Carolyn and Sarah W and also went to Te Papa so that was cool. So thats the exteme basics about the course, if you want to know more, just ask. Now im back in Chch for four days. On wed I fly up to Auckland and start the on-job part of the training. We have 4 areas to train in: Inspections, Marine, Client Services and Airport. So the next 3 months (12 wks) involves spending 3 weeks in each of those areas. Im in Auckland for 3 of those 4, but will be in chch for 3 wks in November. Then I find out where and what my job they will place me in is. Most probably ill be moving up to Auckland. So thats where im at. Thats the update with training so far - its been a ball. And it is only going to get more full on from here. But id love to hear from you all about how you are and what your news is, so please feel free! Even if it is to say "hi". Please! Ill love to hear from you all. Im sorry this is babbly and un-informative and short, but im so extremely knackered and dead on my feet - ill sign off and go to bed. BIG HUGS and love, -Keri Current Mood:  drained | | Friday, August 18th, 2006 | | 9:01 pm |
Cute!
Im really impressed. I applied to a job with Antartic Centre to work with the penguins awhile ago. A couple of weeks ago I got a ph call to ask me to an interview - but by then I heard im in Customs so I told them "thanks but I cant". Today I got an email from them saying thanks for applying, sorry they never got to interview me, but good luck at Customs. They then forwarded a page about the 2 successful applicants. Who they are, what achievements they have had, and why they hired them. It was really lovely. I am impressed they made an effort to do something like that. And btw, the 2 who got the jobs - PERFECT. Very very qualified and I wouldnt have stood a chance. On the Customs note, I leave on Sun for the training!! 2 more sleeps, very excited :) Current Mood: impressed | | Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 | | 2:24 pm |
Customs
Just to further explain that last rushed email - I got into Customs :) It was a long long process and over 1000 applicants, so I am pretty stocked. I have spent this past week filling out forms, having dentists and doctors prod me and having blood tests and medicals...glad its all over! But im fit and healthy and ready to go :) I start 20th August - its a 3 weeks live in training thing in Wellington. And then I go to Auckland and do on the job training for at least another 3 months. I got my uniform yesterday - very smart :) So now I just have to wait till 20th Aug to start :0) In the meantime I am a lady of leisure in Chch (between a little temp work. However if anyone knows of anyone short staffed till end Aug....) That means if anyone is free and wants to catch up, id love to hear from u :) Oh, I also bought a new toy. I traded my old car in for a lovely 1997 Honda Civic which I am really really enjoying :) Luxury! Current Mood:  cheerful | | Thursday, July 13th, 2006 | | 5:33 pm |
Wicked!
Its been a huge long frustrating process....but finally! I GOT IN! :) For those who know me u will know what I mean. Choice! :) Current Mood: chipper | | Saturday, May 20th, 2006 | | 10:47 pm |
So, I *am* alive.....
HELLLLLOOOOO!!! Well I have been very slack at keeping in touch with a lot of you, and I apologise. Here is a quick update with what is going on with me. I finished up at Whale Watch the end of April. I did not want to stay around over winter because it gets very boring and there is not much work. So I moved back to Chch. I then went away for a 2 week holiday with a friend around Nelson and Golden Bay. I had never been in the area before so it was tons of fun. We went to pretty much everywhere between Kaikoura and up from Nelson to Farewell Spit. And did tons of stuff, a day walk in the Able Tasman and a boat trip, and a day tour on Farewell Spit. I caught up with Johnty in Nelson and my friend Gen in Mauria and also went to the west coast and Hanmer....tons! We got superb weather and it was a choice holiday. I am now still in Chch for another week and then moving up to Hamilton. I got a job with NIWA up there – doing pretty boring lab work. But it will be something different and it’s only for about 5 weeks. So at the end of June I finish up there. My plan after that is pretty random. What I want to do is join the next customs intake – and do the training with them. Down the track I want to end up working with drug/detector dogs. It could end up being something that could lead to tons of things and there is a lot of work, training and years to get through first. I am not sure ill even enjoy the beginning basic custom work – but we will see. So that’s my new plan, and I am not even sure if I will get into it yet – ill know by August. I am already missing the whales and the ocean and Kaikoura, etc. But I ca not do that forever – and finally I need to sort myself out. I will still keep working towards working back on the sea and with whales in the “perfect” job – but in the meantime this will be something I can do. So ill be in and out of Chch, and all around the country for the next few months, but as always I will have my cell ph and email :) There is a lot of people I want to know how you are and what you are doing – so all and every reply from you all will be greatly received. And if anyone is free this week for a catch up in Chch I am around and bored! As for other stuff well my family is all pretty good, and my animals. I loved my summer because I was in a different flat, and meet heaps of new people and did different things. I have caught up with a lot of old friends lately over past few months and there is more of you I want to see and hear from! So email me, replies garenteed :) Sorry this is a general update - ill try update a bit more over the next while. Anyway I want to hear from you all, so keep in touch! And keep the updates coming - I love knowing what you are up to - this LJ is the only way I keep in touch with some of you, I read it most days! Luv and Hugs as always xoxox Current Mood:  bored | | Tuesday, December 13th, 2005 | | 2:28 pm |
| | Sunday, November 6th, 2005 | | 12:25 pm |
A cute poem....
This is a cute poem I read today - there are certain people out there who may read this I know will appreciate it. You know who you are. xoxo --------------------------------------- I picked a star to wish upon from all the stars above... and closed my eyes and made a wish to send you all my love. So look up in the sky tonight and find one special star... The one that holds my wish to you, no matter where you are. And when you see that special star, my wish will come to you... for stars were made to wish upon, and wishes do come true!! Current Mood:  bouncy | | Friday, November 4th, 2005 | | 11:23 am |
Public Announcment
I just want to point out to anyone whos NOT sure,...that Hilarie is the best friend eva!! Even if she *does* make me cry by sending gorgous unexpected letters xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxo | | Tuesday, October 4th, 2005 | | 10:23 pm |
Have u ever....
Put an X if you've done them. (x) Slept all night in a bed with a person of the opposite sex. (x) Slept all night in a bed with a person of the same sex. (x) Slept for more than 12 hours. ( ) Missed a week of school or more. (x) Put chapstick on more than five times in an hour. (x) Kissed more than one person in a day. ( ) Kissed more than two people in a day. ( ) Created a MySpace survey. ( ) Eaten a worm. (x) Jumped on a trampoline. ( ) Ridden a unicycle. (x) Done something special for someone else. ( ) Stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant. ( ) Paid more than $50 for food at a fast food restaurant. ( ) Got caught for cheating on a test. (x) Brushed your teeth while on the phone. ( ) Worked in fast food. (x) Written a poem. ( ) Randomly called people out of a phone book. ( ) Put bananas in your Cheerios. (x) Dated someone more than two years older than you. ( ) Eaten frosting out of the original container. ( ) Had a dream about a MySpace friend. (x) Fallen in public. (x) Had your pants rip. ( ) Recently had a PB&J sandwich. ( ) Met your principal's parents. (x) Killed an animal. (x) Been prescribed to three or more medications by a doctor. (x) Wished you were an only child. (x) Been unproud of a decision you made. (x) Worked for a family member. (x) Made out in a car. (x) Been to a concert. (x) Gotten away with a lie to your parents. ( ) Been dumped the night of a dance and left without a date. ( ) Gone out with a person one of your parents set you up with. ( ) Ridden on a shopping cart in a Safeway. ( ) Went into a mini mart in socks. (x) Worn a tiara. (x) Gone to church more than two times in a week. (x) Worn five or more layers of clothing. (x) Had a stalker. (Sort of, if you know what I mean.) (x) Swam in clear blue water. (x) Sat in a doctor's office with a friend. (x) Ran across four lanes of traffic. (x) Made fish lips. (x) Kissed someone on the neck. (x) Taken pictures with a stranger. ( ) Been to Busch Gardens. (x) Made a public speech. (x) Made a smoothie or milkshake. (x) Had fun at work/school. (x) Watched a movie so often you could quote every word. (x) Listened to an old 'N SYNC or Backstreet Boys CD more than once in a day AFTER they were popular. (x) Kept something from a past relationship. (x) Given someone else a flower. (x) Taken a foreign language. ( ) Gotten to school at 6:15 in the morning. (x) Laughed for no apparent reason. (x) Wanted to meet someone you met online in person. Wow ive done a lot of these.....u guys? | | Saturday, August 20th, 2005 | | 12:30 am |
| | Friday, August 12th, 2005 | | 10:31 pm |
Im having a deliama
Here is the story - maybe you guys could offer advice. I am moving back to Kaikoura on the 28th August - thats basically 2 weeks away. Last week I found a flat on the internet. The flat sounds perfect, it is with 2 guys: a 24, and 30 yrs old. One of them came to Chch the next day, meet me, we went out for lunch. It went great - he is extremely lovely, and we got on well. I even ended knowing who he was (read below, he is in a band). I was very very excited! On that day I found out him and a workmate are friends. When she found out I was moving in with him a couple of days ago she gave me a warning. This guy got given 7 years in jail for rape....which also involved filming and a date rape drug (which he didnt give). Anyway he didnt do all those 7 years, and after jail moved straight to Kaikoura (about 3-4 yrs ago). My workmate is actually friends with him, but told me some storys about him from his past (in last 3-4 years) that are very troubling. Not just this one incident but other dodgy going-on's. Put it this way, neither of my parents are happy for me to move in with him, and if it was a friend of mine I know what I would be saying to her. Now this guy is a singer in a very well know band in Kaikoura - who do gigs all around NZ and at sea feast, and play at a local bar every nite. He is well known. I have never heard anything dodgy about him while I have lived there. And trust me Kaikoura is so little, tiny town, it would get around I would have thought. This workmate has no reason at all to lie to me. And this guy is now txting me heaps, being real friendly, and excited about the flatting thing. I get on with him great, and dont get a bad vibe from him. But I cant ignore what he has done before. So what do I do??! I shouldnt move into this flat with him should I? And what do I say to tell him I dont want to move in now? Do I confront him? I go in 2 weeks so have NO WHERE to live - stressful! Its not easy finding somewhere to live there, and flats are not to pleantifal. I also have not spoken to the other flatmate or know to much about him. And I just dont know what to do really. Advice? Current Mood:  distressed | | Sunday, July 24th, 2005 | | 10:20 pm |
Life
Well it has been a very long time since I have updated. So just a quick note. All is going well in Christchurch. I am loving working at Animates, and have learnt so much it is not funny. My workmates are wicked, and the days go fast. I really detest the sales side of things, and being stuck inside, but I havent gone quite as insane as I thought...yet. I went back to visit Kaikoura last week, which was so incredibly wicked. They want me back for the summer - on Sept 1st actually. So im seriously considering it. Wait and see. I just feel like I cant do this forever (whale watching), but what other options are there? I cant see me staying at Animates, in sales, even if I do something like management stuff (which is an option). I feel in limbo - everything I do is just "for now, while I sort stuff out. For the next few months". But I guess its all part of growing up and everyone else feels the same - dont they???? Aussie - Hervey Bay, never worked out as all the operators had the crew they needed for the season - oh well. And I have looked into America more for next year - and its still an option maybe. I also bought a cool tank and some fish! Im so excited and it looks FANTASTIC. Its a cute little Hexagonal tank, with 2 little Fantails (one called Cosmo and one called Manaia) and ill add some Mountian Minnows next week. Its very,very, cute. Sarah, your brother came in the other day btw and we had a huge chat and catch up - I hadnt seen him in ages. His tank sounds choice. My Mum has been away for the past 5 weeks, so ive been house sitting and looking after the cats. Ive never been in this house alone for so long and it sucked - especially at first. But theres a huge reason for that - the dogs arent here. But they are back next weekend - YAY! The dogs have been in a kennel cos Mum didnt want me to have the resonsibility of looking after them, plus I didnt really know what I was up to, if I was going away etc. But I have HATED not having them here - more than I can ever describe. The house is totally empty and wierd. But they will be back in a week - THANK GOD! Oh yeah, Mum to ;) We have 3 gorgous dogs for those who dont know - and they are my life. The youngest is only 6 months old, still a pup. Ive been keeping pretty busy and social and things otherwise are actually going pretty good. Anyway HUGS to ya all out there. Love reading ya updates, sorry I dont write often myself. | | Thursday, May 19th, 2005 | | 10:45 pm |
Answers to AJ....
Ok AJ, wicked questions - here are the answers :) (1) Whales. Do they have personalities and so forth, or is this just hippie propaganda? Evidence/experience either way? Hehehe well I totally think they do. The residents we have in Kaikoura have been coming back 12-14yrs in a row - so watching them every day for years on end you learn a lot about them. Some whales tend to do more activity, or hang out in a certain area, or certain whales tend to feed close together all the time. I do have a favourite whale - his name is Ti Aki. It means "The Guardian" and hes pretty special. He has been there 9-10yrs in a row, and one of the largest whales out there. He was with 4 other Sperm whales a few winters ago when Orca came into the area - he stood up to the Orca. Slapped his tail around etc and scared them away. So he deserves his name. He quite often comes up close to the boats, and he is known to do a lot of exciting activity. He is also well known for sleeping! We come across him asleep very often. If we ever come across a sleeping whale 99% of the time - its Ti Aki. So I guess we know there habits, and likes. So yes, I think they do! (2) What is your favourite, loud, fast, just-cut-loose dancing CD? Humm - thats a tough one. Ive been living the past 3 years in a little town with no radio station or good tv channels heheh so im kinda out of date. Some of my favourite let-loose dancing CDs are those mix ones - like NOW, 100% hits etc....But my favourite songs are always ones I can dance to!!! (3) People in your field often work very hard, building up very strong ties with animals, for very little financial renumeration, ever. When I see this on "The Zoo" and so on, it just looks like exploitation of people who love animals. Is it? To a huge extent - yes! We get paid shite really. We only get paid when the trips are running, so if its cancelled because of bad weather we dont get paid. But we have to sit around and wait - be on-call and ring up every 3 hrs to see if we are going. Which we dont get paid for. We cant leave town or go away. And also we work real long hours - 12 hrs a day, 6 days a week. Starting rate is like $10 an hr. Its basically a life style choice really. The more you get into research positions I guess the more it will be. But then again a huge majority of that is only voluntary stuff! So yeah, you are right. (4) What is, in your opinion, the most dangerous environmental threat facing us, and what should we do about it? Dont get me started! My answers are going to sound real clique but they are very real, and very true. Ill focus on threats to animals first, not humans. If you are talking on land, I think habitat loss. Half the reason so many animals are endangered are because of loss of their habitat. As for the marine environment - there are two things. -First is the rapeing of our oceans by trawlers. I totally totally disagree with this form of fishing. Its so harmful, unregulated, and more importantly not species specific. It hauls out every single thing that is in the area and thousands-of-millions of tons of sea birds, dolphins, sharks, wrong fish species, other sea life are dumped useless back into the sea, its senseless. -Second is pollution. Its amazing what goes into our oceans. Tons of waste, chemicals and rubbish goes into the ocean every day. And it IS starting to affect marine life. Two examples, in North America a Beluga whale washed up dead onshore - and it had to be treated as toxic waste because of the amount of toxins accumulated in its body - just from swimming in polluted water and eating polluted food. Two years ago in Queensland, a 8m long Brydes whale washed up dead onshore that had 6 square meters of plastic in its stomach - ive seen photos. Its disgusting. As for the biggest threat for humans I think its a combination of the above. Of wreaking our environment (the oceans, forests, atmosphere etc) and part of that is by pollution. What we can do is just protect what we do have left - we cant undo whats done. And education of people is a huge part of that. But it only takes a few to ruin it for all unfortunately. I could elaborate and go on forever but ill leave it at that for now. (5) Got a good recipe for biscuits that I haven't seen? Humm I dont bake much sadly - so no. I have a mean "Hot Chicken Salad" recipe which includes kumera, lettuce, tomato, cashew nuts, onion, chicken, .... let me know if it sounds like something you would like to try. Well, that was fun! :) Current Mood: cheerful | | Thursday, May 12th, 2005 | | 4:49 pm |
Guttered
I heard back from America yesterday - the Research whale job I was hoping for? Well....I got it. I was so excited and happy and .... wow. What an oppertunity! To spend winter in Maine out on the sea studying whales. Awesome. But then bugger it. I find out today that there is problem with work VISAS. That the US have given out the years quota of work visas and I cant go. They wanted me to start in 2 weeks! I cant describe how bummed I am. Current Mood:  crushed | | 4:43 pm |
Sorry so late Bushmango!
1. Did you ever get Kaikoura dancing? In my first yr I sure did, but once work got to busy, I got to lazy to organise and Christmas and New Yr came along, I never started it up again. It didnt help I had no guy to help teach with either. But I enjoyed what I did do. 2. Has spending so much time with wildlife made you more environmentally proactive? Definantly. I have been involved with DOC stuff, and Forest and Bird stuff....here and in Kaikoura. 3. Have you considered doing more study, or do you want to be out in the "real world"? Wouldnt mind doing more study. However earning money is great. And im not convinced doing post grad is going to get me a job more than the qualifications and skills I have now. 4. Would a (permanent) job have to include outdoors time for you to seriously consider it, having spent so much time at sea? I dont think I can stress how much I *need* to work on the ocean! Its an addiction. As strong as choclite. And I miss it. I cant handle office jobs...I tryed last winter! 5. How does your favourite night in go? Night in? humm good food, good vid, and good company? :) | | Thursday, May 5th, 2005 | | 10:34 pm |
For anyone interested
Apparently *very* friendly Orca just passed through Kaikoura and I missed it :-( I am sooooooo missing the ocean. Dont think I can handle not working on the sea! Find out in next couple of days if im off to America. And go into Animates tomorrow. PS my userpic doesnt do Kaiks justice. Current Mood: disappointed | | Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005 | | 10:20 am |
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