Peter Rabbit? Cameron Nadler.

Sleep is a very important thing. I decided that I needed sleep more than I needed exercise this morning. Turned out to be a good call as the day was filled with much physical straining on my behalf.

The famed annual team building workshop was today at Buck's Rock. We were split up into teams and told to do things like form a shortest to tallest line blindfolded, and fall backwards off tables. It was great. I got to COMPRESS THE ZIPPER once more.

This year however, instead of the rope swing, I tried to climb the diamond shaped ladder with very little success. I found considerably more success with the triangular tightrope course. There were 2 tightropes starting at the same tree, each heading outwards to a new tree forming about a 45 degree angle. You had to work with a partner by leaning on them as you both made your way across the tightrope. The distance between the two of you would increase with every step.

I managed to score Royce for my partner; the tallest man at camp. We got the furthest. Booyeah!

Worked a little on computer names and set up for the orientation booklet in Pub today. We got cracking on paper orders and such. What I like about Pub this year is having established relationships with Bob, Ian and Emma. All three work so incredibly differently to one another that its great to step back and appreciate it.

Not much accomplished but I was gearing up for Cutthroat Island.

Each year, the staff play a game which can only be described as an extremely violent version of Simon Says with a nautical theme (to celebrate all the team building we have accomplished). Last year I was the first person out. This year, I savagely clawed my way to fourth place. It was ruthless. I ended up trying to maul the guy who beat me to third. It was awesome.

Then came the staff party. The way staff parties work here are simple:

a) Get the bus

b) Get shit-faced

c) Dance

d) Get the bus home

e) Shag everyone in sight

The order of the above steps depend on which staff party you go to. For instance, steps e and d are reversed for the final staff night out. Or course, the drinks assist everyone in achieving all checkpoints. And some peeps are better than others at achieving all objectives but there you have it.

I managed to bounce for a solid hour on the dance floor, by which time my skin held an extra stratosphere of sweat. It was not pretty.

I came home on the early bus, which is uncommon for myself. But I did enjoy having the bathroom to myself for a calming shower before bed time.

Fruit of the Moment: McFimi

That would be really unfair on the horse

Bob took us yard sale hopping this morning in beautiful downtown New Milford. I got the comics above for $11.

Ian, more importantly took us to Starbucks afterwards. Rebecca and I were forever thankful and I bought a travel mug from the 1950's.

PubShop today needed the setting up of the computers and the installation of the softwares and the protection of the admin passwords and the solving of the wireless peripherals battery life issue.

Meanwhile I caved in and ate like a 14 year old all day. I was also anxious to discover I fell victim to either poison ivy or loads of bed bug bites centralized in the foot area. Time and itching shall tell.

This evening was Coffee House. Its an annual Buck's Rock informal talent show in which Marie always refuses to sing and then ends up singing two songs. Quilty played one song and I read my favorite children's book; Where the Wild Things Are to the staff. When I had them all participate in the wild rumpus, I screamed STOP at the top of my vocal chords while jumping on top of a chair. The noise went from deafening to a hall of complete silence. Nice.

Post Coffee House, I played a few confusing games of Mancala with Set builder Noah followed by an amazingly epic 3 hour game of 6 player Chinese checkers that lasted until 2am.

Fruit of the Moment: Good Times Noodle Salad

Ian is fixing the door with Bob

Ah, the day of cleaning. Here at Buck's Rock everyone gets to clean their shop on the first official working day. I was surrounded by go getters and it was quite serendipitous.

Last night, I managed to both visit the local drinking haunt Barringtons with Cameron McFee and his cohort AND stay up until 3:3oam with the gang at the Four Seasons to commemorate the opening of Buck's Rock 2010. There was much talking of the shit and attempted push ups.

Today, I managed to somehow survive on 2 hours sleep. I tried the run around camp, running much further than I had ever ran last year, but falling about 100m short of the camp entrance upon return.

I also discovered the cookies here. I had around 12 I'd guess. But then again, I probably haven't been eating enough. I will need to adjust this so I'm not starving come 3pm again.

This afternoon we named our Pub shop computers. They are all after villains. Mine Computer's name is Olaf.

This evening was a famed trip to WALLMART. I got me a trolley full of crap I don't need. Huzah for crap I don't need; Huzah!

I wan bed so bad right now I cant even think straight. Barnaby and my computer equipment has finally been transferred down to Pub where they belong.

Tomorrow shall bring saturday morning Connecticut yard sales :)

Fruit of the Moment: The Return of the Vanilla Yogurt Coated Pretzels

Are you SERIOUS? This is a PUBLIC ROAD!

The happy dance of happiness once again dances its awesome dance of joy.

A day of pure happiness. Joy, laughter, tears, surprise, amazement and other awesome emotions were at every turn and I kept on turning the corner.

Today, I entered Buck's Rock.

Today, I returned home.

Yael and Marion drove us to camp and I was on the verge of spontaneously combusting upon arrival. Mickey the camp director had to emerge from his office to see what all the jumping and screaming was about. He understood the commotion the second he saw me running towards him like a steam train that runs at it's boss.

I have a new room mate from England. His name is Michael. He is yet to replace Roomie Rob as the most awesome room mate that ever room mated with moi. But he's a high school teacher in textiles and cooking. He's like the first male Batik counsellor in like, forever. Thus, a Boytik.

Marion and I are committed to the anti late night snack community of dieters. We figure eating lucky charms at 11pm is a little over kill. So when we go to 11pm snack, instead of joining in with the sugar we will drink only tea. Tomorrow I'm buying supplies from WALL MART for a sticker chart. We will get a sticker on the chart every day we commit to the goal.

Mickey lead a whole staff meeting tonight, where he opened the microphone for people who wanted to describe what Buck's Rock was. I of course made a big fool of myself with a whole bundle of sentimental sentiments strung together. To be fair, when last year I found this creative utopia, I was forever transformed.

It was amazing to see everyone I loved from last year along with awesome new people to get to know, all condensed into the space of 2 hours.

And, there's quite a few new nice looking men walking around camp this year. And the shallow part of my brain got excited.

And as nice as Man Candy is, It 'aint really a top priority on this trip of mine. I doubt any bat for my team anyway.

I am unpacked. I am signed in. And Life is fabulous.

Fruit of the Moment: Veggy Tofu Jambalaya

Which idiot stapled your passport?

You will need to forgive my lack of muli timezone juggling skills.

I understand it has been more than 24 hours since my last post, but its like 8am here in LA atm. So technically I've got no clue whats going on.

Leila and I drove our way into Sydney from Wollongong after getting up at an hour that caused my balance to wobble. The car ride was cork free. I felt however there needed to be more cork. Oh well, there shall be much cork on my return, hopefully.

Check in lasted for ever. I was behind two teens who had brought a surfboard with them. Not your average garden variety sized board, but one massive mother fucker. Anyway it took ages. So I had time for the most delicious cookie I've ever had with a coffee before boarding the 14 hour flight to LA.

OH! The surfers just walked passed me. Inconsiderate teens. And our flight is now delayed, so no broadway for me tonight.

The flight went super fast. Perhaps it was the personal television screen with remote control access to like a gagillion different films/tv shows/games. I caught up on so many movies and shows the time flew past like it was 13 hours. I think the highlight was Robin William's impression of Christopher Walken in a porn film. Had me in stitches.

What wasn't very funny was the guy two rows up from me who nearly died from some kind of heart malfunction. Turns out, there were three doctors onboard. One was sitting directly behind him.

Now, Im reduced to more waiting around in flip flops until the flight takes off for New York.

Fruit of the Moment: Mrs Fields

You eat cucumber?

As it turns out, I slept the entire way from LA to NY. And now I have the grotty hasn't-shaven-this-weekend beard.

I recall an American waking me up at one point to yell at me because my chair was in the recline position. I seem to recall, shifting the chair up without an argument and went back to sleep. I did manage to wake up on touchdown with the chair reclined back again without having been told by staff to put it up... So whatever.

I got me some change from a Starbucks employee who recommended the blueberry muffins and then, found a payphone to call Yael and Marion. Who had offered me their home.

Turns out, New York hotel prices for one night are astronomical. Seriously. It was going to cost around $400 US to book a room for one night. I found I had to swallow my pride of independence to phone a friend and stay at theirs.

A cab ride to Grand Central Station and a train ride to random suburb of Connecticut. (It ends with a 'dale' ?) Something anyhew.

Sleep will be welcoming.

Fruit of the Moment: You-leave-the-country-for-24-hours-and-there's-a-new-prime-minister

his own issues

When, this morning my computer refused to burn a Thirsty Merc CD, I was thrown into a fit of irrational flusteredness. Add to this a missing USB and leaving 30 minutes late for work without previously mentioned USB or CD and you have yourself the beginnings of an awful Monday.

The Monday-itis however started to clear when there was no traffic on the roads. It continued to clear when in getting to work, Clive (my computer) once again behaved himself.

The day became almost amazing when special guest star Mr Wednesday himself made an appearance in a new belt and a nice, crisp ironed business shirt as always. You could have knocked me down with a feather. It was like Wednesday, but on a Monday. As the climatic conclusion to our workplace interactions, he gave me a short friendly farewell hug. My sister asked if he smelt nice. I didn't notice. He felt oddly squishy tho.

Traffic on the way home was even better. BEST traffic day evah!

Louise and I stormed around the kitchen making a vegetable pie farewell feast for myself and Veronica and Auntie Maureen and Brendan.

Veronica sells Mary Kay products. And for some reason in the past week, I've felt the need to look after my skin a little better than doing nothing. So after an uncomfortable facial due to the chair being too high and a stiff neck on my behalf and an AMAZING hand massage, I purchased my first facial moisturiser and night time replenishing gel. What was beyond brilliant is getting the satin hands hand cream sample as a free gift!! SATIN HANDS!

Maureen, Veronica and I managed to talk about my lack of Boyfriend(s) while Louise and Brendan were with Link at his Puppy pre-school graduation. They gave me the same advice my Mother always gives me. And just like the allocated stereotype, It made more sense coming from someone other than my mother; The woman whom society tells me to oppose at every turn. Get out more. Do a course. Meet new people. Okay. Sounds like a plan. Oh wait, America. Bugger.

And what of the cork? Still plugged in that stubborn wine bottle. Rest assured if that incompetent waiter ever gets around to removing it while i'm not in Aussieland, i'll know within a matter of minutes. Or at least expect to.

My late night evening was spent baking my last batch of anything for the next three months. I made strawberry and vanilla daisy cupcakes and they look scrummy. The strawberry syrup I made from scratch is a little overwhelming and the left over sauce is in the fridge for Louise to find.

Thanks for being man enough to hug me goodbye Brendan. And I'll miss you Louise. Lots and Lots.

I ALSO FOUND MY USB on the floor of my room. Under my hiking shoes. The obvious place to look.

Fruit of the moment: smile.