Rapunzel's Flowing Locks

Long time no update. Here goes a rundown of the last 2(ish) months... first semester is finished, which is nice- waiting on grades but I have high hopes. The school here is like a draconian caricature of what Hollywood imagines 1950's American boarding school is like (think dead poets society, I dont care if my dates are wrong, shush). But the breakdown is that every class has a final that is worth no less than 55% of the total grade, and they are, of course cumulative. FURTHERMORE, the classes are proctored by dried up old husks of humans who troll around the classroom ensuring that you don't have answers written on the inside of the label of your water bottle, and that your cellphone is not within 50ft. These (and more!) rules are written about 15 different times, explained by said human husks (with threats laced in for trouble-makers) so by the time you get your test you have forgotten you're not in jail. Ok it wasn't too bad, but it was a new experience. Good news however is that the law classes are all take-home essay finals and I am receiving exceptions for most of my business classes, but more on that later. The law final this semester consisted of a paper discussing the impact of the lack of a 'bill of rights' in the kangaroo constitution (I mean aussie). The reason I bring this up, is that there is really no way that the judiciary can review legislation upon merit in the australian system, so how can the rights of the people be protected?!?! Well long story short, the supreme court DID rule yesterday upon the civil rights of the 'bikies' (the adorable name they have given the hells angels, nomads, etc.) were being impinged upon by the government. About 2 years ago they enacted a law making it illegal to wear colors (gang stuff to you, if you're not Street like me), ride around in groups, and basically all the stuff it involves to actually be a bikie gang. So the law was found to violate their basic freedoms *(which are NOT guaranteed by the constitution). It's an interesting concept, and when I get my grade back I will let you know if I am full of shit, or I may know what I am talking about. Moving on.
Leah and I gained, and lost, then gained a roommate, so back to 3 of us in the apartment.(sans animal count of 3!!) We have a kitten:

her name is Chili and she came into SASH (Leah's work) at 3 weeks old, in some shitty comvination of hypoglycemic AND hypothermic coma with a heavy flea debt. But, she powered through it and from 400 grams she's nearly 1.5kg. (for my american homies that's like 60lbs or something) However! Just in case anyone is worried, here's an update from #1 best super pet The Sumlibat Bear Dog:

She is doing well by all reports, although I suspect she is getting spoiled relentlessly.
Other news, Leah has finished her masters and is on the hunt for a job. We're really going to push for it after next week, but we have a little vacation planned down to Batemens bay, where it's been averaging 1-2 degrees C. I am not feeling up to swimming at those temperatures, but there is plenty of hiking to do! Leah got a raise at her veterinary job, nice to be recognized for your efforts even if there is a new profession in the cards. (p.s. anyone who needs a masters of commerce distinction level employee I know where to find one!)
On my side it looks like I may have a job with a tech company here (thanks paul) so keep your fingers crossed. School doesn't start until August 2 so I am kind of at loose ends. (Read: broke!) Not really, but it will be nice to have money coming in.
Additionally I have spent this break working on my partner visa, which as some of you no-doubt know, is a process. Yesterday I went to the Newtown PD to get finger printed- you have to time it just right b/c their fingerprint machine is in their lock-up and you can only get fingerprinted (*without breaking the law) when no-one is in the holding cells. So I got a first class tour of the local pokey for only $42 dollars. That being done, my prints were signed and sealed by a police officer no less than 2m tall and sent off to the FBI to make sure I don't have any federal warrants (again fingers crossed those drug mule charges were dropped, right? JK mom).
So that leaves me with a wait of 'up to' 6 weeks to get my physical and for Leah and I to polish our(my) visa application. Basically that's about that for the visa- we went to a free information seminar at Mac yesterday about visas that didn't apply at all to partnership visas and was basically a sales pitch by a law firm, and the lawyer was so dry, boring, and pompous, AND spent much of the time playing 'cover my ass' about the information that I wonder about law as a profession. Even had any of the presentation been applicable to my situation there was not really anything that was not easily available on the interwebs.
We did however make the trip worth while as I was able to secure my first exception from a class. This doesn't sound like much, but at $3.5K a class I feel like I saved 3500 bucks yesterday. I have 7 more to go but, having met with the first exception officer, I am confident that I can get all the available credit. So yeah, yay for me right?
Ok, it's Saturday and Leah's off to work at noon and I am going to run the Iron Cove (sounds cooler than it is) so everyone keep your tips up!


Otherwise things are good. this post is long enough. good day

WINTER BREAK! almost.

I am starting this while i get ready for my last class before winter break. There is a lot going on, so let's see what I can get through. My parents will be here on Tuesday, I hope their flight is less hell than mine. Soccer is a no-go for this season, my legs are shot. My women's team is showing marked improvement but we are still searching for our first win, I hope to hunt it up this weekend. I have a solid offer to be a swimming instructor if I want it, still holding out for something more useful in the future, so I'll let ya'll know.
I thoroughly thrashed the class average on the maths test, which was nice. And everything else seems to be going swimmingly. (ha ha swim pun...ehhh)

I have many diatribes, but I will keep it short. I have found that itunes pipes american online radio stations- which is awesome. I'll upload some pictures later.

I made soup

It's been a while, and I have lots of news. First and formost- I made soup...it's alright.(barley, carrot, potato, chicken, vegstock)

I am back to soccer practice tomorrow, which is exciting I have been running around a bit and my leg is feeling much better so lets hope it stays sound. We won the first game of the season on saturday so we're off to a good start. The girls team I coach had a trial game on sunday, and despite some very solid play we lost 1-0. It could be forgiven however as last night was the pubcrawl for the men's & women's teams, everyone (myself included) was feeling a bit slow today.
I had my first welcome(back) to college moment last week when I spent many, many, many hours studying for a finance maths test and I just felt I wasn't getting it. However, in the 50,000th hour of study it all started to make sense and I feel confident it went well... I find out my score tomorrow morning so finger crossed. This school stuff actually takes a dedicated amount of time and I have started treating it like a job- where I get up and put in x number of hours a day until it's done. Now I only have 1 paper, and one test before fall(spring) break when I get to see my parents and take a couple weeks away from class.
In addition to wrapping up the first half of the first semester I am hoping to get some training time in helping out with the swim teaching at university. It's the next step in becoming Austswim certified so that I can teach swimming and go back to work, sadly. I passed the written test last week and now I need to observe and help out until I feel confident to take my own class and get graded for that and my lesson plans.

Ok that's enough for now- I am going to post some pictures that i have stored up then get back to homework.. have a great week everyone.

Wow... 13 days

Sorry it's been 13 days everyone.. I am sure not a single person minded, but I was trying not to miss a day. So I will start again.
Leeeetsss seeee... We're comfortably moved in, I have figured out the train schedule to school and the weather is finally cooling enough that I am not getting heat-stroke on a daily basis.
I am on the Mac Uni super league team (go look up the divisions, i don't understand it myself), and I am coaching the 5th division women's team. The social team, which I am sure the girls thought it would be a lot more fun and less running... but we changed that last weekend. Those of you who have ever run for Coach Covell (senior) know about some of the brutal runs we did last week.
Then i (again) pulled my hip flexor and it looks like i am laid up for about 3-4 weeks... So no more running for a bit.
Other than that things are going swimmingly, I have realized how much time school actually takes, but it is nice to get assignments done. (and even better than a job where your boss takes all the credit)
Leah's still putting up with me, so that's a good sign. Paul came to the rescue about wifi internet- so while we still don't have a home based internet, but now I dont' have to beg borrow and steal the internets from around town (and school)
I will take some pictures of the house tomorrow for posts. But it's 10 and I am going to hit the bed.
G'night ya'll

Almost 5 weeks

Time has been flying by! Some good news today, I was able to get into the upperlevel law class... I just need to talk to the professor to make sure I am going to be up to speed.
Additionally I have been asked to play for another team as well - so mu schedule is filling up. OK good night.

Bring on the pain

Training is getting intense. It takes me back to 2-a-days in high school, not as hot out but much more humid. There is a new american guy trying out for the team... from fort collins so that's pretty interesting. The American guys are all under 21, so they are really loving the workouts after drinking all night. And leah ran 10.5k's at the gym tonight, so we're both hurting.
Additionally we're headed to a very bonding night, as we both have stomach aches... maybe.
I got some new shoes in the mail for my bday from the parents! So thanks guys.
We are slated to move on friday! I am excited for many reasons, also very ready to get out of this house!
Ok talk to everyone tomorrow

I Say, NO to pilates

At least, that's what i say to Leah when she tries to get me to go to pilates.

Had the first practice with the team i am coaching. They need lots of work, mostly in the form of conditioning training- so running time. Also- I am apparently 'Jonny' again thanks to some of the guys I coach with... grrr

Good night.