LOVE A HAND-ME-DOWN

9.37am - Friday 29th June 2007

There are dates that everyone knows: 25th December, 4th July (US), 25th April (AUS), 8th April (maybe not).

Now there is another date to care about, a date that will be known and remembered in history. (Or Not).

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!!

That day is finally here, Alleluia!!.

In this previous entry I spoke of Darren’s weird, somewhat obsessive passion for all things Apple, well today Friday 29th June 2007 marks the long awaited release of the much hyped Apple iPhone.

For the last month Darren has been keeping me up to speed with regular daily count downs, previews of the iPhone commercials that he has taken the time to download off the internet. Earlier in the week I was lucky enough to sit through “compulsory family viewing” of the iPhone online user guide.

The hysteria is not exclusive to the large 'geek’ population of San Francisco, it is nationwide. With a release time of 6pm it pains Darren to know that he will receive a call at approximately 3pm. Darren's mate in Florida will be calling to boast about his iPhone purchase at least 3 hours before Darren is capable of sharing the jubilation

I fear I am only a few hours away from Darren sending me to work.

My job description: To stand in a long line, counting away
the hours on the sidewalk of San Francisco.

My free labour would avoid the need to pay one of the many people advertising their services on Craigslist to stand in line for the iPhone release.
There are literally hundreds of ads on the web advertising their availability at costs ranging from $25.00 to $350.oo

Jun-27 IWait Overnight for Your IPhone - $350
Jun-27 Probably the best iPHONE line waiter in San Francisco - $200
Jun-26 Will wait in line for you at Apple Store Valley Fair for Iphone - $25

Crazy New Yorkers have been waiting in line for 3 days. So in reality Darren is only a mild fanatic, and won’t require specialist medical attention quite yet…

To be perfectly honest as I type away on my hand-me-down Apple Powerbook computer, I am excited in the knowledge that in a few short hours I will be conversing on my new hand me down Blackberry Phone.


8.15pm - Friday 29th June 2007

Although Darren’s original plan was to venture down to the store at 7pm hoping that the line would have diminished, he could not help himself, the anticipation was too much.

On our arrival at 6:30pm we were discouraged by a line that still extended around the corner and out of sight from the store.

But after a short 30 minute wait this video shows the excitement that greeted us.




I have entertained myself by stirring Darren with Shitz n’ Gigglz all day but I can appreciate his admiration for what he describes as "A Revolutionary Mobile Phone".

I’ll be eagerly awaiting the future upgraded models, the perfect opening for my next hand-me-down opportunity.

XX

Mel
Sent from Blackberry

HIP TO BE SQUARE

Last entry I expressed my elation at sighting one bear in Yosemite National Park, well imagine my excitement when witnessing over 400 gorillas running through Golden Gate Park.

DO NOT FEAR, it was not a frenzied mass of feral primates; there was no danger to our lives. A ‘whoop’ of friendly gorillas participating in the Great Gorilla Run, raising over 100K for the Gorilla Organization.



The Gorilla Organization is focused on saving the last 700 remaining mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo. Darren and I were volunteering at the event after I had met the events co-ordinator Margaret at another volunteering function.

It was very much ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ on our arrival into the park early last Sunday morning. Considering I have been told on more than one occasion that I strike a resemblance to Sigourney Weaver, I fitted right in. (It must be the hair).


There were Elvis Gorilla’s, Viking Gorillas, nipple pierced and dancing gorilla’s… there was something for everyone. This clip gives a good overview of the day.

We were looking through this photographers photos on flickr and Darren almost felt famous. There are some 500 pictures but if you have time or desire, you can play a fun game of Where’s Wally Dazza with the first hundred or so photos.

This past weekend, Darren had so much fun he was going to do a special guest contribution. Unfortunately he pulled out (deadline restrictions, or some lame excuse) so that leaves me….
That’s okay because I had fun as well.

On Friday, my Aussie volunteer friend Rachael invited us to have lunch with her fiancé at the Google Headquarters (Googleplex) in Mountain View.

The Google Offices have eleven restaurants on site, all offering free Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner to its employees and their occasional guests (like us).

I could not work in such an environment…. Continuous free food every day, I would self-destruct explode.

Maybe that is why there are company cruiser bikes outside every door - to work off each meal. The Googleplex is so large they supply these Cruiser bikes and electric scooters to get around the different buildings. Group exercise is also encouraged with the 7 seater conference bike. I couldn’t imagine having a serious meeting on the contraption but it was a lot of fun.


Luke lead us on an interesting tour of the complex. Due to security measures, photo opportunities were limited, however there are some good insider snaps on this Time Magazine website.

It is easy to see why Google has topped the Fortune magazine’s List of the “100 Best Companies to Work For.”. Everything they need is there on campus: doctor, dentist, hairdresser, masseur, fitness centre, carwash and a free laundromat.

Friday Review: 10/10 (A First-Rate Day)
-Cheap √
-New Experiences √
-FUN… and great ice-cream √

Saturday we were back in the city, the weather was pretty average compared to the sunshine that you would find in Silicon Valley, but it was ideal weather for a lazy afternoon. An outing to the nearby cinema for a matinee session of Ocean’s Thirteen was the order of the day.

Now this movie is the perfect example of my previous entry’s topic regarding setting the right expectation level. Had I not read any reviews for this movie my expectations would have been low and I probably would have left happy. You see, three years on, I am still waiting for my refund for ‘2 hours of my life back’ after watching Oceans Twelve.

With all the hype and reviews stating that Thirteen was the “Best Oceans Movie Yet” I was expecting more than just a bit of eye candy on the big screen.

In the words of Randy Jackson from American Idol:
“Yo Yo!! It was okay, it was just okay for me”

Saturday Review: 5/10 (A Mediocre Day)
-Cheap (Budget session time & a free pass) √
-Average Movie X
-Annoying little ‘yappers’ sitting next to me X

Considering how little our weekend had cost us so far…(I am including Friday - because to be honest Darren didn’t get a lot of work done) we were cruising along nicely.

Now, you could be excused for thinking my blog heading: HIP TO BE SQUARE relates to the thousands of little geeks running around the ultra cool Googleplex - but that wasn’t my intention.

It relates to our Sunday entertainment. Yesterday we continued our frugalous ways and cycled our way over to Stern Grove for their free Concert Festival….

Kicking off this annual festival was a blast from the past..

HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS

Darren was particularly excited to hear some of the old favourites:

• Power of Love
• Hip to be Square
• If This is It.
  

I must admit I wanted to hear Jacobs Ladder, a song I remember loving in primary school when I was 12, unfortunately it didn’t make the play list. It was fun day celebrating in the splendour of Stern Grove.

We danced along with the oldies and the youngies (a free event is good for enticing a real mixed crowd)

We gave some thought to our Dear Dads, as it was Father’s Day over here yesterday…
We Love you Dad's

Review for Sunday: 9/10 – (Couldn’t want for much more day)
- Free concert by a decent band (sure they may have had their day) √

It lost one point for not playing Jacobs Ladder. But hey it was enjoyable, and it was free so beggars can’t be choosers.

I will have to see what penny-wise activity I can find for next weekend.

These months of being unemployed are teaching me how to be a good bargain hunter, I have even found a 3 day a week volunteer gig that have offered to reimburse me in clothes and good ones at that. I am building quite the corporate wardrobe in preparation for my reinvention as a working woman.

Watch out WoodWoodsfrugalousfrills coming to a blog site near you.

Hey!! I’ve got the time.

I don’t think frugalous is a word…. But I like it!!!

Back to the subject of look-alikes. I was talking to my mum last night and we were discussing the movie “Just like Heaven” that was set in San Francisco.

Mum and I agreed that Darren reminded us of the lead actor, Mark Ruffalo - (More than just the hair).


Can’t say that either of us have been asked for autographs yet though.

XX

Mel

P.S.. Congratulations to my cousin Sarah and her husband Nathan, we have heard the exciting news that you are expecting your first child and we couldn't be happier for you both...Congrats Again.
Love Mel & Darren

DO BEARS REALLY LIKE HONEY?

There is a lot to be said about setting the right level of expectation, it really can make or break an experience.

The feeling of disappointment, when you resign yourself to the fact that the event you had placed so many high hopes on, simply did not live up to your expectations.
But Hey!! Let us not forget the sheer exhilaration when one’s expectations are thoroughly surpassed.

Now a couple of weeks ago I expressed my prediction that I would hopefully relive our trip to Yosemite (yo-sem-it-tee) in the same girly giggly voice that Darren used to recap his ride on the Top Thrill Dragster, well I can thankfully report that although our trip did not offer the same sweat dripping, adrenalin filled, fear of death that Darren enjoyed so much, we were blown away with the jaw dropping scenery and pure magical atmosphere of Yosemite National Park.

My expectations were definitely exceeded but I will leave the girly giggly voice for Darren… it’s his thing.


We had packed our Zipcar Honda Element with our pushbikes and drove 4 hours leaving the sunset behind on our trip to Yosemite National Park.


On our early arrival into the park the next morning, we wandered alone into the wilderness to check out the Giant Sequoias, the main attraction being the Grizzly Giant, proudly standing tall for some 2,700 years.

The park crowds were yet to arrive and Darren was really nervous about a bear encounter.

REASON: I had informed him that there were between 17,000 – 24,000 bears in the park, that's a lot of bears.

CORRECTION: Woops! There are actually only 300 – 500 bears in Yosemite National Park, there are 17,000 – 24000 in the whole of California.

With only a relatively small number of bears in a 761,226-acre park, what would be the chances of a bear encounter?

We were lucky enough to come across a bear, near the roadside at Crane Flat. I was so grateful to see a bear and for it not to be in a predicament where Darren would have to protect us with his 'special' bear stick.

We decided that our cute little bear appeared quite young, so we departed before Mummy Bear came looking.

Off we continued to enjoy all the popular breathtaking views and spectacular photo opportunities.

Glacier Point - viewing the valley floor from 3200ft above.

A healthy climb for some great photo opportunities at Sentinel Dome and Taft Point.

Mesmerizing waterfalls from the flow of the winter snow runoff, and a leisurely drive through the high country, reaching 9945ft on our trip to Tuolumne Meadows.

We checked out the accommodation for where the rich, royal and famous snooze away on their trip to Yosemite at the Ahwahnee Hotel, a rustic mountain retreat that dates back to 1927.

We had followed our guide on seeing the best of Yosemite in 2 days, we rose to the challenge of early mornings so we could follow the guide, and also complete recommended climbs and small treks.

One climb that I suggested we completed was mentioned in our guide as:

“an easy climb even the 4 or 5 years olds can do with no problem”

The guide wasn’t very specific about which sloping granite face it was we were to climb, so we made our selection.

PROBLEM: It was “bloody” steep and definitely not the authors suggested climb.

We came to this conclusion through our own struggles to reach the top and even more so, to get back down. Oh plus the fact that the climbers we discovered at the top all had helmets and climbing gear. “Wimps”


As you can see from our collection of photos (click here) the squirrels are a lot more friendlier and the weather a fair bit warmer than what we are used to in San Francisco.

Confirmation, it was an awesome weekend (girly giggle).We departed late Sunday afternoon, Happy as a Bear with his paw in a honey pot.

Q. Does a bear really like honey…..

According to the americanbear.org yes they do….

A. Bears eat honey, but what they like best about finding a beehive is the bees and larvae inside! They eat the bees and larvae, and the honey is an extra treat.

Anyone coming to California should definitely make the time for a 2-day trip to Yosemite…
But please don't forget to allocate some WoodWoods time.

XX

Mel