TAKE ME BACK

A couple of weeks ago I went back to Calliope for a visit and some photo shoots. I drove. It was a long drive. The longest I've ever done by myself, even with a sleepover stop in between there and back. But I'd do it again. I am a country girl. I can't help it. That's where I am most me.

Give me a horse. A tree on a hill. Dirt on my boots. The Cub-Inn*. Any day.

(All photos taken with my iPhone :))

*The Cub-Inn is a cubby house that my friends made into a cabin for me when I stay with them. It's perfect.

#3, #4, #5

So, this was originally a video I made of myself lead climbing, but I ended up climbing it really, really badly, so I saved a few stills from it instead to maintain the illusion that I am a good climber ;)

My friends/workmates surprised me after work one day last week by teaching me to lead climb! It was so much fun and SO scary! I took a pretty big fall with lots of slack on what was maybe my fourth lead climb, which apparently is one of the scariest things you can do, so it's all uphill from here! :)

I have also completed #3 and #4 on my list - green overhang and red climbs. My hands will never be soft and pretty again, but I don't mind. I love climbing, and the fact that I get to work there too! :)

#2

Well, we did it! Number 2 is crossed off my list! :)

(As Christina danced, there was a cloud dancing with her :))

(Our theme for the trip... "Embrace it." We embraced "road-trip-with-no-airconditioning-so-the-windows-have-to-be-down hair" :))

Our adventure started at 9.30am on Wednesday last week when I picked up my friend Christina (who is in the photo at the bottom of the list) from the airport. From there, we hit the highway. We decided to take the inland route north, through the Glasshouse Mountains, to a waterfall/swimming hole a friend had told us about. We jumped off cliffs and swung of rope swings! So much fun! :) After that we went shopping in a small country town called Maleny, then headed to our first hostel of the trip in Tin Can Bay. We fed the dolphins at the beach in the morning, then headed to Rainbow Beach, stopping at a freezing cold creek for a swim first. We explored a sandblow at Rainbow Beach, before driving to Hervey Bay, stopping once to play at one of the pine plantations and then dinner in Maryborough, before our next hostel. The following day we had little success making pancakes on the barbecue, and even less success finding something to do in Hervey Bay, so we decided to head south and see what Noosa had to offer: two nights, two hostels, hiking to a lake we never found, a koala, sunset and sunrise on the beach, Hillsong Noosa. Then we headed home, stopping at one beach on the way for a swim. Back in Brisbane we watched Napoleon Dynamite, got an early night and made a quick dash to Southbank for a swim before I took Christina back to the airport in the morning.

((If you're not from Queensland, you won't understand much of where we went, but I just wanted to write it down so I didn't forget :)))

We had a GREAT time. I've haven't laughed that hard in so long, and each day we purposed to do something that scared us, whether it was jumping off a high swing into a waterfall, or sharing a hostel room with six LOUD Brazilian backpackers! :)

(PS: There aren't many pictures here because halfway through the trip my camera decided to stop working altogether :( It's working again now, but I think number 14 on my list will have to happen soon!)

Next time I see Christina will be in America! Praying for either mid this year or 2013! :)

24 BEFORE 24

These are 24 things I want to do before I turn 24.

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1. Learn to do a back handspring.

Oh this has been on my list for far too long, and every time I have the opportunity to learn, I make up some excuse which really means I just can't be bothered or I'm too embarrassed to take a gymnastics class. No more. I. AM. GOING. TO. DO. THIS. I learned a few years ago on a trampoline and never mastered it on the ground without landing on my head, so it's my goal to not land on my head anymore.

2. Take a holiday.
This is a cheat one because I know I get to cross it off in two weeks! It also crosses off my life-long goal of being a backpacker because I am going to stay in a hostel! :)

3. Do a green overhang at work.
My next step up in climbing.

4. Do a red climb at work.
The next level up in climbing.

5. Learn to lead climb.

6. Go outdoor climbing.

7. Go surfing.

8. Go ice-skating.

9. Ride a motorbike/quad bike/jet ski.

10. Go camping.

11. Ride a horse.
I miss having horses around. I miss the country!

12. Decide where I'm going to live.
In May I find out if I get a green card or not. If I do, I get to move to America in 2013. If not, I'll go somewhere else. :)

13. Go to Wet n Wild or White Water World.
I love water theme parks. I don't like other theme parks because I don't like rollercoasters or anything like that, but I love water slides!

14. Buy a new camera.
Mine is slowly dying. :(

15. Make "thank you" gifts for clients.
That's right! If you hire me to take your photos, I will make you a present! I also want to make my packaging prettier, more personal, and more professional, get some business cards, work on a brand, etc.

16. Make beignets.
I just looked up a recipe. I've been wanting to try them since watching The Princess and the Frog.

17. Go swimming in the Mt Glorious waterfalls.
Soon! :)

18. Shoot a gun.
Haven't done this in 3 years!

19. Donate blood.

20. Go see a drive-in movie.

21. Go on a picnic. And again!

22. See a musical.

23. Go to a different state.

24. Photographically document these things as they happen on my blog.

I need to blog more.

***

Let me know in the comments if you decide to do a list too! I'd love to hear it! :)