Start packing your bags

Posted by Mark:

Attention all my Australian missionary chums (plus anyone else that might be interested I guess). I came across a sweet deal to visit the great land down under last night. No.... I haven't subsidized my poor car sales to advertising for Air New Zealand, but I want to give you all a chance to take part in a deal that I myself would take advantage of if Kimmi and I had any chance of getting the time off work(not likely what so ever by the way).

Air New Zealand is offering round trip tickets from LA to Auckland with a free stop over in any one of a number of Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, to name a few) all for $880!! This is probably the cheapest fair I've seen to visit Australia, let alone a bonus visit to New Zealand thrown in the mix. If you are at all interested, here is the link to Air New Zealand's web site where you can read all the details. Hurry fast! You only have till January 19th to book tickets.

http://www.airnz.com/bookings/airfares-deals/discover-new-zealand-in-may-gnz10u.htm

P.S. If you do go I would only ask that you to pick me up some my favorite candy in New Zealand (Pineapple Lumps).

100 Things...

I saw this list on Brandy's blog and looked like it would be a fun one to fill out (Thanks Brandy!). So here we go! I have done everything that is bolded. Feel free to copy and paste this list on your own blog. It’s a fun way to relive some old memories and to get to know people a little better.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does 5th and 6th grade band class count?)
4. Visited Hawaii (twice)
5. Watched a meteor shower (great date with Mark)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (The ER thought I was pregnant, obviously I was not)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (I do not have a green thumb)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (one day I will!)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (we have picked up a hitch hiker, does that count?)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Hugged a goat
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (again, one day I will)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (if climbing in a gym counts, yes)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (yes but not well)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (if the touristy ones count, yes)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (well, that was the plan at least....)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (sad, right??)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (I failed...)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (they don't want mine)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (in the early days of learning money management)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (stupid new boss, she fired five of us for no reason!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (a day care worker broke it for me, how sweet)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (I was quoted as well!)
85. Read the entire Book of Mormon or Bible
86. Visited the White House (I have only stood outside of it)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Thank goodness for boys! I don't like the killing part)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (Only helped....I work in a blood bank, and its the juice of life)
90. Had your heart stop
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (one day I will)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (been there, but will not do that)
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (yes, and I am allergic! Scary experience)
100. Read an entire book in one day