My antics never cease to amaze even myself. I'm like a blond Lucille Ball. I do weird things, get into sticky situations and fall down a lot. Location doesn't matter, thus being in the southern hemisphere hasn't altered my constant state of spazziness, so here's how the story begins...
This little girl is a helplessly restless creature with a wandering heart. I can't stay in one place for too long, thus after surviving 18 months in South East Asia I decided California could wait and head down under. Upon arriving in Brisbane just before Halloween I set out for a couple job interviews I had lined up before taking off. I was offered both positions but the starting date was yet to be determined. Every day I called the start date was pushed back a week. With nothing to do but drink and stay at an over priced hostel while I was waiting for gainful employment my funds dwindled quite rapidly. I was restless and anxious and then I thought to myself, hey I can stay here and pay 28 dollars a night for 7 days or I can take the train down to Sydney for 100 dollars and see my good friend from university. Fun and funds prevailed and 16 bumpy hours later I was in Sydney. I immediately loved it. The air was smoggy yet vibrant and there was that good city electricity in the air. After days filled with the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, beaches and botanic gardens I was informed that the start date for my position in Brisbane would be postponed until January, at the earliest. With only about 500 dollars to my name I started to panic. I couldn't be a couch rat much longer and didn't want to make the humbling call home to mom and dad to help a daughta out. I was determined to make life's lemonade so I got online and searched every English college within 100 miles of Sydney. Luckily, after hours of searching, a partner school in Sydney invited me in for an interview. I got the job, a better schedule and 400 more dollars a month than I would have in Brisbane. I truly believe that all things do happen for a reason.
In spite of all of this good news I was without one thing, and that was about 80% of my luggage I had left in a locker in Brisbane. At the time my thought process was to pack a weekend bag, go visit my friend, see the city then return to Brisbane. Instead I got a house, a job and a few people to hang out with me. I wasn't worried because I was assured all of my things were safely tucked away in a locker which I had the only key for. I was encouraged to come soon and made false promises to do so but thought it was a waste of a perfectly good weekend at the beach to make the trip. Weeks went by and became months and I began to worry that everything I owned, aside from the armload clothes I brought to Sydney, was now covering the backs of bums and European backpackers in Brisbane. It was like a test from the doctor that you need to have done but don't want to know the results of. I didn't want to call and check on my locker for fear that everything might be gone but I did want to get my stuff back at some point. I took the easy way out and texted the cute receptionist I had played soccer with a few times to "say hi" and see if everything was ok. He responded with news I didn't want to hear: "I don't work there anymore and I think they renovated the storage room and replaced all the lockers".
Shit.
I called the hostel and spoke to several different people who had no idea what was going on until I finally talked to the manager, who was extremely patient and very nice (I'm sure he deals with douche bags all the time). I got off the phone with him while he went to look for my bags and received word several hours later that they had recovered them both. Phew! Now came the ordeal of how they were going to get to Sydney. I had no intention of spending 200 dollars to go up to Brisbane for 6 hours and didn't really have any wishes left from my magic genie. Luckily several other douche bags before me have been in similar situations and Mr. Hostel had all the answers. several phone calls and a 110 dollar transaction later my things were on a Grey Hound bus headed in my direction.
I got the phone call at 9am that my items had arrived and I was able to pick them up before 6pm. I was thrilled, yet anxious. I had no idea what kind of shape my things were in, what was missing or how long they had been out of the locker. As i walked toward the station i prepared myself for what I might find. I tried to catalogue everything I had packed and strained not to think about the things I would be upset about if I they were gone. It was only "stuff" right?
I got to the station and the cheerful Greek man behind the counter greeted me with a smile and two seemingly intact bags. I was soooo excited and couldn't wait to get home and tear them open to examine the contents. I have been living out of a backpack for the past three months and only have about 5 things I can mix and match to create work appropriate outfits, so getting these few added items to my wardrobe was beyond exciting. However, it is very surprising how little you need to get by on.
When I got home I kicked off my shoes and clumsily lugged my duffel bag and tote up the stairs. I ripped the zippers open and dumped the contents out on my bed. I tore though everything like a greedy kid on Christmas morning looking for everything on their wish list. Favorite sleep shirt? check. Favorite dress I had tailored in Vietnam? Check. Favorite jeans that are perfectly worn and hug every curve? check. It all seemed to be there...until I got to the toiletries. I was missing the strangest things too: half used foundation, partially used powder, fake eyelashes I had worn on Halloween, nail polish remover and the list goes on. Who would steal such things and leave the bottle of gin I had left in the outside pocket? But my favorite thing from that bag was not lost. I finally have my M.A.C Viva Glam I lipstick back. The most perfect shade of red on almost every single person. I am so happy to retire that old dollar store rouge for my lusty M.A.C love. I am also incredibly thrilled to have an entirely "new" wardrobe.
Bo!
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