My first real days off

Tuesday June 22^nd

Yesterday was my day off and it.was.awesome.

I slept in, went to breakfast, came back and finally finished my book. It was a good book, sad, but good. Today’s goal: find another book!

After I finished my book, my roommate Rachel and I headed to the lake to go kayaking. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. On our way to the lake we ran into Dustin, it was his day off as well, so we invited him to come with us. We grabbed lunch then went to the docks to get our kayaks. We didn’t go all the way across the lake but we got pretty close.

Side note: For some reason I have become so fascinated with the wildlife here, especially the birds. Out on the lake there were two huge birds soaring above us, I just really wish I could tell what kind of birds they were. There are also so many different beautiful birds I always see flying around the lodge and our housing. I need to get a bird book or something J

Anyways… after kayaking I tried to find Josh and Adam because I reserved spots for us to go horseback riding, but I could not find them. So Dustin and Rachel went with me instead. I have missed being on a horse so much! It was a 1 ½ hour trail ride of the most breathtaking views. I never wanted the ride to stop. Let me just say that pictures do not do this place justice. It was a fun ride but the whole time I was just itching to run with the horse.

I totally forgot that over the past few years I have grown allergic to horses. Luckily I was still able to breathe after the ride but my eyes got swollen and puffy and red and my head was killing me. so I slept. And then somehow got myself out of bed to go on a hike up the Fish Hook trail with Stanley’s FHE group. It was so gorgeous. Especially at the end. Holy moly I can’t get enough of all the views around here. The trail left us at the edge of this huge field. It looked a lot like the field in the Twilight series but ten times better with the Sawtooths behind it, a bunch of deer roaming around, and a cute little river flowing through. Going on that hike made me want to go backpacking SO BAD.

After the hike I ended the amazing day with another great bonfire.

Today was my day off…again. It came as a surprise to me. I totally thought I worked this afternoon so I go out to the Z-bo and clocked in, only to look at the schedule and Tom had me off today as well. So I went out to the docks and was going to go kayaking again but they had a shuttle tour about to go out so I hopped in with them. Josh was our tour guide and it was a fun hour long tour around the lake. It was me and 3 older rich couples. One of the men gave me cookies and candy and was super nice and funny the whole time.

Then I went horseback riding again : ) just for an hour this time. It was me and two 14 year old girls. I talked with our guide the whole time. She is 19 as well and she told me that I can come over after their work sometime and go riding for real. The trail rides are fun and all but I would love to be able to go off riding and run through the mountains. So hopefully I will be able to take her up on her word and hang out with the horse corral crew.

Later I went out to Point View campground where there is a giant boulder. Matt took out all his rock climbing supplies and I went rock climbing out in the real life WILDERNESS!!! It was sooo cool and way fun. A little bit difficult though due to the fact that I had big honkin running shoes on, it made it hard to get my feet in the small crevices. But all in all it was a great experience and I can totally see myself doing it again.

They call me Brunie

Friday June 14, 2010

Is it seriously Friday already?!?! I totally thought it was Thursday. That is what happens up here. You never know what day it actually is, every day blends into the next.

Today was our first day open to the public! It was a lot of fun, not quite as intimidating as I thought it would be and it was pretty slow. Me and wyatt made the wraps, salads, and sandwiches. Lets just say I am pro at them now, as well as making nachos and wrapping burritos. Mmmm everything Is so delicious but way overpriced. Oh well, its Redfish and that’s just how they roll. We also put in a zip line so when perry or I take orders we take one copy and clip it onto the zip line and shoot it to the back to Chad for grilled orders and take the other copy and send it to Wyatt for fried orders. It’s a really fun tool although they always make fun of me when I do it because Mike made it too tall so Perry wont get close lined so I have to jump up and do it.

I got let off early so I headed to the kitchen to see if they needed any work done. I need more hours so I will work wherever they need help. Nick came in and yelled “hi Britni” but evidently TJ heard him say Brunie and thought that’s what my name is, so they now call me Brunie.

They have a tradition here, if it’s your birthday, you get thrown into the lake. Today was Sam “big bird’s” (because he’s super tall and has crazy hair) birthday. Let’s just say he wasn’t the only one who got thrown in, he took Jon in with him as well.

and P.S Emily just might be able to get me tickets to GARTH BROOKS IN SUN VALLEY.

my life would be complete

Here comes the sun...

Friday June 11th

Today was way chill. I rolled out of bed around 9:30, I didn't have to be to work until noon again. I just took my time getting ready, then headed to the lodge at 11 to snap some pictures and get some paper work done.

*Note to family (if anyone actually reads this): You get free boat rentals if you go out with me and a 20% discount at the restaurant and general store.

Then I headed to the zebo (gazebo) and pretty much did nothing for three hours. I swept, polished, and filled cups with toothpicks. Getting excited for it to actually open so I have something to do.

For lunch we had some delicious homemade pizza stuffed with veggies and chicken. Let me tell ya, Don knows how to make some mean grub. He is our employee chef, his son Kelly is the head chef in the kitchen. Dont let kelly's appearance decieve you because he looks like he could be my age, not old enough to be a head chef at a restaurant.

I ate lunch with some of the kitchen boys. They told me they were jealous of my job because I will get to look at hot girls all day. Hmmm yeah I don't think I will care much about the girls...

So I go back to housing to charge my laptop (it is still too cold for me to go and want to be playing outside) and I lay on my bed to write in my journal and end up falling asleep for two hours. Not cool.

So here I am. Sitting outside of the lodge and looking out to the most serene view and watching goodlooking guys run by every now and again.

Living the dream.

Please warm up weather. The wilderness is calling my name.

p.s I realized that I brought the wrong camera cord so I will not be able to download pictures. awesome.

"Livin the dream"

Thursday June 10^th

Yes that is what I am doing. Living the dream. It is fantastic. I cant get over how cool the people who I am working with are and how amazing the location is.

Today.It.Snowed. I think that is all I need to talk about on that subject.

Last night I went out to the bonfire and stayed out there for a good 2-3 hours. It was me and about twenty other guys and maybe 2 or 3 girls. The guys range from anywhere to 20-32 of age and around the same with the girls. Like I said before, there is such a variety with the employee population but it just makes everything that much more interesting and fun. We just sat around the fire listening to a bunch of sweet reggae music and a few people played their guitars. The stars are amazing.

Life is good.

Today I reported to work at about noonish after having lunch. The food here is delicious. I cant complain one bit. After lunch I followed my manager around and just did little stuff here and there. Evidently I will be working a lot with the food like cooking and prepping. I thought I would just be working the cash register but im excited that I will get to do way more than that. I also had to teach my manager how to measure brown sugar today while we were making the rub for our pulled pork. Then after I was done with prepping the pork I went to the Gazebo with a few other guys I will be working with and we got a tour of how it will be run this summer because they are changing it all up. It will be sweet.

Tonight my Gazebo manager (who’s name is Tom, or Tom the bomb) took the Gazebo crew out to pizza at Pappa Brunee’s for a bonding experience. It was me and 6 guys drinking beer. But it was still awesome. We had a taco pizza, it was…..interesting. never experienced lettuce and taco meat on my pizza before.

On Monday he is taking us down the river for some more bonding. One of our crew members is a part time river guide.

Tom’s rules of the gazebo

1. 1. When asked how you are doing, always reply with either ‘living the dream’ or ‘fantabulous’.

2. 2. Work hard, play harder

3. 3. Always wear a rad pair of sunglasses

4. 4. At the beginning of every shift, the song ‘I gotta feeling’ must be played and danced along to.

Yeah, he is pretty much the coolest. And today rocked.

First Day Of My Perfect Summer Job

Wednesday June 9^th 2010

Can I just say that I already have plans to come back next summer? Because I do, and I haven’t even been here for 24 hours yet.

When we first arrived, my mom and I sat in the restaurant in the lodge to wait for my manager to show me around. While I was waiting they gave me a menu and said the food was on the house….sweet! I figured some fries and herbal tea would hold me over until dinner. My manager Emily showed up a little while later and gave me a short tour.

The Gazebo (where I will be working- which I have come to find out is the most coveted job) is a lot larger then what I remembered. I am way excited to start working there tomorrow, even though it doesn’t open to the public until the 17^th. The Corral is an employee cabin where we eat and clock in and out or just chill. Then off to my housing. It’s a little over ¼ mile from the lodge. I live in what they call a bungalow. The bungalows are like really long and skinny cabins. There is a wall that separates the girls and guys and they are for the first year employees. The second years and older either stay in the bunkhouse, which is located on top of the laundry room and public showers and is on the same floor as our weight room, or they stay in “the Ritz” which is just a really big two story cabin.

Today I got settled into my top bunk ( where I can hardly even sit up straight and is absolutely terrifying to climb up and down). Our cabin is pretty cozy. It feels like the dorm life that I never got to experience in college. I love it. It’s quaint. A small bathroom, a little sink, 4 lockers, a bookshelf, a shoe shelf, electricity, a mini fridge, and a heater. This is how I like to campout for 3 months! Although I do feel quite shut off from the outside world. No car. No cell phone service. And very iffy internet. But who cares, I am living in paradise all summer long!!!!! Literally. The scenery is so surreal. For all of you who have experienced Redfish, you know what I am talking about. For those of you who haven’t….your missing out for sure.

So far, the few people I met today are awesome. I am way excited to meet the rest of the crew and get to know all of them.

As for the rest of my day, I took my bike out and explored the area. I went to my favorite beach spot on the opposite side of the lake from the lodge and just sat there and took in the incredible scenery I am surrounded by. It is simply breathtaking. And now I am so tired. Probably due to the fact that I got no sleep last night because I was so nervous. But the employees are having a bonfire tonight, only one of many they have every week. How cool!

I will get pictures up soon hopefully!

g'day mate

June 28th 2008

Alright so saturday was a great day!! i went shopping with my aunt and her girls. and holy cow the shops here are AMAZING. they are all pretty much like urban outfitters but 10x's betta. only everything is way overpriced...like nothing is under $40....EEEKK!

i have to say that every girl that i saw at the mall looked like she just stepped out of a photo shoot, it was ridiculous, haha i felt so out of place. but everything in their stores are winter clothes like coats and long necks and scarves, this is what everyone was wearing even though it was so warm haha but the weather is freezing to them...pahlease.

Everyone is just so nice here, its a great change haha, but i do find it dificult to understand what they are saying. i often have to say"come again" or "sorry i didnt catch that." they have there own lingo, like cutlerey is silverwear, a chocolate bar is a candy bar, lollies are candies, a letter drop is the mailbox, and the list could go on, and they do say mate alot haha.

later that day i went to a pro rugby league game with my uncle, his friend, and my aunts brother and his little boy. It was so incredibly fun! the stadium was HUGE and it was a really easy sport to catch onto. Its kind of a mixture of soccer and american football.

while i was there i had this delicous australian soda called Solo and an amazing chocolate bar called a Boost. mmmm. ive had about 3 of those so far! yeah dont be surprised when i come home 30lbs heavier,or 10 kilos heavier lol.

June 29th 2008

sunday was a pretty relaxin day. i just read all day and then we went to church. they dont have any cute boys:( but they arent bad lookin. they only have 6 young women.. it was crazy.

hmm what else can i tell you about australia.

they do have funny looking grass and in their neighborhood, everyone parks their cars on their lawn because there isnt enough room for the cars on the street.

they have these really obnoxious birds with the most annoying noises that they make.

the streets are so dang confusing, i was thinking i wanted to learn how to drive here but um no thank you, the streets are crazy!

when i first got here i about had a heart attack thinking that the cars were driving themselves, totally forgetting that the steering wheel is on the other side haha!

they they hardly have any fast food, mcdonalds is about it....this is why america is so obese and america also over salts everything so when i got here i have found myself having to salt almost everything! my aunt just shook her head at me.

im hoping to learn how to surf this week so i will keep you updated on those adventures!

First week down UnDeR

Monday june 23rd 2008

I left to go to the san fran airport with my mother. We spent a few hours hanging out down town then headed to the airport! So we had to wait for like an hour or so and while we were waiting i had the chance to experience to see a happy old married couple wearing matching purple polos. oh yes it was a good time and quite the kodak moment.

so first off before you can even get on the plane(flying buisness that is) you have to be wearing fancy shmancy clothes. so pretty much all i had that fit the "dress code" was...a dress. yeah wonderful. and then they wouldnt let this guy on the plane until he switched his shoes because they werent appropriate enough. it was ridiculous.

anyway... so pretty much the 13 hour flight to sydney was a cake walk. i watched The Other Bloyen Girl and the end of Definetley Maybe. And i ate some good cheesecake and slept for like 9 hours...yeah it was a breeze.

then i get off and have to go through customs and while i was waiting for them to check my bag(because i was bringing food for our american 4th of july lol) they were searching this guys bag and he pulls out a pair of fluffy black handcuffs haha yeah the security dudes just laughed and told him to put them away.

then i waited in the airport for 4 more hours and finally headed to the Gold Coast.

My uncle don picked me up and took me to his house. 

after i arrived they took me on a drive around the area and towards the beach. Then i went to the mall to go grocery shopping... yeah they have grocery stores and meat stores in there malls... with my aunt and her girls, Taylor who is almost 3 and Annabelle who is 7 weeks.

Well i had bad jet lag and got really tired around 5 and the young women came over at 7. these girls were so much fun. 

Thursday june 26th

Oh yeah i forgot to mention that i left on monday and got here wend. haha.

Anyways, on thurs i just played with my cousins and helped my uncle with some stuff for his work, it was a pretty laid back day.

Friday june 27th

Friday i woke up at 6 and headed to work with my uncle at 7. he pretty much works in the ghetto part of town in a really weird building where they do tax stuff. 

i helped him get ready with stuff and met alot of cool and super funny guys. we were there until about 3 then headed home. my aunt was sick so i just played with her kids with don and read alot.again i got tired really quick and we were going to go to the movies but i slept instead.

I just love it here in Australia it has been so beautiful out. but its so weird because people are wearing long pants, sweaters, scarves and boots but to me its short wearing weather haha its only in the 70s but i love it.

i still cant get over how much i love the australian accents they are so amazing.!