All Work and No Play...

It's been awhile since I wrote in this blog. I've been so busy living that I forgot that I wanted my living to be about being creative. Hence, starting this blog.

Let's catch up:

Still crashing at my surfer/pool shop entrepreneur friend Elliot's place. I tried giving him money for rent the other day, but he refused. He's like that, generous bastard!
So I bought him a hands free mobile device for his van.

The same van I seem to be using everyday. Did I really buy the device for him or me? Trust me, it was for Elliot. Until two weeks ago he didn't have one song on his iPhone. He didn't know how to transfer it. So I am doing my mate a service by making life easier. That is, when he eventually gets to drive his van again.

I finally landed a job. My mission is to stay on the Gold Coast. Unfortunately there aren't many opportunities for someone with my TV expertise. So in order to stay on the coast I applied for a couple practical, and a few "I have no experience in it, but what the hell" jobs. After losing out on a couple 'fun' positions (Sales and Development rep for a beer brewing company, and Digital Manager for Gold Coast Tourism) I landed a combination of both. I have now joined a cult of sorts. The Cult of Mac. I am selling and giving technical advice at an Apple Reseller called Next Byte. At first I wasn't too enthused (pay not what I want), looking at it as a temporary gig before I found something better. But I'm really starting to like it. Talking about Apple products all day is something I think is fun (Yes, I Am A Geek). 

                                           (not actually me ;)


And, let's just say I'm learning a lot about the inner workings of Macs by some people that are much smarter. That fills in the no 'real work' experience portion of my job find. Not that I was a slouch on a computer prior. But, I now know the difference between an i5 and an i7 processor, can change the ram and hard drives on most laptop and desktop computers, and can sell the shit out of an Apple TV.


I still can't surf well. Surfing is HARD. I'm not a strong swimmer. The left rib I popped out years ago jams into the board when I'm paddling out, making the ride very uncomfortable. I can't seem to get past the surging white water to the calm ocean five meters away. The rip drags me half a kilometer north. And there have been an ever increasing amount of shark sightings along the coast. A guy was bit a week ago.

 The cool thing is he was riding one of my friend Kane's KB boards at the time and they showed it on channel Nine here in Australia. Even sharks love KB boards. (I'm building Kane's website for him, there will be a rough version up by the end of the week - check out www.nightmareshapes.com )

I have cut Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu out for a bit. I've temporarily lost that aggressive edge and feel like a white belt on the mats. I'm going to focus on getting my body back in shape (yoga, pilates, circuit training), meditating, and perhaps stop focusing so much on myself and do some volunteering. 

 

That been said, I spent the weekend, with a cold, drinking, eating crappy food, and haven't done a lick of exercise.

I'm trying to relearn how to be attractive to the opposite sex again. I got complacent when I was married* (See below for note). And some of my mannerisms and attitudes don't play so well on the Gold Coast social scene. Let's face it, I'm kinda weird. 
My goal is to shadow my friend Cuzzy (real name Shane).


He has an ease and naturalness about him that women gravitate to. I start talking to them, but they seem to always end up with Cuzzy. I think they just dig his eyes (according to ladies I've spoken to), and his little pit puppy name Sonny. Friggin' Kiwis!







Honestly I think he's a 'Woman Whisperer'.

        Take these photos from last night as an example: (location Tonic in Labrador, QLD)

*side note:

* "when I was married". How do you refer to someone who you're still married to but separated? She's still technically my wife, but when trying to move on in life it produces a few obstacles. Conversing with women saying "my wife lives in Far North Queensland" may be a little off putting. I know, I know. Just don't mention I'm separated. Well, you give me a good answer to "How long are you staying in Australia?" ..."Oh, how did you get Permanent Residency?". Keep in mind I am having trouble lying as of late. I'm kind of hoping my life life turns out like the movie 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'. Except I'd like to skip right to the end. Well, perhaps I'd still keep that sexual montage (minus the crying scene).

Next blog: how I got the finger from a topless woman
Future blog: Gold Coast lifestyle observations aka 'No Shoes, No Shirt = Service'


Live your dream,

 

Jimmy

Seeing the Gold For the Coast

I have lived on the Gold Coast for one week and have come up with one word to describe the people who live here: 'Spoiled'. Surrounded by beach, blue surf, beautiful people, and enveloped by a sun that kisses the skin. (unfortunately for my pasty skin, the sun's wearing bright red lipstick when she kisses me). The long term residents of Australia's Gold Coast take for granted the natural beauty and abundance of activities around them, seeking out new destinations to basically do the exact same thing they could be doing at home. Hence, why we are driving 45 minutes into NSW's to surf Byron Bay.
Now don't get me wrong, the place is beautiful. But if I walk out of Elliot's apartment in Palm Beach and take a right down 25th ave, and walk 30 meters I can get to almost the exact same beauty.
Your mission today, of you choose to accept it, is to step out of your comfort (boring) space and take a look around you. Appreciate where you are and take a stay-cation.
That being said, I moved thousands of miles from Canada to Australia and have discovered one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
I take it back, screw my lesson. See you in Byron Bay.

Cheers,
Jimmy

Byron Bay - Where Beauty Meets Beer

I had the opportunity to go down to Byron Bay with Elliot and the boys (+1 cool girl) on Sunday. Elliot kept saying it was going to be epic.


"Amazing surf" (don't forget, I can't surf), and a "plethora of beautiful women" (I am currently riding a heartbreak and have zero game anyway).

Upon arrival it was hard not to appreciate the beauty before me.




The water was the bluest of blue and the surf did look amazing.

I shot about 150 photos of surfers, sweet waves...

 ...fishermen



...and bikini clad beach bums.









As well as one topless, exhibitionist, young lady who camped out no more than 10 meters from me. (I protected her identity because I'm pretty sure she wouldn't appreciate her breasts on my blog)

After the boys, and girl, finished surfing, we had a couple of beach pops

 
 

 

 


...while Bobby (aka Bobcat) entertained







 
 

We headed back into the town of Byron Bay to experience the, much hyped, Beach Hotel tavern. (Did you know they're the number 1 seller of beer in all of Australia?) The tavern was fun, it was huge, full of attractive people, and Bobcat (sorry Bobby had to do it). I made sure the tavern stayed at the top of the beer purveyor list. Getting quite inebriated and watching Fun-Bobby turn from Bobcat to Bob-MadCat.

But gladly left at 8pm back to Queensland (Byron Bay is just across the border in NSW - a 45 minute drive from Palm Beach).

Keep in mind we left Palm Beach at 9am.
and thanks to a 10 hour sleep I felt like a million bucks this morning. Riding my beach cruiser to my new favourite coffee shop, the Barefoot Cafe.

Tonight it's a place called Mike's. Where a giant plateful of ribs is in store for my hungry belly. I'm gonna get FAT!

Jimmy Out...