amy rocks, okay?

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is costly, care for it. Life is wealth, share it. Life is love, enjoy it. Life is a mystery, know it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, embrace it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life! Fight for it! (Found on a wall in Mother Teresa's convent in Calcutta)

In the beginning I set out to find a Bible study group and kept coming up empty handed. I even checked out on of the main churches in the city but to no avail. In time it fell off my priority list (shame, shame) but has since worked its way back up. Especially in this moment. But, yet again, I'm unable to find a group to join, or any type of group that exists at all! I am sad at this. Where are the people who gather once a week to read and reflect and relish in the community of others who would like to develop themselves holistically, religiously. I miss it. I miss it bad. I had just begun to find a place in Berk town when I was leaving and now, as well as for many other reasons, I wish I wouldn't have left. In time I'll find it again I suppose. But right now, all I want is to read my Bible or other assigned readings and reflect. Onward!

What happened to me? I used to wake up with an idea in my head to open an ice cream store in Helena and went to bed with the rights for a Coldstone franchise in my hand. Okay, so it took longer than one day but I didn’t sit there waiting for someone else to make the move. I just went for it and wrote the emails myself, made the phone calls figuratively reaching down where a man should and going for it. Graphic. A little. I’m sorry. I just can’t figure out where my “balls” went!? I’m sitting on the cuff of something potentially exciting with a company and a new client and instead of just going all in and turning it from potential to realistic, I’m sitting here watching the emails going back and forth and feeling sheepish and shy. SHEEPISH and SHY. If you know me, you would be shaking your head – Amy? Sheepish? Shy? My Mom would get it. But she knows me. What has rocked my confidence and outgoing mentality? Where are you? Hello!!!! WHERE ARE YOU?! I pitifully yell into the dark cave...

Last weekend we had Monday off (well, David did) and we actually got round to doing quite a lot! The original plan was a trip to Tasmania or something fun like that, but with everyone going out of town the prices sky rocket and it makes us cringe and sink back into our Melbourne hole where we find ourselves having plenty of fun! (And also saving enough money to score Tasmania next weekend!) In short, we headed out to Yarra Valley to do some wine tasting (beautiful country, wine's not so much) and met an awesome dog (obviously!) and enjoyed cruising around. Luckily we had a snazzy rental, thanks to David's corporate rate, and I drove all day while he did the "tasting". Worked quite well! Then the market the next day to pick up groceries for dinner that night (having friends over from Ireland and another one of David's coworkers). Luckily David remembered the Cellar Store (beer shop) was open so we hopped over to buy some hops and supplies to brew our first... ...

What do you think? More? Try something else? 

Or maybe just take a gander at some photos? :) After my entrepreneurial duties of waking up early to bake fresh spiced chai muffins (complete with maple syrup glaze and all credit goes to Miss. North for finding the recipe) for the shop downstairs, I whipped up my BEST batch of scrambled eggs. For serious. All other scrambled eggs I have made were failed attempts at what I achieved today, you guys. They were glorious. David kept asking if I put cream cheese or something in them to make them so fluffy. Nope. That's just 8 years of trying right there. And now, I'm never looking back. Slightly dramatic, but you know me, so we're square. Anyway - after muffin delivery, breakfast, a  bit of cleaning and David realizing if you don't wash your shirts regularly this will happen.... I try to get to them before this happens, but sometimes, you just can't win 'em all.  .... we ventured to the Botanical Gardens for a gander at the cacti. And by ventured I mean wa...

Rob Gilbert