Things going great!!!!

This has been a good week, a really good week.
Firstly, Daniel finally left B&H. He started his new job yesterday. He is working for a British company starting up in NYC. They are a lot like Videocraft in Sydney except they don't do sales. They just rent equiptment, but to big productions and everything, they also hire out Daniel as a Project Manager... His first job is working on the show "What Not To Wear"... you know that british show about throwing out frumpy peoples wardrobes and teaching them how to dress (with a shopping spree, of course). His official title is Equiptment Co-Ordinator, I think...
Anyway, he is very excited and LOVING it. He is most excited because this feels like the deffinate end to Daniel ever working in Sales again. He feels great about it. As well as that, his Health Insurance kicks in next week. He is going to be A-ok!!! Yay!
As for me, I've had a little breakthrough at my job too. I finally was able to communicate to my boss a more productive way for me to do my job and at the end of the week, BOTH of us were saying we feel SO much better about the work situation. It's hard to explain but, trust me, things were quite aweful and now they are 100 times better. As well as that, the best news is, yesterday I was able to fit into a pair of my old jeans I haven't fit into in THREE MONTHS!!! I have been on a diet and excercise regime for the last month (and actually this week I've been on a detox) and I've lost 10lbs, I think that's almost 5kgs. Almost half of that has been since I went on the detox, too. So, this weekend I feel FANTASTIC!!! Daniel says I look great and now he wants to do a detox.
This week I'm finally going to be able to get my drivers lisence, so that'll be good too.
And now daniel and I are laying in bed on a saturday morning watching cartoons...
We couldn't be happier. Thank you all for your love and support. We miss you all and send our love.
Love always, Dan and Taliesen

Not so Bad

Hi,

Just a quick one to leave something positive as the last entry. Today (Saturday) has been great. I slept in and watched cartoons. Now I'm going to a movie. There are also pleanty of little things to make us smile.

Love you all.

Daniel.

why always with the hard?

Ok, it's long past due for Taliesen to have an honest-to-God bitch!!!!
Why is it all so hard??? And I'm not talking about the big things either... Like money too little or not being able to talk to our family and friends frequently enough. I mean, those things SUCK and they do make life a lot harder, but THOSE things I can deal with. Gee, it sux and it's hard, but it's ok because it's meant to be and I can handle the test of strength... But WHERE in the cosmos does it say the LITTLE things have to be hard. Why does getting a NY drivers license have to be so hard, so time consuming, so expensive... A test and then a class and then a road test? WTF??? I've been driving for over 6 years!!! Why is it so hard to send money from my account here to my account in Australia??? IT'S MY MONEY!!! Why does finding a job that is fulfilling have to be so hard. I was good at my job in sydney, now I have a job that by all rights should be easier, and I'm not good at it??? Why is finding time in every day to do everything so hard? Why is not bursting into tears at the drop of a hat so FUCKING HARD??? Pardon my language, but I'm having the worst day ever, and it's made worse by the fact that my boss is self-absorbed, is posative that nothing outside of her little world matters and DOESN'T GIVE A FUCK WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH!!! Wow, sorry to dump on all of you reading this... But here's a hint if the thought hadn't occured to you already... (hearing from a loved one would really cheer this old girl up right about now) my email inbox can never be too full... I miss everyone in Australia so much right now. I hope you are all well...
Sending my love, as always,
Taliesen.

Electronic Freedom at Last

Hi Everyone,

Daniel here. I am officially writing this from our very own laptop FINALLY. So this should mean I can write more often but for now a quick catch up. I won't repeat everything Taliesen wrote about September 11 but I will say it was quite profound for this little Sydneysider. Standing down there that day the air tasted of salt as if everyone's tears had dissolved into the air sending me a million thoughts for family and friends. I thought about my family, my entire family and how you have all provided me with the perfect springboard to launch me into the world. Thank you all so much.

In other news, I am starting a new job soon as the Rental Coordinator for a company that project manages productions in New York. Despite the glamorous title it is a drop in pay which has us a little stressed but it should be great in the long run and they have an office in London so I may have to travel there on occasion. Very exciting.

Well I have a wife waiting at home so I must run but I will leave you with a couple of pics. The one with the flag is from the World Trade Center and the other is the view from the end of our street of the George Washington Bridge.

Love you all. Talk soon.

Daniel

As I leave the site of the World Trade Center

I write you all this blog on the eve of September 11, the night before the 5 year anniversary of the day that really did shake this nation to it's core.
Daniel and I went down to Ground Zero tonight and I really don't know how to describe to you all how it effected us both. Those of you reading this in Australia (much like me 6 months ago) can not possibly fathom how much that event has affected and STILL impacts New York, as a city, and everyone here, as individuals. What's more, you can't possibly imagine how the whole thing has effected Daniel and myself. I mean, we've been to the World Trade Center Site a couple of times since we arrived in this city. Each time we've been touched by the experience, I always cry a little. But tonight was different. The experience was more solemn. There were just as many people there as the other times, but this time none of them were tourists. Everyone was a New Yorker or from Jersey or DC. Everyone was quieter.
The President was down there this afternoon, but we missed him. Tomorrow there's a memorial service, like every year, that starts at 8:50, or whenever it was that the first plane hit. They say the name of every person who was killed in the attacks five years ago. It lasts for hours and everyone who was there goes. Guiliani always goes, as does the current mayor and the Governor, who was the governor back then too. Daniel wishes we could go but we both have to work. I'm glad we went down tonight (and I cried more than usual) but I don't know if I could handle going down there tomorrow...
I am already very sad at the moment. I am homesick, can you believe it? I am missing everyone in Sydney and Australia so much right now. I went to Church today (the service was beautiful, all about remembrance and leaning to fight through the pain of loss and tragedy) and, as always, I said a prayer asking for blessings of everyone I love and miss in Australia and asking for the strength to make it through this hard time of being so far away from all of you. I always make this prayer, really, but today I burst into tears.
This anniversary of 9/11 has only made me really miss everyone I care about. Of all the people in the world who I love and adore, only four of them live here in New York City. I hear all these stories of people who lost someone dear to them five years ago and I can't imagine that pain.
All of you reading this... You are NOT allowed to leave this world yet. I have to see you all again... And soon. I miss you all so much, and on this anniversary more than ever!!!
Stay well and know that Daniel and I are always thinking of you.
always,
Taliesen.

Just so you don't all worry...

Hey guys,
I just wanted to put a quick note on here to let you all know, at this time of sadness and fear, that Daniel and I are safe and secure. We are being sadened by the memory of what an entire city is mourning, but we are also taking this opportunity to remind each other just how in love we are with one another. Tonight it was crisp and beautiful outside, and we walked all through downtown. The air smelled nice (rare in NY) and the sky was STUNNING, with the most amazing colors... We walked hand in hand through the streets of New York all the way from NoHo to the former Twin Towers site. We quietly paid our respects and then I treated Daniel to a nice mexican dinner. We watched Sunday Night Football on the big screen and we spent a lot of time warming eachother with hugs.
Even with the overwhelming sadness and solemnity of this anniversary, we are remembering the little things, guys... A smile, a kiss, doing something nice for one another.
This city, All, being so alone, we are realizing how lucky we are to have eachother and the strength of our love is strong. Strong enough to see us through.
We are happy and we are settled... Today anyway... Hehehe.
Loving you all, as always.
Taliesen and Daniel.

Things Taliesen does TOO much in NYC

1. Ride the subway. It's not that I have a problem with public transport. In fact, in this city, it really is VERY good. I just have a small problem with the fact that I spend at least 2-3 HOURS every day UNDER GROUND!!!!!! It's just not a natural state of being. Of course, that wouldn't be a problem if I lived in Outer Queens, but then I'd live in Outer QUEENS!!!! I love living in Mahattan, just too much of my day spent under ground.
2. Eat out. When you can buy coffee and a bagel for $3, a sandwick from subway for $2.50 and steamed vegies and brown rice from the chinese place around the corner (who DOESN'T use MSG) for $4 and save yourself all that time struggling through a supermarket, preparing the food AND cleaning up? Honestly... Why wouldn't you?
3. Drink. Now, I don't want to worry you all, Daniel and I are not becoming alcoholics. Promise. But when you can buy a "longneck" (not that they call them that here, but all of you in Australia know what I'm talking about) of beer for $1... That's right, ONE DOLLAR! You can see how that and $6 bottles of Australian wine (Dad, Penfolds bin 389 is only $13.45 at the bottle shop up the road) can lead to a very easy way to take the edge off after a long, HARD day working our crazy jobs.
4. Worry about the state of our Nation and of our World. Maybe its because I have to hear something about him (being the moron that runs this country - the Leader of the Free World) every day, perhaps it's because I live in New York (where everyone seems to have a brain, and hates him) or it could even be that I'm growing and becoming more politically conscious... Hehehe. Whatever the reason, I find myself worrying about this poor world of ours every day...
5. Saying "No" while walking on the street. Whether it be pamphlets, brochures or beggers. Whatever the reason, whatever they are trying to give me or ask of me, I find I'm saying No all the time. It seems to be every time I go out. I can't wait til I become one of those real New-Yorkers that just has that air about them, that Look that says "stay the heck away from me, I aint givin' you sh*#."
6. See things I want. From brownstone houses and apartment building on Central Park West to beautiful shoes and gorgous outfits, there is just SO MUCH in New York City that is begging me to buy it. God help me when we're rich and famous.

Dear God

I write this blog to you, God, for I have things to say that would only be best-addressed to you. Everyone else is more than welcome to read these thoughts.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for our friends and family. You, more than anyone, know how lonely Daniel and I have been at times here in the biggest city on Earth. We are so far away from our family, who are so important to us. And we are so far away from our dearest friends, who you know we love more than words. So, Dear Lord, thankyou for the love of our friends and family. We are truely blessed to have people like these in our lives who love us, dispite being so far away, and find the time to write us a quick letter or note that warms our hearts and souls. Thankyou for these true friends and our beautiful families.
Lord, I also wish to thank you for the challenge of this City. We know that we grow though the challenges and hardships that you send us and I wish to thank you for this one. I look around this city and see how hard it is to make a good life here, a great life here - possible but, oh, so hard. And I think how lucky we are to have this challenge in front of us.
Lord, give us strength. Strength to work at places that make us feel worthless and over-qualified and under-appreciated. The challenge you have placed in front of Daniel is big. He is facing it with bravery and courage which I admire more than anything.
Lastly, God, thankyou. Thank you for the little beauties of this city that make us remember it's all worth it. Thank you for things like the haze and fog that makes the top of the Empire State Building disappear when we are walking toward it down 34th street - it looks magical, disappearing into the clouds. For things like the lights of the George Washington Bridge, looking so beautiful, on our walk home from the subway. And for Fall, as we witness the change of season here in New York, it really sinks in that we live here. This is home and we are watching the first season change. You never see the season change when you are just visiting somewhere, only when you live there do you witness the season changing. And, it's beautiful. Thank you.
With this change of season, Daniel and I embrace the change in our lives. We embrace this new start, this new beginning, and the challenges it brings.
God, please help those we love in Australia know that we miss them and they are currently in our thoughts. We miss them and pray for their health and happiness.
Always, and forever.
Thank you.
Amen.