Something VERY Exciting Is About To Happen

Chips, Ahoy!

Foreigners eat the darndest things. These are what I encountered at the food mart near my hotel in New Zealand.

Mmm, Lemon Moroccan Chicken.

Roast Lamb & Mint! I love that they remembered the mint, and not just 'cause I have that "mint" tag.

These ones did not actually have the Full On Flavour of Burgers (or Penguins).

Thank you, New Zealand, for your fun tasties.

You Know You're In New Zealand When...

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Eat It, Northern Hemisphere

Goodnight, Kiwi!

So last night I got home and was a bit blue, as Zach has packed up his toys and snaggletooth and is off on a little trip.

But then! I checked the mail! What's this package, I said?

A Novelty-T all the way from New Zealand, via Charleston, featuring The Goodnight Kiwi!


Now, when I went to Charleston back in September, I got to meet David's new buddy, a lovely antipodean named Elena. We talked about all sorts of New Zealand culture, like Kiri Te Kanawa, Flight of the Conchords, my friend Shelley, and the Goodnight Kiwi.


What is the Goodnight Kiwi, you ask? Well, up until 1994, there were only two terrestrial TV stations in New Zealand (That number has since doubled!), and at midnight, they would go off the air. The Goodnight Kiwi was the little cartoon promo they ran, of a sweet lil' Kiwi and his kitty tucking in for the night because there were no more programs to watch.

Here's the wee buddy in all his glory:

Night night little man! I love Foreign Culture, especially as it regards Programs and Novelty Ts.

Miss Millie

Now, keen readers might remember Miss Millie from previous posts - especially when I gave her a beautiful animal print dress way back when.

So it turns out babies grow, and if you give them an outfit sometimes it's smart for it to be too big, because eventually it'll fit them and you'll get a fun picture in the mail one day.

Here she is at some little girl birthday party - as the story goes, all the other little girls were in pink frilly things, but not Miss Millie - I'm sure she stole the show in her NYC high fashions.

Her mum, Shelley, is a dear friend, and I hope I can visit them soon, since I'm clearly not very good at keeping up friendships via email. Epistolary is not my middle name. It's Rene.

Kiwi Culture

The native New Zealanders are Maoris. Unlike the Native Americans in the USA or the aborigines in Australia, the Maori makeup a high percentage of the Kiwi population: 15%.

They also make some Art which some might say is pervy. I say it is not, and stand by it.

Kiwi Babies!

Baby New Year came this morning, so let's celebrate other babies.

When I was in New Zealand I got to stay with my friends Shelley and Ian, and their wicked cutie baby Millie. Millie and I became besties, as the kids say.
Apparently, during the night Millie would cry but I have a superpower which allows me to sleep through babies crying, so I missed out. And also she got a cold which spread to everyone in the house but me, so again, superpowers.

I want Millie to be the prettiest Kiwi baby ever, so I got her a special outfit from New York. Those other babies are sure going to be crying with jealousy.

Here she is moving about and making noise. It's kind of like the Cloverfield preview with the shaky cam and off-screen sounds, but with less scary.




God Bless New Years!

Homeward Bound!

I am here now in the Qantas Lounge, soon to board a flight from Auckland to LAX, then onward to JFK, then at long last: (after six different ones) a night in my own bed. To sleep, perchance to dream, and perchance with a puss on the pillow snuggled to my head.

New Zealand has been a delightful capper to this trip, and much time and mirth have been enjoyed with friends - including Shelley's delightful baby, Shelley Jr., aka Millie.

The only part of New Zealand that scared me is the Famous Terrifying Santa Claus that stands atop the Whitcoull's Bookshop on Queen Street.

The particular picture doesn't quite do him justice, as his index finger is motorized as if beckoning wee kiwi babies to come whisper their Christmas secrets in his oversized mechanical ear.

God Bless America.