Monday Morning for Eoin

Good morning Australia. I'm just waking up on a Monday. No work today, but I do have hockey tonight. Eoin, my friend met through the York's says he reads this page at work, especially on Monday's. So enjoy it my friend. Eoin was actually the only person to give me feedback on changing the title of the blog. He wanted it changed back to Ryan Down Under. But I think his Australian ties make that a biased opinion. I will change the background photo maybe, it is rather dark.

Eoin is the guy in the middle there, I probably should have cropped me out, but hey as Willie said in Bad Santa..."They all can't be winners can they..." He has some pretty amusing t-shirts. The one he is wearing there says "You just leave me here like a candle." He had a good story behind it that I can't fully remember but basically this guy used to say it all the time when people had to go. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to them and so it inspired the t-shirt. Oh and that's Mike York on the right.

I had a really good weekend....I mean I told you last week how boring my birthday weekend was. Well I really made up for it. Patting myself on the back. HIGH FIVE!

I worked Friday night, and had a pretty early evening. Saturday I had the day off so I went to the city and met my Keene contact at Mojo Records for Record Store Day. There was a band, beer, good crowd. It was great to catch up with him and talk about the Sox. He is the biggest music fan I've ever met. Actually after talking about music, being in that record store and having my own opinions on music, I have a blog in my head right now that should be out soon. It has something to do with record stores. Not sure yet.

So after a couple beers in the city, I got a call from Curt York. He and his brother Mike and Eoin were having a couple at his house. Kind of amazing that all my Keene contacts wanted to hang out on the same day. I then left the record store, headed back to Caringbah and had a beer with those guys. On the bus to Caringbah, there was a very funny french man. How hilarious is their accent? Especially if they are funny too. This guy had us laughing pretty hard. By us, I mean just strangers on the bus. He said he'd been to Fenway park or as he said it Fen-ouay. He also was talking about soccer. Ronaldo, Zidane...etc.

We all went out to Northies in Cronulla after Curt's place. I hadn't seen Curt in a couple months so it was good to catch up. I see Mike once a week for hockey and I usually run into Eoin once every couple of weeks. It was one of their mate's birthdays so we had a couple of schooners...or as they say "SCHOOONAAHS!" Ah, thats one of those Australian words I think is funny. Doesn't that mean sailboat? I managed to get home not too late and was pretty pleased with the day's events.

Sunday I worked a double shift. I was happy it didn't start until 1pm. We were saddened that the other USA girl working there was fired. She didn't show up to her Saturday shift. It was her birthday apparently. But that was her choice. Nice gal from Western Illinois. Inbetween shifts, I had one of our signature blackened prime ribs. It is truly amazing. For something like $12 I get this huge steak. Good perk.

After work, most of the employees stayed after to have drinks and say goodbye to our Canadian employee who is leaving today for Canada. In all honesty I could care less that she's leaving. She constantly frowned and had an attitude. I hear she was having boyfriend troubles, but still, bring a smile to work. Bad moods can be contagious and I didn't like being around hers. Enjoy your maple syrup! It was fun to hang with the staff anyway.

2 words I think are funny in the restauraunt: Doily...it is that little flowery piece of paper. Also Ramekin...its a little container to put sauces in...Ramekin sounds like this character in Super Troopers, Ramathorn....Car ramrod! Car Ramrod!

Hockey tonight. It is our last game and then the playoffs start. No Stanley Cups or anything. Its all in fun...unless I have to hit ya.

I bought my plane ticket to New Zealand. Pretty excited about that.

With the NHL playoffs going on, I will most likely be writing about those memories soon. So look forward to that, the record store blog, ah, I have one going about weezer's Blue album. Check back in soon.

Alright, that's it for now. See ya. Oh yeah, I'm missing the Sox.

Thursday

Not much going on today. Luckily twice this week, work has called asking me to come in, so tonight I will go in at 7pm. I need all the hours I can get. I'm trying to save up for this New Zealand trip.

What else can I tell you about work? I'm getting better I suppose. I can carry 3 plates at once. I know the menu better. I like the fast pace environment and being able to have good conversation with strangers.

I think I'm going to the city this weekend to see a friend from Keene. It is apparently "Record Store Day" in Australia, so there is a concert and party going on in the city. Should be fun. I've only seen my friend once since getting here so it will be good to catch up.

NHL playoffs are starting. I'm rooting for the Bruins of course, but I do cross my fingers for the Hurricanes too. They used to be the Hartford Whalers. You know, most Hartford people will not root for the Canes. Do you think it is wrong of me to still root for them? I mean they are still the Whalers in my mind. And they did get a Stanley Cup in 2006. That was a good time.

I received a couple birthday cards in the mail this week. One last week from mom and dad, one this week from my Gram. Also, a random one from Carrie from my UWP Cast E group. Thanks to all of you.

I nervously await your reactions to the title change of the blog.

Alright, I told myself I'd go for a run by 4pm. It is 3:51....SEE YA!

The Four Stooges

I've recently been talking to a few of my old Carnival Celebration friends online; Craig, Lesley and Boffa. The four of us worked on the Celebration from sometime in early 2006 until probably the end of 2007. We had a great chemistry together as hosts and always had fun doing our jobs. What is interesting is the four of us were never on the ship together at the same time. It was constantly a different combination of three of us. If I could have it my way, I would have the four of us make up one great host team someday. I sometimes think of us as the Three Stooges plus Shemp, or the Four Stooges.

In sometime early 2006, Lesley, Boffa and Craig had signed onto the Celly. I have heard some stories about the good times. But I think if I asked any one of the three what their favorite contract was, this would be their favorite one. It sounded to me like constant craziness. I mean these guys ran the ship.



But Craig, a.k.a. Sexy Craig had to go on vacation in August of 2006 and that is when I stepped in. Lesley and Boffa were my co-hosts and they were crazy. In my first few weeks I was going through a tough time and instead of letting me sulk about it, there were many a middle-of-the-night wake up calls telling me to go join their party. Lesley has this amazing ability to pull an all nighter, then have energy the next day. I always thank them for helping lift my spirits. I think their philosophy was to have a good time, no use worrying about things you can't change.

My second week on board when I had a cold and was just not having a good time, the Celly hit land in the Bahamas and had to go into emergency dry dock to fix a broken propellor. It was truly one of the most miserable times I can remember. But looking back, Boffa and Lesley really helped me through that week when the ship was out of water. One night in fact, after returning from a night in Freeport, the three of us walked underneath the Celebration! I've never seen those photos, so if either of you two have them, I want to see em! We told the security guys we were "official" so he let us go underneath. We were wearing flip flops I'm sure.



Lesley doesn't really need sleep actually. She brings a smile to every event she does. I mean yeah I've seen her when she wakes up after a big one and she may need a cup o tea, but her recovery is amazing. One of her favorite events to host was the Mens Hairy Chest Competition. She made it unique and her own. She could handle obnoxious, drunk men with grace.

Boffa, Lesley and Ryan in the Bahamas

So for the next few months, the second installment of the stooges took over the Celly. I remember many nights in the disco or at the pizza bar on lido deck. Our deck parties were always a blast. Lesley and Boffa had this saying, "Chocolate bars" that I never figured out. Really, I think it meant "no excuses, lets go!" but really, they just said "chocolate bars" at different moments. I guess it is an inside joke.


Then we were all saddened when Boffa had to go home early. Everyone in the department, wherever they are today, still misses that guy. He has it, whatever it is. He has that charm and swagger that is fun to be around. I never saw Boffa upset or flustered. His character really kept my mind at ease when things were tense, which they rarely were.

No worries with friends like these

So with Boffa gone, the bosses called back on our boy Craig to take his place. Now it was the third and final combination: Lesley, Ryan and Craig. Immediately, Craig E Boy and I hit it off. I had heard countless stories about "Sexy Craig." He was always a great host. He brought his own dynamic and energy to the stage. We became roommates not long after he arrived and he ended up being my favorite roommate in three years of cruising.


Craig would often make up stories about me and tell the audience on the first night of the cruise. For example he used to tell them I was on the pilot episode of Grey's Anatomy. Another time he told them it was my last cruise because my wife was expecting twins. Depending on how I felt, I would confirm or deny the rumor.

Halloween 2006

I suppose there was one more combination of us hosts. That was when it was time for Lesley to leave the Celly. Coincedentally, on the same day she was supposed to leave, our Cruise Director's appendix ruptured and he needed to be rushed to the hospital. So for one cruise, they let Craig E Boy and myself run the ship. It was possibly the best four or five day cruise I was ever on. Just two 25 year olds running the entertainment department on a 100,000 ton ship. Classic. We stayed roommates for the next five or six months.

Attempting to run an entire department.

In June 07, I left the ship life. My body and mind needed a rest. Many people ask how does one walk away from cruising the Caribbean. Sometimes the body and mind need a break. Craig was on vacation at the time and was scheduled to come back to the Celly. And I wanted a break from calling bingo numbers.

I almost ran into Boffa a few weeks ago. He was in Sydney for about 24 hours, but we didn't make it happen. Hopefully I will get to visit him in Melbourne before this trip is over. He has told Criag, Lesley and me that he wants back onto the ships.

Sexy Craig left ships for a few months recently, actually to retire after a good three years or so on board. He has decided to return this August to the Glory, my first ship. He constantly tells me I should come back too.

Lesley is still going strong. She has worked her way up to Assistant Cruise Director and has filled in as Cruise director on several occasions. Whenever we talk, she tells me to get back there so we can host together again. It would be nice.

I've told a few people that I would consider going back someday. It just would require me to be in the right place at the right time. It would take some serious thought about going back to a life that limits you to never driving a car, cooking your own meals or seeing family for months at a time. Ya never know. (Cooking my own meals...maybe I'm stretching the truth on that one)

Next blog will be about Australia, I promise.

Changes

First off tonight, a couple of changes. I never had any new suggestions for alternative titles to Ryan Down Under....and that's ok. So without any consulting with anyone, I changed the name to "A place for my stuff." It is a fitting title for a few reasons. A lot of this page is about my Australia experience, but a growing amount of other material is about what is in my mind, not related to Australia. So my "stuff" is all of that non-Australia detail. And if or when I leave here, Ryan Down Under won't really make sense. George Carlin had a famous piece called "A Place for my Stuff." It was maybe one of his best, cleanest pieces he ever wrote. Definitely one of my favorites. I relate to it because I am always moving around and having to pack up my stuff. So I suppose my mind is full of stuff too and I need somewhere to put it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLoge6QzcGY

"Actually this is just a place for my stuff, ya know? That's all, a l‮ti‬tle place for my stuff. That's all I want, that's all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody's got a l‮ti‬tle place for their stuff. This is my stuff, that's your stuff, that'll be his stuff over there. That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could ju‮ts‬ walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you're taki‮gn‬ off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody's got a little pile of stuff. All the little piles of stuff. And when you leave your house, you gotta lock it up. Wouldn't want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. They always take the good stuff. They never bother wi‮ht‬ that crap you're saving. All they want is the shiny stuff. That's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get . . . more stuff! Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore."

Click on that link for the whole version...

Also I added a counter to see how many people visit the site. But it counts everytime I go to the site too, so I probably check it two to five times a day. Oh well, technically somebody is looking at it, even if it is me.

Alright, I will post something tomorrow. Check back in soon.

No Stairway....Denied!

I wrote most of this post Sunday night but didn't publish it until Monday at noon.

On the bus ride home from work tonight, the bus driver had a radio station playing. It played the entire song of Stairway to Heaven. After a pretty boring weekend, this really made my day. I was really into the song. There was time for one song after that. It was "All I need is a miracle." Must have been an Easter themed show.

My weekend...was...the...most...boring...weekend...ever. I worked Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday day. Working Saturday bummed me out more than I thought it would. I should have requested that night off. Anyway, a friend I've been dating here and her friends showed up and sat in my section. So I got to serve them. That was nice. Tonight my plans to watch the Red Sox game fell through. I think I'm really bad at making plans because if I had done things differently, my weekend may have been packed. Things to work on in the future. So it is Sunday night. I think April 11 is officially over around the world. It actually feels great to get that day over with. 28. Damn right!

No hockey this week because Monday is the Easter Holiday on the calendar.

There is a new sports channel here in Australia. It is free, so some of the sports they play are as exciting as watching paint dry. But they have been playing NBA and MLB games regularly. Also I saw the end of Tiger's round today. But...it's all taped. It is a crazy world we live in. I can go to ESPN and get the final result in an instant. Tomorrow I'm going to try not to get the Masters results...but honestly, that will be nearly impossible. I check the news and sports headlines everyday when I wake up. Will take some serious willpower not to get online.

UPDATE: I already found out who won on the Monday morning news. The last paragraph is kind of unimportant now.

SportsChannel used to be the official channel of the HARTFORD WHALERS! haha.

One of the sports on this channel is women's netball. It is like the WNBA here, except that people actually ATTEND THE GAMES! It looks like a basketball court, okay? There are hoops just like in basketball, except there is no backboard! The women don't have to dribble, they just cannot run with the ball. So as soon as a player gets the ball, they must stop. When shooting, the defender has to be one meter (What's a meter!) away. It is strange to watch. But I see kids playing it around town.

LOST is on this Wednesday. I think watching LOST is one of the top 5 hours of my week. I sometimes wonder what life will be like without LOST. We are only 2 weeks behind those of you watching in the USA. 24 is on tonight. Jack Bauer for President.

I'm talking on facebook right now with Sam Lacey. He went to Fuller School with me in Keene. He is a guy that I lost track of and wasn't sure where in the world he was. He seems to be doing well. I was happy to hear from him. We had a good talk about everybody we could think of from Fuller School and had a few laughs about growing up.

When I woke up Monday morning, the news said that Elle McPherson spent her Easter with family and taking a run on the esplanade in Cronulla Beach....I work on the esplanade on Cronulla Beach. I'm so sad I missed her. I love her work.

Schwing! And goodnight!

Birthday

28 huh? Boring number right? Of course 9, 18, 27...I like those....but 28? I guess the good thing about 28 is that there's a 29 after it. The only good joke about 28 is dirty. (just send me an email to get it)

Yeah, it's my birthday. I am unofficially 28. I say unofficially because I turn 28 here in Australia when technically I turn 28 on the 12th of April in Australia due to me being born in the USA. By the time my birth time comes around in the USA, it is already the 12th in Oz.

You know what I would have liked? Turning 27 (a multiple of 9) in 2009....or how about a guy I grew up playing baseball with. His birthday is 9/9....Imagine having that b-day. 9/9/09 and turning some multiplhe of 9. Ah, nevermind. I like 4/11....or as they say here...11/4

This post isn't about "tooting my own horn", it's just an attempt at remembering April 11th since 1981. If you are a follower of this page, you know I remember details from long ago. Well with April 11, for some reason, I have very few memories. I don't know why, but I can only remember a handful of my 28 birthdays.

I think I have the best birthday month. I mean, when you share the same birthday as former MLB pitcher Bret Saberhagen, why even argue? But there's something about April birthdays that I think is as unique as being a lefty, which I am. I'm an Aries. I don't particularly get into star signs. I had a woman recently tell me all about the Ram and what it means. I wasn't really into it. The only star signs growing up I was interested in, was whatever sign belonged to the girl I had a crush on at the time. If Leo's daily horoscope said "Love was in the air," then I knew it would be a great day at school the next day.

Why can't I remember my birthday? B-day's 1-4 are out obviously. Mom might have to verify this for me, but I think for #5, I had the chickenpox, and therefore couldn't have the big party I wanted. I think that's what happened.

I had a couple of childhood parties on 10 Westview in Keene. It was your standard elementary school party: Cake, ice cream, games run by the parents, gift bags for the friends, and probably a cry fest or fight between a couple of the kids at some point. I think later in life I heard my dad mention how draining a child's birthday party can be. I do not doubt that!

21 is the big birthday in the United States. (Oddly enough, it's a big birthday in Australia, yet they can drink at 18) My 21st was when I was attending Carroll College. A guy from New Jersey, named Scott Baker took me out for drinks. I think I turned 21 at 12:01am Thursday morning. So it was a looooong weekend. He brought me to a bar called Sharkies in Waukesha. Either that night or the next, I was sick.

I remember turning 19 because I have a picture of it. I was in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lars from Sweden was my roommate during our Up with People tour in 2000. Our host family brought us out to the Macaroni Grill. Real classy place. I totally heard Lars tell the waiter it was my birthday. So I had to act all surprised when the cake came out. Lars ate at least half of that cake they gave me. He still is one of a kind.

27 is recent enough to remember. San Antonio, TX. Down by the riverwalk with a local UWP alum, my advance work partner Karen from NY, and Georges from Luxembourg. Georges was one of my Education staff members in 2000. They brought me to a great restaurant. It was fun to be surrounded by good people.

Here's another one I have a picture of...except for the year I can't remember. This was in Montreal. I drove up there to visit Raz, Synnove, Sarah G and a few other Cast E's. Based on faded memory, this is....2001. I hadn't yet been to Carroll College. So in this pic I am turning 20. The particular restaurant makes the b-day person stand up with a chicken in hand while the restaurant sings. For a few years there was a regular crowd meeting up in Montreal. I haven't been back in six years or so.

2005-2007 are a blur. All three probably took place on Carnival Fun Ships. No pictures exist. I don't think. Wait, going through some old files...I was inbetween the Carnival Fascination and Carnival Elation at the time of my 24th. So most likely I spent my 24th bday in Wisconsin or NH. I had traveled back to WI for the first time in March 05. My next big day was on the Carnival Fantasy in 2006. I had a nice cake in the crew bar with my then girlfriend and entertainment staff. Oh and wait wait....got it here. I signed back onto the Carnival Celebration April 12, 2007. That means...for my 26th...that I went out for drinks in Keene with my brother Jon, slept for about 2 hours, then flew to Jacksonville and signed onto the Celly. SEE! I knew I could remember this. Just needed to write it down.

My mom always told a pretty cool story about my real BIRTH day. I'm not going to tell it because she does such a good job at it. It was pretty special from what I hear, I had only been around a few minutes so I can't give you the details.

Birthday fact: If you didn't know, Chocolate Cake is my favorite. If you didn't get me chocolate cake, then I didn't like it. I had some pretty cool cakes growing up. At least one or two Hartford Whalers themed cakes. Those bakers down at Sun Foods knew how to make a whale tail!

All these memories remind me of the Forrest Gump quote, "You know it's funny what a young man recollects? 'Cause I don't remember bein' born. I don't recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don't know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voice in the wide world" (Note: I don't remember the sweetest voice in the world...maybe the sweetest sound...the horn after the Whalers scored a goal)

Anyway, this year is a weird birthday. I'm working today. And that is fine. Really. I mean technically most of today is really still April 10th in the USA. And that is where I was born....so that would mean most of my SUNDAY is my true birthday. And for that I have plans to go over to Judd's house. Judd is also a Keene native....and his birthday is on SUNDAY! So after I get out of work on Sunday, I am going over to Judd's to watch the Red Sox game. It will be tivo'd but still, it will be my first sox game of the year. I'm pretty psyched. I have a few of those Budweisers left over too. If only we had some Dunkin' Donuts or the Rem Dog.

Alright, time for bed. It is officially April 11 here.

Also I realize this blog of late hasn't been so much about Ryan Down Under but more about Ryan's fantastic memories. Well these memories are what keep me smiling everyday when I'm missing the fam. I'll keep you updated on Oz, just don't expect any shortage of "looking back" blogs either.

Goodnight! 28 doesn't seem so bad so far!

Dude! Do you remember this helmet!?

I just returned home from Penrith after a pretty good game tonight. I'll tell you about it in a sec. I just found this photo online. It is an old Cooper helmet. I mentioned in a previous blog that I wear the same helmet I wore when I was eight years old. Well this might be older. I think it looks like it was designed by NASA, a hockey loving NASA guy. Chris Levebre...(Could never spell his name!) had one.

We won 7-3. Not the most exciting game in the world. I was denied any points tonight, but the team played well. It was 4-3 until late in the last quarter when we put three more away. Our team passed a bit better than normal, especially down low behind our own goal and on the breakout. No penalties either, just a pretty clean game overall. Next Monday is a public holiday so we won't play.

This is called "Wayne Gretzky's Office"....the area behind the net. It is where the Great One set up many goals. Except it was the other team's net!

I was noticing there are only a few of us that play with no face mask or visor. So far so good. All teeth in check. Knock on wood.

Craig McTavish was the last NHLer to play without a helmet. Nuts right?

Some random things I've been thinking about:

9 out of 10 Australians ask me if I'm from Canada. I always answer, "No, but close!" I think they know that if they say, "American?", and I was Canadian, it would be offensive to me. Those Canucks sure are proud to be from up there, or as some Americans like to call it, "America's Hat."

When I started out waiting tables, my biggest fear was dropping food. But I realize now that it isn't that scary. My mentality is there isn't an option of dropping a plate. It has to get to its table. Drinks are a little different I think. I would be more embarrassed dropping food than drinks.

When I was describing seeing the Delorean the other day I meant to say that for some, it would be like seeing a red Ferrari or a Rolls Royce. It just happens once in a blue moon. (Blue moon?)

Hoo-Ah

I'm missing a great month of sports in America: The Masters, NCAA hoops finals, playoff races for NBA and NHL, Opening day of MLB and Im sure a couple of NASCAR races...hehe, I'm half joking with that last one. Half.

I purposely pronounce the word Tomato like Toe-mot-toe here. My accent stands out enough as it is. Mashed potatoes are just mash. Ever heard of beetroot? It comes on burgers...I don't think I can describe it very well, but it looks like the cranberry we eat at Thanksgiving.

I started reading a book today about a big gangland war that took place in Melbourne starting in 1999! Amazing how recent that is. Will keep you up to date on it. They actually made a mini series here about it. I'll have to read more on prison sentences here, but it seems like people who commit some major crimes here have the chance of getting out someday, whereas in the states we "Lock em' up and throw away the key..."

George Carlin thought "Lock em up and throw away the key" was a bad idea: "Where you gonna throw it? Out in front of the jail? His FRIENDS WILL FIND IT! How far can ya throw a key , 50, 60 feet tops? Even if you hold it on its side and like skim it, you know, you’ll only get an extra 10 feet off it max. This is a stupid idea and needs to be completely rethought"

Been awhile since I threw a Carlin quote in there. Like 2 weeks.

I found this nice memorial to George online. It might be hard to read, but it is George's final wishes. I was and still am sad that he isn't around. It is a very small world though. Some of his ashes were scattered on Spofford Lake in Spofford, NH.