Sheep - in New Zealand!!!

We were driving up our street and saw this guy and his pet lamb. Iain brought the car to a screeching halt so I could leap out and take a picture. Apparently they live right down the street from us!

Mission Bay

Mission Bay is another gorgeous beach community in Auckland. We don't go very often -- the last time we were there was over a year ago. Because it's been so long, it really felt like we were on vacation somewhere, instead of 30 minutes from home. We went for a long walk down the beach. Everyone was out -- picnics, little kids, families playing cricket on the beach. Then we wandered up through all of the incredible houses. We passed a beautiful home with three awful teenage boys banging the crap out of an old metal barrel, no adults in sight. The noise was horrific and reminded us that you can live in a 5 million dollar home, but if you've got crappy neighbors you're screwed.

After our walk, we went for a swim in the ocean. It's our second swim of the summer, and the water was perfect. After that, we headed over to a nearby restaurant for a glass of wine and some food. On our walk to the car I saw this really cute little café with the BEST awning. I had to get a picture.

House update: they've begun painting! Yesterday we continued carpet and tile shopping. The kitchen goes in on the 18th of Jan -- I can't wait!

Neighbors

When you were growing up, remember how there was always that one really mean neighbor who glared at you through through drawn curtains, had lots of cats and couldn't wait to bust you? Yeah.

"So anyway... I'll start calling the cops on those kids down the street, then order us one of those dog silencers... and we'll be all set!"

- Iain

ER

Last Sunday, after a day of house-hunting, we settled in with the cats for an evening of couch bed and back-to-back episodes of Dexter. We were just getting comfy when there was a knock at the door.

It was our neighbor (the landlord for the Americans, who left without saying hello OR goodbye!) He's one of those guys who is ALWAYS doing "home improvements" but you never see any result. A fence gets half dismantled, and never repaired. A yard gets torn up in anticipation of landscaping or paving, but it just sits unattended for months. He's a nice guy but man... We've spent entire Saturdays sitting on our deck reading magazines, while all you can hear next door are the sounds of hammering and sawing. There should be an entire second house built by now, for all the work this guy does. We're always remarking, "What the hell is DOING over there?!"

Well, turns out the guy's not skilled. He'd cut himself with a saw and was wondering if he needed a ride to the hospital. He was pretty freaked out. But a quick rinse under the tap revealed a minor cut, the type that bleeds a LOT but isn't deep. We sent him on his way with some iodine and Iain's version of bandages. I asked for a picture. Yeah, that's duct tape.

What the WHAT?!

I was standing in our living room yesterday around 5pm, Tama in my arms, when I looked in our backyard and saw some KID traipsing across the lawn. My response time in situations like this is abysmal. Someone could walk in and rob our home in front of me, and I'd just be standing there. I managed to say, "Um, Iain - why is there a kid in our backyard?!" Thankfully, Iain is like Blue responding to the sound of the can opener -- he raced right outside and confronted the boy.

When asked why he was walking through our backyard and not out on the sidewalk, the kid replied with a sullen, "It's too far."

It's TOO FAR?! What?! No apology, no fear, no nothing. It was like he was annoyed with IAIN for bothering him on his quiet walk through everyone's property.

To be fair, he was about 10 years old and in school clothes -- it's not like we had a gang member back there - but it's still a little disconcerting, and moreover, his whole "Wha'd I do?" attitude was infuriating.

This experience re-ignited the, "Let's just sell the house and move somewhere else already" convo, but we finally calmed down and acknowledged that we aren't ready to sell yet.

Next door, the Americans moved out. Odd to have neighbors for that long who we never spoke to, but we've now realized how good we had it. For all of our complaining about their antisocial behavior, they were excellent neighbors. No noise EVER. We're now living in fear of who will move in: A family with five kids, ranging in age from 6 months to 14 years?? A couple who also works from home but plays hip-hop music all day? A drummer? One of those people with a huge exhaust pipe on their car who likes to let the car idle in the driveway? The list could go on and on.

KEEP OUT!!

Yay!! Our fence is installed!!! Now we can keep out the pesky neighbors. It'll look better once we paint it (painting it is on The List, right after finishing the windows, stripping the wallpaper in the guest room, and touching up the trim in the living room, finally hanging the new blinds that have been sitting in the hallway for 3 months... in other words, it won't happen until next year. Or never.)

The Americans!

Our next door neighbor is moving to a new house. He hasn't sold his current house yet, so he's renting it to some tenants.

They're from California. That's all we know. Oh, and they move in this weekend. I have mixed feelings about this.

Fears:
1) They like Palin (deal breaker)
2) They're young and will have super loud parties (this is a general fear that has nothing to do with their nationality)
3) They'll assume that because I'm American, we're instant BFFs.

Hopes:
1) They're voting for Obama
2) They're our age and super cool and watch Gossip Girl and Lost and can't wait for the Golden Globes
3) Because I'm American, we're instant BFFs.

Stay tuned!