step one: passport photo. Check.

So I got my horrible passport photo taken today. Which I kind of laugh about - cause I plan on chopping off my hair before my trip - and passport canada does advise sending a new picture in...but I don't know if i'm really going to abide by this suggestion. My face isn't changing.

Anyway. We (my mother, grandmother and myself) get to Walmart to get this lavish photo taken.

Our first obstacle. Rules.

What NOT to wear for picture. White shirt, hooded sweatshirt, tank top...and the list went on.

What did I have on? A hooded top (which I was going to take off) a white 3/4" sleeve shirt with a blue tank top underneath.

Where did these restrictions come from?

Anyway - we ended up leaving, shopping, and i found a shirt to make do and get this thing over with.

I do not particularly enjoy my ears. They stick out. I don't actually know why i want to cut my hair short considering my slight problem with my ears. Anyway - but you have to tuck your hair behind your ears and behind your shoulders - so as to expose the most of your face to the photograph. Yuck.

They took three pictures. The first was nixed because it made me look too pale apparently - but my mom said it looked nice. The second lost out because i cracked a stinkin' smile. And the third, the charmer, the convict looking photo was the winner.

Ew.

Seriously. I've had one friend with a really nice passport photo - Magali. She had this beautiful picture of her, I think it was on her France passport. Never will I pull off that kind of a look for a passport.

Yeah.

So - it's done. What can I do? Cry...or just not care. Despite the fact that all of New Zealand will be looking at this - as it will be the one document most used to identify myself abroad.

So - NZ. First step - get in the passport. We have to apply for the Work Holiday Visas as of January 1st - they only issue 2000 to Canadians a year - and I'm not waiting to be ousted come July.

Tickets for the flight...looking into a one way now from Toronto --> Vancouver --> Auckland (thanks to Air New Zealand opening up a non stop flight from Vancouver to Auckland recently). Best price - July 27th, 2008...964$ plus taxes. I think it's just over $1,100.00 CDN.

I think I'll be booking this ticket shortly.

You need the passport AND the ticket booked BEFORE you can apply for the Visa.

One step closer.

My parents (well, my mother - father dropped her off in front of the building) picked up new application forms and information at the New Zealand Consulate office in Ottawa before leaving last week. Wonderful.

NZ's been majorly on my mind this weekend. I'm excited. I'm also getting anxious.

I'm going to be honest here - I have realized recently that I really don't like time. It's more so time pressures. The moment a time frame is stamped on something I see it as a countdown - and it freaks me out. When we went to Wonderland in my youth, I remember going on a day where it was open for like 12 or more hours. I think at the 8hour mark I was already saying "oh man, we ONLY HAVE 8 hours left". EIGHT HOURS??? That's a lot of time.

But it's suffocating. Time pressures that is. And it's good to be honest about it with myself.

It can simply make me anxious. So for the most part, I try to avoid planning really strictly time events. I also avoid watches.

This might sound ridiculous considering I have almost a full year in New Zealand. But - the thing is that we are walking the entire country - so you have to take that into account when planning out travel times. The walking is a challenge to me, to my knees and also an economically sound option. It saves a great deal on travel costs - which can kill a budget very quickly.

So, to avoid having any anxiety about timing out this one year journey...I have to plan this trip with no worries...just loose plans with monthly goals of where I want to be when. And really - the only place I know I need to be at a certain time is the Southern Alps - which we NEED to do during the summer months of New Zealand - for safety reasons.

Other than that - we walk, we try the best we can to get where we need to be, roughly when we need to be there.

The end.

My knee is still sore and feeling a bit off. My grandfather mentioned that I should speak to an orthopedic surgeon about my knees to see if they suggest fluid injections for my knees - a procedure the sports medicine specialist told me was not an options. But then again, he wouldn't be authorized to do such a procedure. So - i will be talking to my family doctor about looking into this referal. This might be a positive step towards stronger knees.

Also - I think my parents are going to push towards getting me orthotics for Christmas. My dad recently purchased a pair to help with his step - and he has seen great improvements in pain relief (basically, he no longer feels pain!!). A good idea for me for NZ. I was already told twice i would need them by medical practitioners.

Some things that a medical practitioner tells you - is a mere suggestion. Yes, to improve a situation currently being experienced. But man - if you're not covered by some sort of insurance plan - these options fall out of possibility very quickly. Cost. I'd rather spend $400.00 on supplies - like good hiking boots, pots/kitchen stuff, pack lock, hydro sacks and gortex pants.

I'd rather.

My knees - probably couldn't care less if I get the hydro sacks. And I do have to listen to my knees while I'm on this journey.

Why does everything come down to a dollar amount. It's almost irritating.


9.5 months to go.

It will sound more official when I purchase the ticket and start counting down the days.

Oh - and this type of countdown doesn't stress me out. I'm rather excited about this adventure. It couldn't come fast enough.

:o)