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it's okay, friends. i'm alive. i'm sorry it's taken me a while to post here, but these have been pretty hectic. my car is dying. well, it may have been temporarily resurrected. last week, i had to buy new front tires and brake pads. this weekend, the brakes full on gave out because the guy who was going to put the new pads in never got off his ass to do them even though he said he would. at one point, i stepped on the brake and after the screeching, metal on metal sound, it went clunk clunk and then the pedal went all the way to the ground and the car kept moving. i was driving with the handbrake and by putting the car in park for a while (like 20 minutes). nucking futs. anyhow, kiwis are turning out to be quite knowledgeable about cars. i mean, the country is full of jalopies. but this also means that i've gotten a lot of work done on my car for free. this guy put in my brake pads today, although i did help, in the pouring rain. i offered to buy him a box of beer, but it seems that he wants to go out for a few beers, to chat, and to play some pool. sheesh i hope he's not getting the wrong idea, but i'm inviting other people along as a safety barrier.

in other news, i went diving yesterday. my first deep and wreck dives in one. one of my friends ended up coming up too fast (10 meters in 10 seconds, oops) and the coast guard was called in and everything. he spent the evening in the hospital but he's totally ok, besides feeling a little stupid. random fact: kiwi hospital gowns have buttons on the side rather than the slit in the back.

also in other news, I'M FUCKING DONE WITH RAFTING AND FUCKING DONE WITH MURUPARA. i passed my assessment, and did pretty well if i do say so myself, and i'm now officially a grade 2/aspirant guide. whoo!

well, i have to go home and put on dry clothes and maybe eat something so i don't get totally drunk after one beer and say/do something i'm going to regret tonight.

cheers. i love you and can't wait to come home!!!!