Saved so far

$400. I wish I had more, but it's a start. Soon, my sweet, soon.

Also, I have been reading up on what to do in Australia via Fordors AND listening to Bill Bryson's a Sunburn Country. Yay me

Seriously, though

Blue Mountains.

Hot Air Balloon (Mez, you don't have to, but you will in Africa)

Steve Irwin everything. I loved him so much.

Just kidding!!!!

To-Do List for Mel's Island

YOU.

Places Mel MUST Show to Aimz!

So, when you have a friend spending thousands of dollars coming to see you, the responsibility falls upon you to show them a bloody good time. Thankfully, we share many of the same interests so hopefully this shouldn't be a problem.

I also need to stuff her with delicious Australian treats such as Weetbix, TimTams, Vegemite and whatever else I think of in the mean time. Oh, Milo. Of course.

This will probably be edited many times to be more refined and organised but for now, here is a very rushed list of things we have to do.

SA

• Victor Harbor, Granite Island, Urimbirra, Rapid Bay, Second Valley
• Adelaide Zoo, Monarto Zoo, Gorge Wildlife Park
• Pancake Kitchen and Malls Balls

QLD

• Dreamworld
• Ripley's Believe It Or Not
• Australia Zoo, aquarium, wildlife parks

VIC

• Hair By April Emily - need to decide what we want and put aside at least half a day!
• Caves or some shit
• I forget whats here but I assume more zoos and stuff

ACT

• Parliament House
• Questacon
• I forget what else

So my dear Aimz, if you want to add shit, please do. Because I am bad at this organising stuff. I am excited as heck. Time to start working the streets to save up though.

Where to go?

Australia.

We were going to move there when I was a kid. When I was 2 I got a passport because my dad got a job in Australia. We were getting ready to go and my granddad got sick and so instead we moved from Michigan to Virginia. It was not Australia, but now I am going to AUSTRALIA.

Okay, in a year, probably. But better 30 years later, as opposed to never.

But Australia is 2.97 million square miles. Dude, where the hell am I gonna go and visit? How do I whittle down my ideals of what I want to see into a few places and within a few weeks? (I cannot picture me going to less than three weeks).

And the people. I have a few folks I want to see, in particular, Mel. People are most important, anyway. :)

and I am most excited  to check another box on my LIST OF PLACES I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO. :D Yippee!

Mel beat me to it!!

I wanted to add a geeky poem she sent me ages ago. but it seems as though it's not needed, you know, since she did post about how we met.

But it's fun to embarrass friends, so here's the poem:

When I was a wee lass, just 15 years oldI joined a new website and addiction took hold,This site was called Gaia and it pains me to say, I designed a dream avi and started questing that day.A celebrity date, boots and elf ears,A black rose so devine it near brought me to tears.And so did the price, oh my did it ever, but thenOut of nowhere came my new best friend forever!Miss Hudson Hawk was her name and boy was she great,She sold me that black rose for a very generous rate.Somehow we got to talking and learned about each other, Like how I cannot swim and she lives with her dear mother.We both love Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Pirates too, Pokemon and role playing and seeing animals at the zoo. So that was how our friendship blossomed, and we chatted every day,And so it has been for the past 3 years and is now our usual way.Without my darling Dizzy and without our silly talks, I would not be this person though I'd be less of a dork.But our dorkiness is awesome, marvy and fair great,I'd give anything to visit Dizzy and hang out with my best mate.One day we will go places and share adventures and stalk boys,But til that day is upon us we'll have to settle for simple joys.Things like internet and facebook, msn and letters too,Aimz is my sister from another mister and I adore her, yes I do.