Ok, so I tried to make a blog thing work on my website, www.mattbroome.com, but it was too complicated and too time consuming compared to blogger. So here I am back again. I left Mississippi on June 18 bright and early. I spent the next several days in New York City visiting with my friend David. It was wet and rainy most of the time I was there. A few bright rays found their way down though. Late nights, sleeping in until noon ... perfect vacation schedule. We spent that Sunday in New Jersey at his mom and stepdad's house for a bbq. I met his sister Jaime who is also moving to Australia but on a permanent basis. She will be living in Sydney, so when I get a chance to go there I have another familiar face.
I arrived in California on Wednesday night, June 24. Since I've been here, I have been to El Matador Beach in Malibu, shopping on Melrose for some vintage cowboy boots, and hiking in Runyan Canyon. My high school Brittney and her boyfriend Matt have been excellent hosts. We've been cooking in and watching movies and lounging by the pool. Friday, Brittney and I went to see a sketch comedy show at the IO West Theatre. I've LOVED the California weather! Sunny all the time. Warm/hot but not humid. I've had a little bit of allergy troubles since I've been here, but the weather has made up for the all the sniffling. I've managed to get a pretty good base tan! I'll have to enjoy this weather while I can. Soon I will be headed into winter.
Yesterday two other high school friends met up with us in Los Angeles, so we will had our own little class reunion. Tuesday night I will be heading overseas. I've had such a wonderful two weeks of just vacationing. It's hard to believe that I just spent my last night of 2009 in the United States! Time to finally begin my journey down under!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I'm an international banker now.
I opened up an account with Westpac, the bank of choice for Australia apparently. They are sending me my account information via mail and once I get it activated I can start transferring money overseas. Can't access the funds until I find a place to live and meet with the bank to show proof of identification. But that's one more thing to check off my to do list.
I have almost made it to my last two weeks of work. I completed my last big job of getting the design award submissions together for the MS AIA Awards. It was a big project and I am glad to have shipped it off today! I learned today they intend to throw me a breakfast farewell party at the office. I was surprised. I have been there a year and 3 months. I wasn't really expecting anything grand or really more than a "see ya later, keep in touch." Guess I made somewhat of an impact. Made me feel important.
On the home front, I have been doing some serious cleaning to just get the place more organized so we can work more efficiently. The master bath has still been the biggest project and it is coming together nicely. My intent is to have all the walls primed and painted by the end of the week and the floors and shower and tub deck tiled by next. Plan to get the rest of my hardwoods installed in the hallway this weekend so next weekend I can sand them down and get ready to finish them. After those two big projects, the bath and the hardwoods, I can focus on the smaller tasks of just painting and trim work mainly.
Little by little, it's all coming together....
I have almost made it to my last two weeks of work. I completed my last big job of getting the design award submissions together for the MS AIA Awards. It was a big project and I am glad to have shipped it off today! I learned today they intend to throw me a breakfast farewell party at the office. I was surprised. I have been there a year and 3 months. I wasn't really expecting anything grand or really more than a "see ya later, keep in touch." Guess I made somewhat of an impact. Made me feel important.
On the home front, I have been doing some serious cleaning to just get the place more organized so we can work more efficiently. The master bath has still been the biggest project and it is coming together nicely. My intent is to have all the walls primed and painted by the end of the week and the floors and shower and tub deck tiled by next. Plan to get the rest of my hardwoods installed in the hallway this weekend so next weekend I can sand them down and get ready to finish them. After those two big projects, the bath and the hardwoods, I can focus on the smaller tasks of just painting and trim work mainly.
Little by little, it's all coming together....
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Correction....
I thought I was giving a three week notice, but it turns out it was a four week notice! Good for them I guess! I have three weeks left now at work and four weeks to complete the house projects. That's really not that much time! But as long as we get the big stuff taken care of and clean out all the junk, I'll be happy.
I am working on the master bathroom now. I will post some in progress pictures tomorrow afternoon. Its way past my bedtime.
I am working on the master bathroom now. I will post some in progress pictures tomorrow afternoon. Its way past my bedtime.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
29 more days!
Well, I turned in my three week notice on Monday. My last day of employment as a graphic designer is June 12. I'll still do it on the side freelancing as I have done in the past, but I am definitely looking forward to getting away from the computer for a while.
I have been thinking about what I want to do career-wise, and I have decided that I want to go back to school for my masters in exercise science. Not sure where I will go for that or when I will start. Who knows? Maybe I will find a great program down under and decide to stick around a while! I'm not thinking too far ahead anymore. I think that's where a lot of my dissatisfaction lies ... always trying to plan too far ahead or wishing my life was a certain way. Time to live for the present and just be happy with what I have. I can't change the past and I certainly can't predict the future, but today and right now I can tackle and that's what motivated me to take the plunge and go to Australia now.
The house is coming along quite nicely. I have had quite a lot of requests for photos. Well I am not quite to that stage yet, but once I get there in the next few weeks, I will definitely upload some images of the house. My brother and two of his friends will be moving in beginning in July. My big project is the master bath. I almost have the walls ready for painting. Have to connect the plumbing underneath the house and tile the floors and shower and finish my vanity top, which we are creating from an old solid oak art table from Mississippi College. I am so excited to see how that turns out!
I have been thinking about what I want to do career-wise, and I have decided that I want to go back to school for my masters in exercise science. Not sure where I will go for that or when I will start. Who knows? Maybe I will find a great program down under and decide to stick around a while! I'm not thinking too far ahead anymore. I think that's where a lot of my dissatisfaction lies ... always trying to plan too far ahead or wishing my life was a certain way. Time to live for the present and just be happy with what I have. I can't change the past and I certainly can't predict the future, but today and right now I can tackle and that's what motivated me to take the plunge and go to Australia now.
The house is coming along quite nicely. I have had quite a lot of requests for photos. Well I am not quite to that stage yet, but once I get there in the next few weeks, I will definitely upload some images of the house. My brother and two of his friends will be moving in beginning in July. My big project is the master bath. I almost have the walls ready for painting. Have to connect the plumbing underneath the house and tile the floors and shower and finish my vanity top, which we are creating from an old solid oak art table from Mississippi College. I am so excited to see how that turns out!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Claire's Tacky Prom Birthday Party
Me & my date, Rachel of Machel
Me & the Prom Queen/Birthday Girl Claire Kinsey
There are few things I am going to miss about Mississippi ... my dear friends will be several of them. You know who you are. Thanks, Claire, for an awesome themed birthday party and always being there when I need you. Thank you, Rachel, for being a person who can parade all over town with me dressed like that and not have a care in the world about what people think of us.
Six more weeks ... 39 days.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Itinerary
I have booked all of my airfare for my departure. I am leaving June 18 and headed for New York City to visit my brother from a Jewish mother, David. We are going to party hardy until the 24th, where I will then depart for Los Angeles. I am staying there while visiting some high school friends until the 30th. I fly out of Los Angeles at 11:45 p.m., and arrive in Melbourne on July 2. I already have social plans for Independence Day. I have a German friend living in Melbourne who is throwing a dinner party on the 4th. I'll meet all sorts of people and I am really excited about getting to know some new faces.
I am getting things in order at the house. I spoke with a realtor who gave me good news in the fact that I've added substantial value to my house based on my new open floor plan and modern finishes. He said I should make a good return on my investment and recommended I rent it out for a year and then put it on the market after finishing out the details. So that's the plan. I am trying to get my brother to commit to renting the house. I mean, I'm basically giving him a house to stay in with some friends for a little more than the mortgage payment. Thats a steal for a house in this area! I think I'll get it worked out.
I am not much of a reader but a dear friend gave me as a parting gift a book entitled In a Sunburned Country. It's about a guy's travels in Australia. I've read the first two chapters and its very interesting. Thanks, Judy for sharing that with me. I look forward to finishing it and learning what exciting things I am in store for!
I am getting things in order at the house. I spoke with a realtor who gave me good news in the fact that I've added substantial value to my house based on my new open floor plan and modern finishes. He said I should make a good return on my investment and recommended I rent it out for a year and then put it on the market after finishing out the details. So that's the plan. I am trying to get my brother to commit to renting the house. I mean, I'm basically giving him a house to stay in with some friends for a little more than the mortgage payment. Thats a steal for a house in this area! I think I'll get it worked out.
I am not much of a reader but a dear friend gave me as a parting gift a book entitled In a Sunburned Country. It's about a guy's travels in Australia. I've read the first two chapters and its very interesting. Thanks, Judy for sharing that with me. I look forward to finishing it and learning what exciting things I am in store for!
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