Mt Hutt - New Zealand

This past weekend I was down in New Zealand on a little snowboarding trip with Renee and her awesome friends from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. We stayed in this cute little town called Methven at the base of Mt Hutt. I haven’t been snowboarding in TEN years, so I was a bit worried I would eat it big time. It turned out to be an awesome time and I was doing fine until the afternoon of the second day when I fell back straight down onto my tailbone. I tried for one more run down the easy slope, but pretty much just slid down the whole way on my butt, which was a bad idea. Still nursing a bum bum and using one of those doughnut pillow cushions at work to help the pressure. I look and feel like an ass, but it was totally worth it! I had the best time and can’t wait to go again! New Zealand was absolutely beautiful and serene. I haven’t felt so calm in a place in a long time. Looking forward to getting back over there sometime in the next few months to explore both islands and get some pictures of the sheep close up. They are everywhere!

I always start a trip with a pic of me on the plane, ready to take off. It was freaking bright outside, so I needed to have the shades on, since you have to keep the window covers up - not cause I think I am cool.

Sheeeeppp!!

Geared up and ready to go!

Renee and I ready for the trek up the mountain

Mt Hutt

My little bunny slope

Amazing views everywhere you look

Mulled wine in the lodge

Bit o' mountain silliness

...silliness continued

Snow bunnies

Beauty

More beauty...

Doughnut pillow, it is as ridiculous as it looks

... more fun with the co-workers

My co-worker Charlie is in NYC for the month, but before he left we had a little Google farewell for him that turned into a bit of a pub crawl. As it usually happens the last ones standing were myself, Michael and Charlie. For some reason we just keep thinking one more cocktail is a good idea. My new favorite after work bar is a great place called Grandma’s Bar. It is in the basement of a building in the CBD (city center). It’s small, bare walls, great old furniture you would find in a g-ma’s basement and they make some of the best cocktails I have had in this city. All the guys from work are on this Mad Men kick and have started drinking Old Fashion’s, which are actually quite good, plus you just look cool drinking them. I stuck to one of my favorites, the Dirty Martini, keeping is classy as always.

The fun begins

Heading into Grandma's Bar

Knitting at Grandma's

Cocktails, alright!

Old Fashion bros

Cheers!

Back at you...

On our way to the next bar we saw this on the side of a building that was undergoing construction. This is actually a flat surface that looks 3D to hide the construction that is going on. Pretty cool.

More cocktails at Marble Bar. After these drinks I gave an impromptu performance of my awesome rendition of the MJ classic "Thriller" dance. There is video, maybe I'l post it later...

Dinner at Cafe Roma. Pizza was great, wine was delish, but the best part is that you can color on the table cloths like when you were a kid!

End of the night, not too shabby.

Fun with the co-workers continued...

I have been neglecting this blog for a bit and have a few fun pic's to share. Work has kept me pretty busy, plus I am just lazy and need to stay on it.

First we have some pictures of me and a few co-workers down at Bondi Beach after City to Surf. City to Surf is a 14k race that starts in the city and goes to Bondi Beach. I didn't run in the race, but being the good co-worker I am, I met the ones that did run down at the finish line for some celebratory beers. We also had a lovely dinner out the other night at a great Italian place called Bar Reggio. Here are a couple of pic's from City to Surf and Bar Reggio: