Hm. I'll need that coat.

My first stop of the day may have to be the local thrift store. The
light jacket that I brought with me will handle today's light rain,
but the chill makes me long for thermal underwear. Of course, it was sunny and very warm when I left Washington. Go figure.

Obviously from this post, I have arrived in New Zealand in one piece. It was a full day's travel to get here, made easier by the two men I met on my way from LAX. Get your mind out of the gutter, Meg. One was 19, and just out of a Hamilton, New Zealand high school. He reminded me a lot of Christopher Kaufman --known as the Guru to some of you -- but with extra piercings and shockingly black hair. (Ok, ok, he was a cutie.) The other was 43 and traveling with his family. He is a native of Australia but a 14 year resident of Atlanta with his New Zealand wife and their three kids. They are relocating home. Quite a shock to their American born children, as you can imagine. Both men made the long (12-hour!) jump from L.A. enjoyable.

It's nearly 9 a.m. here. I am ditching the comfort of the Aspen House for a rainy walk to the Auckland Museum. I need to stretch my legs, breathe the air...and find a coat.