Once we landed, we had some more crappy-crap at the car rental robber baron counter. Then off we wen

It seems with every blessing, there s a counter lesson. For instance, yesterday I discovered someone pilfered my cash stash for New Zealand. I came abroad house and apartment rentals armed with many currencies. I ve since learned that having less is more even when it comes to travel money. I was feeling semi-violated, but also in awe of how balanced the Universe can be. At a few different turns, we made compromising decisions with our travel choices. Sometimes, purely to save money. And here I am, almost at the end of this journey, and that money was claimed in a different fashion. Some might say I m reaching here, but I have learned time and time again, that if I make a choice based solely on money (i.e. the fear of not having enough money), house and apartment rentals it always turns out to be a wash. Lesson learned, not once, but many, many times.
We landed in Melbourne, New Jersey, after a long, arduous, crappy, house and apartment rentals robber barren flight from Denpasar, Bali. I say the NJ reference with a smile, because I was shocked to see how similar this part of Australia is to the North East. More on that in a minute. I must first say this. AirAsia blows. house and apartment rentals Sorry all you puddle house and apartment rentals jumpers, but the Airline biz at large, stinks. When a company chooses to lower it s cabin temp to 50 something fahrenheit just to rent blankets I m sorry, but you suck. And that s just what AirAsia did. Not to mention the mandatory baggage check in s at unreasonable fees for minimal weights. Another bit that made this particular house and apartment rentals trip harrowing was the Australian Visa fright two hours before departure from the airport. Every country we ve entered has had a visa on arrival policy. We assumed the same, and wrongly for Australia and had a scare just before our flight. Fortunately, I have an emergency data plan on my phone, so we were able to purchase the necessary docs on the spot.
Once we landed, we had some more crappy-crap at the car rental robber baron counter. house and apartment rentals Then off we went to visit my friend John, who lives in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria. John is a Reiki healer, intuitive listener, all around good guy Dad to one of my favorite people on the planet. He was kind enough to let us crash at his house for the better part of a week while touring. house and apartment rentals A bit delirious from the sleepless overnight flight, I drove our rental, gear shift on the wrong side, gear numbers in reverse, signal arm also on the opposite side up to the mountains. Oh yes, and of course, it was my first non-motorbike drive, manning the car on the left side of the road. Picture this: shift grind, blinkers were actually house and apartment rentals windshield wipers slapping away, oops, you re in the right lane!! eeek, veer left you get the picture. We had a scream and a giggle all at once!
The Australian suburbs were a reminder of my youth in New Jersey. At what point did the US of A plop an entire house and apartment rentals region into the southern part of Australia? As we drove, New Jersey became New York state, as it does, and we arrived in the beautiful hills of Dandenong. It took me at least three days to get the pronunciation right, and actually, I still say it wrong on occasion. house and apartment rentals Dandenong, house and apartment rentals from the Aboriginal meaning “lofty mountain” is just that.
My overnight flight, the unexpected chill of VIC and my unpleasant, lingering house and apartment rentals cold had my performance stress and anxiety at its tops. And so the music leg began. Melbournians love their live music. It s a thriving part of the pub culture. My first show was a last minute booking at Union Hotel in Brunswick. As inhibited as I felt with the state of my health, I have to say my body and my voice delivered. Some how I was able to sing. My motto for the entire run was suit up and show up . Even though I was afraid house and apartment rentals and pissed off about being ill, somehow, someway I got through it. On better days, I did more than get through, I actually garnered a fan base. The first liberating show was at The Drunken Poet . This pub in West Melbourne was filled with regulars. I had one of those moments when someone really gets what you do. Not only did this fella in the audience get it, but his level of appreciation made me feel like I received a message house and apartment rentals from the Universe telling me I am on my right path. Thank you for that, kind sir.
The next awesome moment of this tour was at JOY 94.9. I did feel like I was in a time warp from Saucy Monky s early years in Ireland, when the radio community house and apartment rentals embraced house and apartment rentals the band. From the moment house and apartment rentals I rang the buzzer, the staff at JOY couldn t have been more welcoming or sweet. When I met Anita, the host and DJ for my interview, I knew I was talking to a well-respected icon. JOY is a celebrated LGBT station. Anita made me feel like I was Ani Difranco, stopping in for tea. The truly magical thing about Melbourne is her people. Open, friendly, authentic, interesting and interested that s how they are. From the lovely woman who booked house and apartment rentals my tour, to the sound techs, the DJ s, and to her audiences, Melbourne treats her musicians like gold. And I was a thirsty miner.
On my last night of performances, I met a semi-famous, award winning Tasmanian artist named Monique Brumby. I was opening her show at the Retreat Hotel , also in Brunswick. Man, what a funny gracious lady she is. As I watched her set, I saw what being a seasoned artist looks like. Her relationship with her fans, the ease of her banter, how her music arched and truly won me over by mid-set. She was an entertainer in the best sense of the word. I was honored and happy to share her stage. At this particular show, I was able to use my music, my years of experience, and all the rough tumble warm-up s to win over this audience. By the tail end of my set, folks where hooting and hollering for more. It was a glorious feeling. A glimpse of what being committed to a craft feels like. I sang like it was the last time I d ever sing that was my intention, and my reward for that commitment house and apartment rentals is a knowing that I ll do this for the rest of my days. Whether house and apartment rentals it s an informal show for new friends in a hotel room, or grander shows in front of many, or in my bedroom this is why I m here and it is absolutely what I do best. We are all meant to shine as I quote Marianne Williamson thank you Melbourne, for the gift of appreciation, perspective grace.