The bright side of life

I've been feeling lately that I owe a profound apology to any loyal readers still out there continuing to put up with my lazy posting. Friends who have started blogs recently have already put me completely to shame with their punctuality and reliability. Speaking of which, if you'd like a more constant correspondent from New Zealand, you can check out Tommy's blog for updates as well.

Reliable blogging may in fact end up being put on Tommy's list of delegated responsibilities. It's one of the nice things about having a travel partner - the opportunity to share the load and play to each other's strengths (or, in my case, obsessive-compulsive tendencies). For example, my list of responsibilities currently involves keeping track of all paperwork, making budgets that are promptly blown on Wellington's cornucopia of vegan cupcakes, and secretly making plans behind Tommy's back. Tommy's list of responsibilities includes having a positive attitude.

And let me tell you, I never really appreciated before how useful it can be to put someone else in charge of your positive attitude. I'll illustrate with an anecdote. A week ago, visiting Tongariro National Park, Tommy and I decided to attempt the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (they added the "Alpine" a year ago to dissuade foolhardy hikers - read, us - from taking it lightly) in weather that the locals descibed as "absolute shit." Despite the increasing numbers of hikers warning us to turn back as we journeyed upward, and despite the complete saturation of our clothing and the total depletion of my limited muscle strength, we kept on keeping on all the way to the topmost volcanic ridge of Mount Doom, where we truly began to appreciate the meaning of "high velocity winds." Picture, if you will, a thin ridge of volcanic rock, Tommy trying to convince me to keep walking, and me hunched over in downward dog, clinging to the ground to keep from falling over, snot literally being ripped out of my nose by the wind, wondering if this falls under the heading of "poor life decisions." This is a spectacularly good moment to have delegated your positive attitude. With Tommy in charge of finding silver linings (I bet this would be a really terrific view in the sun!), I was free to continue muttering my stream of expletives and imagining the headlines of tomorrow's paper: "Delusional Americans Blown Off Volcano on Second Day of Vacation."

The rest of week one has been slightly less intense, though equally invigorating. Wellington's vegetarian cafes are pleasantly munching away at my bank account (with my full and enthusiastic consent), the hole in the ozone layer is chipping away at my pasty Michigan-winter skin, and so far the "ugly island" continues to impress with gorgeous green hills, turquoise beaches, and surreal volcanic valleys. Tomorrow we're off to the South Island and Christchurch, where we will be enjoying the hospitality of yet another incredibly gracious friend. I'll try to be more worthy of your readership with more attentive blogging. Cheers, mates.