I know. I posted that above, then I thought of a way to fix it and deleted that comment. Then found that my solution won't work. Bob sent me an email with a complicated suggestion for fixing it and I may have to try it.

Late October/ Early November 2003 Mystmum Canowindra, Australia

No one warned me Mystmum had boys!! They are totally different to little girls-much more boisterous. Luckily MM also has a girl-bigger that the others I have seen (with the exception of Add9’s daughter) and she gave me a nice cuddle and has protected me from the boys.

It seems rural Australia decided to fling its worst at me – there has been and dust storms, torrential rain and gale force winds for most of my visit.

This forced cancellation of the trip to Parkes to see where the film "The Dish" was made. However the past couple of days have been pleasant and I was able to experience a real Aussie barbeque- and they’re right, no real Australian drinks Fosters!

It is strange they call this town “The Balloon Capital of Australia” but I haven’t seen as much as a child’s party balloon, let alone one of those fantastically coloured hot air one.

MM’s boys are not as bad a I first thought, just louder. After talking it ones with Patch (a small dog) I know Tim is the one to watch for-he’s the smartest and definitely the most dangerous. Aidan is quite gentle most of the time, but I don really feel safe unless Jemima is there too.

There are other animals here too. I have met Juliet (“The Burmese Princess”), but didn’t make a good impression. I think I must have been on her favourite chair. There is also a big dog and a large cat, but I was never introduced to them. The cat seems very aloof and the big dog (a Labrador, no where near as big as Joyous’ horse sized hound!) is too silly and young to be trusted.

MM tells me I am soon to visit Emmex, who lives in the Land of The Long White Cloud. I’m not sure about living in a cloud, but I’m sure it will be very exciting.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/squee_travels/sets/

I'm moving the pictures to separate albums for each participant. This way I can add the captions that were supposed to be there from the beginning and were to long for Yahoo. The link above will show each one, now and when I'm finished.

Let us know if you need help with the order. I think my photos were placed backwards in the Yahoo album...

17.11.03 Emmex, (New Zealand)

Well – That was the shortest trip yet! Across the ‘Ditch’ to Godzone---went through customs without a hitch.


…

Starting to get hungry again---one packet of TimTams doesn’t go far, and sharing my box with a sheep was a bit dodgy! What was MM thinking?!!
......................

Finally out of my box and been adopted already – met Emmex and his daughter – went outside for a pee and near crapped myself when this huge womble of a dog appeared out of nowhere and tried to sniff my bottom! Pinched a few tangelos off the tree when no one was looking Yum!
......................

Got to the Grog tonight and watched the International Rugby World Cup with Emmex.

England vs. Aussie “Go the Poms!!”


Went into extra time but obviously the better team won – I can see why the Poms beat the All Blacks of NZ. As well, they have a great kicker. It turns out Emmex was born in the U.K. so he was wrapped!



He said…”Teach the Aussies to put empty TimTam wrappers in the present sack!”… Wonder what he meant?

Tuatara on a rock

......................

Godzone is a strange place---wet one minute and suddenly hot and sunny! Very green and lots of gorgeous women (Preach would love it here )

Maori Carving, probably of Tanewha (Tan-i-fa) or God.


‘Endeavor ‘ Captain Cook’s Ship


Good old fashioned Kiwi and a silver fern.



......................
Anyway have been down south and around town – bought a backpack to carry all my new riches. Went shopping for Helva and bought little gifts for her. Have since heard Wunderin is up North so will stop there first. Sooo Hot in Christchurch and now back in the City of Sails it’s the same Hot. Hot. Hot.
Haven’t seen a single sheep yet
Don’t know what all the fuss is about. They should call this the land of milk and Honies! Babes Everywhere!

Anyway, time to pack up and get my photos uploaded and get back in my box---by the way---HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Nice drawings!

quote:

Originally posted by KismetKat:
hmm - and the pics are all a bit messed up and out of order too. That's a bugger!

Hey gab - how about adding a list of the prezies the squee brought for people along the way? I got a lovely photo frame from Joyous.

Great idea, Kis...except I don't have a clue what gift was sent along...I don't even know who sent what item along in the box of items I DO have.

I have no problem with folks PM'ing me a description, photo, crayola drawing of the item...and I could put up a running list....kinda matching the "ports of call" list during the journey. I could add it to the first post of this thread and update as the items come in.

I know I sent Preacherman a University of Maryland (my Alma Mater) Basketball shirt.

8th January, 2004 Wunnderin ( New Zealand)

Well, I’m finally on my way again. I believe MX was reluctant to send me on my way overseas and think he is suffering separation anxiety! Luckily, I had the excuse of visiting Wundderin to ease the way – “just going up the road ole chap…”

I quite enjoyed my overnight visit with Wun and would have stayed longer, but she is surprisingly strict (for one of those surfer types! ) She reminded me of all my fans and the duty that comes with celebrity and say I must continue my journey in the morn.

I was able to stretch my legs and explore the native bush (forest) surrounding Wun’s home. It was so peaceful and relaxing – with the knowledge that there are no natural predators; not even snakes! Seems Australia got the lot of nasties….Apparently, that is why NZ has so many flightless birds…While meandering amongst the ponga (tree ferns), nikau palms, rimu, totara and kauri; I just had to sample a few of the tasty berries which are so popular with the native birds. I’ll have to side with the Kereru and choose puriri berries as my favourite. Shame, I didn’t have time to visit Tane Mahuta the grandfather of the forest – a 2000 year old Kauri tree.

I did manage to fit a quick surf lesson from Wun and her dog, Barnacle had a few good pointers. We went our for a late evening surf session – How exhilarating! I was so lucky to get an awesome tube ride and got to see dolphins too! We rattled back up the dusty road, (So THAT’S where all the sheep are!) just in time to enjoy a “sundowner” uner the verandah and watch the most beautiful full moonrise. ***Yawn, stretch*** It’s turned out to be quite a big day! I’ll sign off now, pack my things and snuggle up in my cozy box for tomorrow’s journey. I shall wear my hei-tiki for a safe trip...                        good night and farewell to Middle Earth.

                              

Kis sent me the T shirt I'm wearing in one of the photos ("I got this T Shirt for my husband, it was a bloody good swap")
I sent Emmex a packet of Tim Tams and a small sheep ornament

All the photos have been re-posted on Flickr with the original captions, except for the captions the PX had put on hers. I lost those. Sorry, PX. I have put pictures from each participant in a separate set.

The link to all the sets is http://www.flickr.com/photos/squee_travels/sets/

I didn't get any photos from Helva, Cimmera, SqueeLord, OrderedChaos1, or Chessrook.

January 15th, 2004 Helva (Oregon)

I have arrived at the Helva’s in the state of Oregon, USA.

Helva has two adorable daughters and her oldest, Sonja, was goof enough to share her breakfast with me. I was quite hungry after my trip and happy to be out of that box. I had been packed with care and arrived in good condition, but I think next time I travel I’m going to go first class, (which is an interesting concept in a country that has supposedly done away with class divisions.)

After breakfast, Sonja told Helva she wasn’t feeling very well, but I think she just said that to get give her some Vernors.

Vernors, according to Helva, is the very best ginger ale to drink and it’s made in Michigan (Hmmm, they don’t make ginger ale in Oregon?)

Sonja tried to share some with me, but the bubbles made me sneeze which made little Serafina giggle.

February 14, 2004

Goodness, I’ve been here a month. What a month it’s been too.

Serafina flushed a washcloth down the commode, then once Helva got the plumber out to fix that, Sonja, not to be outdone, flushed leggos.

Helva doesn’t get out much and I can see why, but her home is filled with love.

Well, it’s back into the box and off to Seattle for me.

February 20, 2004 Jojo (Seattle)


Another one of Jojo’s gifts (No not the tape) she wants me to put it around my neck! She insists that it is a Squee collar – What do I need a collar for?

February 20, 2004

Well, here I am in Beautiful Seattle at a gorgeous University campus with Jojo, who thrust some pretty flowers at me!

She is kinda sexy looking in a kooky way! ( in a side note, I kinda don’t like the way she is looking at me! Has a certain gleam in her eyes ) And BTW! Who or What is a Keith?

Jojo has instructed me to print in a more legible way so all can read --- she is sort of bossy, isn’t she?

February 22, 2004

Lots of water up here for a squee! Also beauty as Mother intended, as in Nature. So Green. Now I can see why Ms. Jojo loves it here. Have to fly as we are set to go on a tour of the city. She also has been looking at houses -?- and Really, what is UP with this Keith character?
(and No I am not Printing as I like to write I... Oops! HERE SHE COMES!)

February 23, 2004

Seattle’s Space Needle is Amazing! Jojo seemed to feel as if it was going to take off…In fact there is a lot to her & that Odd Carrot fellow---Keith?

(Note to self: Learn how to operate the juicer)

February 24, 2004

We had a wild thyme last night….that’s all I am saying! Keith keeps talking about Squee juice!

March 9, 2004
Guess I have finally set Jojo straight about “our relationship.” Now to Kory! (and I am anxious to see CK and his dragons!)

March 15, 2004

Departure has arrived! I leave Seattle a better squee for having visited and Oranging Out with Jojo, Keith and that Kory (who has given me gifts)

CK - I AM ON THE WAY!!!

oh noes, lol...I hope I remember my part of it wrong. I'm such a dork at times.

3-26-04 CK (California)

Well, haven’t had a chance to write until now. CK tells me that he’s going to try to sneak me an the camera with him to school tomorrow so I can meet a few of his friends. I probably should tell of my arrival. The delivery man dropped me at the door to wait a few hours in the close quarters. When the box was opened I found myself very nervous as I realized I was on a breakfast table! After I finally calmed down I was taken to the computer and saw what goes on behind the scenes of a website that uses PHP coding. Later, CK took me and my “luggage” to my room for my stay (a high shelf where the two cats which would push me down the stairs cannot reach me.) At the end of the day, I was given a coil along with the quote, “One should never go on a journey with a length of rope.” Right now, I am spying on CK as he works on a drawing of Anubis. Whoa!, he spotted me.

***From CK***
Hey everyone. Yes, Squee’s safe. A I have to off is what I can make as I still only have a permit and not my actual driver’s license. The only dragon Squee has seen so far is my poster. Isn’t it best to wait till he least expects it to swoop down and catch him? LOL, well, I’ll get the little one get back to the writing now
~CK
(a little note – it has seriously been years since I have tried to write in cursive.)

3-27-04

What a creepy place. One girl there looked like she had a skunk on her head. At least two other people, all their hair, except a foot-tall Mohawk, shaven off. I had to be reminded that, most of the time, the freaky people are the nicest people. CK’s friends seem okay, but one seems a bit of a Beatles freak.

3-28-04
***From CK***
Go in an early game of chess with the squee. He fell asleep, so I thought I’d fill y’all in.

4/3/04

Squee: With the first dragon spotting behind me, it’s sad to say that there is nothing that can happen here to surprise me. Although it has gotten very lonely here, between trying to communicate with cats and seeing how the others can’t wait till I arrive, there isn’t much to do. I could be worse, CK could be singing again.

CK: Hey, I’m not that bad at singing!

Squee: He’s about as good at singing as he is at dressing in colors.

CK: Just because I choose to wear black….anyway I hope he doesn’t remember this tomorrow; he’s just remembered where his target is…

4/11/04
Explored the jungle that is CK’s room. He’s got some strange stuff in there: for one, this coin

Some very old beads (looks like something Jojo might have lying around the house.) I saw a picture of his sis, which he says is a rare find. She doesn’t like her picture taken, yet she took photography…no stranger than anyone else.



4/26/04

Getting Squee ready for his/her/its journey across the border to visit land of the tie-dye straight jackets. Should be on his way to Honeybuns in less than a week (Still don’t feel comfortable calling all you people by your real names because of how long I’ve known you by your screen names.) Hope the squee makes the trip

~CK

(P.S. I probably should have given Squee a bigger traveling compartment, LOL)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gaberax,

*slaps forehad*

was my spelling really that bad gab? Can we get at least one spelling correction? PHO = PHP (either I was having a bad writing day, or you missed =p )

(BTW, 3-27-04 was when I took the squee to school. Skunk-hair = a friend of mine from spanish class (only met her that year, found out about the band Whitestripes from her that year) and mohawks were actually quite rare that year, heh)

quote:

Originally posted by CK9:
*slaps forehad*

was my spelling really that bad gab? Can we get at least one spelling correction? PHO = PHP (either I was having a bad writing day, or you missed =p )

(BTW, 3-27-04 was when I took the squee to school. Skunk-hair = a friend of mine from spanish class (only met her that year, found out about the band Whitestripes from her that year) and mohawks were actually quite rare that year, heh)

PHO changed to PHP, CK. It was a typing error on my part. Your spelling wasn't bad but your handwritting was atrocious!!!

EVERYONE'S handwriting has been a hard to decipher.

lol, I've never been much of one for penmanship, as long as it's written it's good enough for me =p

Thursday, May 6th, 2004 Honeybuns (Vancouver, Canada)

Phew, I MADE it. I have heard of terrible situations at the Canada/US Border, Thank Goodness! I was only x-rayed, the thought of being strip searched makes me cringe. I surely could just jump across the border if spooked.

I’m thinking I’ll hang around here for a while, there is so much to do. I have note even been here 2 hours and I’ve already been to Dr. Myles, who put a band aid on my injured tail. He has had me pose for a portrait that I will covet. Heck I even met Buddha and have taken a piano lesson.

Help, they won’t let up.






Honey’s son, Myles, did a portrait of me. I’m not sure if is the fancy lettering but my name does not seem quite right. The likeness is amazing - He’s a great artist.

Saturday, May 29th, 2004.

Well it turns out that Honeybuns knows this fella called Rangi. She took me to the park to meet him today.
The place was alive with activity as the sun came out to warm the day.
Balloons and candy for the kids and not forgetting the mini-donuts. A climbing wall, a train and trampoline.
After all this Rangi took me home to meet Huckle and Gizmo. Yeah, they checked me out as well.

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2004

Today is my birthday!!!

Range’s kids have been busy all afternoon getting everything together. The have gathered some of my friends and Mrs. Rangi has baked a wonderful cake. (I’m a bit embarrassed – the kids had to help me blow out the candle – but I did manage to cut myself a good size piece to eat.) What a wonderful way to celebrate my first year and to start my 2nd. With friends and chocolate cake!! (The whipped cream was good too…)



Sunday, June 13, 2004

Rangi got me up really early today – 6:30 am. He said we were going for a stroll – more like a hike. His friend picked us up, Mrs. Rangi and the kids were still asleep! We hiked up the Grouse Grind. Seems to me it’s a very popular hike in Vancouver. Hard going, though. Rangi did ok, can’t say the same for his friend.
The weather was not so great up there. So Rangi talked about coming up again soon. We caught the Sky ride down and come home to more excitement.

Another birthday party, this time for one of Rangi’s girls. They all let me recover from the hike while they went off on a scavenger hunt around the neighbourhood.

I had a rude awakening when they returned. I had no idea 11 year old girls could be so loud. But they were having fun…Can’t say that I was sorry to see them leave, so I can finish my nap.

Wednesday, June 16th

I went to work with Rangi today. I thought I should meet the guys. Then he tells me it’s a good day to do the Grind again! This time his victim was one of his work mates. Poor guy didn’t know what he was in for. I tried to warn him…

The weather was lovely today, perfect for lounging on the deck with a beer, but hiking we went.

What a view from up there. We could see for miles in all directions. Rangi too my picture from the peak.

We also met the two orphaned Grizzly bears – Grinder and Coola. Rangi was telling me that the mother was shot by a careless hunter. While there we watched the Ranger toss them some apples. The size of the bears was scary to someone as small as me, so I suggested we leave.



Return of the Squee


Harley, Carrie and Steve (aka Honeys Husband, Honey and Rangi)



July 20th

Time really flies. I got back to Honey’s house around the end of June. I got to see my very first hockey game as Myles was in a tournament that week.

I Think I was good that the team got bronze and were really pleased (a few photos are pasted in the book.)

I have been a little remiss in writing in my journal. I’m excited though as for my last week here I get to go see the parachute jump. Honey thinks I should stay on the ground for the photo op, as something could happen up there. After all, my tail has just recovered.

Bronze medal!!



Honey made me a little map of Canada as I am now going to Kreeden, a little north and then to Coksy in the east. I’m hoping that someone along the way may add some color!

One of the things I really enjoy is coin collecting. Honey has been helping me make a significant collection of Canadian quarters, Canada just loves to mint coins and these quarters were made special for 1999 and 2000. Who knows, maybe it might be worth something one day. I think I’ll put them in my journal so they don’t get mixed up in my other collection. I still think I may be missing 3 or 4, so we’ll sort them out now and see.



Turns out I’m missing lots, but I have several from each series.



Not only did I get to see the tournament, Coach Harley allowed me to powwow on strategy. You can see we had full attention of the players. I really like meeting all the kids – they sure made me feel special --- and lucky too!

It was an important game for us…meant not placing or bronze, a WIN and bronze it was!
WOO HOO…that’s me being held by Myles in the dressing room. I am glad that they didn’t put me at the bottom of the dog pile.

I had Myles autograph a hockey card for me. I’ll be sure to be watching the NHL entry draft in 2010 as one never knows and he loves his hockey.



Another adventure I had while here with honey was the 21st birthday of her son, Clark. It is tradition in her family that Honey take her kids parachuting on the date.





Got a great shot of the plane. Here’s a few snaps of the day. I’ll post a photo in the album of me with Clark, witnessing his signature on the disclaimer.
Man, was that cool or What?!!!

Well, July 23rd was the day. Kim, her daughter, also made her second jump.

It is long overdue for me to head up to Williams Lake and see Kreeden. There was one last adventure that Honey managed to squeeze in for me – that being a trip to Whistler.
Myles was in the Stan Mikita Hockey Camp and we were pretty much rained in, but the clouds did part for an exciting trip to the zip trek, that’s where you harness up a zip along cables 30 meters above the canyon at 90 kph. Pretty cool stuff.














August 8th, 2004
It is time to pack up and go. I have really liked it here. Honey has a great family – as does Rangi. British Columbia has a lot to offer, maybe not for the faint of heart at times, but absolutely beautiful.
I wonder where I will be on my 2nd birthday?? It was so cool that Rangi and family made me that wonderful cake and threw such a great party. What a blast.

I know that before going to Whistler that Honey was feeling a little sad---also busy---as her daughter, Kimberly, was taking an extended working vacation. I have a few photos to post on the net album of Kim but I asked for one further for my journal.

“Kim…we’re doing the same thing; even the traveling in a box! Be safe, have fun and keep your journal current.”

Squee



P.S. I’m not leaving before I paint my nails…hehehe.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gaberax,

August 17, 2004 Kreeden (Williams Lake “Ogre Mountain”, Canada)

After days of travel, dog teams, mule trains, WWI bi-planes and pick-up trucks, I arrived in Williams Lake. Ok, it wasn’t that bad. I lie about the plane. It is a pleasant town/city. Kreeden says that it has “growing pains”, that they want to be a city, but it is more town-like. I think that he is correct about that. The three things that set the town apart are, a huge sign claiming the town to be “The Forest Capital of B.