Oceans. Ten.

I had the best intentions of blogging every day while I'm in Hamilton, but then I got whisked away to the tropical north, where I stayed at the Whangarei Heads Surf Lifesaving Club. As soon as I can re-install the drivers so I can connect my cellphone to my laptop, I'll chuck some photos up, but I thought, since I'm bored and self-obsessed, that I would answer some questions I get asked a lot.

What happened to you? You used to be smart.

Um, yes. I got asked this, and I don't really know the answer to the first part, but I can assure you that I am, for the most part, still smart. I suppose one might say that I'm exercising different aspects of my intelligence this year - having a significant other fries my brain in ways I never thought possible, as does being a reluctant pseudo-mentor of sorts to a selection of people. I've also had to become about 4739279237 times more responsible since I'm in charge of the bill payments for my flat, as well as cleaning it, since the other inhabitants appear incapable of doing so.
Excuse me for only getting an A for an essay I wrote in one seven-hour sitting, probably the only seven-hour stint I've managed to be by myself for this year.

Do you have a job? Or do you actually just play Zelda all day?
No. And yes. A few months ago, I installed an Nintendo64 emulator on my laptop, which allows me to play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to my heart's content. As you can imagine, this makes me very happy. I also have Banjo-Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing and some other games. In fact, recently I struggled with a repetitive strain injury in my right hand from non-stop gaming, which I ignored until I couldn't open doors anymore.

With regards to a job, I would very much like one and have been applying for a number of cosmetics-related vacancies in Dunedin, so far to no avail.

You look terrible. What happened to your triathlon career?
It stagnated.
After World Championships last year (for which, for the record, I trained solo and sans coach), I made a decision to study again. Shortly after embarking on said study, I decided that study wasn't for me, and that I would continue competing. This was followed shortly after by the Christchurch Marathon, where it became blindingly obvious that I'm well past my retire-by date. So, despite the invitations to races overseas that fill my inbox, I will not be competing in triathlon again.

Are you happy?
Not particularly.

What's your plan now?

Um, what? Do you even read my blog? I don't have one. I have a few badly-thrown-together plans, none of which will eventuate. They include flying planes, visiting countries like Sweden and Croatia, and um, some other things that escape me right now. I have only one thing set in stone for now, which is breaking up with my boyfriend in February next year. So that's nice.

ANYWAY! That's enough for now. Photos of Northland soon!