Canadians & Kalamazooians (is that even a word)


I don't understand why I am saying goodbye when goodbyes are for suckers. i never want to say goodbye, but here I am, forced upon my lips like there is no tomorrow.
Nada the Canadian and Katie from Kalamazoo are laughing obnoxiously in the bathroom/poo shed about something my ears can't pick up, but I get the feeling, that I am going to miss that sound.
Once, I excitedly came home from work to see Nada, who had been away for the weekend in Tampa. I ran into her room to find her fast asleep, in a rude moment, I jumped on her screaming "I'm so glad you're home" thinking that it was a lovely way to let her know how much i missed her, instead I got "WHAT THE F***? WHO THE F***!!!? S****!! F***..." I don't know who was more freaked out! I have now decided to never wake her ever again, even if the house is on fire.
Nada is honest, reliable, forgiving, loving, caring, gracious, understanding, a listener, and an all round good friend.
I love that we share a love for thrift shops and every meal is veggies with cheese. I love her quirks and obsession with trail mix.
I like that she has the ability to just act completely ridiculous and do such stupid fun things.
I love that she is so alive and active, and getting to know her and watch her grow even more since she has been here has been a privilege.
She is someone that I am truly lucky to have as a friend. So beautiful inside and out.

I hate that I just dropped her at the airport and I may never know when I will see her again.

She is one of my best friends that I will hold so close to my heart.
I will miss her.

Nada, I absolutely love you and will miss you!

gem
xox

Coldplay & bread

Im sitting in Penera. A pretty sweet bread and coffee shop in Vierra, Florida.
Im sad that this is the first time i have been here and yet it is probably the coolest place I have been to yet. I'm doing this personality tests for work to see how I work.
I just discovered i am introvert. In fact, I am 78% introvert, which is strange, becuase I have lived most of my life as an extrovert. I think when I stopped talking, and started listening, I defiantly became less of an extrovert. Not saying you can be an extrovert and no have the ability to listen, but being an extrovert, you sometimes forget about others.

I have really started to love the new Coldplay record. It got a lot of flack for being so different and a little less creative then the last records. But this time i just see something different another personality within their music, like he just discovered something that he wants to share with the world. hmm, i might think about that a little more.
There is a quote that Jamie wrote in his last blog that really meant something. It is a response form Chris Martin about the new record.

"Coldplay's new album is called Viva la Vida. Singer Chris Martin chose this title after seeing the phrase, which means "long live life," on a painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who endured polio, a broken spine, and chronic pain for decades. "She went through a lot of shit, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida,'" says Martin. "I just loved the boldness of it."

It amazes me, to say the least.
So as I play this keypad is if it were a piano, I am just going to listen to track 10 again, and again till I get sick of it.

Rain, leaving Nada and a new look

it's been raining pretty heavily here for about 3 days now, on and off, but still there has been plenty. We had weather like a hurricane, things were flooding, leaking, floating and drowning. Lightning brightened the glistening streets and thunder clapped hard against our ears.
I won't lie and tell you that it didn't make me nervous, but it was also exciting.
yet it is still raining....

On Monday, we visited some Thrift stores and I picked up some bargains. Florida thrift stores are amazing!


Things back in Florida are interesting, with some interns departing and some heading back and forth to warped tour. Nada leaves on Saturday, which will be the saddest part yet. it will be the final goodbye to one of my best friends and one of the most genuine girl friend I have ever had.
I am going to miss her guts so much!

Smores, Rob Bell and Home
I am way too full of smores.

But there is nothing better than being full of such a thing! A real smore! in America! what more could you want!???!
Sandlot kids are my role models in life.... haha!
I went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner tonight, was stupid. And nothing like Australia.
Im about to watch some Rob Bell and do some thinking. I miss thinking about meaningful things, about life and Jesus and the great things that happen. I always enjoy Rob Bell, he says things in a way that make sense.

I miss Ohio as well.
and new friends

well only a week till I am home. I can't believe it. so soon.

goodnight lovers.



gem
xox

OHIO

Early Rise, Tornados and a Tornado
Yesterday was the last day of Alive Fest.

We skipped out at around 6pm, due to tornado warnings and threats of a huge storm. Where our booth was, was prone to getting all the roof leaks and we already had enough merch ruined by that.

We threw everything in the car and drove back to the hotel to take cover.
Saw a nice looking funnel cloud and kicked myself for not having my camera!
We went back later to pay our does and the merch tent was flooded and there were stories floating around that the tent had lifted 18 inches off the ground.

Everyone was safe, a little cold and shaken, but safe.

It was hard to say goodbye to the new friends we had made. Jon at Heart Support had been a a good conversation the past few days, and yet there was still things that had been left unsaid. It was hard to just pick up and leave.

There was a young man that had graced our booth a few times. He struggled with the issues that TWLOHA is there to make aware of. He was only 15 and a few days away from ending his life. We took him into our hearts and loved him, cared for him and shared Jesus' love and promise with him. Hearing it come out of my own mouth made me feel so passionate about it and I truly realised that this is the only answer. It was really difficult to say goodbye. But really, it's never goodbye....
as Ryan Adams once said

"And it's a little too late for "goodbyes"
Good morning, open your eyes"

I may be going to back to Australia soon, and be a long while away, but this internet land is a crazy place, and it is so easy to keep in touch, so to all you birds and bros that I have met, keep in touch!
I love you all.


now im going to catch my 9am flight... it's 7:30, I should probably get out of bed.
I'm going back to Florida, home.

xox





Tears, friends and the beginning of a goodbye
Hey guys

Some reason today was all over the place. The littlest things set me off and nearly made me cry.
Sometimes it is hard to face a day that is just filled of such full on sadness and full on joy.

Im laying on my hotel bed, Katie is in the bath room and I am reflecting on what was said and what should have been said today. Replaying conversations and heartfelt goodbyes.

And here I lay, feelings lonely and deserted. I want to cry so bad in response to the heartache that people shared with me. In response to meeting such amazing people that are now such great friends and having to say goodbye with the possibilities that i may never see them again. but there isn't someone here that understands.

anyway, enough sap. I think the only thing that will help is me trying to sleep.
goodnight world.

love gemma



Borders for Christ
please check out myspace. com/theflybywire
its beautiful by some beautiful friends.
who i love so very much and miss.

I had the best day with Katie, we had some serious conversations that have opened my eyes and made me realise what this organisation can really do. i love this.

I love people and the new friends I have made
please check out our very good friends
www. myspace. com/boardersforchrist they are amazing guys with such good hearts
and so much fun :)

love you all
xox



Free food, new friends, short visits
im laying on my giant bed in our hotel room
we survived our first day of 4 working on Merch at Alive Fest, Ohio!
We met some great people and made friends with some sweet dudes from Red, Parachute Band and Willet. Share stories and laughs and swapped a few tshirts.
sold lots of tshirts and heard life stories that made your bones chill and your heart ache.

it rained and was so sooooo cold
but thats ok
we also now get free chick fila all day long :)

miss you all.
love gem







Alive Fest, airports and hotel beds.
Airplane rides are the best. except when you feel like your brain is about to come out of your ears cause of pressure. I got a whole heap of Maylene and old Coalesce. As well as a repeat of Coldplay (new and old) that always makes things easier.

I like Atlanta airport. it was big. it was alive.
It played Bob Dylan - "times are a changing" as I was walking through the airport.
People were friendly and awake.

Ohio......
well Akron-Canton, has got to be the biggest disappointment of an airport I have ever been in. Theme colours are beige and brown. I feel like punching myself in the head.

The upside, is that it is cold, downside is that i am hungry, and do you think that there is any such thing as a place to buy food here? nope!
I miss those friendly interns and my besty Nada, cause she's rad.

I'm totally about to see Katie in an hour.
gonna be heaps sweet from there on!
I'm looking at photos of the place we are staying and they have an awesome heated inside pool. We are totally going to hit that up tonight. as well as some awesome food place.

Tomorrow is first day of Alive Fest and I am totally stoked on getting to make new friends and meet some awesome people there. If you happen to be hanging out there, come buy the TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARM booth and hang out with us! share some stories and bring candy! we can't wait to love you!!! in a really non creepy kind of way.

alsooooooooooooo I miss Jonathan Stark like crazy!!!
And Chris, so so much. His such an awesome dude and I miss his quirks

well im off to wait for Katie some more and ask the little Jewish kid how he brok both of his arms, seeing as he is hitting me with one of them things. I have a right to be nosey.

please leave me some love.
I could do with some now.

I love you beautiful friends
gem xox