it's the law

they have a law here in new zealand.

the law is: i can't have a job.

i think i'm going to like it here.

i mean, sure, i can have a job SOME DAY, but first i need to fill out a bunch of paperwork and have my chest x-rayed and pay a bunch of money.

and, i guess, get a job -- but really, that seems like a minor detail.

we're in Wellington now and it's strange to finally be in this place. we've spent months trying to picture it. we've lucked out with fantastic weather; all sun, no wind. we've got great hosts -- allyn and jodi here and sean in Auckland. the place we're going to be subletting is cute and has a foosball table in the bathroom. so it's all good.

i even read today that they're starting up a new zealand/san francisco sister city society thingamabobby. or maybe it was a step-sister thingy? whatever. soon it will be the law that we will need to like san francisco and you will need to like Wellington.

the LAW.

and you can't mess with johnny law. no siree bob.

so we've been here a whole day and everything is looking peachy. the immigration people were friendly. the police said they'd fingerprint me for free so i could send 'em off to the FBI where they'd get lost for $18. it's purty. bartlebee is in communication with her doctoral advisor of choice. and i do not have to carry any of our massively overpacked bags anywhere for at least two months.

we took some pictures. i'm sure there will be more.

tomorrow i'm going to find me a hobbit. i hear thems good eatin'.

addendum:

we saw a flier yesterday for a tour of "hobbiton". it had three pictures with captions:
1) the way it looked in the film
2) the way it looks now
3) sheep

i'm beginning to sense a theme here.