loosen the belt

10-17

Blur of a day. Auckland is amazing. North Shore is hilly and green. Beaches everywhere. All the houses are beach houses, like Giada de Laurentiis's. Big, open windows that open up like doors and overlook pink flowering plants and trees with prickly pinecones that look like porcupines.

I recognized Sally right away. We locked in on each other right when I stepped out of the terminal and I ran up to give her a hug. Love at first sight - I absolutely adore her. Big hug for Phil too and into the car on the wrong side of the road to drive across Auckland and into the North Shore again on the wrong side.

Breakfast with Sally and Phil's friends at a restaurant on Waiake Beach. No shoes necessary.
-eggs benedict with smoked salmon and toasted bagels
--> huge plate. Phil immediately asked if the portion looked small because "Americans have big plates." I asked him if he was calling me fat. Best friends already.

Lunch with Sally's friends. Babies and married couples everywhere.
-bread and butter

Dinner at Phil's family's.
-Phil's marinated chicken (ginger, garlic, olive oil), steak, sausage, kiwi and avocado rocket salad, bread, potatoes, strawberries dipped in chocolate and nuts, mini lemon meringue tarts, chocolate mousse with homemade whipped cream