Tonka, Trams, Talking, and Trouble

A day can't possibly pass without a Tonka moment taking place, and today was no exception.  As I write this entry I can't help but wonder who felt most awkward tonight.  Was it me or the unfortunate man that I decided to talk to on the tram?  I guess this is the consequence of  sequestering myself for two weekends in a row.

Chris left OZ last Friday, and since his departure I haven't done anything other than go to work.  I’m not complaining, it just is what it is, but as of this afternoon blondie was expressing some worry.  He kept insisting that I leave the hotel and I was getting sick of hearing it.  In true Chris fashion he forced me out of the room by taking matters into his own hands.  He bought a ticket for me to see Les Miserables tonight.  Yes, I have seen the show several times, and the last time was with Chris while he was here visiting.  I guess he figured it was the only way to get me out of the room.  He was probably correct.

Most people just sit in silence while traveling to their destination via the tram.  Tonight I decided to break that silence by finding a stranger and striking up a meaningless conversation. The unlucky recipient was a well-dressed older gentleman who made the mistake of standing next me.  Playing the part of the novice tram rider, I started the conversation by asking him which stop to exit for the theater.   It was the only thing I could think of at the time!  He took the bait.

My unsuspecting victim provided a friendly, and very detailed, answer to my question.  This guy was a talker, which meant that I picked the right person!   He asked if I was from Canada, and when I told him that I was an American he looked shocked.  Naturally I asked him why he was so surprised to learn that I was an American.  He answered, “You aren't as aggressive or as loud as the Americans that I have encountered in the past”.  I couldn't help but crack a Tonka smile and wish that Chris was around to hear his statement.  

At some point, and while I was still daydreaming, the man decided to tell me more about his life and how he came to reside in Melbourne.  By the time I realized he was still talking it was too late.  I only caught the last part of his statement, and what I thought he said wasn't even close to what he actually said.  It gets worse…   

Tonka’s new friend continued to talk, and every time he paused I repeated back his entire sentence.  Yes,…I repeated every single spoken word back to him.  As I write this, I cant figure out why he kept talking!  At the very least he must have thought I was crazy.  I am certain that anyone who witnessed this take place must naturally assume I'm nuts.   To be honest, for some reason I thought he wanted me to repeat what he was saying in order to prove that I wasn't Canadian.  Like he was looking for an accent or something!  Don't ask me how I came up with that, bud I did.  I parroted back every word that man spoke and he just kept talking.  Finally, and much longer than I care to admit, I figured out that he didn't actually want me to repeat everything.  By then it was just too long and too late.  I couldn't wait to get off that tram!

Thankfully the rest of my evening went much better than the tram ride!  The ticket Chris purchased for me was very close to the stage and easily the best seats that I have ever had in my life.  It was like seeing the show for the first time!  I was a bit nervous at first… The show was completely sold out and I was flying solo.  I can't even begin to tell you how weird it is to feel alone in a crowded room.  Suddenly I didn't know how to act, where to stand, or what to do, and it was becoming a little uncomfortable.  The doors to the theater eventually opened and I was at least able to find my seat and relax.  It was a full-house (once again, it was a sold out show) and I was sitting in the last seat of our row.  It was an aisle seat.  Get this… Whoever bought the tickets for the EIGHT seats next to me didn't show up!  I stuck out like a sore thumb!  LOL!  That could only happen to me.  

I think todays lesson was about acceptance and self-confidence.  Will I ever really learn self-confidence, probably not…  I accept it though…    

When Chris and I exchanged our final texts of the day, and just before he went to bed, I told him to dream that we were together watching Les Miserables.  Do you think it is a coincidence that the only “no shows” were the seats right next to me?   I guess we will never know.

Thank you for a great night out blondie!  Did you enjoy the show?  I love you!

Lots to Think About

The few days that Chris and I had together came and went like it was a dream.  I realize that I should be grateful for the time we had, and I am, but I am not looking forward to adjusting again.  Being back to work at Firemonkeys will help with the readjustment, and who knows what new adventures are in store for me over the next three months.  The first half of my trip was certainly action packed!  Contrary to what most people think, I am not much of a thrill seeker.  Actually, I tend to be a bit shy most of the time.

Not much about me has changed since childhood.  I have alway loved animals, the outdoors, friends, and family.  While some kids worried about being popular, I did my best to stay out of the spotlight.  My small group of friends were the best bunch of buddies ever, and I have nothing but happy memories growing up as a child.   Actually, as far as I know, everyone in my little gang of friends came from solid families.  Don't get me wrong, I am not implying that we grew up in Mayberry and lived like Mr. & Ms. Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver.  We still managed to find a bit of trouble along the way.  

To the best of my knowledge, I am the only one out of our gang that actually moved away.  I was reluctant to leave at first, but only because it meant leaving my family (mostly mom) behind. Living in Ohio was a daily struggle.  The weather was horrible and my life felt stagnant.  I knew I had to get out of the state but I couldn't muster the courage to tell my mother I was leaving.  The day finally arrived, and after sharing several tears and hugs, I packed my entire life into my Jeep and a small U-Haul.  My future was a one way trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  I had no idea what I was going to do for work, and I didn't care.

My move to Florida would become the blueprint of my transition into adulthood.  I went from Mr. Quiet to Mr. Spotlight that first year, and all it took was a job tending bar!  To this day I cant explain it to people.  If you didn't experience it or live it, you wouldn't believe it.  Ten years later I was still behind a bar and making quite a name for myself.  The very moment that I started to feel safe and comfortable was the moment that life threw me another curve ball.  After ten years working at the same bar it was time to move on to something else.  The bar that employed me was sold and the new owners were closing the doors for remodeling.  Chapter four would become recruiting. 

It took me a good four years to make ANY money as a recruiter.  I worked solely on commission and I was not very good!  Thankfully I was surrounded by great people with lots of knowledge and patience.  Five years later I finally understood the job and earned a fair amount of money. I was just about to sit back and coast when the opportunity to work at EA came along.   Landing a job with EA is comparable to a minor league baseball player moving up to the majors.  As far as I was concerned, nothing was going to stop me from getting the job.  

Fast forward 1 1/2 years later and here I am sitting in Australia working at EA’s premier mobile studio.  So what is my point?  My point is simple (although longwinded)…  Nothing in life is unobtainable.  Everyone has a gift, a talent, or an area of expertise.  Oddly enough, my gift is the ability to be with people.  I just know people… How ironic is that?   I was, and still am, the shy person who never liked the spotlight, and look what happened.  God works in mysterious ways, and I now understand that cruise control is meant for cars and not life.

Life in OZ forces me out of my self-imposed restrictions.  Each day is a new adventure with its own set of challenges and rewards.  New accomplishments, friendships, failures, and new found  patience are but a few of the many rewards I have earned here. Each week I push myself a bit further outside of my comfort zone.  When I feel angry or defeated I make it a point to stop and self-examine.  As a bartender, I spent many years being someone other than myself.  I don't know why it was so shocking to me when people only related to me as “Matt the Bartender”.  Hell, I played the role for so long that even I didn't recognize the person I had become.  Being alone in OZ leaves me no other choice but to get to know myself again for the first time in years.  I am happy to report that I don't hate myself as much as I thought I would.  Here is what I learned to admit… 

I’m that guy who cries during a sappy commercial, or while watching someone achieve their dream.  A day on the couch with someone I love is worth more to me than all the money in the world.  I will do anything necessary to make someone I love happy, but sharing in their happiness is the best gift I can receive.  Most people think I am rough around the edges and without fear, but in reality I am just a truck.  I am not afraid to defend myself or the ones that I love.  When provoked I will attack, and when I do it never ends good for either party.  Mostly I trust too quickly, and as such I have had my share of hurt.  Nevertheless I continue to trust rather than become cynical   My success is measured in names (friends and loved ones) not in dollars.  Work is something I love to do, and I am blessed to have a job that I love doing.  I always believe that I can do more, and I strive to find the missing in order to achieve better results.  If I could give myself one gift it would be acceptance of my physical appearance.  Death doesn't scare me, but losing my loved ones frightens me to death.  I would save an animal before I would take myself to a doctor.  In my heart I still believe in the good of humanity, but I wonder how long it will take us to destroy this great planet. Although shy, I can be pushed out of my comfort zone with a bit of coaxing.  I have a few heroes in life, and I am lucky enough that most of them are still alive.  There isn't a thing that I wouldn't do for my family, and I am a hopeless romantic.  

Oz continues to remind me that life is magical and that everyone has something to offer the world.  Recognizing each persons gift requires that we stop long enough to listen and take notice.   Love is real and it is available to everyone.  There is a cost though… In order to know true love one must also accept the chance of loss.  People have stories, just like me, and most people are looking for someone to listen.  Listening creates something out of nothing, and friendships grow faster and stronger than  hatred, if just given the chance.   I have been lucky enough to make a few great friends while here in OZ, and now that I am half way through my trip I am beginning to think about how I will miss them when I leave.  When all is said and done, I am a lucky truck. 

Chris, the time we spent together recently will forever make me smile.  I am grateful for having you in my life.  

This will probably be one of the last videos for at least 3-4 weeks.  I tend to go overboard with things…

IF you wonder what 12 days of putting up with me looks like, wonder no more!    Twelve Days of OZ Video

A Skeptics Haunting

A short train ride to the west of Melbourne is the city of Geelong.  Strangely enough, it is the second most populated city in the state of Victoria.  The city experienced a brief boom during the gold rush but then shifted directions and became one of the largest manufacturing centers with its wool and paper mills.  Chris and I found the city quaint but also a bit quiet for our liking.  Restaurants don't open until 6pm and the streets were silent by 8pm.  The city was much larger than the small town of Ararat, but eerily similar.   In fairness, we were only in town for one night, so who knows what we might have missed.  Our trip was all about the Geelong Prison Ghost Hunt so it I guess it didn't matter much.  

The Geelong Prison was a maximum security facility built in 1849 and used until the early nineties.  I found it strange that the building sat right in the middle of the city.  The structure looks sinister, just as one might expect, and people claim that its former residents still walk the hallways and lurk in their cells in spirit form.  Chris and I were determined to find out if it was true and at 10pm we joined a group of six others to begin our 2 1/2 hour investigation.  

Our group of investigators was a mixed bag of personalities.  There was a younger couple, maybe early twenties, and the female was a bit “special”.  She was a self-proclaimed sensitive and she wanted the world to know it.  From the beginning of the investigation, and all the way through to the end, this gal had a gazillion comments, questions, and observations that did nothing but prove that she probably needed professional psychiatric care.  Yes, she was that bad, and no I am not being rude.  In fact, I am putting it nicely.  A middle-aged woman accompanied loony tunes and her husband to the investigation.  Apparently they had just met that very afternoon.  To be honest, I felt a bit sorry for this woman since she was already visibly scared and the company she kept was "special".  The rest of our group was actually quite normal (excluding myself).

Geelong Gaol Ghost Tours operated our investigation, and the guide was an outstanding lady with the patience of a saint.  She was professional, articulate, knowledgeable, and dealt with loony tunes better than most would.  Our group was outfitted with high-tech equipment, which included night vision cameras, infrared googles, laser grids, EMF detectors, laser thermometers, parabolic microphones, spirit boxes, and motion sensors.  Every ghost investigation has a skeptic, and Chris was ours!

Most people would think that I am a skeptic, or at least those people who don't know me that well.  Chris is the true skeptic though.  He tends to explain away anything using scientific theories and the like.  It's only fitting that he was the first person to experience something ghoulish and unexplainable!

Soon after our equipment was passed out to our group, and before we even entered the main prison, Chris began to turn pasty white.  Yes, whiter than his usual self!  BAHAHAHA!  Oops, moving on… So anyway, Chris started turning white as a ghost and complained that he didn't feel well.  Chris not feeling well isn't anything new, however Chris not having an explanation for it is something new!  He complained of dizziness, nausea, and unsteady legs.  It progressed quickly and to the point that he had to sit down for 10-15 minutes.  At one point he actually almost went home!  While Chris sat and recuperated, the rest of the team explored the first jail cell.

The investigation lasted more than two hours, and I was given permission to set up my GoPro on a table in the prison center.  I couldn't film throughout the tour because of privacy issues.  Several inmate names still remain behind on the cell doors.  My camera filmed the entire time that we investigated though.   I only watched the first 15 minutes of the film (since it is so long), but the intention was to catch something unexplainable.  Feel free to peruse the videos, BUT be sure to let me know if you see or hear anything interesting since it will probably be a while before I view the videos in their entirety.  Keep in mind that on occasion you will see our group pass the camera, or you may see periodic flashes.  The flashes are likely the result of cameras snapping photos.  Since the footage spanned the entire investigation, I had to break it up into three parts.  Links to all the videos are  below.

Ghost Investigation Video #1

Ghost Investigation Video #2

Ghost Investigation Video #3

This was my second "ghost investigation" in OZ, and I will admit that I enjoyed them both!  If nothing else, both tours offered a unique ghoulish glimpse of history.  Who knows where my adventure will lead to next!

You can get a quick glimpse of Geelong in the video below.  Chris and I visited the pier and one of the old gothic churches.  It was a quaint little city! :)

Video of Geelong

Until next time....

A Search for Tonka

Leave it to Chris to find a restaurant called Tonka!  If you don't know already, Tonka is a nickname bestowed upon me by blondie.  He claims that I break everything that I come into contact with throughout the day, and he compares me to a truck barreling down a highway.  You get the idea. 

I am not sure how it happened actually, but out of nowhere I was told that there was a restaurant named Tonka, and it was decided that we were going!  That is where our adventure begins, because he next thing I knew, we were off and running in search of Tonka!

My first mistake was leaving Chris in charge of finding the restaurant.  Normally he is pretty good with directions, but not since he arrived in OZ.  I think it has something to do with everything being upside down, reversed, or what have you.  Back to the story... Chris was certain he knew where we were going, and he read that the restaurant opened at 6pm.  Given this new found knowledge we left the hotel at 3pm.  Yes,... THREE hours early!  Granted the restaurant is a whopping 25-30 minutes away, so I can understand why we left so early. (NOT!!)

I think it was 3:30ish when our tram pulled into the CBD, which meant that we had nearly three hours to kill.  Since it was Friday (like we needed an excuse) we decided to grab a drink or two before dinner.  Thus began our secondary adventure when we went to uncover a new place for a cocktail.  Our first stop was at a tequila bar.  We shared a quick appetizer and a couple of great margaritas before heading to our next stop.  Being the explorer that I am, I decided that we would head in a new direction in hopes of uncovering some new hot spots.  We likely explored every single alleyway within a four block radius by the time we finished up at another corner pub with an hour to burn.  

It dawned on me that we might need reservations for Tonka.  I mean,  with a name like Tonka, the place had to be popular!  Thank god I thought of it too, because when I called to make the reservations the person who answered practically died laughing.  As it turns out, the next available reservation was THREE MONTHS OUT!!  Damn, I guess I really am popular!  Lucky for us I learned that we would be able to eat at the bar without a reservation.  Lucky for them we are no strangers to bars.

Needless to say, Chris had no idea where he was going and it was a huge undertaking to find Tonka.  The restaurant was tucked away in a secluded alleyway that looked better suited for a mugging than a high class eatery.  Just steps away from Tonka's entrance were dumpsters overflowing with garbage, but the establishment beckoned the masses nonetheless.  

We stepped inside Tonka and enjoyed one of the best meals ever!  The food was outstanding and the cocktails were even better.  I am happy to say that the restaurant lived up to its namesake! 

Hopefully everyone reading this blog entry will also enjoy watching our search for Tonka unfold.  You can watch the video HERE.  

Lots of great memories have been created and shared since blondie landed in OZ, and I go to bed each night looking forward to what the new day will bring.   Life's Lesson... Live and love like tomorrow doesn't exist, because it may not.  

A Chris Mandate!

The time with Chris is flying by, and I know I am going to be a wreck when he is gone.  In the mean time, I will just keep myself occupied by annoying him with videos!

Truthfully, I think he is ready to move here.  Don't tell anybody though, because it is a secret!  I have lots that I can say, but he is mandating that I post THIS video immediately.  Being the great guy that I am (right mom?), I am complying.  Just FYI-I really am a great guy.

We ventured to quite a few places since his arrival.  This is just a mere snapshot of what we have done.

Here you go Mr. Ruehlmann!

The Best Day of the Year!

Certain things in life are only worth while when they are shared with loved ones.  While this experience has been an amazing journey, it is twice as amazing now that Chris is here to share it with me.  

I can write a lot about how much he means to me, but by now anyone who reads this already knows.  Instead of writing, I will share our first day together HERE.

PS-Love you Moomy!

PSS-A big thanks to Sheffie for watching the kids!

Amazing Race & Amazing Friends!

Three weeks of worry and self-torment ended in three hours of great fun this past Friday.  Firemonkeys throws a studio-wide event each quarter with the intent of bringing the staff closer together.  Toni Julian (our Facility Manager) organized the activities for this quarter, and as luck would have it, I was expected to participate. The days leading up to the event day were brutal and it took every ounce of my being to stay enrolled in the idea.  My fear began the moment I heard that we were being divided into teams and competing against one another.  Lets just say that my idea of fun does not involve breaking up into teams and competing.  The only way I could keep moving forward was to remind myself how much I had grown to like Toni, and how great the entire staff was in general.  Over and over I kept telling myself that it was going to be okay and that there was nothing to worry about.  Now if I could only believe it...

Secretly I prayed that I would be assigned to a team that included all the people I knew best.  I thought that I might get lucky and be put on Lisa’s team, or perhaps Toni’s, Denise’s or Gabbie’s.  If I just knew one person on my team, and knew them well, I would be okay.  WRONG!  Toni was wise, and she wasn't putting friends with friends.  I failed to mention, the whole idea of this event was to bring people together that normally didn't have much interaction with one another.  Meeting new people, new friends, and team building was the end goal.  On a day-to-day basis I mostly chum around with Denise, Toni, Lisa, and Gabbie, so assigning me to a group of strangers was a cakewalk!  

The day that I had been dreading finally arrived.  To make matters worse, I had a lot to do on this particular Friday.  You know, little things like CLOSE A HUGE DEAL!  Of all days!  To be honest, as far as I was concerned any day was going to be a bad day for this event.  The time had come and the entire studio emptied out into the park across the street.  I couldn't believe the number of people!  Working in a segmented office makes our group look so much smaller!  My first challenge was to find my team, and after a few panic filled minutes I found them.  Now for the rules…

Think of the show “The Amazing Race," and that is essentially our event. Each group was given a set of tasks to complete and each task was worth "X" amount of points.  In addition, we all had scheduled events to compete in along the way.  The more tasks completed, the more points.  Teams that completed the events the fastest also earned more points.  In the end, the team with the most points wins.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that each segment of the race was timed.  The company in charge of this whole thing was actually very organized.  Each team had roughly six people.  Every team member was given a Myki card to ride the tram, and each team provided a camera, backpack (to put things in) and $10 spending money.  We were off and running!  The game events and tasks were spread throughout the city of Melbourne.  It was a literal race to the finish line as the last minutes of the game played out.  The tram that carried my team to the finish line was overflowing people.  All of which had the same end goal in mind.   When the tram stopped and opened its doors, nearly everyone onboard exited and ran full speed toward the office.

I was the first member of our team to make it to the finish line, but there were several from competing teams already present.  Watching teams cross the finish line was HILARIOUS!  Everyone was gasping for breath and laughing hysterically.  Eventually all the teams made it back to the studio and it was time to tally the points.  We were treated to pizza and beer while we awaited the results. 

My team didn't win the race, but I would venture to say that the entire studio had a great time.  Toni and her committee did a fantastic job with the planning!  For me, it was another lesson learned.  I am now 1/2 through my trip to OZ and I have made some great memories and friends.  Melbourne has been an extraordinary experience!  The Firemonkeys Team welcomed me with open arms when I arrived in April, and since that day I have become close friends with many of the staff.  I don't look forward to the day that we all say goodbye.  Each day is a new beginning though, and who knows what life has in store for me next.  Oh wait, I do know...

CHRIS ARRIVES!!!  

Check out some video of our team competing in the race HERE.

Another random video of Melbourne at night HERE.