Ahhh...Family

We are now in the midst of the most beautiful time of year in Montana. The wildflowers are in bloom, the weather is hot and sunny, and the mountains are healthy and green. It’s been five years since I’ve experienced summer in Montana.

I spent my Fourth of July up in the mountains South of Bozeman at our family reunion from my mom’s side: the Glueckerts. For three days we hired out this entire youth camp and man, what a beautiful place. It’s situated right on the shore of Hyalite reservoir and surrounded by lush forest and snow-covered rocky mountain peaks. The camp has everything you would need including running water, electricity, cabins with sleeping bunks, a kitchen and mess hall, and showers. The fire pit is one of my favorite places, with a great view of the lake and the mountains behind it.

(A view of Hyalite Lake from camp)

(Hangin' around the main cabin and eating area)

We have a huge family and this year our attendance was around 80 people instead of the usual 100 to 120 (I think because it was on a holiday weekend and there were a lot of schedule conflicts). The Glueckerts reside mainly in Montana and South Dakota, but some came from as far as Texas and Chicago.

Each night a few Uncles and I entertain everyone by playing our guitars around the campfire. It’s always a fun event for all, and we add in lots of humor and sing-alongs. Saturday night we had a talent contest in which the highlight was the “First Annual Artificial Flatulence Contest” created and led by our buddy Bert Glueckert! Hah! Only a bunch of Glueckerts get together and conduct a serious fart contest. I laughed so much that weekend my throat was sore!

(Entertainment around the campfire with Uncle Steve, Dick, John and Gregg)

(Doing a skit for the talent show)

(My Grandpa Fred telling a story)

(The funny guys Tim and Bert)

Anyway, it was a special time for all and I look forward to the next one in two years. I just think its so special that everyone in the family is so supportive and dedicated to each other that we can have these events with such ease. Its also interesting to see the new generation of Glueckerts (including myself) growing up and getting involved with activities. We will be the next leaders of these reunions.

Well I’m still having a tough time deciding what to do next. I have to admit I’ve never been this confused before in my life, however it does make life more exciting since nothing seems permanent and that I am free to go off and follow my curiosity. In America, we do have a very stable and permanent societal concept, and it I do feel a little uneasy not having a sound plan for the future or working a job in my ‘career.’ I constantly throw ideas around like getting an engineering job again somewhere in the US and trying to settle down, or moving back to NZ for a longer period of time and trying to get residency. I also want to travel some more and check out Europe and South America too. I just can’t decide on anything at the moment, its as if nothing feels ‘right.’ After the family reunion, it really set in how important my family is and if I were across an ocean, how isolated I would feel. NZ feels strangely like a dream now and I wonder if I will ever go back to live there.

So I just feel sort of in a type of purgatory here in Helena waiting for something to strike a chord with me. I want it to feel right, because I believe that big decisions eventually come to you and you just feel what is right for you. For example, coming home from NZ was an easy, natural decision. It just felt right. I guess there are bound to be long periods of time like my time here in Helena where you are just ‘floating’ and waiting, just passing time. I think things happen for a reason, and I’m trying to take full advantage of this time to be here for my family.

Summer. Finally!

It's here: Summer...finally. After an painful long winter (and for me it's been two in a row!) I'm so excited for summer. We've had snow in April, May and now June, but now it is gorgeous. There is something so special about summer in Montana. Maybe its just that incredibly blue Big Sky or the sense of the wild out in the mountains, but I feel at home. June is the best time of the year in Montana since all the wildflowers are in bloom, everything is still green and the smell of the lilacs and blossoms lace the air.

(Looking South from the Elkhorn Mountains near Helena. Those red trees are all from the infestation of these pine tree beatles that are killing many trees around North America at the moment. Mild winters have allowed these bugs to multiply at incredible rates and thus has posed a problem to our forests.)

I've been getting back in touch with my roots here, going on my old bike trails, taking in a few Brewers baseball games, and, of course, family time. My two favorite cousins are in town now for the next two months and they are just a joy to have around. Lucas and Garrett, aged 10 and 7, they are such little gentlemen and I enjoy spending time with them.

Our famous family reunion takes place in just one week from now. Its an event all of us look forward to every two years and never miss out on. Over 100 people will be there from my mom's side of the family. If you've ever heard of a Glueckert, chances are I'm related to them. The Glueckert clan came over here from Germany about four generations ago to Chicago and then spread out mainly to Montana and the Dakotas. Every Glueckert seems to be gregarious, funny, and a loving person. We all like to party and have fun, but also have sound morals and know how important family is. I feel like we have such a special bond as a family because it seems that everyone gets along; there never seems to be any drama. We are all just pretty laid-back and I guess I'm just officially appreciating how lucky I am to be a part of it.

In other news, I'm still at Cafe Artemis and saving for my next trip, hopefully at the end of the summer. I'm not sure yet, but I either want to travel to Europe or South America, and then go back to NZ for their summer.

As you probably guessed, the 42 Below job in San Fran didn't pan out. Something was up with the recruiting company I think and anyway, it just wasn't meant to be. Bummer. That would have been a sweet hook up!

Hope you all are doing well and lets have a great summer! I'm hoping to post some more beautiful pictures from Montana for ya soon.

R

Claim to Fame and a Whole Lotta News

Well, well. Hello again all. A lot of news to report on in the past few months, including my appearance in Glamour Magazine, an interview with 42 Below vodka in San Francisco and a photo shoot for my bar! This entry is really lengthy, so sorry for that, but enjoy!

I'm finally into the swing of America again and the blues from the ending of an epic year are fading. I'm still living with Mom and Sis in Helena, MT and its great to be getting some quality family time in. I'm head bartender at a small bar and restaurant in downtown Helena called Cafe Artemis and Quarry Bar. Its Helena's first real cocktail bar and I've taken the liberty to introduce Helena to the fine cocktail. Its been going better than I expected and the place is getting busier every week; I'm kind of known in town now as the mixologist from New Zealand and I'm enjoying that positive energy. A few weeks back I was in a photo shoot with three beautiful girls for a commercial for the bar. It was neat to experience what it would be like to be a model even just for an hour or so.

I get to bartend with my sister and she's becoming quite a cocktail expert under my wing. Together, we threw a 1920's themed party at the bar and it was loads of fun: dressing up in suspenders, fedoras, and vests and making classic cocktails. The party was a success!

(Shakin some cocktails at the Quarry Lounge)

(The crew: Susan (my sis), Krissy, Stopher and me)

(Breein in a flapper dress and my sister, Susan in a Newsies getup)

Its great to provide something so unique, new and exciting to Helena like boutique cocktails. I've been improving as a mixologist, creating cocktails like the Spanish Honey Bee - a tequila based drink with fresh lemon juice, cilantro and honey. I've also infused scotch with dates and mixed it with lemon, orange marmalade, bitters, thyme, and Benedictine. I'm still also playing with vodka infusions such as basil and hot chili and lemongrass.

So, big news. Go get your copy of April 2008 Glamour Magazine because I'm on page 218!! How the hell did that happen you ask? Well, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time while walking around South Beach, Miami in mid December. I got interviewed by some girls for the magazine. I must have made a good impression with them because we ended up going out for drinks that night and had some great fun in Miami I was one of the select handful out of 40 guys picked for the article!

(April issue of Glamour. I'm on page 218)

They asked me about 4 questions with a tape recorder and took my photo as well. The question they published was "What would be the title of your memoir?" After my recent adventures abroad, I had to say "Escape Artist," which I guess appeals to my travelust and drive to break out of the norm and 'escape'. I think this also has to do with the way I changed my life in a drastic, or romantic and somewhat artistic way - going from one culture to another, and going from engineering to nightlife. Evidently Glamour liked the idea and I'm the first one on page 218, so check it out!

About a month ago, I got a call out of the blue from 42 Below (the NZ vodka I referenced in my previous posts about the cocktail competition in Queenstown) setting me up for an interview in San Francisco for a "Product Cultivator" position. Initially, I was reluctant to want to be a salesman, even for a vodka, but I'm keeping an open mind.

(www.42below.com)

So last Thursday I flew all the way to San Fran and back in one day (from MT this is a 20 hr feat!). In my 2.5 hrs actually in San Fran, I nailed the interview. These guys were so laid-back, open-minded, and just plain cool. One of them was actually a guy I met in NZ too. Basically what I got out of it was that they want to pay me to socialize while living in San Fran! That's right. schmooze for money. Sounds awesome and like a great chance to meet some cool, influential people in a great US city. They want to raise the awareness of 42 Below vodka in the communities of art, music, colleges, lounges, and nightlife. My job would have no set hours and my whole social life would be involved with just getting the word out about 42 Below. I'm expecting to hear if I got it in the next few weeks. It seems like such a unique opportunity in life how could you not try it out for a while? Plus, I'm already doing it for free here in Helena through my bar. I really do like 42 Below and after the wicked cocktail competition they put on, not to mention meeting the inventor and executive staff, I have a sound loyalty for the stuff.

In addition to this position, they also talked about offering me a potential position in mixology. Since Bacardi owns 42 Below, they might want me to be a professional mixologist, also in San Fran for one line of Bacardi products like Bombay Sapphire. It sounds equally awesome, as I'd be instructing people on the ideas behind mixing a winning cocktail as well as the history behind cocktails. Perfect. In the last year being absorbed in this stuff, I've managed to become quite knowledgeable on not only making drinks, but the history behind them and how spirits are made.

I guess I didn't realize how much of a social being I am. Traveling and being involved with the nightlife in a foreign country did two things to me. First, it helped me become more humanistic and able to connect with virtually anyone and just appreciate people more. I've realized a select few things that unite us as humans despite culture, age, race, attitude and outlook. Secondly, through this I've become so confident in my abilities to break into social circles and lead them, which always seemed hard for me in the past. I've always been a bit introverted, shy, and sometimes got frustrated with so many people around. I've become a much more laid-back and gregarious person; its just easier for me to connect and find a common ground with people, which is something I've felt personally I was afraid of before.

So for the moment, I'm still chasing around jobs in the alcohol world. I just find myself very free, creative, and happy. However, I've decided that engineering is still a part of me that will never die and eventually I will return to as my career. I just feel like I have to ride this wave I'm on for the moment before I reach the shore. I see the wave as your passion, your energy, a thrill, and hope. The beach symbolizes stability, family, your future and comfort.

So again, I encourage all of you to ride your waves when you can because you'll never know when you'll catch another one and the beach will always be there to catch you.

Peace.

Rob

Return to the Homeland

Well I've been back in the states a few months now and I have to say, I am still adjusting to American culture. Things are bigger than I remember: the cars, the roads, the buildings, and the food portions, to name a few. Some things are intense and fast-paced here. A lot of people are very busy, rushed by some sort of commitment. They talk fast, act fast and some seem like they've had too much coffee! :) There seems to be a TV going in every public place, and advertisements for the newest gadget are everywhere. Even scenes on TV change fast and catch your attention with explosions, color, and loud noise. Everything is just very stimulating again to my senses-like my first time in Vegas. Most Americans seem happy, alert and thankful for their families; but on the other hand, others seem so tired, drained and unhappy. We are very ambitious people by nature and strive to achieve a lot which sometimes leaves us distracted, exhausted or confused.

Lately, I've been feeling like a bit of an outsider because I've become so laid-back. Everything in NZ now seems so slow paced, but very wholesome and pure and I miss it so much. I have so many great memories and right now living in Helena for the first time in 10yrs since I left and in the dead of cold winter, I can't help but feel a little blue.

Mom's house on a beautiful snowy day)

Its good to be back as I missed my family, the great food we have here, and the feeling of connection with the world. Visiting family and friends has been warming and fulfilling. It feels like being a celebrity when everyone you know wants to visit with you and ask you questions. I still can't believe how many people I've inspired.

Before Christmas I took a short 10-day trip to sunny Miami. I was there investigating the scene, looking for bar work (I was thinking of working there for the winter) and visiting my friend Leah, whom I met in NZ at the 42 Below cocktail competition. She works at Skybar in Miami (great name!). Miami seemed like a fun place for action and bartending and like no place I've ever been, so it would be a new experience.

(South Beach and Ocean Drive, full of Art Deco buildings)

I stayed in South Beach at a hostel where I met some wonderful friends from Sweden, Colombia, Germany and Canada. South Beach is full of beautiful Art Deco style buildings and cultural areas including Espanola Way, a Hispanic district full of great small restaurants.

(South Beach Marina and dinner with my Swedish, Canadian and German friends)

(Lauren from Glamour magazine, Edgar from Colombia at Skybar)

(Lunch on Espanola Way)

It feels very foreign there, with people from many countries walking the streets speaking Spanish, Portugeuse, etc. It is also a very rich place full of huge ritzy hotels, glamour and grandeur. Speaking of Glamour, while walking down the street, I ran into some girls from Glamour Magazine doing interviews for articles, so I might be in the March issue! We hit it off and they were so nice, we ended up going out for drinks that night and had a great time.

(The swimming pool at the Delano, $700 a night if you please...)

It was great to see Leah again after NZ, and I had a great time as she was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to show me around South Beach and get me into some exclusive clubs and lounges, it was awesome! I felt like a rock star hanging out with her and all her friends as we'd just go straight to the front of the lines of all these clubs and right in!

(with Leah and her friends and I at Table 8)

(At Club Mansion where Ne-Yo was playing)

So the whole trip to Florida was fun and it was good to get out of cold Montana and experience American culture in a city again. It was also my first time to the East coast.

I've definitely got more to update you on as I'm settling into Helena and the US again, so stay tuned. I'll try to find some time to update!

R

Fiji Time

A short 3 hr plane trip from Auckland landed me in a tropical paradise: Fiji. The first night I made some friends with three other travelers doing the same circuit, three lovely ladies from England: Lynsey, Ellie and Becky. We ended up traveling the islands together and became great friends. The first day was a boat trip to the Northern end of the Yasawa Islands, enduring the painful Celine Dion session on the boat radio. I booked my first two nights at a resort called Coral View. The rest of the trip, I followed my new friends as we worked our way over eight nights back toward the mainland, eventually visiting six different islands.

(Coral View Resort, and Lynsey, Becky, Ellie (left to right))

(The small resort on South Sea Island, you could walk around the island in 5 minutes!)

The idea is for the type of package I bought was that you have unlimited travel on this boat between the islands, and you pick which ones you want to stay at, you only have to book a day ahead and there was always room. There are several resorts on each island and some are nicer than others. They aren't the typical 'resort' you would think of, they are very rustic. The showers are outside, you stay in 10 bed dorms, there is barely electricity and no technology. Once you get adjusted, however, its a great experience. I enjoyed taking a step back in time and being so cut off from the rest of the world. Additionally, all of the fellow travelers and especially the Fijians were very friendly and open which made it easy.

(All of our friends that were on the same trek as us at sunset)

Each time you arrive to a resort, the Fijian team sings you a welcome song; they also sing one when you leave. It turns out they are very musical people and pretty much everyone sings and plays guitar. When you are there, you are a part of their family. It was astonishing how they remember your name after hearing it once and are just genuinely happy to have you there. I thought about how they get new travelers every day of the week, yet they never seem to get tired of it and become irritable like some of the service people can get in the Western world.

(Fijian Welcome Song. Bula!!)

Apart from endless hours of sunbathing, reading in hammocks on the beach and swimming, I did a lot of snorkeling. It was some of the best I've ever done and the girls said it was better than the Great Barrier Reef! It's a whole other world underneath the water; I saw several different types of coral and reef fish all feeding gracefully in unison. During one trip, we swam with small reef sharks (probably about 6ft long at the biggest). I even saw a small Great White, probably about 4 ft long. Awesome time!

(Hammocks at Manta Ray Resort)

(The tropical landscape with banana trees and lots of fragrant beautiful flowers)

(The sculptures and beach on Bounty Island)

I met a lot of cool Fijians and one of them personally took me through the village where he grew up, which I sensed was something not a lot of tourists got to do. I saw first hand how they live work, and interact. Sleeping on the floor and living in what appears at first glance to be run down homes, but after some time and understanding, you realize that they are really clean people and have pride in their dwellings. Nothing is brand new, but they aren't run-down. It looks poor here, but only money-wise. The people are cheerful, well-fed, and healthy.

I want to point out now just how impressed I was with the Fijian culture. They are just laid-back, genuinely content people and it seems part of their culture to be happy. They use the phrase "Fiji Time" which describes their laid-back, no-worries approach to life, maximizing enjoyment of the time you have in life. They don't want or need technology, they live off the land and don't take much from the mainland except for some supplies, petrol, and health care. None of them looked stressed or unhappy. Its just a completely different culture and way of life and after a few days, I felt myself drifting into that mindset. It was a great experience for me being self sufficient, washing my clothes by hand, not wanting technology or possessions. I probably could have stayed a few months working with the villagers fishing during the day, gardening, and helping build houses. They work hard, pretty much every day, and each night relax together with Kava.

Kava is a root that they mix with water and drink. If you drink enough, it relaxes you completely and you sleep well. Some people even hallucinate! The Kava ceremony is spiritual the first few rounds of drinking, and then becomes a social activity, mainly for the males. Each night they get together and drink, relax and sing songs on the guitar. A way of bonding together after a hard days work.

(Enjoying Kava at Waya Lailai Resort)

So after a suprisingly pleasent journey home, I'm finally back on home soil, resting at my mom's place for the moment, planning my next move. It feels so weird to be back in American culture again, things seem so big, people drive on the other side of the road, and there are no accents. It seems as if NZ was a dream that I just woke up from. But I miss it already and feel I'll be back sometime soon.

Leaving NZ

Sadness sets in as I look at the sinking sunlight on the Remarkables Mtns: a reminder that my days here are limited. New Zealand, and Queenstown in particular, is such a beautiful, magical place that can never be matched. Part of me thinks that I cannot leave here as I plan my next adventure.

As some of you know, Friday I leave for 10 days in the beautiful Islands of Fiji! A quick relaxing holiday on the beach, soaking up the last rays of Southern Hemisphere sunlight before heading back to the cold of Montana. I'll work on that tan! This place is a tropical paradise that has some of the best snorkeling in the world. I've booked unlimited transportation between the islands on a cruiser boat that travels around only a small portion of Fiji's 300+ Islands. I'll only get to see the best ones, probably 15 in total. On the map below, I'll be flying into Nandi on the main island, and then traveling the islands to the west: the Mamanucas and the Yasawas. Apparently Kadavu Is. to the South is home to the second biggest coral reef in the world.

So you all wonder about the blog? Will I still update it? Of course! I've thoroughly enjoyed the time and experience I've had with this blog. In the beginning I was thinking that this was going to be a nuisance and a chore to keep up with, and no one would even visit it anyway. It turned out to be a hobby of mine and an excellent way to keep in touch and inspire all of you out there. Again, I appreciate all of the support and encouragement that you've all given me through this site. Plus, its been a great way for me to keep a journal of my travels. So I will keep up with this blog, especially since I think I will be up for a new adventure after I touch base back home.

Cheers.

Earthquakes and Jet Boats

Three weeks ago I felt my first ever earthquake, a 4.5 occurring near Milford sound that rumbled all the way across the South Island hitting Queenstown for only a few noticeable seconds. Since then we’ve had three more in the last week: one big one, an aftershock, and another small tremor. It was a 6.7 at the epicenter, again near Milford Sound (see below) and lasted about 20 seconds. I was in Skybar at the time watching the lamps sway and bottles shake saying to myself I didn’t know alcohol had that effect! What a crazy feeling, the whole floor moved around back and forth like I was on a wave or something! I felt the aftershock out on the street a few minutes later; its weird feeling something your mind tells you is so solid and stable like the street move around. There was only a small bit of damage in QT including Absinthe bottles that smashed from the top shelf in the liquor store below Skybar.

NZ is one of the most geologically active places in the world, so it’s no surprise that earthquakes are commonplace here. In fact, there is one nearly everyday. The Southern Alps are the fastest growing mountain range in the world, causing major activity. If you’re interested, check out this NZ website, it tells you where the last quake was and also tracks volcanic activity including the eruption of Mt. Ruapehu last month on the North Island: http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

Last Tuesday we had a staff party for Skybar and the other 6 bars in Queenstown and Wanaka that are owned by mainly the same people. They make up the Goodbars group: http://www.goodbars.co.nz/

On that rainy Tuesday, we jumped into a Kawarau Jet boat and got taken around Lake Wakatipu and then up the Kawarau river gorge (http://www.kjet.co.nz/about-us/default.asp). It was a blast despite the cold rain as we spun 360’s and raced past rocky river banks and trees. Jet boats were invented right here in NZ and only need 6in. of water to function in. The are the same idea as the jet ski back home and are just as maneuverable. I was amazed at the control and power we had. Imagine rippin’ up the narrow river at speeds up to 80mph with the sound of a burly jet engine behind you, hugging all the turns and fishtailing. Awesome!

A Sort of Homecoming?

Since everyone left from 42 Below and the ski season is winding down here which means most of my good friends are leaving town soon, I've been quite sad. Additionally, as some of you may have heard, we've lost two close family members in the last month, so needless to say, I'm thinking of coming home for a few months to be with my family. A few months ago I thought I was staying here for sure but recently I've been feeling I need a short break. NZ is a great place and I plan on coming back soon, there is high potential for me settling down here. But for now, I still haven't found what I'm looking for...I'm tossing around a few ideas on where to go and what to do...


I now have more questions than answers, but on the bright side, my travels have thought me a few key things in life. I've realized just how temporary things can be if you let them and how your dreams can be attained by just trying and believing. If you want to go to a new place to live, realize how easy it can be to get established and to live with minimal possesions. I can go live somewhere now with just 1 bag of luggage. Step back and think about this for a moment. How free would this make you feel? Another key ideal that I've learned is that you don't have to live your life like society tells you to. Work whatever job you want, go wherever you want, take a break from your professional life if you're curious. You only get one shot here; know you're in control. Follow it.



R

42 Below Week

Well, yet another great week to report on! The week of Sept. 10-16th was the Cocktail World Cup for NZ's own brand of vodka, 42 Below*. 42 Below put on a week-long cocktail competition in which 42 of the worlds best mixologists from all over the world, 14 teams of three, try to make the best 42 Below cocktail. Each team had a home bar in which they practiced all week, I was lucky enough to have one of the coolest, most talented team at Skybar: Scotland. Other teams hailed from England, Ireland, Miami, Las Vegas, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.

During the week each team was judged on certain events including making cocktails while bungee jumping, during jetboating, and on top of the Remarkables mountain range! They were also put up in a posh hotel and given cool parties and bar seminars all week.

Being the curious person I am, I got involved in all the events I could. I went to a few bartending seminars and met famous bartending icons such as Dale De Groff, author of The Craft of the Cocktail, and known as the 'King of Cocktails.' He is upon one of the most famous in the bartending world yet surprisingly, he is extremely humble, and super nice. I also was lucky enough to get invited to an exlcusive private party for 42 Below in which all the teams got up on stage and made cocktails for the media. I even got to go up on stage with team Scotland and was on camera making drinks with them, imagine that! The party was well organized and fantastically decorated, like something out of boogie nights, it was wicked!

(Dave and I with team Scotland: Richard, David, and Claire)

(David from Scotland, Lovely Leah from Miami, Alan and Ryan from Ireland)

The final competition was on Saturday in which each team had 7 minutes to make a winning cocktail. Out of 14 teams, the States' very own team, Las Vegas won it! They had liquid nitrogen on stage to freeze strawberries and to infuse strawberry into vodka in minutes. Scotland came in 4th, which was pretty good. After that, a famous kiwi band called The Black Seeds took the stage for a free concert. They were incredible!

(Team Miami on Stage top, team Vegas with their liquid nitrogen. And yes, the bar was made out of ice.)

(Team Scotland)

Later that night was one of the best nights of my life! Skybar had its biggest night ever and was just completely RAMMED busy! We danced on the bar, tables, lit the bar on fire, did umbrella dances behind the bar and parties all night. I got so many compliments on the bar that week from all the 42 Below people saying it was the best bar in town, wow! Then I got invited to the 42 Below after party and partied until 10am! What an epic, epic night!!

(Skybar's biggest night, better than New Years!)

(The crazy after party where everyone got silly. Dale De Groff and I donned in our cult-like robes along with 30 others outside the hotel at 9am. My tie is the belt of the robe! I have no idea how I managed to tie it in the state I was in.)

So it was another crazy week, one of the best and most memorable of my life, again! I met some really inspirational people from all over the world and learned a lot about bartending. I've been inspired to learn more about cocktail bartending and now I'm motivated to stay in the field for a while.

What I realized was how deep this profession can be and how much like engineering it is. There is so much attention to detail in cocktail methods, bar equipment, and knowledge of spirits. There is so much behind why things are done the way they are, why the equipment is purpose-built. The history of spirits and how they originated is quite elaborate and fascinates me. I was just blown away by how creative this field is; it is an art, a science, that I never realized before--truly culinary arts behind the bar.

Then there is the element of flair, which is not just flipping bottles around like Tom Cruise, but merely bartending with style. Watching someone in which all their movements are so practiced and precise while they enjoy making your drink using their creativity and knowledge of mixology is something to behold; it is truly a profession of expression.

For once in my life, through bartending, I feel I can easily transcend my inward creative energy and desire for inspiring people to enjoy their life into an outward feeling that is hopefully enjoyed by all those around me.



*42 Below was invented by a guy named Jeff Ross several years ago in Wellington, hence 42 below degrees latitude. The vodka started in his garage as distilling your own spirits is legal here. With a little marketing the vodka got very popular and eventually was bought by Bacardi for a huge sum of money. Now its one of the leading lines of vodka in the world and has several unique flavours to boot, like Manuka honey, a native NZ honey, passionfruit, kiwifruit, and fejoa, a small green fruit native to the pacific islands.