Well, well, well...surprise surprise! It's 3 days til the flight I'm booked on to LA and still no passport or visa. To say I was slightly ticked off would be the understatement of the century. If it weren't for the fact that I actually still really want to go to their country and am afraid they would take revenge against me by denying me entry, I would have written the US consulate a rather terse email of complaint by now.Unfortunately I'm at their mercy so must sit, tight-lipped and rather helpless, and wait. I have been informed that the passport was dispatched on the 14th, and though it's in a special tracking envelope, that can't actually be tracked until it reaches a certain point (wow…how useful) so for 48+ hours now it's just been floating somewhere in the cosmos. Anyone feel like a trip to Disneyland?? Haha

Anyway, major passport stresses aside, I've been having a good time here in Brisbane with the rellies. Went down the coast on Monday and took several long, relaxing walks along the beach before falling asleep listening to the ocean (whilst secretly plotting my revenge on those who steal/lose passports…kidding =D). Then went to a beautiful beachside café with Mum and my grandparents on Tuesday morning before driving back up to Brisbane. Caught up with all the "olds" and "relatively olds" last night ie. Aunts, uncles, and grandparents and have spent today fretting, repacking, having coffee with my cousin at the Art Gallery, worrying, and stressing a little just to top it off. What can I say, if there's one thing I do well, it's stress! Haha

With any luck I'll be on a plane back to Sydney tomorrow morning at 11:30, but if the passport hasn't arrived by then, either Mum or I will delay out flight so we can actually have it in our hands (and subsequently strapped to our body tighter than a kilo of crack on a drug mule coming from Mexico). AND I just spoke to Bri (who I was planning on catching up with on Thursday and Friday) and it seems that the whole of the Sydney public transport and taxi system is in an absolute shambles because of World Youth Day and she won't even be able to stay at her house on Friday night because she flies out the Perth at 6:00AM on the Saturday!!!

There's a poster on the wall at my aunt and uncle's house that says "MISTAKES: It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others" haha actually right now that doesn't seem all that funny…People, I advise you to very carefully approach any dealings with consulates, visas, and passports, well in advance. Learn from my mistakes (or mishaps!)!!!

OK everybody cross your fingers REALLY tight now…I'll keep you posted!

LIVxo