good life: Olympics, Random Faves and Auckland Graffiti

GO Kiwi's!

So who hasn't been enjoying the Olympics for the last 2 weeks? It's been great to watch New Zealand bring home 5 golds and 13 medals. Whilst I haven't lost nearly as much sleep over the last 2 weeks as Al, I still couldn't help watching my fair share.

Olympic Faves:

Non New Zealand
1. Michael Phelps in general - what a guy and loved it when he said he was having fun. (also not quite so full of himself as fellow American swimmer, Ryan Lochte)
2. Usain Bolt in all his events. What a legend. Wasn't it cool when he gave that kid his beanie?
New Zealand
1. Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan mens double sculls - the ultimate 'never give up', come from behind and show 'em what real determination looks like.

GO Mahe!

2. Mahe Drysdale - Rower extrordinaire, who absolutely deserved to be the closing flag bearer after his Beijing comeback

3. Valerie Adams - wow, I shed a tear when she gave her silver medal interview. We'll never know how well she would have done if they actually properly entered her into her event...

Non Olympic Faves:

So other than the Olympics, I have been laying relatively low as I've managed to catch every cold and flu going this winter. It's given me a chance to read some books, play on my iPad, and generally chill out.

Favourite new on line find
I'm in love with Jerry Seinfeld's new online series: ComediansInCarsGettingCoffee.com If you're a Seinfeld fan like me, this is fabulous. He picks up various comedians in one of his many vintage cars and gets coffee. They are 10-15 minute clips and the latest episode I watched was when he picks up Ricky Gervais. This is quintessential Seinfeld.

Favourite iPad Apps:
To say I love my iPad and iPhone is the understatement of the year. How did I live my life fully without these?! Cath was definitely the earliest adopter of us all and always found the coolest apps. Here are a couple of random ones I am enjoying at the moment.

A Picture of pewter fruit bowl using MarbleCam

1. Kindle - Life before my Kindle Reader App. hmmmm..... ok - sure, it's not so easy to get sand out of your iPad if you're on the beach, but hey, I'm in Auckland in the middle of winter so no chance of that anytime soon. I am loving the instant access to great books at North American prices.
2. MarbleCam - takes some cool distorted artistic photos
3. Mashable and Flipboard - cool site for articles which are great for reading over lunch on my iPhone
4. Shazam - this is one I got off Cath for sure. Let it listen to a clip of any song and it will identify it.

Almost Favourite App:
Mixtape.co.nz - a New Zealand music collaboration site. I got an invite from Moochi, one of my fave clothing brands, who put together a mixtape which is worth checking out. One BIG prob - it requires flash at the moment, so no joy using this on my iPad or iPhone. Apparently that's coming so I'll be watching this space. (and then it will definitely be a favourite app!)

Favourite Photographer:
And just because this blog seems a bit random, I thought I'd leave you with some random Grafitti shots which Al has captured in and around Auckland. (not just Melbourne has cool grafitti!)