Co-Worker

Well, last night I was finally, for the first time, I was alone for dinner and/or without nurishment for an evening. So, I still have not tried the tap water yet. If you're here you notice a large amount of water coolers and purifiers everywhere. Even the driking fountains in the school are water coolers with a bunch of metal cups near it. Now this can mean three things. One: the tap water is bad, Two: nothing wrong with the tap water but Koreans still drink out of coolers and purifiers cause they like new tech (which is really true, Koreans love anything flashy and new tech), or Three: the water is bad for drinking but okay for everything else i.e. cooking and washing. I didn't know and I am saving money so I boiled my water at home and (using the left over drink containers I have cause I can figure out the trash system yet...yes there is a trash system) filled every container with cooled down, boiled water....and read til bed.

Oh, and hot water showers litertary last like 3mins. It took some experimenting to do but I figured it out that it is about 3mins. But, if you turn it off and turn it back on, you have another 3mins. Odd, so now I take showers in 3mins. Hehe, I spend more time brushing my teeth than I do showering now.

Also, today, after lunch, my Co-worker, (English Teacher, who teaches in the room next to mine) also called my partner, sat me down and talked about things. How I like the school and such, my apartment and what I need to be happy there; she tells me that she is going to teach me Korean and I am going to help her English, we spent a lot of time doing that; she was surprized as to how much I already know cause I'm not using it, I told her it was because people want me to speak English so that they how I say things....and because most Koreans speak really fast and my brain can't keep up and translate my words fast enough. She was also surprized as how much of the Korean alphabet I know (of which I started learning about 15mins before lunch). We told a few jokes and she wanted to know if there were a other hand gestures that American use in 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' I told not offically, but some frinds of mine made up a few like dynamite, the hand of God, atheist, sub-orbital meteor. I didn't tell her the last one....she wouldn't have got it. But then we realized it was like 3pm and we had work to do so we went over our lesson plans and I finally know how this teaching job is going to work. We each have five classes of increasing learning levels. I teach conversation, she teaches phonics. It confused me cause no one told me we were switching classes everyday. Also, we won't have our textbooks by the time class starts so we have to improvise til then. Well I enlisted the help of a former language teacher of mine and things are uber cool on my side in that department. And yes, I gave her the data to so she wouldn't be left hanging. And I was going to get supplies to decorate my room but she gave me a neat idea, let the kids do it. And why not I say...but I still need scotch tape and a black marker (my partner gave lots of left over paper, but iterated that this is just one time and I'll have to get my own from now on).

Tree-Fitty

I just thought of this and had to look it up but look at the entry below for an update.....this is an episode of south park btw....

THOMAS: Say, would you crackers like to hear about the time we saw the Loch Ness monster?

STAN: No, that's okay.

THOMAS: Ooh, it must've been about seven, eight years ago. Me and the little lady was out on this boat, you see, all alone at night, when all of a sudden this huge creature, this giant crustacean from the paleolithic era, comes out of the water.

NELLIE: We was so scared, Lord have mercy, I jumped up in the boat and I said "Thomas, what on earth is that creature?!"

THOMAS: It stood above us looking down with these big red eyes,-

NELLIE: Oh, it was so scary!

THOMAS: -and I yelled. I said, "What do you want from us, monster?!" And the monster bent down and said, "...Uh I need about tree-fitty."

KYLE: What's tree-fitty?

THOMAS: Three dollars and fifty cents.

NELLIE: Tree-fitty.

STAN: He wanted money?

THOMAS: That's right. I said "I ain't giving you no tree-fitty you goddamn Loch Ness monster! Get your own goddamn money!"

NELLIE: I gave him a dollar.

THOMAS: She gave him a dollar.

NELLIE: I thought he'd go away if I gave him a dollar.

THOMAS: Well of course he's not gonna go away, Nellie! You gave him a dollar, he's gonna assume you got more!

[some time passes...]

THOMAS: ...And that was the third time we saw the Loch Ness monster. Then one time, I believe it was July-

NELLIE: August.

THOMAS: -August. There's a knock on the door. I open it, and there's this cute little girl scout-

NELLIE: And she was so adorable, with the little pig tails and all.

THOMAS: -And she says to me, "How would you like to buy some cookies?" And I said "Well, what kind do you have?" She had thin mints, graham crunchy things-

NELLIE: Raisin oatmeal.

THOMAS: -Raisin oatmeal, and I said "We'll take a graham crunch. How much will that be?" And she looks at me and she says, "...Uh I need about tree-fitty."

NELLIE: ...Tree-fitty.

THOMAS: Well, it was about that time that I notice that girl scout was about eight stories tall and was a crustacean from the protozoic era.

NELLIE: The Loch Ness monster.

THOMAS: I said, "Dammit monster! Get off my lawn! I ain't giving you no tree-fitty!" It said, "how about just two-fitty?" I said, "Oh, now it's only two-fitty!! What?! Is there a sale on Loch Ness munchies or something?!"

NELLIE: Lord, he was angry.

THOMAS: Damn right, I was angry!

NELLIE: Not you, the monster. He was about to kick your ass.

THOMAS: Aah, shut your mouth, woman!

[some time passes...]

THOMAS: ...And then these aliens had me up on their ship, right? They was probing me and all that.

NELLIE: We had taco salad that night.

THOMAS: Don't matter what we had for dinner woman! Now this alien had a big head and big black eyes, and it was all bent over me. I said, "What do you want from me, alien?!" and do you know what he said?

NELLIE: Tree-fitty.

THOMAS: Uh. Let me tell the damn story now! He said, "tree-fitty." And so I realized I that it wasn't no alien, it was that God-damned Loch Ness monster again, trying to trick me into giving him tree-fitty by dressing up like an alien. Don't that just beat all?!

NELLIE: I had just given him tree-fitty the week before.

THOMAS: What?! You gave that monster another damn tree-fitty?!

NELLIE: He tricked me.

THOMAS: Well no wonder the damn monster keeps coming back to our house! You keep giving it tree-fitty!

Work Day

So yesterday, after some shopping (TP yay), I got home and sat there quietly again. I read a little and then decided to check the radio one last time. I checked my CD player (no cds) and FM radio (no AM) a few days ago and nothing but static on every station. So I decided maybe it is at only certain parts of the day the radio is on. I turned it on and again every station static; however, I do barely pick up something behind the static so I figure that this town is far from signals (just my luck as of late). Well, I get up and suddenly the signal changed, still static but I can hear more so I ran all over the apartment looking for a strong signal. Low andbehold the best signal I can get is in the corner of the window sill....5in from my head where I initially was. But the signal is still static-y. So I cruise through the channels cause I heard that there is 2 american channels. I found one and listen and it is a DJ giving english lessons to a Korean girl so I keep looking. I found an Armed Forces station that is stuck in the Vietnam era for music, and of course, a little preachy; but still oldie rock and news. I must have just listen to it for hours. I felt like the LOST cast when they found that radio signal from Hawaii for a few hours. Just bliss and memories of home.

Today I have some studing to do and to establish a cirriclum. I don't know where to begin honestly. And tomorrow I have to decorate the room. Now I just need to find a art/school supply store or something.

I also picked up a phone card with like 10hrs on it. My daylight hours for phone call calling are as this: 5-8pm central time, this is 7-10am my time. I get off at about 3 in the morning there so....
If you want call shoot an EMAIL to me not a post.

Yeah....

Today I quiz the kids on how well they speak english and give them english names for fun.

Well, update on me. I'm losing weight already but probably not in a good way (not eating much...not spending much). And the ps2 won't work. I though it did and was waiting for the TV to be installed in my place well this is what happened. I got the converter to work the ps2 however, it was just that little red light that came on. I was so happy that I got that light to work so last night I got my TV and there are no channels so I thought I would just play so movie or a game for a few hours. I plugged it in and turned the power on and it shut off immediatly. Starting takes to much power and I tried the higher setting but no red light (which you need to start it in the first place) so I tried the low and the the high, nope. So I have no TV, no PS2, no phone, no newspaper, and little money. Thank god I brought lots of books.

Oh, and the semi-bay window has no curtains or blinds....I know what time of day it always is.

But I do have a Gameboy with very old games.

So...

My apartment turned out pretty great. I don't have a bed so sleeping on the floor is kinda hard. Thank god I brought my pillow and blanket,....and trench coat, and grey coat, and indian shaw.

My place has a mini-frige, will have a tv, the ps2 works, 2 surface stove, a western style toliet, a stand closet, and small cabnet. The Manager even bought me a few supplies to help out. I knew I needed TP so we went out to get some and he bought paper towels by accident. And a huge semi-bay window.

Everyone is really nice and so glad to meet me. But that feeling of lonelyness is creeping up on me. We'll see....

I start tomorrow with class evaluations. Basically to find out how well the students can understand English so we know where to start from. I'll update again, probably everyday.

Quick report

Well, I'm writing this now cause I might not get another chance soon. I am at the school and they are all very glad to meet me; however, they asked me to teach another class an hour earlier of the parents. And they did promise me more money if I do. They also asked if I would be able to teach another class another hour earlier than that one. Again more money if I do. That class would be of higher level of kids.

I will be teaching kids of about 6-8yrs old. They have a very small understanding of English, but I am given MANY books that they will be learning from. I will teach the kids in terms of 2 months each time. Then a new batch of kids. My first week here is not really work. I come to class that my partner is teaching and watch and listen to her for this week. Then I start my term next week.

I have meet many of the staff and they all are very exicted I am here. They keep saying they were waiting for me for a long time. I also made a decent friend at the head office in Icheon today. For the first time here I didn't feel so alone cause she spoke VERY good english. I might see her this weekend along with an american friend of hers who I will hopefully hit it off with. There is also a University nearby that they tell me has a lot of Americans. And an american military base nearby.

One bad thing though is that I we are having terrible time finding an apartment. Apparently most of the housing units were taken up by the other University. One that I looked at was nice but had no frige or washer which both I was promised. We are currently waiting to get a call from some one about a place with frige but if we don't find one I don't know what to do. I agreed on the notion that the apartment was semi-furnished and although they did a nice thing in waiting for me to pick a place I may not get what I was promised. I don't know I am going to survive without the stuff they promised intionally unless I go to bare basics like washing all my clothes in the sink and getting only dried foods. The job is great and they are making me feel like I am the only capable for this job. I think they would like me here indefinatly. They tried so hard to find someone. They say they have been waiting for 6 months to teach english. And this is a public school that doesn't get this sort of education where the private schools do and of course they charge a lot. It is just a situation but I really almost called it quits when I saw the best apartment offered so far. Then they took me back to the school and the kids warmed my heart again. I would be such an ass to do this to so many kids but I agreed to a contract that is not being met (as of yet). The apartment sounds nice (even comes with a tv apparently).

It is raining btw. Apparently it is the rainy season. I like the rain. Also had some food finally. It is really kinda cheap though fried. I'm gonna try to find an internet cafe tonight so I can talk again. Also, need to get to the store; regardless, where I end up....I need some TP.

"When Raptor was in Korea's Land...Let my people go"

Sorry, Ferris Buller flash back. The Solitude is setting in, of course that could be because I haven't the motel room. And why you ask, well, I'm going to a different part of the country and there is no reason to walk around trying to find my way around in a town I will rarely go. Also, it helps me refrain from impluse spending. I was told by the Manager to go and eat Korean food everyday so I get use to it. But I decide to fast for a few days considering the 2nd day I was here I couldn'r stop blowing my nose and has a wicked sinus headache. So, water, maybe some tea and plenty of rest is what I did and I feel better. Hopefully a lot of mucus was expelled by now.

One thing that I am upset about is my playstation won't work here in the motel room. It could be an isolated incident (the plug adapter and power converter work but sit kinda loose in the plug). I saw the red light go on but then immdetilly fade away. Also, I plugged it into a a three plug holder which seems a little big for most plugs. We'll see I guess.

Well, today I go to work. It is 5am now but I can't sleep much more. I should get a place today and hopefully a bank account with a little money from my first pay check. Problem is that I can't find much on this town. I'm 100% certain it isn't like a rice pattie town, but something concerns me. The Manager told me that Ansung City is a rather traditional town. But how traditional. Traditional in just culture and mannerisms or does that include Tech also. I'm Icheon and Seoul are one thing but Ansung City is hard to find by web search. Best I found was some stuff about factories and businesses. They wouldn't just stick me in some place with no electricy or something, I know cause they told me. The main reason i don't have place yet is cause they want me to have an apartment an American would feel comfortable in but they were unsure about that so why not consult the American when he gets here. Short notice and all but will see. I guess that is what is so bothersome (small it my be) is I just have to wait and see for a lot of things. I'm mean I'm teaching like four classes to today, well, intros anyway, but still, these are kids who have very little English training.

Okay, I'm going to at least write down what I need to do on my blog so that it is written down somewhere:
-Give expenses to Manager for re-imbersment of funds
-Find apartment preferable close to school
-Get bank account
-Get phone card and find out how to make international calls
-Find Internet usage in new town
-Find Grocery store and buy essentials
-Listen to Korean Audio at least 3-4 times today
-Find important documents in Lugguge
-Try to find cheap food
-Explore the town a little but remember way home with each step
-Make sure I can wire transfer or pay bills from bank account

I think that is all. I'm gonna get cleaned up, have another cup of tea, maybe some coffee, and wait for a phone call form the Manager...or call him. I'll make the call around 9am if I still don't hear anything.

This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine.

Okay, so it is kinda hot, crowded, dirty (not the good kind), but not smelly...well, smelly but slightly spicy food smelly. I got to my hotel room finally...spent about 4hrs with the manager of the program...not a bad three hours (he knows good music), but still, after a total of an 18hr flight...okay, okay 17 cause of the delay, but still. I haven't slept since Tuesday/Wednesday evening/morning. I slept as much as one could sleep on an international flight. In-flight movies were...huh drawing blanks on titles anyway, The landing of the pilgrams when they meet the indians with colin ferrel(?), the basketball movie set in like 1960/70's with like the first time texas had an inter-racial basketball team. A few korean films, The newest harrison ford film, King Kong, and 8 Below. Now I have 13hrs on this flight. I've seen King Kong a lot and the others I didn't care for cept the Indian one but waaaayyy to slow. I would passout and awake incomfort and realize like just missed 30mins. So I saw 8 Below a lot. Never have choked back so many tears in an 13hr span.

Oh yeah, I'm in Icheon now in what could be considered a seedy motel by our standards. Bedroom and bathroom. internet and computer, VCR, and TV with porn channels and one awesome light switch. Okay, not one but one that does something cool. We got light for bathroom, light for foyer, light of the room, and ..... ..... ..... drum roll please ...... ...... ...... a light above the bed ..... ..... ..... that is red, .... ..... ..... for some bow chicha bow wowt ;) Okay, and get this I have like 200 pocket money for the next few days so this is why I didn't go through with it. Now, after I turned on the red light and had it on for like 10mins I hear footsteps coming up the stairs....high heel footsteps.....and in the enterance to this motel was a wall of porn. This may be a signal service. Why I say that, hell it could have been anyone, well I could be certain cause I have the fans going and the AC on (did I mention it was hot) but I think I heard the "someone" check my door (I locked it earlier).

Night falls fast here. it is 9pm my time and 7 am yours....yesterday....yes I am writing to you from the future.

Well, I here til Monday and then I move down to Ansung, get my money, get my bank account, get an apartment.

Oh, don't bring porn with you and if you do don't declare it. Appearently there is a law about not bringing in anything....fear of selling stuff....besides, they got shit tons here.

I'm either going to run a bath or sleep, either way see ya

P.S. Congrads to the Morgans :)

As expected...

Well, my passport and Visa still are not here as I thought would happen. Especially after dealing with immigration. Oh well, maybe a few more days in Omaha but nothing more than that. I have been told by the company that as soon as my stuff gets back from the embassy I'm on like the next flight out of here...finally....people were beginning to doubt that I was really going and all this was ploy for attention....so did I at one point.

So after all of those "coinensidentals" of my Ex, I did speak to her. She called me at the party and we talked for a bit. She said she might make it...but didn't (as is customary for her). Then I heard from her last night and we spoke for even longer, just like the "good old days". And not having spoken to her in about half a year tends accumulate a few life experiences. She had always worried that she might not be able to get pregnant....lets just say lots of failed attempts, well it turns out that she was pregnant around the time we stop speaking to each other....then we spoke again 2 months after that time and she miscarried....around that time. Freaky. Anyway, she is with child again and this one seems to have stuck. And I was amazed at myself, I said congratulations and meant it. I have said plenty of times that that part of my life is over and I think it really is now. Not that it wasn't before but now I have real evidence to myself to prove it as such. I hope I actually see her before I leave but knowing her she'll forget or "just not be able to get time away" aka. her husband doesn't want her to see me.

Either way, my heartache is officially over and I'm bound for adventure of the purest kind. Going to a foreign country, alone, not knowing the language, for a year (at least). And I'm actually amazed that literally no one is standing in my way, kinda like you guys are encouraging me to leave....like you want me out of the way....hey. Seriously though, I was hoping for some sort of drama about me leaving, you know, like the love stuck woman, clawing at my legs, pleading with me not to leave her and the baby (this is getting kinda interesting). And I would be dressed like in one of those black and white films with the light brown trenchcoat and detective hat, standing on the runway with a small two-engine in the background (question: how could a freakin two-engine take them anywhere they wanted to go....I mean it is a two-engine...do you have any idea how many stops you would have to take to refuel not mention flying and landing in foreign airspace. All the rules and regs that go with that sort of flight....anyway), and I would be like Bogart or something and give this great speech or something....or like a teen romance movie. I could be wearing like this letter jacket and she would be wearing like a prom dress (think 50's), and have a pony tail...yeah, I like that....I'll save that one for later....hmm, pony tail. Anyway, something like that, but no, everyone is all like "cya" or "don't come home with a wife" or "I don't want you to go but I want you to go" sort of thing, but with no passion, no fire, no clown suit. I guess I'll just settle with what you guys can give me, but you know, whatever....

BTW, I got so burned at the Ren Faire yesterday. It is kinda funny to look at me now. The burn has gone down a bit (cause I'm a ginger and if there is one thing I know it is how to heal after a sunburn). Also, the crush I have wasn't there. Every year I go to the Ren Faire for three things; to see the Jolly Rogers and buy there new CD, the food and raspberry lemonade, and the see the girl I have had a crush on since I first started going to the Ren Faire (like 10+ years ago). This one of those crushes where I have never spoken to her, I have never heard her speak, and never want to do either for fear of ruining my one true love sort of thing. But Evad Drol thought that he would help a little and went to last year's Ren Faire, and after a little description of her knew exactly who I was talking about, Got a picture of her for me. Well, she wasn't there this year, neither was the lead singer of the Jolly Rogers and no new CD, and the food was okay and the raspberry lemonade wasn't the same....oh well, it is the freakin Ren Faire.

Korean Bound?

An update on Korea. Well, I was suppose to leave on the 12th after I got my work visa while I was in Chicago. Well, when I was in Chicago the papers still weren't processed. So the reason I'm still here is because I don't have my work visa and the company doesn't want to fly me over until I have it, which is good. That way I know it isn't a scam. So, all I can do is wait, it is very frustrating since I can do absolutly nothing about the situation. I did check with the company and they say the school will not fine me for the missing days, due to the fact that I was suppose to start this Thursday and I won't be there by then. My contract starts when I start working so there is no fault of my own and I'm not breaking contract....which is really good since breaking contract is REALLY bad.

I still haven't heard back yet about the papers. But at least I know that I won't be docked pay or have to make up days since I am missing a few.

Plus side, I may get to the Ren Fair this year. I was kinda down that I wouldn't be able to go since I go every year. Also, if my luck is still bad I may get another Sunday game but that is a long shot.

I am uncertain whether to take my Munchkin game with me. I would be cool to corrupt another country and all but I don't know if I want to teach this and English and learn Korean and learn how to teach....

It is a bird, it is a plane, No, it is the biggest update ever

Okay, small update while I'm still thinking about it.

First, the last update, well, things didn't stop there for that being a weird "Ex" day. I got to work and Aussie asked me to go get lunch at a sub shop. I had no idea where a close one would be so he gave me directions to the closest one. When I get there I noticed the town I was in was Underwood, Iowa....yeah, she lives in this town....hmm. So I told him and many others about my kinda odd day and what happens at one of my going away parties that evening (thinking it had all been over with for the day), I pass out the book I got to learn Korean with I just so happen to pick up a book and look at the authors name....a random book mind you and a random glance at the name....I have not looked at the other authors nor do I cause I don't really pay attention to that sort of thing but the authors name is....Joan V. Underwood....yeah....now I hear that she "plans" to make an appearance at my last going away party....she never really is good with plans though....so we'll see.

Okay, I will update this particular post when I get home....really....;)

Okay, AND NOW, FOR THE GREATEST, or at least biggest, UPDATE I HAVE EVER DONE.....DRUMROLL PLEASE.....
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So last friday, I was driving to work and at 30th and Cumming, this pregnant lady was stopping traffic asking for a ride. At first I thought she was trying to cross the street until she approached my car. She said that no one was stopping and she lived a few blocks away and injured her feet a while back. She thought she could tough it out but she broke down and was trying to depend on the kindness of strangers. So I gave her a lift, I figured if I was going to be late to work it might as well be for a pregnant lady in duress. So I drove around the block (literally) and dropped her off....she literally lived on 32nd and Cumming. She had twisted her angles when she was walking and trying to avoid broken glass. BTW, your story teller is not an easy con, from the moment she began to approach my car I suspected she was coning me but a small ride wasn't going to hurt me. When I drop her off she then tells me her sob story, at this point all I hear is a con but I give her the benefit of the doubt, she tells me she doesn't have enough money (6 bucks shy) for a cab to visit her son in the hospital. Now as she is bawling in my car a few thought race through my head.

1. She must have been trying to score a ride for a while now and I, being the good simaritan, was the ONLY one who did give her a ride.
2. Were this not a con and real what kind of ass would I be to give her a ride and not give her 6 bucks, I mean 6 bucks come on, what kinda con asks for 6 bucks.
3. I am trying to go to Korea and save a little money before I go, I was on my way to work to pick up my pay check and feeling pretty happy about it til this cause I knew that I had very little if any money in my bank account (I had figured that I had about 14 bucks in my account earlier and wanted to be very frugal in my spending).
4. I also knew that if I were to give this woman some money I would have to take some out of my account cause I had no cash on me.
5. Were this real, how much bad luck does this woman have that it took her a while to find a ride, twisted both of her angles, asking for a ride at 30th and Cumming (not the best place to find a good simaritan), but to get the ride (which was 2 blocks) and find the only good simaritan with no money to speak of to offer even if he wanted to.

So, after a few minutes I asked where the nearest ATM was. I figured that no matter if this was a con or not, she needs the 6 bucks more than I do at that moment in time. Whe get to the gas station and I go to the ATM, I take my keys out and head inside (btw at this point I would like to say how proud I feel that I never leave anything in my car for anyone to steal, I felt confident that if she were to steal anything it would be the car and it is insured) I get to the ATM and the damn thing won't read my card. I swipe slow, I swipe fast, I swipe in between. I do it like 20 times and nuthin. Number 5 from above come swimming back over me. I decide to do it one more time....it reads it. I punch in 20 bucks, praying that that much is still in my account. I get a slip of paper telling me insufficient funds....out of desperation I try to get 10 bucks out cause it is one of those machines where you punch in the amount but nowhere does it say what dollar increment. I get 10 bucks.

At this moment I ask myself should I break the 10 or just give her the whole thing. I decide to give the whole thing to add to my good simaritaness. She asks if there were any problems when I get back to the car and I tell her the whole story. Should looks at me blankly and asks how much is in my account now. I look at my recipe and sure enough, 4 bucks were left. I laugh to myself for figuring right earlier. She takes the 10 and goes inside for a hot dog and drink cause she had been walking a lot and worked up a hunger. Then I take her home. Throughout this whole ordeal she tells me of her son and gives me numbers and addresses doctors and room numbers and her work place and time she will work so that she can pay me back and everything I would need to collaborate her story. We even talk a little about the drink I had (which was a juiced veggie drink, she had never heard nor seen of anything like it) and enjoy my compilation CD....she's a metal fan....Anyway, she kisses me and blesses me, thanks me and goes on her way, which in all honesty was what good simaritans work for, the kiss was bit of a shock though. Well, were it a con, she is one of the best. Not only was here con simple and straight forward but the one being conned leaves feeling good about themselves. How a con should be. Never let on it was a con so that one day you can con again and you may run into the same target. Anyway, that was friday....
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Oh, I also want to mention that I feel a little redeemed. A year ago, a guy approached my car asking for a ride. He had been walking and was asking for a ride for a while. He had a bar in his leg for the war and looked a little scraggly. We live next to a biker bar so I figured he could have come from there. Well, I said no and when to work mostly cause I felt it was a con and this guy could have taken me. That is the trick of con btw always make the one being conned feel like they are in control and that everything is there idea. Or, simple con artists, just create an opportunity the attack....course the this more being robbed but if the victim falls for it initially, it is there fault for putting themselves in the situation.
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you may be asking how I know so much about con artistry....well, just leave it as to one of those things I happen to know and be done with it.
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Saturday, I switched shifts, with a guy at work friday night, so that I could 1. work with Aussie and 2. actually attend a party Becky was throwing for me. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to show up til after 1am. So, after work I ran a few errands then went to dinner with my mom at the Brazen Head, I love this place, they make the best snakebite. Came home, promised to update my blog, passed out, then Aussie showed up them one by one they started to show up. It was a good party. Nothing out of the ordinary. Accept for the comment that is in the beginning of the post. And the rest of the week so far has gone on as normal.

Korea Update,
Well, I don't have a flight plan yet cause I still have secured my work visa. The immigration office in Korea is still processing my papers and until I get my visa it no travel. So, I may be hear for a few more days than planned but that is completely uncertain. The down side is I'm going to Chicago today to pick up my work visa at the Korean embassy but if it isn't ready when I'm there....it will have to be mailed to me cause I can't stay in Chicago past Friday evening. My ride has to work at 4 on saturday and Chicago is an 8hr trip. So latest we can leave is 7am saturday, but that is not accounting for anything other than time. Worst case, I fly out and pick up my work visa in Korea, I think.

So I'm not packed yet, I know what I am packing though. I need to make a list of inventory that way if I want something I just call up Becky and she mails it to me. I got a few Korean to English, English to Korean books so that I can brush up on it. Even an audio CD.

Also, I skipped my last day of work so that I could do some more arranging and packing....and write this.

And, my farewell party is this Saturday, and final game night on Sunday. Hopefully a big turn out for both.

And after I have reached Korea I can officially say I am a world traveler. Here is a list of the places I have been to:
First the states:
Nebraska
Iowa
Florida
New York
Michigan
Arizona
New Mexico
Wyoming
Kentucky
Mississippi
Missouri
Kansas
The Great Lakes
South Dakota
Georgia
Arkansas
and Alabama
Most of these were cause I was passing through on family vacations.
I am also a bit of globe trotter.
Canada
Italy
And pretty soon I can Illinois and South Korea and where ever my connecting flights are at.

And finally, I chopped my hair. It is a little different that what I normally get but I think I like it. It is a little crew cuttish for my taste but good overall. Also, the thing I don't like to much about it. I have never liked my profile. I hate it even....to much double chin. And the hair cut shows it off even more. And on the topic of weight. You know when walk around every day and you have this image of yourself in your head then you look in the mirror and realize "Oh, that is what I look like" well I encounter that all the time. I feel a lot smaller than I am. Thinner, more muscular, but I'm not. I'm like a red-headed Joe....especially with this hair cut....it is Joe's haircut....oh, well. It will grow out.

"Edit" and one more thing, why I missed the wedding. I had no pants....yeah. I was house sitting and I forgot how long the washer and dryer take at this house. The dryer was on the first load of 2 and my pants were the second load and it was already 11:30ish, the wedding was and noon. I even tried on some of the man of the house's (Kat ;P ) pants but to no avail. So the laundry was done at about 2ish and becky calls me to find out if I'm coming well I was currently on the phone with my mother who wanted to see her sick sister and needed the car.....I didn't tell her about the wedding cause I knew she was distress already with the sick sister, poor cousins, my younger brother and me going to Korea.....why add to it.....so I let her have the car and I missed the wedding.....I did see pics and Jennie look gorgeous. I didn't see any of the rest of the wedding guests until at Mic's but I did get see Becky's fabulous hair.

And I'm entering a contest that deals with posting web links on Blogs. So here is my offical post.
What I want to win. Pendant: Grey_Mother_of_Pearl Cards: Nature_Series and a Snake_Chain to go with them
http://blendcreations.com/jewelry/index.htm

I'm awake

So I had a dream about my ex last night. I beginning to be bombarded with her name almost everywhere I go. Just a common name I guess. It wasn't a really bad dream or good one. She met me at our usual place and we talked abou tmy going to Korea. She was like a member of my family, in that she was excited but very concerned I would be okay....It felt like the good old days with her. At that moment I was kinda half asleep, but I wasn't guilding my dream, which I can do. I realized what time it was, or rather what time it could have been and my system went into alert status to get up and out the door so I could get to work. I look at the clock....40 mins til I leave for work....My head is swimming, my heart is racing, and the last frelling image in my head is her....I'm not sure how I feel about that....

Anyway, more later. A few things have happened to the T as of late and I'll tell you when I get home from work....15 mins til I leave now....cya.

Just Relax

So what is going on with me? Well, I decided to take a few days away from everything and hide out at Kat and Chuck's place. In addition I got my documents sent to Korea...666 bucks for a few pieces of paper...that was the cheapest. Anyway, I be remebursed for all my expenses. But it is kinda hard to be remebursed when there is nothing to start with. I get by though. I decided not to do the bathroom attendant position. My time is kinda spread thin lately.

My brother has taken the position my mother would take were she techno-skilled and is finding a whole bunch of stuff about this trip and how many people who have come before have had bad experiences. Very little matches up to what is happening to me though. For instance, many people complain that they were fired or dismissed from their contract early and didn't get their finally pay. Well, they taught in private schools, which are privatly funded, I am going to a public school which is goverment funded so the school need not worry about my pay. That is just one of many differences between me and the people who had bad experiences, but mainly the biggest one.

I am leaving the 12th of June. What time I'm not sure. Also, I'm not certain whether I'll leave on the 12th my time or their time. They are 14hrs ahead of us so Sunday the 11th at say 6pm is 8am the 12th...get my meaning. So I might not have a last Sunday game but I'll keep planning like I would.

Kat and Chuck are holding a good-bye party for me on the 10th of June. Kat is going to get a hold of everyone and then ask for RSVP's so she can get a head count.

I might be going on a short road trip to Chicago. I need to pick up my work visa at the Korean Embassy and the closest one is in Chicago. I tried to ask our little Chicago native-ish to go with since she know Chicago a hell of a lot better than I. But we'll see if she can swing the days free from her job. She also might be kinda upset...she isn't allowed to the party...her and I will hopefully work something out though.

I'm still on schedule at the TV station. I was afriad that after I put in my 2 weeks they would boot me but they didn't. They know all about the trip now and won't schedule me again without my permission on days that I told them I am taking off.

The rest of my money gathering is from donating and babysitting. Not much but something right?

I still need to talk with roommates about things...haven't been home in the past 3 days really.

I'm also going to see what I can do about getting people for X-Men 3 today. Since I have been out for a while they may no twant to go anymore...who knows.

I had a few bad days lately and so now I've stop a few things or putting things off for a while. Not to long but these days really sucked so I'm stopping my stuff and doing a few things I was scheduled to do. I.e. bachalor party, movie with friends, donate, work, wedding, game night. stuff that I did normally. But I'll be back on track in few days.

OMG, OMG, OH MY F*ING GOD

Okay,....sorry, I'm am writing this immediatly after I got off the phone with the Korea Company...and I'm actually writing my thoughts right now but I need a breather...., .... okay. I'm leaving the 8th of June....I gave it a lot of thought and I feel this is a good date to leave....I can't believe I'm doing this....I'm actually shaking cause I don't know if this is the right thing to do....I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm excited, somebody put shit in my pants....oh man, The biggest worry I have right now is that I may not be working immediately when I get there. Work visa stuff. But I will be taken care of by the school. My concern is how much will they take care of me. I have a place, a job, and an allowence for a few weeks but I think I have the allowence only when I start and since I'm not starting right away, I need to have some money in my account. I'll get a nice pay check for my time at SCOLA, I'm still trying to get the position at the playhouse, I'm donating plasma, and babysitting for Kat. That is some money but not what my family would feel would be optimal to have when I go. They say at least $2000....yeah right, to do enough work for me to get that kinda money in this short of time is sell my body (which I am not morally opposed to doing, cept for the fear of old lady ass). Then, my family said how about $1000. That is my monthly income before bills, expense, entertainment, and fuel. From the looks of it I could get around 300-400 by the time I go and that will have to do....they have ramen and noodle stuff, and rice has to be cheap there swimming in it for crying out loud.

I picked the 8th cause of the bacholar party, jennie's wedding, hopefully 2 sunday game sessions, 6 days of donating, and 3 days of babysitting, something is going on the 6th...I don't remember what...and that leaves 1 weekend (the 3rd of June) for a going away party for yours truly. I was flip flopping between the 8th or the 12th....

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Okay, after writing I gave it a little more thought and I asked for the 12th. I won't know until he writes me back cause the other time was a phone call and I don't have his number. Cross your fingers. I'm kinda jumping out of my skin cause it is so soon. I figure that it gives me a few more days for money (if my job lets me work, I'm gonna tell them tomorrow and we'll see if they schedule me or just let me go), one extra day for a possible party and one more day for a sunday game. Course if it is okay, I'd like that day to be a massive Munchkin game (I just got my new deck to add to it, Steeds and Hirelings). Big group, (well, probably only five or six will show...seeing my luck with making plans for group gatherings....you guys suck....come to my party:)) wine, women, song, kill the monster, steal the treasure, backstab your friends; just like irish-pirate-pastafarians should celebrate the leaving of on of their mates.

I'm trying to come up with the idea of how to continue playing sunday games while I'm there. Some thoughts/suggestions: buy neverwinter nights and write games in it then give it for you guys to play (everyone will have to get a copy, around 30 bucks for complete package each); Mick buys vent (a headset communication that can be done over the web), he attaches the speakers instead of ear phones so everyone can hear me and you press a button and speak into a mic so I can hear you, or some other mic system (I have currently have vent for WoW) (about 15 bucks); or conference call with me on speaker (phone bills).

Anyway, no word yet on the 12th, will let you know. If not, then the 8th and cya if you don't make the party.

Oh, and if you want to spend time with me before I go let me know,...that is outside of the party, i.e. like taking my out to the titty bar ;) ;), drinkin', partying, movies, zoo, camping, stuff like that....your buying :)

Korea Bound

Well, I'm offically going to Korea. I can't believe it, I'm kinda scared. But I know that this is what I have to do, if I miss this I would regret it for a long time. I'm kinda glad that I know I'm going for definate now. Now all I have to worry about is...everything else :/. I still don't have an exact date to when I'm leaving, and I have asked repeatedly, all I get is mid of June. Hell, I really know is that I start mid of June, which means I'll probably leave a lot earlier than that, getting set up and what not. I don't even have my documentation that says I graduatated yet. Its coming but not soon enough, it feels like. But, yeah, ...I'm going...to Korea...what have I done...jk. I am meant to travel, I kinda hate it here and maybe this is what I really need. They say that it is possible to renew your contract, most do anyway. So maybe 2 years and goodbye student loans. Hell, with 3 I'll turn a profit. Oh well.

In other news, I never did get around to starting my fast and exercise. Why? Cause people and events keep happening. My mom and brothers keep giving me food and I was brought up not to waste it, but if I do the fast, it will go rotten. Exercise, yeah, like I haven't been overly stress about stuff to even sit an concentrate for one minute. Well, no more. My brother got me a gift basket for graduation. Games, books, food, beer, rootbeer, candy, beer glasses, sushi coupons, recipes for beer flavered food...huh...that is a lot of beer oriented stuff...(shrugs). And 40hrs ain't bad along with a part-time as a bathroom attendent in the playhouse...Chuck pulled 300 dollars on a Saturday night. Bank.

Also, we are not moving to Dawn's. She freaked out and pretty much decided that it wasn't happening. :/ It would have given me to much stress anyway, moving and moving.

I also decided on buying myself something. I was trying to organize my Munchkin decks so that I could trim dwom the cards for games; well, in order to do that, I had to find the card lists of each installment, not hard just tedious, but I like that sort of stuff. Anyway, I found out that there is a new series of cards. Deck 4, The Need for Steed. I have 1, 2, 3, munchkin blender, and munchkin dice (which came with extra cards). Munchkin blender is make big munchkin decks go faster. This new instalment is more munchkin but now we get mounts to add to our arsenal...cool. So that is on the way now. I like this stuff. Fun for everyone. Oh, if you don't know what Munchkin is, it is a card game that is a satire against D&D. Like you races and classes and find armor and treasure and monsters, but so much more; here is an example: Say I'm a half elf/half orc Warrior/Bard/Wizard, I have the Two-handed Sword (which lets me carry an extra item in my hands cause the sword has 2-hands...get it)...of Doom, the stab-o-matic (which lets me backstab like a thief), and the Sword of Slaying Everything but Squid which is Poisoned, and I'm cheating (with a cheat card) to use the Blessed Chainsaw of Bloody Dismemberment; I wear a fake beard which lets also be considered a dwarf, a revealing costume (which increases in points when I change gender because in tears in "inapporpiate places") Flamming Armor, the Spring-loaded Bad-Ass Bandana, and the boots of running really fast; I an faced with the monster Squilzilla (a level 20 monster that kills and kills) So right out my Sword of Slaying Everything but Squid which is Poisoned doesn't work cause it is a squid (catching on), but I can beat it with all my bonus still so the other players decide to prevent that, They throw numerous things to beef up the monster and debuff me, forcing me to run away of which I have to roll a 4,5 6 cause of the boots of running really fast. If I don't make it, I die and everyone gets to loot my body. I start the next turn at the same race, class, and level but with anything else. The stratgey of the game is Kill the Monster, Steal the Treasure, Stab Your Buddy. The object of the game is to get to level 10 first. You get levels by killing monsters, selling items, special cards, etc. Easy right? Wrong. You also have to deal with others stopping you or you stopping them from getting to 10 by curses, and beefing up the monsters they face. It is a lot of fun. You can trade cards at ANY time. Partner up, then turn around and screw them and no hard feelings, cause that is how the game is played...only one can make it to 10...actually that is wrong. If more than one person makes it to level 10 at the same time then they both win...but that hasn't happened yet...hell, it is possible for everybody to win at the same time...but that hasn't happened either...lots of stabbing you friends.

Well, I got to work at 8am but it takes about 35min to drive so night all.

P.S. I don't think Becky is very happy that I'm going...

Frell

So I got this gig at a Television station that does news shows from all over the world. On my first day I get anally raped for a schedule. Apperently, I'm the new bitch of the station and I don't get a say on the days I work at all. I have to cover for someone...not asked to cover for someone...HAVE TO cover for someone on the two days I told them I wouldn't be able to work. One is Kat and Chuck's barbeque...okay, big deal, they may have another soon...but the other is on the evening that I organize and host an event every week for friends to get together, that normally wouldn't do so, and have fun. Now this would be a big deal for us to miss one week but we have missed the past week and week is Jennie's wedding. Granted this would be abig deal but I did get accepted to Korea and I will be gone in about a month. I would probably get fired if I told them but I need money. So I have to cancel it again...It totally sucks cause they are taking more advantage of me than they know. I got the job for some extra cash before I go to Korea to teach English. So I'm quitting anyway but they don't know that yet. Not to mention totally fucking up my schedule for my other jobs, it looks really good that I might get a job at Red Cross and I might score a job at the Playhouse. Lots of money pouring in, of which they gave no consideration for, granted they don't know, but they do know that I was looking for other jobs cause they were only giving me 24hrs a week. Well, now I have 40 but these other jobs pay way better than this one and 40hrs with 7.80 and hour is not that great. This totally bites the dust...but GoGo, Dyme, and Twwly have new sets so world is looking up. Besides I only have to put up with shit for another month then I'm gone, I think.

I haven't really accepted the job to Korea. I'm worried that with all these job offers I might not get one when I come back...Luck runeth over kinda thing...At least I get today off and my brother is buying me dinner cause of graduation and Mother's day (my mom is coming also).

Sucky McSuckerstein

Party bombed, only 6 people showed all night, but at least the apartment sparkles now. And I got a 6 pack of Guinness +3 and bottle of Capt. Morgan out of it.

I also heard of a great D&D T-shirt that is out there..."Jesus Saves..." on the front, "For Half Damage..." on the back...that makes me smile.

Anyway, I feel like burning out my eyes and making my ears bleed so I'm watching Flash Gordon...lata.

What be new

I dun did gradumatate.

I got a quick job workin with Aussie at a television station. I'll be in uplink control.

I have an interview with American Red Cross and with Boys Town Research Hospital next week.

I haven't really heard back from Korea. Last email I got was, the guy I email with, they were interested in me and I should hear from them on Tuesday...that was last Tuesday...that morning I got an email saying he didn't hear anything yet and he hope to hear the next day...last Wednesday...I haven't heard anything since. I'm not worried, if I don't get this position I can always get another down the road...one way or another I'm going to Korea to teach for a year.

Our moving plans have hit a snafu. Our soon to be roommate kinda had her cold feet sorta thing and asked if we could back out of the situation...about a week before we gave our one month notice to our landlords...well, we talked to our landlords and they said we could retract our notice and continue to stay here, but truth be told, I knew D was just freakin out and would calm down after a little time went by but then when Miss Lynn told me we could stay and that she now wants to stay and not move, a sudden wave of anger and disappointment came over me, I realized I had been looking forward to this move for a while. Let me break it down for ya.

If we move and then I hear from Korea, I was very willing to pay D for storage of my stuff cause I knew I would be back in a year and everyone would still be there. But if we don't move and I go to Korea I will have to move all my stuff out and into storage cause Becky and Jason have talked about getting a different place and I can't count that they will be there in a years time. Now lets look at it from the no Korea. If I move and no Korea then I am in a bigger house (not apartment) with my very close friends. If we stay and no Korea, well,...I noticed something I enjoyed being in this place when I was in school; it is comfy and cozy, kinda like a cushy cage. Well, it was nice to be closed in while I went to school cause it felt like I had little to do besides school work. Well, now I'm done. I feel free and I want more space. So I still want to move. We all sat down to talk and D is giving it a good think.

Oh, and though I may have 2 jobs here in the future...game night will never be affected. It is my safety, my down time. Sure going to the movie is my other and I enjoy it thoroughly. But game night is where I can let my imagination run.

That is all that is recent I guess...

Oh and my party is in a few hours. I have 3 beers, no munchies, and no money...Looks like I host'in :)

Life with news breaks

I decided to ask for an extension cause this last paper isn't going well. 20+ pages of a lit review basically. It isn't hard, just kinda mind numbing. I noticed that I can only work for about 5hrs straight before I notice that I fell asleep 2hrs ago. Anyway, I found out that I actually have til May 10th which is last day grades are due. This will be done by Tuesday though.

In other news, a plane crashed in my bathtub last night killing no one cause it was a toy. Tonight at 11.

Becky and Jason are in Washington D.C. til Wednesday, which is when Becky comes back and Jason comes back about week after that. Why they are away, I don't know. I would say "Party over here" but I still have this paper and no money so...tough.

We started to pack up our stuff to start the move and already told our landlords so the move is certain. We are moving in with Dawn, who has a freak'n big house around 35th and harrison/hamilton (I can never remember which street name it is...it is about 3 blocks north of Cumming). Anyway, we already have a problem. About 2 weeks ago there was stray outside our place meowing its head off. I said if comes back a couple more times we'll let it in and find its home. So...2 weeks later we still have the stray. Well, Dawn has a tiny, spazzy, dog. Jasper (my cat) likes dogs so much that dogs kinda fear him. He has this thing about jumping on their backs and spring off with his back claws (cause he has no front claws), and Mercury (becky's cat) I don't' think has ever met a dog. Well, Dawn is cool with 2 cats but not 3. Which I fully get, I'm not a cat person, and yes I know 'if you're not a cat person then why do you have a cat?' Long story short, I saved its life now I am responsible for it. Personally, after this cat dies...no more animals...just plants. Anyway, it is a big house but 3 cats and a dog is a lot. Becky is hoping Dawn will cave but I don't think so. We're trying to find a good home but nothing yet. Thankfully this isn't a deal breaker for the move though.
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Millions of people are falling unconscious for 4, 5, and even 8 hours a day. What is this sleep thing and how vulnerable are you to it? We'll investigate. Tonight at 11.

I saw MI:III yesterday. I wanted to see how well the bad guy was, Phillip Seymour Hoffman I think. He reminded me a lot of his part in Punch Drunk Love but with absolute power and a gun. Pretty good though. Then I found out it was directed by J.J. Abrams; same guy who is directing Lost and Alias. He is 2 out of 3 for decent director (Alias sucks my ball hair).

I also saw An American Haunting. Mainly because Rachel Hurd-Wood was in it. She played Wendy in the latest Peter Pan film. I think she's cute. She did really well. I think I understand the film (about 98% sure). Towards the end they reveal the truth of why this plot is occuring and they do using scenes we already have seen, but it didn't happen that way. Like there is this one scene when something is happening to Rachel and eveyone is watching it happen but when they tell us the truth it is the same scene, but it could haven't happened the way the truth makes it out cause eveyone was watching and something else would have drastically happened immedatlly were it to happen they way the truth told it. Did I lose you? Anyway, I can only assume that it was what happened earlier in their lives but happen the exactly same way as the scene we were given. Cool, movie though. Comes with a few facts before and after the story.

I still waiting on Korea. I got a message a few days ago that the school in Korea is interested in me but I'll hear a final word on Tuesday. In the meantime, I have applied to many places but so far only SCOLA, cox channel 4, is kinda interested; I'd be the uplink/master control room. Waiting to hear back from them.

Finally got off my ass to go Donate plasma again. Not much but every little bit helps...money that is.

I think that is it...

Burning ball of flamable gas in the sky. Why doesn't burn us all to death? Tonight at 11.

Small Break

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