I don’t know - something about living at home (i.e. Mom and Dad’s house) makes me a bum. I mean, sure, I’m working and trying not to eat too much of their food, but still, I seem so very unproductive.
I had two interviews, though! They were both for the library, one in adult services and the other in children’s. They both seem like really cool positions, and I really hope I get a call for one of them - I don’t really have a strong preference either way. The interview with the adults services people seemed to go better. Not that the other one went badly, it’s just that I was a lot more on for the adult position. So, yeah. Those of you that sent the good mojo - thanks! Feel free to keep on sending it my way, since I won’t know (they won’t decide?) until sometime this week.
In other news, I may have found some knitting mojo again. Maybe.
Last night, Seth and I were eating out in KC, and 4 or 5 tables near our booth were being pushed together. Seth asked if it was a prom party coming in (it’s that season, after all…), and the waitress said “No, I think it’s a bunch of knitters…?” Immediately I recalled Stefanie Japel announcing she’d be the Featured Artist at the Sunflower Guild’s convention, and realized that this must be what’s going on. So, after meekly eavsdropping for a bit, I asked one of the ladies about her sweater, and they were all “Whhaaaa? Are you a knitter?!” and told all about how I should come the next day to the convention. I couldn’t afford it, I insisted. So then the knitter who I’d originally asked about her sweater said, “Well, come on into the Vendor’s Market, at least! You don’t have to pay to get into that much!” Heh. She’s good. She’s reeeaaallll good. Because you know I did. And you know I bought some yarn. And a book. And some stitch markers and a little project bag. And that lady who was so sweet to tell me all about it? Yeah…some of that was purchased from her. Like I said. She’s good.
The haul was good, though - I got some sock yarn and Cat Borhdi’s New Pathway’s for Sock Knitters. And some other yarn that is destined for giftitude for mom, who does read the blog, so that’s all that’ll be said about that for a while. And, of course, the project bag and stitch markers. So, now, I think I may go dig in and see what I can start!
Today, I did many things. I got up early and read the newspaper. I made breakfast. I bought a new nike+kit since my first sensor died. I ran. I applied for a job. Also, Lindsay and I went to Chipotle for lunch. It was tasty. You can see the photographic evidence here: Lunch at Chipotle
Oh my. This is so boring. Tomorrow, perhaps, I’ll write a better post. It might be fictional, though. You’d be okay with that, right? Let me know.
So, I decided to make some no-bake cookies tonight.1 I used my regular recipe, and then added a scant cup of pistachios (mmmmmm………). They’re awesome, sure, but I overboiled the chocolate before I added the oatmeal and the pistachio, so they cookies are dry and crumbly, which just bugs me to no end. Seth sees no problem (chocolate? yup. oatmeal? uh-huh. pistachios? check. awesome? you betcha.), and yeah, sure, they taste good, but they’re just. not. right. So, no recipe, since I want to make a pretty post with pictures (of proper-looking no-bakes, not dull, crumbly piles).
Anyway, we had some (very) minor issues with our tickets. We bought them through a consolidator (or something, I dunno really), and as it turns out, they’re paper tickets. Paper. I had no idea paper tickets even still existed. So, of course, those tickets need to be shipped, which brings the cost up such that any savings we realized from going through this place initially is pretty much completely obliterated. Bah. They’re on their way now, anyway (well, I think - I asked that they hold off on shipping them until Friday so that they’d be sure to arrive on a work day, since our mailing address is, uh, our work address), so it’s done.
And, yeah, that’s the news. Since I completely forgot to post yesterday, today we’ve got a double header:
Things I Can Do In The US That I Can’t Do In Taiwan:
Wash my clothes, and then dry them. In a dryer. In under 48 hours per load. Oh, technology! You are wonderful indeed.
Attend multiple events we thought we’d miss:
Seth’s cousin’s wedding
My grandpa’s wedding
Special Olympics events (okay, this one is completely Seth’s - I’ll likely spend that weekend hanging out with my parents)
While our friends and family at home are finishing up their power-free stints courtesy of one absolutely wicked ice storm,
we’re missing the winter weather, (well, I am,) because it’s between 60 and 80 F on any given day here. Granted, with 100% humidity virtually 100% of the time, anything below maybe 68-70 is a little cold, especially on a scooter. Still, most days it feels like a crisp mid-spring or early-fall day, which makes holiday spirit a bit difficult to muster at times.
So we’re manufacturing it! We made a tree on the wall entirely out of lights and tape, (pictured at the top in glorious low-res animated .gif!,) and though neither of us are fans of blinking Christmas lights, they’re stuck on blink because they don’t work without the blinker bulb at the end, and didn’t come with non-blinker replacements. No biggie, really, we’re just glad to be starting our decoration.
We’re having a party for Christmas, we’ve invited all(?) of our friends in Taiwan (unless we’ve missed anyone, in which case, if you read this and didn’t recieve an invitation, please feel free to drop in) and we’re going to eat cookies and stuffing and basically all of a Christmas dinner minus the main courses, because our oven is actually a toaster oven (no one bakes here) and it just isn’t quite big enough for a turkey. We’re planning to do a small gift exchange, and to watch lots of classic Christmas specials and movies, and to just enjoy each others’ company and be family to each other. We and most of our friends here have come to think of each other as surrogate family, especially those at Hess, because we just need it here. We have some friends who are quite well travelled and have spent holidays alone abroad before and not been at all bothered by it, and are just so bummed by the conditions at this school that they feel they really need it this year. That’s not happy, change of subject!
So we’re cleaning house/watching TV right now, off and on, and Lisbeth’s making some cookies, too. We’re pretty stoked to see everyone, and to have people to spend Christmas with. It’s always been one of my favorite times of year, partially for the complete and total unpredictability of it (my family has an unofficial tradition of celebrating Christmas differently every year) and partially because it’s just great to see people you love.
Merry Christmas to all of you at home, all of our family and friends. We’ll miss you all this holiday, and we hope we can see every one of you in the months following our return home, or in the month during which we visit home, if we decide to stay here more than one year, which quite frankly is still undecided for us at this point. Despite some negative experiences we’ve already whined and moaned about here, and quite a few more we haven’t discussed here, we’re really enjoying this country, and (probably shouldn’t post this next statement where my employers might see it) though there is absolutely zero chance at this point, particularly after an event this past week that I won’t get into at the moment, that anything on Earth could persuade us to sign on for a second year with Hess, if we can find employment at some other place next year, there is every possibility we’ll stay here a while longer.
Sorry there was so much un-Christmas-y stuff in there, but there are a few days left until Christmas. I promise I’ll post at least one all-cheer-no-gripe post before it passes.
PS: The photo set of the ice storm was shot and posted by Jon Brisbin. He’s a great guy I know from writing (and a few other English related) classes at Pitt State. I don’t know if I’ve linked him before on here, but I think I should go ahead and name-drop him now while he still knows me, because I’m about as sure as I can be that within the foreseeable future you’ll be able to purchase novels with his name on the cover. Pop on over to his blog, he’s full of interesting thoughts, and had somegreatstuffaboutthe recent ice storm, elements that photos and even television news coverage (I got to see NBC’s coverage because I discovered this week they’re video podcasting the Nightly News now) can’t express. And when you see this, Jon, you’ll be glad to know that though Lisbeth and I have considered ourselves to be an OS-agnostic household, we recently picked up a MacBook, and we’re total converts now. We have Windows, Linux, and OSX in the house, and now anything other than OSX borders on infuriating an awful lot of the time. Never would have guessed I’d be as thoroughly sold as I am as quickly as I was.
Blargh - it’s almost midnight and I still haven’t written (or gone to sleep, which might be the greater problem of the two). So, it’s a quickie today!
Tomorrow I’m headed to the zoo with my kindy class. Should be fun. Or not.
We got our Christmas box today - thanks Mom and Dad! I went ahead and opened after Mom said she’d wrapped all the stuff that we have to wait to open, and woo! We got some candy! And stickers! And WeeSingbooks! And presents! Wooooooooo!
Thomas. He looks so serious, but I think it’s really just squintiness from the bright, warm, sun.
Possibly more than any other kid in the class, Peggy loves to have her picture taken. She’s got the same reaction to the camera that cats in comic strip (Garfield, Get Fuzzy) have to the sound for a can opener - somehow, she knows there’s a camera out and comes running, no matter what she was doing before.
Lola, Ivan, and Finian on the alligator teeter-totter. If you only ever saw these pictures, you might even think this is something that happens more than once every 3 or 4 weeks!
Elin with a rare smile. I think it’s my favorite picture from today? She doesn’t usually like to have her picture taken, but today, while she was playing, she didn’t seem to mind to much.
Oh, and one last thing - another video from yesterday. This one was shot during the afternoon, when official learning time is over and kids are playing while they wait to go home. There are kids from all three classes in the room, but the featured players are all mine.
(Mom, take the time to watch - there’s a minor tribute around the 50-second mark!)
You know the phrase worried sick? Well, I guess I am pretty much officially dealing with a cold, but I think I’m changing the phrase. I’m worried tired. All day worrying (worthlessly, I might add, since what exactly can I do to help, whee I can’t speak the language) about Seth, plus working, plus squeezing in a few things I was supposed to have done anyway but forgot about in the hustle and bustle of sick Seth, oh, and also running over to bushiban to give an oral test means I’m beat. Seth is doing better (although I’m planning to make sure he milks the recovery period as long as possible), and even though I’m tired, I’m doing okay. Yay for okay, right?
Oh, and my little sister is a Master (at least, I think that’s what her Facebook status is saying)! She gets extra letters behind her name on here resume, now, plus woo! she can sing good! Yay for Lindsay!
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans (sorry, all you Canadians, I’m, what, a month late?)! I’m hoping you’re having a great day wherever you are. So, what am I thankful for?
Seth. He is my constant, my life, my joy. I love you sweetie!
The instant potatoes and stuffing and gravy mix I had for dinner tonight - mmm…imitation American goodness! Thanks for sending those Mom!
All the incredible good thoughts, love, and can-only-get-it-in-America food and treats people have sent our way. Truly, these have kept us going during the rough patches.
My improving demeanor and positive outlook on life lately (roses and cherries and hearts, oh my!) (oh, the cheesle, it is ooey gooey).
Our new NST, for taking a huge load off of our shoulders.
Our one working scooter (it looks as though we can probably get by just fine with one, maybe we should sell the lemon?).
My new corduroy pants - so cozy! I actually had a student pet my leg when I was wearing them yesterday…
Enjoy your turkey and stuffing (or dressing, if you rather), and save a slice of pecan pie for me! (Wait, you don’t do pecan pie? Well, nevermind then. You’re missing out, though.)
I’ve had a bunch of posts knocking around in my head but for various reasons, didn’t post them. I should have posted them then (that’s why you have a blog, dingbad!) (shut up, scolding voice in my head), but I didn’t, so I’m posting them now. Can I get half-credit for doing the work, at least, even if it’s way past due?
A few weeks ago:
The thing with the cabs here, I’ve noticed, is that the people driving them tend to listen to either cheesy pop ballads or sowme sort of talk radio. The cheesy pop stuff is as annoying here as anywhere else, but I don’t really notice the talk. Well, I thought I didn’t. This morning, I got into a cab in which the driver was listening to classical music. It was so calming, so familiar, so very unlike the talk radio which all of the sudden seemed extremely loud and shouty to me. It actually made me cry, right there in the cab, because it reminded me so intensely of home, and more specifically, of my dad.
Hi Dad. I miss you!
On the 22nd of October:
So. I’m 27 now. Sheesh. I thought I’d be more of a grown-up at this age. I mean, 27? That’s late 20’s. That’s like, almost 30, which is, like, old. Or something. I got cake at kindy and lots of fun new clothes from home, though, yay! Also, a fever of 104F on Friday, so no going out on Saturday for me. I’ve been sick practically every other week. Fevers suck. Kindy kids with multitudes of germs suck. Taiwan sucks. When is this culture shock crap supposed to go away?
The week following my birthday:
Holy crap. I don’t know what’s happened, but all of the sudden, kindy doesn’t suck so much anymore. Granted, I’ve been 4 students short of a full class most of the week (including one of my more difficult students), but it seems clear that something has clicked with me and the kids and the routine of class. It’s a good thing, too, since it seems like maybe that’s helping the feeling of despair go away. Maybe it wasn’t culture shock - maybe my job was just sucking dead bears and now that it’s not I can feel like a person who doesn’t hate attending a good third of my current life? Huh. Either way, things seem better. Plus we’re getting scooters soon!
Last Friday night so late it was probably Saturday morning:
Wooooo! We got our scooters! Scooters are magical! Scooters are wonderful! I love my new scooter! This might be the final nail in the coffin of the craptacular time I was having adjusting to this crazy new place!
Monday, 12:30pm:
Stupid scooters. I know we bought used and all, and that means I expected we’d have to deal with problems sooner or later, but 3 days after we got them? That’s crap! My scooter won’t start, at all. I mean, I stick in the key, grab the break, and push the starter button - nothing. Not even a wheeze. Stupid scooter.
Today:
So, Seth got my scooter going by slapping it across the face and saying “I’m the boss, you dumb scooter, and you better start right now!” and it worked! Well, really he just sort of hit it really hard a few times right by the starter, and then it started up just fine (I don’t know if any harsh words accompanied the beating - I was just making that part up), leading him to think perhaps my scooter’s got a short in the wiring. Or, rather, his scooter’s got a short in the wiring, because he decided I should be driving the one he was driving (it’s the newer one, but the one I was driving has big “Herself 125″ stickers on either side, so we figured it had to be mine, right?). I have the newer one now, and it’s got a lot more get-up-and-go, which is a little freaky just now when I’m starting it up, but otherwise, lots of fun! Of course, it rained today, which makes riding the scooter a little less fun and a lot more wet, but it’s not as if I didn’t know that was coming. Rain is an almost-constant. Seth loves it, but I am underwhelmed.
In other news, tomorrow is Halloween. I’m short a few key items for my costume (it’s not exciting or anything), but I’m still trying to make it happen. I’ll post pictures of tomorrow’s festivities tomorrow evening or the next day, I promise!
mmm…brown gravy on noodles. One of my favorite I’m-too-tired-to-cook meals. One of the things I’ve missed. Washed down with peanuts and candy corn - I can almost forget all the stress of work.
Thanks mom - birthday box #2 got here a little early. We opened it up and I’ve demolished the peanuts and candy corn, but I’m not going to open my card until Monday!
