So, just as I got a new job, the blog went dead. Partly, I suppose, I was just overwhelmed by two jobs. At the same time, though, I think I needed to take a break - we were dealing with the finding work, transportation, an apartment, and just getting out lives put back together after Tawain.
But here I am now. With yet another new job, a new, new apartment (as opposed to the new apartment, which happened 3 months ago, that we’ve already moved out of), and even a new scooter!
I feel like there’s too much to write all at once in one big post, so I’m going to cut this one off here. I’m back, though, so you’ll be hearing more soon enough.
Sheesh. Where did I go? Again?
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!
Apparantly what I needed to improve my pace was to complain about it. Today, I ran an average of about 30 seconds less per mile than I have been.
In related news, it was really cold and windy, and my hands were pretty much just finger-cicles, and so some of my speed may have been derived from the urge to get back to shelter and warmth.
Have I told you that Seth and I found an apartment? Yeah. We’ll move in around mid-April. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.
We’re home! We landed at MCI (aka KCI) around midnight and met my sister, Marie, at the gate. She took us to Lisbeth’s parents’ house, and we’ve mostly been resting since then. I’ve mostly been resting, anyway. Lisbeth has done an admirable job of pretending she’s not feeling any jet lag, and I’ve fallen asleep more or less intermittently. I think I’m going to do that again right now so I can maybe have a productive day tomorrow. G’night!
Today was a good day. We slept late, ate some food we’ve been craving (coughTacoBellcough), and I went for a run. It was short, but it felt good, and I’m going to do it again. Not tomorrow, probably, but Thursday for sure. For now, though, although I’m more or less adjusted to the time, I am super-sleepy. Usually as I write these posts near midnight I’m tired, but not sleepy. Of course, usually I’d just finished working 2 or 3 hours ago, and we still not finished decompressing from the work day. I don’t really have that problem just now, what with being unemployed and all (rectifying that situation, or at least laying the groundwork to recitfy it, is the plan for tomorrow), so I’m going to go to sleep now.
Oh, my - I’d forgotten how good real diet Coke is! Coke light has been an okay substitute, but real, honest-to-God diet Coke is so, so, much better.
Oh, man! I fell asleep yesterday before I could post, and then I forgot to post an item in my series on Friday, and now, holy crap, we leave tomorrow.
So. Most of our stuff is packed - what remains is to pack today’s clothing tomorrow morning, and make sure all of our bags squeeze in under the weight limit. I’ve tried my best to be ruthless, but we’ve accumulated some things, lots of it gifts or souveniers that I can’t bring myself to leave behind. We’re going to have to ship a few boxes, but only two, and we might be able to get it down to one.
Tomorrow, we have to return our internet modem thingie, drop off a few things for people at the kindy, take the boxes to the post office to send home, and be ready to go at 11:00am. We’ve got a cab coming to take us to the airport, and we leave then around 6pm. In 24 hours, we’ll be in the air, on our way home.
Things I Can Do In The US That I Can’t Do In Taiwan:
- See spring coming, in the form of longer days. For six months, the sun has set between 5:30 and 7:00pm. It’s strange and unnerving, and it almost feels like natures trying to play some sort of practical joke. The visuals just don’t match up with the calendar and the smells in the air, not to mention the teasing bits of warmth.
- Drive from point A to point B without the need to put my hair back so it doesn’t get all tangled as it whips around in the open air atop a scooter. Don’t get me wrong - I have loved driving a scooter. But I’m excited to drive a car again.
- Drink tap water without worrying that I might get some strange stomach bug that’ll put me in the hospital.
The packing continues. We’re getting visibly closer, but of course, it still feels like we’re miles away from being finished. But, eh. It’ll get there.
So, I’ve had to set aside a bunch of knitting projects recently - nothing has really been quite working out for me. So, I was thinking I need something pretty simple for plane knitting, but not so complicated that I’d fall asleep knitting. I’ve been doing some swatching for the project I’m thinking of, and it’s looking pretty good so far, but I’m only a few rows in, so I’m reserving judgement a bit longer. When I’m sure (tomorrow evening, I hope), I’ll share. I promise. No, really - pinky swear!
Packing, along with the requisite procrastination, is really pretty boring. Well, maybe not always. But it was today. For me. So, I’ve really got nothing today. I’m sorry. I really hate coming here and not actually posting any content. It’s boring for you. But I also hate not posting at all. I’ve gotten into a groove, and I’m actually posting regularly, and I’m afraid to miss a day for the fear that it might just spiral into a week that morphs into a month and all of a sudden, I’m just some girl with a dead blog.
So. The boring post in which I write about how I have nothing to write about. So boring. So meta.
Things I Can Do In The US That I Can’t Do In Taiwan:
- Speak the native language. Oh, what joy, to be able to ask where things are, to be able to know that I can go do whatever needs doing without worrying if I know enough words or if the person working knows any English or if there are picture menus or whatever. Kato tells me that I’ll be overwhelmed with all the conversations I’ll be able to hear and understand, but I think it’s an okay trade. I may think differently in a week or so.
Uumph. Last day of teaching - you’d think I’d be jumping for joy. Instead, I’m tired down to my bones, and plan to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Things I Can Do In The US That I Can’t Do In Taiwan:
- Read nutrition labels and get back to eating better using foods I know and love. Mmm….