Wednesday, August 30, 2006

What a rush!!!!

Busy guy. Between th ewritingjobs, the writing classes, and trying to earn Chinese, i am doing a good job of filling up my time. Then there is the hanging out at open mic nights, the gettingto know people, and the sleep. Yes, I still find time to sleep. And i'm doing this all with a still broken car.
I can fix it. I know what to do. The auto parts guy didn't quite understand what I needed even though I showed him exactly what I needed. The wire is just fine and the car would be running. It's just that, after listening to the parts guy and doing how he told me, the wire is too short.
AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
On the other hand, it only takes me less than 20 minutes to walk to campus from my house. Other good news is that there is a free (yes, free) bus that goes between UI and WSU. I can take that bus Tuesdays and Thursdays when that is the only class I have. Mondays, I only hav eclass at UI. WHich leaves Wednesdays and Fridays as the only days I need to drive. And that will save me gas. I like saving. (I like gas, the naughty voice in my head says.)
ANyway, Brit Lit is coming up soon. We are reading Beowulf, which I've read before. But the instructor speaks Old English and reads the epic in the language. It is very cool. I wish there was an old English class here. I'd rather take that than chinese.

TEEJ OUT!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Boston Red Sox

Warning: Explicit language ahead.


If the Boston Red Sox can't beat the fucking Seattle MAriners this year, then the team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. How can a team expect to win the big games if they can't beat a team that lost 11 in a row and 20 in a row to its own division?

Yes, I am pissed off. If Boston is going to keep playing like this then the fucking Evil Empire (aka the New York Yankees) have every right to win the American League East this year. And as long as somebody beats them in the playoffs then I'll be ok.

Right now, a Detroit Tigers-New York Mets World Series is shaping up. While I do not despise the Mets as much as I do the Yankees, I'd rather not have them in the Series. Give me the Dodgers or the Reds. Yeah, Cincinnati and Detroit, a real old school World Series.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Hills and Stairs

By the end of this semester I will have lost a significant amount of weight. Have I started a workout plan with time and the gym and cardiovascular aerobic excersise? Stationary bikes, treadmills and powerbars?
Hell no!!!! What kind of person do you think I am? The gym is not a place I want to see or be seen. So how will I lose all this weight, you ask? Three words: hills and stairs.
The closest parking lot to the building my class at WSU is held is at the bottom of a very steep, rather long hill. Today was teh first time I parked there. On the parking map, they only show you roads and lots and buildings. They do not indicate whether the road is a hill or not. So I gasped and trundled up this hill then up another hill (not so steep and not as far) to the building. The classroom, naturally, is on the tird floor.
That is not my only hills and stairs area. This whole place is hills and stairs. I only have one ground floor classroom. I could take the elevator (and I'm sure I sometimes will) but I'm not as lazy as I look. Even with the brief respite from stairs, I still have to face the hills.
If I knew it wouldn't ruin the beauty of this area they call the "Palouse" (that is an "oo" sound, not an "ow") I would petition for outdoor escalators.

"I'm against picketing but I don't know how to show it." Mitch Hedberg

The Writing-est Fool Around!

This is a quicky post to say how my first classes went and some other news.

Classes are great. I have poetry again in 20 minutes. today is one of the busy days when I have to go from UI to WSU and back in the same day. Should be fine. i got lost at WSu yesterday so I won't get lost today.

In other news...I have TWO writing jobs. One is with mmarketing Director of the Theatre and Film Department writng the department newsletter. Cool, eh? Second is writing reviews (except not of school plays, now) of books, movies, music, and such. Cool, cool, cool. Right now, I am a pretty happy camper.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Tomorrow....

Ok, so tomorrow is the real beginning of this show. The first day of class. I'm all moved in and all set to go tomorrow. First class of the day is poetry. I don't really like poetry as I think I've mentioned previously. I'll survive. After that is British Literature, with a focus on reading Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. After that is Non-fiction writing, with the book This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff as a supplement. Both are great books and I look forward to getting into some deep conversation over them. After single semesters each of Spanish and Japanese, this time I am taking on the challenge of Chinese. Am I asking for it or what?

Tonight I have a meeting with the newspaper staff to see what I can write for them. It will be different working for a paper instead of being in charge but I think I'll do fine. Also, I have a work-study assignment as an office assistant in the Theater and Film Department. Only a few hours a week so it won't be too bad. I will let y'all know tomorrow how tomorrow goes.

(Pick up The Muppet Show: Season and find the song about going to Morrow tonight. It's a hoot.)

Friday, August 18, 2006

Cars (part two)

After some smoke and nearly electrocuting myself, the car started going again. What a pain! For a while I was sure I had only made the problem worse. GRRR! Taken care of for now. WHo knows when the next day of trouble will be. The good news is that it isn't sucking down gas like I thought it would.

In other news, my lease is signed. I have a place to live. Of course, I can't move in until tomorrow when the flooring is finished. It is that cool "hardwood" laminate flooring (just like is now in the house I used to live at). They couldn't start putting down the floor until the paint dried. Yes, until the paint dried. New floor, new paint. And I'm still balking at the price: $335 a month! hard to top that. The closest was a studio for $385 with only water/sewer/gas paid. This place, that price is a flat rate AND includes electricity and internet. Phone service will be voted on by the housemembers once all rooms are filled. Most people have cell phones. Which means I might have to go get a cell phone. (Anyone want to lend me a few bucks to get one? Especially anyone who wants to talk to me on the phone.)

So, I move in tomorrow. I have all my books; I know where all my classes are. All I need now is a night of sleep somewhere other than the back of my van and a shower. i'm starting to smell.

Cars suck

Ok, one of the other reasons I avoided driving for so long was the responsibility of owning a car. The car I drove to Idaho did get me here but there was a catch.
Sunday, after gassing up in Boise, the beast would not start. I tried all the tricks until finally the battery just gave out. Problem solved the next morning: bought a new battery and things continued on their merry way.
Until today.
I woke up, got the car started and headed to a gas station to wash off a bunch of bird crap from my windshield. Made it to the station without a hitch. And then that power problem recurred. I turn the key, the gas gauge goes up and that is all. NO whirring of the engine, no clicking. Nothing. And so there it sits, at a gas station mere blocks away from where it spent the night.
Can you say frustration? I knew you could.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

A room in a house!

Today I found a place to live. I will actually be living in a house. A real house. Of course, it is split into a duplex (upstairs/downstairs) but the whole house is under the auspices of one person. I have a large corner downstairs room. There is a path to a separate downstairs entrance, which means I never have to go upstairs for anything. I mean anything. Downstairs has its own kitchen, living room, bathroom and washer and dryer. All the utilities (including phone and internet) are included in the rent. Now, how much do you think one would pay for this? Keep guessing because it gets better.
The house is hard to find. It sits on a hill that overlooks the valley in which Moscow sits from the back patio and from the front is an incredible view of another valley. Across the street, on the top of this hill, is a small park. All this located less than a two-minute drive away from campus. How much did you say you would pay?
How does $335 a month sound? Not too shabby, eh? And the best part is that they were looking for quiet, non-partying people. Well, hello? That is me. I have writing to do, after all. And studying and sleeping and all that fun stuff.
For those of you who need it, I will be shortly letting you know the address and phone number. For those of you who do not need it, post any and all comments here.

Stay groovy.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Moscow!!!

Here is a short snippet of my journey to Moscow:

Yes, I have a driver's license now, acquired on AUgust 10th. Today is August 15th. In that five days I have driven over 800 miles. Am I crazy? you know, I just might be. The freeway is a scary place full of maniacs. There is nothing one can do but go with the flow, keep a watch on multiple angles and pray for the best. I made it. Contrary to what many others might think, 75 miles per hour IS TOO FAST!!! Especially when 90% of the drivers exceed that limit.

As for the vehicle, well, it got tired at a gas station in Boise and didn't want to go anymore. After a rest, the remainder of the journey went smoothly. I arrived in Moscow around 2:30 PM and, after getting lost, found the campus and the right building to get my student ID/debit card. Then I went and bought my books. I lucked out and only needed relatively cheap books. Not getting that employee discount after so long really bites. Such is life.

After spending the nigth parked in a grocery store parking lot (WinCo, for those in the know) I continued taking care of business. I had planned to park at the Wal-Mart, but I seem to have found the last Wal-Mart in the world that closes at 10 PM. Anyway, I went to sleep and woke up early. I drove myself over to the Parking Office and bought a Parking Permit. I used the same card I used to get my books, so I didn't use any out of pocket funds. It cost $125, which sucks, but the good news is that it is good for an entire year (as opposed to just the semester) and also allows me to park in various lots at Washington State University, where I have one co-op class. I was worried about having to pay an additional fee to park there, but I don't have to. Hooray!

Ok, tomorrow will be a day when I just sortof wander around campus and not do much else. thursday I find out what my work study job will be. Once I know that, I can get a better idea of how much time I'll have to take over the newspaper here. :)

I'm going to go take a nap now.

Catch you on the flipside.

Friday, August 11, 2006

I'm BAAACKKK!!!!!

Ok, so my internet access this summer has sucked the big one. It still isn't the best. Next week, however, it will be better. I will be back in school, in Idaho, with real internet access again!

A lot has happened since my last post. Once I make it to Moscow, I will fill everyone in on the summer. (Some of you who know me are wondering exactly how I am going to get there. That is all part of the adventure.)

So, for now, hello, goodbye, see you later. If I don't post by the 17th, that means I did not make it to Moscow.

CHeers.