| what's been up? |
[19 Sep 2007|04:14pm] |
I have pretty vivid dreams quite often.
Sometimes there are pirates and battle leaders riding dark horses on the beach.
Other times I'm floating in the air clutching the "trust stone".
The "trust stone" felt wicked I do hope it appears more often. I was standing on top of a castle holding onto this unique rock. It wasn't too cumbersome, only about 2 feet squared. I jumped off the building and started to fall. But I knew that if I trusted the stone I would float gently to the ground. I put on my trusting cap and dropped and bobbed slowly to the muddy earth below. I ended up gliding to the base of the castle and, if I remember correctly, landed like a running paratrooper.
But I didn't have a gun.
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| following up wit da junk |
[11 Jan 2006|12:01pm] |
So it's been a while since I last wrote. I guess it takes a little time to keep up to date with everthing. Not really though. Just finding 5 minutes is good enough. I'm still trying with the website thing. I've got the home page all set, but now I have to design the picture pages and the links and other stuff. I know I'll have to watch the Dreamweaver tutorial again to get a little bit of a refresher course on how to link the pages together. I had a problem uploading the pages on to the server and I don't want to bother Sunil with questions unless I get everything ready so I can do it in one shot. I think I'll be able to talk to him in Kaohsuing this weekend.
Yeah we've got the Winter Cup down in Kaohsuing which will be fun. Our team, The Taichung Atomic Dogs, is playing a lot better now. If we have a shot to win a tournament, it's going to be this one because all of the Taipei teams have to travel about 6 hours on a bus to get down there. We only have about 3 so I guess that's an advantage. The Taipei teams are generally better because they play other Taipei teams and there are more players in Taipei. The more players you have the higher the quality the teams will be because you can pick the best ones. The Lions and Animals do well because they're able to recruit the newest Taipei players. Having said that, we're not doing too bad in Taichung because there are a number of foreigners here and I think we'll slowly develop a positive name as a quality team. We've already got some new players that have a good level.
Anyway, enough rambling about soccer. I'm going to eat some lunch at the kindergarten where I work. Only 3 more weeks of commuting to Hsin Chu to teach! I'll be glad when I only have a 20 minute motorcycle ride starting in February.
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| train dreaming |
[06 Jan 2006|01:35am] |
So I've got my ftp setup. Well, I didn't set it up, Sunil did. Thanks Sunil!
I'm hoping to get the rest of the pages put together soon. I'll probably work on it over Chinese New Year, or before that if possible.
My friend Cobus is coming down from Taipei this weekend. That will be cool. I'm a little sick so it's not like we'll be going out to party a lot, but hopefully the weather will be nice. Maybe if Cobus stays in Taiwan for a while longer he'll like to move to Taichung. I definitely like it more than Taipei cause the weather is better and the cost of living is less. I'll be able to study Chinese and still have a decent standard of living. But getting people to see life outside of Taipei is sometimes difficult.
I take the train everyday to Hsin Chu and the ride is about 70minutes. I sleep everyday and this morning I dreamt that I was back in my high school French class. Mme. Marks was the teacher and we were watching some movies. It was a comfortable dream that's for sure. I remember when I got into trouble in her class one time. James Etters had a golf ball and was bouncing it on the floor. I stuck my foot out to disrupt his bounce/flow and ended up kicking the ball halfway across the room! It came like 2 inches from smacking Mme. Marks in the head. Damn I caught some hell for that one. Funnily enough, I was one of the "bad" kids in the class but then I ended up going to France and studying there for 3 semesters. I focused a lot of my attention in university on the same subject I spent so much time goofin off in. And this morning I was riding the train to go teach French to 4 year olds. Funny how that works, eh?
I've been back in touch with Mme. Marks and even went back to Jackson to talk to one of her classes. I really liked learning with her because she didn't care what the other teachers thought of her. She was a unique individual with her own style and now I look back and respect her a lot for that. Individualism is a valued trait in America and I know how much it has affected my life.
Alright time for bed.
Laters
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| another day on my ass |
[05 Jan 2006|12:15am] |
So today I've been on the computer for like 10 hours. I really gotta get a better chair or a cushion or something.
This morning I went to the hospital and visited the doctor again. They stuck that camera up my nose so the could check out my nasopharynx. (Word of the week.)
It turns out the bloody infection I had there last week has subsided...yay!...I don't have a tumor. *jumping for joy* Now there's only some yellow mucus residue left on my nasopharynx. It still comes up when I cough sometimes but at least it's not a bloody slimy mess like it was last week.
I still have bronchitis, which I guess I've had for like 3 months, so I'm still taking medicine for all that. I need to start wearing a mask when I ride on my motorcycle because I'm sure the exhaust fumes aren't helping my case at all.
So I've been working on the website a lot. I finally got a banner designed and I'll put it all online soon I hope. I've got to get the whole blog thing set up and the other pictures and video and other bullshit. I was really happy because I designed my own nav bar with rollovers via Photoshop. It was pretty hard because of the slices and layers and all that jazz but it turned out really well. If only I could figure out how to place it correctly in Dreamweaver...I'll have to ask Sunil for that one.
Got to work tomorrow at 9:30 in Hsin Chu so that means I'll be getting up around 6:30 so I can haul my ass to the train station. So early, but at least I can sleep on the train.
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| keepin up |
[04 Jan 2006|12:18am] |
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mood |
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 mellow |
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music |
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White Stripes - Your Southern Can is Mine |
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So I realize that I spend about 7 hours or more on the computer a day. I don't watch TV and I don't miss it at all. I guess the only complaint that I have is that I need to get a better chair because this folding chair can get uncomfortable.
I downloaded a shitload of fonts today. It's pretty cool searching and seeing what you like. I'm still researching on how to set up the best system for my blog/website. I know I have enough content but I just have to get motivated to organize it all. I know the video will be interesting to people that know I'm here but I never write to. I just want to make sure that I don't jump into something hastily so that I have to change it all later on down the road.
A guy got in touch with me and I didn't know anyone even read livejournal's of other people...especially green one. Anyway check out this blog if you've stumbled upon Taiwan and want to learn more: http://michaelturton.blogspot.com This guy provided a lot of information when I was preparing for my trip and knows Taiwan very well.
Other than that...I don't have to go to work tomorrow because I'm going to the hospital. I think they'll probably tell me that everything is going to be fine. Hopefully, at least.
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| the onion |
[03 Jan 2006|12:05pm] |
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mood |
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amused |
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Okay, now that I see that one worked, here's another website I like to check out. The news isn't real and I like the old format but I guess things change with time don't they? If only I changed my sheets that often...
www.theonion.com
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[03 Jan 2006|12:00pm] |
So I want to start using tags in my posts. I'm new at this so I'll start on my own journal so that I don't annoy people.
This is a favorite/favourite website of mine!
Does this shit work? We'll let's click over to find out!
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| at work |
[03 Jan 2006|11:49am] |
So I came to the conclusion that the last week of 2005 had to be one of the worst weeks of my life. I was sick as hell and didn't know what was wrong with me. I finally went to the doctor on Dec 31st and he told me I might have a tumor in my throat. Fucking sweet. I kinda know how it happened.
Back in July I was at the swimming pool and was diving off the high-dive and doing crazy stuff. Like the flying squirrel/watermelon (depending on where you're from). Anyway I fell awkwardly and hit the water with my ear and ruptured my left eardrum. Go figure. Turns out that a ruptured eardrum takes a long time to heal. During this time I think it got infected or my inner ear or some shit like that. Then the doctor told me I had bronchitis for like 3 months but I didn't know it.
So the bronchitis has turned into some kind of crazy growth but now it seems like it's alright. He gave me medicine and said that if whatever I have doesn't go away then they'll have to do a biopsy. Definitely wasn't looking forward to that. So I was really sick last week and the 1.5 hour commute to work doesn't help.
One thing I forgot to mention was the fact that I live in Taiwan. The country has modern medical facilities and I have faith in the doctors, however, I'm not all that sure that I agree with the copious amounts of medication they give me. But it seems to be doing the trick.
I guess I'll write more about Taiwan and what it's like living in a foreign country some other time. Now I've got to go eat some lunch. Oh, I'm teaching French here, but I'll start teaching English next semester after Chinese New Year. That's all.
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[03 Jan 2006|12:44am] |
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mood |
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cheerful |
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Well it's almost time for bed, but thought I'd write something quickly. It was a pretty good day today:
1. I registered for my Chinese classes at Tung Hai. Well, I gave them my papers and documents so now all I have to do is wait for an acceptance letter.
2. I went and met Michael at Sun about my job teaching at the cafe. I guess this will be a pretty good opportunity to work and serve in a cafe at the same time. If I'm able to practice my Chinese with people in the off time, I guess that will be an added bonus. I'm not so sure of the teaching that they'll want me to do, but hopefully that will get worked out later. As for now, it sounds like I'll be a tutor in the beginning and then have some more structured classes once I get to know the students.
3. I finally registered my domain name: www.elspencer.com Yay, I can finally have my own website. I want to share things with people that have never heard about Taiwan. I was thinking of naming the blog section something like "An American view from the East" or something that incorporates my American ties. I think it is our country that could learn more about interesting places on the outside. I want to share my music and pictures and opinions...but who really cares at the end of the day? I guess the daily life things will probably be most interesting to the people that I know or have known in the past. It's hard to stay in touch with other people and I don't really know of that many people that use blogs and such. I'm kind of fed up reading about blogs, but I know I want to make mine different. (Ha, I bet that's what they all say.) I bet the fact that I'm not living in the United States should at least give me a little bit of an advantage.
I was giddy as hell earlier today so I guess I better put my mood as happy.
I find out Wednesday if I have a tumor in my nasopharynx. I don't think so because the medication seems to be working well. Scary thoughts though. I'm sure the chest x-rays will be negative. I haven't really talked that much about this with people but I guess that's because I'm so far away. Oh well, best not get people worried when there's not much that can be done when you're 6,000 miles away is there?
Still chipper though. I like this online journal stuff. I think I'll have to spend some time getting to know some others if I want people to ever get to know me, right?
Enough babble. Time for sleep.
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| signed up for classes |
[02 Jan 2006|01:38pm] |
So today I went out to Tung Hai and registered for my classes. I'm glad that I don't have to work on Mondays. I guess the commute all the way to Hsin Chu is punishment enough that somehow I managed to find a job where Mondays aren't part of the schedule. Anyway, that will only last until Chinese New Year. Then I'll be going to school in the morning and then working in the afternoon. I've got to find a job for the afternoons. Hopefully something will come up soon.
I could be working at Sun, I think. I have to meet Michael this afternoon and we'll discuss my schedule again. I like the fact that it will be a cafe and language school at the same time, but I need more of a clearly defined role. Am I going to be a server or a teacher or both? Can I study or do my homework if there is work that needs to be done? I don't like the fact that the hours are so set like 1pm-10pm but I guess that's the Japanese way. (I'm in Taiwan, but I'm thinking about working for a Japanese guy that owns a language school. We'll see. I'm feeling 50/50 on the whole thing?)
Alright that's all for now.
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| first entry |
[02 Jan 2006|02:44am] |
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mood |
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content |
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Alright,
So this is my first post and I'm not sure where to start. I've been in Taichung for like 2.5 months now. I don't have that many friends and I play on my computer a lot. I had a girlfriend but we broke up in early December because our communication skills were kinda lacking. My Chinese is shit and her English wasn't so great either. I'm going to sign up for Chinese classes tomorrow, but I have to write my letter of intent first. What should I write? "Wants to learn Chinese to do business and make billions of dollars"? Nah, that's a little selfish sounding. Maybe something like, "Has a keen interest in the Chinese language and culture". Yeah, that is probably more proper.
But I'm in Taiwan so I guess maybe I should shy away from the whole Chinese thing. (They are still very Chinese here though. Even if they do say otherwise.)
That's all for now. I guess I'll see how livejournal turns out.
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