Well, it's already 9:00 AM on New Year's Day here in Taipei ... a few more hours until it's New Year's back in the States. It was a blissfully uneventful New Year's Eve spent watching TV, napping, and laying around doing nothing, except for spending a couple hours yesterday afternoon with my classmate/thesis editor discussing my thesis over coffee. I've got six chapters to revise (some more than others), and still have to finish the last half of my final chapter ... If I can just get my lazy butt in gear, I should (hopefully) be able to get some work done today (after a few cups of coffee at least) and tomorrow.

The next big holiday will be Chinese New Year, in about a month or so, which means a week off from work and school, and another party at my friend Bret's house (my American professor friend who teaches Chinese history here in Taiwan). By that time, hopefully my thesis will be done and I'll be busy preparing for the written portion of the entrance exam for the Ph.D. program.

The New Year celebrations sounded pretty tame last night, which was surprising. The Taiwanese (especially those in Taipei) love noise, and I was surprised that I didn't have my ear drums shattered. They had municipal elections a few weeks ago, and that has to have been one of the most annoying events I've ever had to live through ... little blue trucks driving through the neighborhoods 24/7 with speakers blaring election messages, bullhorns, foghorns, firecrackers, rallies, parades ... all at all hours of the day and night constantly for a few weeks. They get into their elections here like nothing I've ever seen. The last presidential election wasn't even as bad ... the next one is coming up in 2008 ... at least it'll give my poor ears a rest for a couple years. But ... I still have to be woken up occasionally at 4 a.m. by firecrackers and parades for weddings and ceremonies at the local Taoist temples (WHY do they have to do that at 4 in the friggin' morning?!?! ), and wading through the thick black-grey smoke from the "ghost money" that they burn for their relatives and the various "gods" twice a month which only adds to the already horrible level of pollution in Taipei. I can't wait until I get my Ph.D. and can get a job as a professor at a nice, quiet university in the countryside in southern Taiwan ... **sigh**

I also started reading the story "Laika" last night. So far, I really like it. I'm also writhing in anticipation for Ch. 23 of "Desert Dropping". Another one that I've enjoyed is "My New Brother" by Graeme ... I like things that are unique, and it's written from the perspective of a str8 boy who is trying to come to terms with some of his friends turning out to be gay.

That's it for now! Happy New Year to everyone!