LittleBuddhaTW

If you think it's hot up there, sweetie, you should try coming down here for the summer. Or, better yet, try a summer in Taiwan. I survived five of them, and it wasn't pleasant. Glad to hear about the new story coming out, and I'm sure Sharon is going to do a fantastic job. I'll be expecting a big bouquet of flowers in the mail from you to thank me for forcing you (which took about a month to do) to get a really good editor (and from what I've heard, Sharon is excellent). And people will love you even more than they already do when they see the re-edited version of "Shane." A good editor can make all the difference. I'm not nearly as talented as you when it comes to telling a story, but Kitty somehow manages to make it all work out. *Hugz & Kisses* Buddha

Fine, I'll just have to come up with a better nickname for you ... but since you're forcing me to, it'll be much, much more embarrassing than being called "cupcake" ... And if you can convince both Benny and Kitty to tell me to stop hitting on you, then I will ... but until then, I'll show you how relentless Buddhas can be ... *Eskimo kisses* Buddha

So, I've now been back in the States for a week. It's been quite an eye-opening experience in some ways, very boring and frustrating in others. Not much has been going on the past few days, although I went and bought a suit today ... Calvin Klein, dark gray, much more conservative than I'd like. I was thinking more along the lines of a flashy Versace suit, maybe like a fireman's red vinyl suit ... but it was explained to me that that wouldn't go over so well in a job interview ... The plan for tomorrow is to drive into the city to buy a new black belt (my old one doesn't fit anymore ... *cries*), and a few more traditional Okinawan weapons. Then I can start training and getting into shape again. I worked out with my swords last night in the backyard and broke an exercise-induced sweat for the first time in a long time, which was nice. Might have scared the neighbors, though ... hehe Writing has been slow, too ... I just haven't been very inspired. Chapter 23 should be coming out shortly, though, as well as the Summer Anthology. So, there will still be stuff to read coming out soon, and I'm making progress on Chapter 24. If anyone wants to get me a job and a cute guy, though, I could be persuaded to increase my output ... Well, actually, one certain little Italian cupcake would be plenty, but he's a feisty one ... Oooh ... and I've managed to lose 5 lbs. over the past week! Woo-hoo!

I totally agree with Sharon's advice. And if you need to have a cast iron Buddha statue thrown at your head to get you to wake up, just drop me a line, and I'd be happy to oblige! And Joey ... if you don't stop beating yourself up and get some self-esteem through that thick skull of yours ... well, I have an extra special bronze Buddha statue that I'm sure I could manage to chuck in the general vicinity of your head (being extra careful not to hit the nose, of course! ). *Hugz* Buddha

For me, the martial arts is just another form of meditation ... "Zen in motion," so to speak. It's also a good form of exercise and a great way to vent. Some people scream or have fits when they get pissy ... I hit inanimate objects. :2hands:

I stand corrected! :: But the knives are still really cool ... I have a 6" and a 24" ... not replicas, either, but the real thing. Quite expensive, too.

Well, there were about three days of peace at home until today, and then I got into a huge fight with my parents. I really can't stand them sometimes ... okay, a lot of the time, actually. They always try to play these little power/control games with me and talk down to me like I'm still a teenager. It REALLY pisses me off. So, I REALLY need to get a job as soon as possible so I can get the hell out of here before I go nuts. I've submitted my resume to as many sites and companies that I can think of, so there's not much else I can do but sit back and wait. I'm very marketable, so the only challenge is getting the people who need someone with my skills to find my resume. I was all set to get my new car tonight, until we were ready to walk out the door and head to the dealership, and then the fight broke out with my parents. I don't even have a clue what burr they had rammed up their butts, but of course they enjoyed holding the whole "well we don't have to co-sign for your car" thing over my head. Trying to pull that kind of crap on me is not smart, because it's sure to set me off ... and it did. Eventually, though, I swallowed my pride and finally got to go pick up my new car, a 2006 Toyota RAV4 (4cl, 2WD, black, taupe interior). It's really cool and I'm totally in love with it. All of my previous cars have been hand-me-downs from my parents, so it's a great feeling to have a brand new car that's all mine ... well, it's the bank's until I pay it off, but it's still mine. The insurance turned out to be really expensive, though, since I haven't been insured for the past five years, because I've been overseas. But there's not much I can do about that, I suppose. I've got the itch to start hard karate training again, so I ordered some equipment. I had to get a new uniform since I've gotten bigger. I forgot to order a new black belt, though. I tried on my old one earlier this evening, but I can barely get it tied! :: So, I need to order a new black belt, and also a pair of sai and a bo (staff). I want to get a pair of hand-made Agena Energy Sai (from the Agena/Gushikawa region of Okinawa). They're nice and heavy, and very strong ... but they're, like, $300, and take 10 weeks to make. So, I think I'll get a cheaper pair to start with so I can start practicing, and get the nicer pair when I have a job. I've also started working with my 24" hand-made Gurkha sword (the Gurkhas are from Burma, sort of like mercenaries that the British military has used over the years, and their knives are fabulous). I really want to get a samurai sword, but those cost thousands of dollars -- and I will only buy a genuine one, not a replica. Anyway, now I just have to sit around and wait, and hopefully I'll start getting job offers within the next couple of weeks. I have to go get a suit, too, so I can look good for interviews. I'd like to get a Kenneth Cole suit, but I'll have to see if I can afford that after all of the money I've spent over the last couple of days (car down payment, insurance, new summer wardrobe, karate stuff, etc.) The 'real world' can really suck sometimes ... it sucks even worse when you're 28 years old, have lived on your own for 10 years, and are now stuck living with your insane and totally friggin' annoying parents for an undetermined period of time. Grrrr ......

Your cat is sooo cute, Vancey! I'm sorry to hear about your blood-pressure issue, but at least you've caught it early, which means that you can get things under control before it becomes a problem. I wish I'd gotten myself onto a better eating regimen before I woke up one morning and realized I needed to lost about 25 lbs! Believe me, it sucks to go from being the skinniest kid in your class for your whole life, to having a beer gut without ever drinking beer! *sigh* *Hugz* VPB (Vance's Personal Buddha)

Happy 20th Birthday, EleCivil and keep up the great writing work! We're all eagerly anticipating the next installment of "Laika"! *Hugz* Buddha

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm back in the States, safe and sound. My wireless connection isn't working yet, but my parents' friend is coming by on Saturday morning to check it out, and hopefully it'll be ok by then. In the meantime, I'm using my parents' computer. I just would rather use mine, because it has all of the Chinese software and stuff I need for my "work," as well as the WS_FTP software I use for updates and all of my files and stuff. Anyway, hopeufully it will be resolved tomorrow. That cats are quite scared being the their new environment, but they have such a huge space to run around in now, lots of toys to play with, and lots of new things to explore. Once they get over their initial fear, I think they'll like it a lot ... at least until I have to move again! hehe Shadow managed to escape his cage somewhere between Nagoya (Japan) and San Francisco, and one of the baggage handlers found him running around in the luggage comparment in San Fran ... fortunately he caught him. Shadow and Simba both need baths as soon as they got home, because they both had "accidents" (heck, they were locked up in a cage for 25 hours). Surprisingly, Kitty was just fine. But they're all very scared right now, and it will take them some time. Anyway, hopefully the computer thing will be taken care of tomorrow. But since the guy (a retired FBI agent) doesn't speak Chinese, I hope I can translate all of the computer terminology correctly for him, and that he can actually take care of it. He gave me a password that I had to enter when it turned, but the password didn't work ... said something about it needing to be a certain number of characters, so I'm not really sure about that ... *sigh* So, I guess it's a good thing that I posted Ch. 22 early, eh? Ch. 23 is already written and off to Kitty, and my computer issues should be solved by posting time next weekend (I hope). If not, I'll just download the FTP software to my parents' computer and do it from here. Anywho, I'm beat ... the jet lag has really hit hard, and I've got soooo much stuff to do now that I'm back, like buying a whole new warddrobe, getting a cell phone, opening a bank account, and buying my NEW CAR! WOO-HOO!!! Anywho, not sure when I'll be back on MSN, but you can PM me or whatever. If things with the WiFi end up being complicated, I'll just download MSN Messenger on this computer and the other software I need, but I'd really much rather use my own computer, and have my own Internet connection, so I don't have to share with my mother. Over and out! *Hugz* Buddha ... back in the good 'ol USA

I would have probably laughed a lot harder than the rest of them, and then spent the afternoon at the BBQ flirting with Kyle and trying to get in his pants ... the odds are that I would have been successful, too, straight or not. *Hugz* Buddha

It is sooo friggin' HOT here today ... UGH! Anyway, I'm leaving in less than two days, so this will be my last blog entry until I get back to the States. I knew Taiwan wouldn't let me go without a fight, and today was like the Battle Royale. So, I went to school to pick up my last installment of scholarship money ... I get to the cashier's office, and they didn't have any cash!!! Hello?!?! Grrr ... fortunately, I bitched at them long enough and told them I wasn't leaving until they gave me my money, so they went and found some, thank Buddha. Then, I went to complete the rest of the steps to "officially" graduate, which meant running around to a few more offices to get my form stamped, and then finally to the Office of Graduate Studies, where they gave me my diploma (Chinese and English copies) and transcripts. So, now I OFFICIALLY have my M.A. degree, and they even spelled my English name correctly on my diploma! WOO-HOO! :graduated: After that, I went to the bank to close out my account and get my money exchanged. I managed to get most of my deposit back from my landlady last night, which was no easy task. Even though I'd told her days in advance that I needed my deposit back on Tuesday night, she didn't have the money ... and then acted surprised that I wanted my deposit back! Again ... HELLO?!?!?! Why would I not be wanting nearly US$1,000 of MY money back?!?! But, she finally wrote out a check (which is weird in and of itself, because Taiwanese usually only deal in cash), and only deducted about US$180 worth for utilities and the first week's rent for July -- which she had originally said she wasn't going to charge me for, but I was so tired and annoyed that I didn't feel like squabbling about it. So, I go to the bank today to take care of all my "money stuff," and since I was already at the school, I went to the branch that is right across the street from my university. BTW, my landlady and I bank with the same bank, ChinaTrust, so I didn't think getting her check cashed there would be a problem. Well ... I was wrong. First, let me say, that Taiwan is NOT a third world country, especially when it comes to finance and technology. However, you can only cash a check at the same branch of a bank where the account is located ... even though it's the SAME FRIGGIN' BANK!!! Once again ... HELLO?!?! So, I had to go all the way to the branch where my landlady's account was, because I obviously couldn't wait three days for the check (from the same bank) to "clear." Anyway, I was there for almost two hours to close out my account and exchange my money for American dollars (combination of cash and an international money order). It was a royal pain in the ass, and I was NOT a happy Buddha. The only good news is that the exchange rate was better than I'd expected, so I ended up with a little more money than I'd originally planned on having. After that, I had to walk (in the excruciating heat) to the branch of the post office where I'd opened my account with them (yes, the post office in Taiwan has its own bank, and since I worked for the government, I had to have a separate account with them). Fortunately, closing out my account with them was painless. I still have several hundred dollars worth of money in NTD (New Taiwanese Dollars) which I'm keeping on hand for "unexpected expenses" (Buddha only knows what Taiwan will try throwing at me before it lets me leave!), but I can exchange that little bit when I get to the airport ... unless, as places in Taiwan are prone to do, the money exchange counter is closed for no apparent reason. *sigh* But, all that aside, almost everything is done now. I still have a little more packing to do, and tomorrow I have to drop by work for a little while to help them out with something (they paid me extra for doing that, in advance), and my last task will to be to shut off my phone and DSL line. Before I do that, however, I will try to post Ch. 22 of SOOTB, providing that I can get Ch. 23 finished today. So, barring any unforeseen problems, it should hopefully be posted on Wednesday night (US Eastern time). I'll be leaving on Friday morning (Thursday night US time), and arriving late Friday night (US time) back on the East Coast. So, I'll be out of touch for a few days. If anything happens (at this point, who knows?!), I'll get in touch with Kitty and she can let everyone know if there's a delay, or a freak typhoon, or whatever. Anywho, that's it ... I'll check back in once I'm safe and sound back in the good ol' US of A! to everyone ... and extra big hugs to Kitty, Vancey, Benny, and Birdie! :businesssmiley:

Happy 15th Birthday, Robbee!!! *Hugz* Buddha

Have a little chat with Kyle, and make Sylvia think you actually turned her little brother gay and that you're now together ... that could be fun, especially if you can arrange some French kissing and groping to go on in front of her (only part of the act, of course! ), or arrange for her to walk in on you and Kyle in bed together. I could most definitely have a lot of fun with that one ... but, fortunately, I never get embarrassed. *Hugz* Buddha

*dusts off bronze Buddha statue* Dang, I've gotta start throwing that thing more often ... works like a charm! And good luck, Camy!

Stevie Nicks or Meat Loaf ... very good for writing to! As for the homophobe, you're definitely being too nice. I'd probably throw a cast iron Buddha statue at his head ... but that's just me ... :2hands: And kudos on the writing ... I should probably go re-read the first 11 chapters of WT so I can be ready for the next installment! *Hugz* Buddha

Sounds like you need the Zen Buddhist treatment ... having a heavy, bronze Buddha statue thrown at your head. It works wonders, trust me! If you want sweet, caring, and sensitive advice, ask Kitty ... I'm the hardcore Zen one, so I'm all about "tough love" ... so, here's my advice ... and don't read it if you have a problem with tough love ... GROW A SET AND TELL HIM OR YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT! *this message brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Buddha* Oh, and I'm looking forward to reading your anthology entry too!

I was just teasin' ya, bud ... I didn't mean to hurt your feelings! *super Buddha hugz*

I hope that's not a jab at me, bird boy *Hugz* Buddha

Yes ... being a bit of an academic myself, and having participated in a survey or two, I find it extremely difficult to get through. The point of the survey itself (what it's trying to find out) isn't very clear to me, either. I recommend going back to your grad advisor and revising a few things, perhaps.

One week from right now, I'll be on a big ass plane, flying over a big ass ocean ... I just hope I don't have a stomach bug on the plane like I did when I flew back to the States from mainland China back in '98 ... that was a horrible experience, and one that I shall not go into details about! Anyway, today had to be one of the most tiring days of my life, plus it is FRIGGIN' HOT here in Taiwan right now. Today was my last day of work, and after work, all of the staff in our division went out for a big traditional Chinese banquet as my "farewell dinner" (or lunch, rather). I don't drink (it's a Buddhist thing), but Chinese people SWEAR that beer does not count as "alcohol" (I've been told that in China and Taiwan, including my Taijiquan/Qigong master in China) ... so, they coerced me into drinking way more beer than I probably should have. They got a picture of me sitting at the big table, surrounded by all of the really lovely looking dishes of exotic food, and holding up a big 'ol bottle of Taiwan Beer, and drunk off my white butt. Perhaps I'll share that some day! So ... once I was thoroughly stuffed and drunk, I had to go to school to turn in the bound copies of my thesis and start my official graduation stuff. No problems, thankfully, and I'll finish the rest of that next Wednesday, which is basically just going to two more offices to get my form stamped, then pick up my diplomas and transcripts. Now I'm home, just had a lovely cold shower, and am thinking about taking a nice, long nap. I'm gonna need the rest, because next week is going to be the busiest of all, and this weekend, I have to get the rest of my packing, pitching, and cleaning done ... plus, I still have some more writing to do. Kitty has already finished the first edit of my Summer Anthology story, and I've sent Ch. 22 of SOOTB off to her. It should be ready to post on Saturday, July 8th, provided that the wireless Internet connection my parents are setting me up with doesn't have any problems. I've also started on Ch. 23, and would like to have that finished before I leave Ihla Formosa. Anywho, that's it for now. Oh, and the current pic in my profile (and on my blog) is of Jay Chou, a famous Taiwanese pop star ... he is soooooo F-I-N-E ... like that boy I saw in the doctor's office, I'll refrain from describing exactly what I would like to do to him ... but I'm sure y'all can use your imaginations!

No, it's not absolutely necessary. It depends on whether or not it serves to further the plot. If sex scenes are written simply for the sake of having a sex scene in the story, it just weakens the entire narrative. However, I have read incredibly erotic stories, with tons of sex (like "Sea Change" and "The Least of These" by Josh) that do not detract from the story, only enhance it. So, it depends. *Hugz* Buddha

Yes, I belong to a very large online community of expats who are living in Taiwan, and we all get together very regularly in 'real life.' But, being a gay online community, there are certainly other issues ... plus, we'd have to arrange it without the kiddies knowing, because we couldn't have them showing up (sorry kiddies and adults-in-training!) It would be fun to have a get-together, though, especially considering there are quite a few of us in the MD/DC/VA area. I doubt if Vancer would come, though ... he's very shy. However, intelligence sources tell me that he has a weak spot for Velveeta cheese, chicken, and brussel sprouts ... if you serve that for dinner, he might be convinced, but he'll have to bring his Sammy, too!

What about the other CC boy? Now there's two of them? Lucky you, though! Go get 'im, tiger! :2hands: *Hugz* Buddha

Vancer, Vancey-pants, and Sex Pot are all viable options!