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LittleBuddhaTW

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Blog Entries posted by LittleBuddhaTW

  1. LittleBuddhaTW
    So, I just celebrated my 29th birthday ... well, I wouldn't exactly say "celebrate," cause I hate the idea of getting older. But as us Buddhists believe, it is inevitable ... old age, sickness, death, suffering, etc.
     
    I've been totally captivated by the whole "Miracle in Missouri" story, and was so happy to hear that they found those two boys. I saw the older one (who was missing for 4 1/2 years!) today on "Oprah" ... you could see in his eyes that he's been through hell. I even cried when he got to meet for the first time the two cops who spotted the truck and notified the FBI ... he literally melted into their arms when they hugged ... it was sooo sweet! However, I was disgusted when I found out that the penalty for a Class B Felony Kidnapping charge in Missouri (which is what that creep is being charged with against the older boy) is only 5-15 years of prison time! That SICK BASTARD deserves to be locked up for the rest of his pathetic life. It hasn't come out yet whether there was any sexual abuse involved (although the older boy's parents said on "Oprah" that they believe he was molested), and if it did happen, that scum should be castrated. The state of Missouri definitely needs to toughen its laws. 5-15 years for what he put that poor kid through is shameful ... absolutely shameful.
     
    On a happier note, I'm very honored to have received so many nominations for the 2006 GA Members' Choice Awards for SOOTB. It was a fun (albeit difficult) story to write, and I do have something else in the works.
     
    And while I'm here, I need a little computer help ... somehow I managed to get the toolbar at the bottom of my screen (you know, that has the "Start" button and all) moved from a horizontal position on the bottom of the screen where it should be, to a vertical position on the right side of the screen ... how in the heck do I undo that? I didn't see any way to move it back when I right-clicked over it and it had options for the tool bar, and re-starting the computer didn't put it back in its original position ... HELP!!!!!!
  2. LittleBuddhaTW
    So, Christmas was alright, I suppose. I haven't really celebrated Christmas for the past 5 years or so, since I was overseas for so long. It definitely isn't the same as when I was a kid. I got a new watch, which is pretty cool, a sweater, a kitchen table, and that's about it. My grandmother came in from out of town, and it was nice to see her again. The nicest part, though, was having yesterday off work. I wish I'd had more time off, especially since the situation with this Farsi translation project just keeps getting worse. Ugh.
     
    I don't know what got into me yesterday, but I started trying to look up people online that I haven't spoken to in years and years. I looked up the real "Ryan" (from SOOTB), who I haven't talked to in almost 10 years, and sent him an e-mail. He hasn't replied yet. I'm not sure if I want him to or not ... if I find out that he's married and has a kid now or something, I'd probably be pretty bummed. He was so gosh darned cute. And then I looked up the namesake of "Toby" (even though they're nothing alike, except for the name). I went to camp with him back when I was in middle school. He was totally adorable too (at least back then), and was one of my first crushes. I sent him an e-mail too, but got an automated response that he's out of his office until January 2nd, so I guess I'll have to wait until then to see if he replies (or even remembers me).
     
    The cute boy that I've been seeing is on vacation with his parents, so it's kind of boring around here ... not that I get to see him all that often anyway, because he's in school and works part-time. Hopefully we can work on that. I don't really mind all that much, though, cause I don't really want anything too intense or time-consuming at the moment.
     
    Anywho, that's about it for now. Merry Belated Christmas to everyone, and Happy New Year!
  3. LittleBuddhaTW

    What a day!

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    Have you ever just had one of *those* days? Ugh ... today was one of those. Every problem or annoying situation that could have come up at work did ... and we had one really annoying problem with a Farsi translation job that we're working on. My boss underestimated the word count by 2,000 words, and promised a much faster turnaround time than was at all reasonable. It's not exactly easy to get Farsi translators, and the ones that we do have live on the other side of the world, so you have to count on at least a 12 hour delay in communicating with them ... the boss didn't think to take that into account, yet still expected me to get it done based on the original turnaround time. I bitched him out and told him that he screwed it up, so he had to call the client and tell them that they're going to end up paying for 2,000 more words (twice, since they wanted a translation AND back translation -- which is a silly thing to do anyway), and that we would have to deliver late. I stood my ground and he did.
     
    I live about 6 miles from work, but traffic here is always a pain in the ass. So, it usually takes me about 20-25 minutes to get to work and back in the evening. Tonight, it took me 2 hours to drive 6 friggin' miles! I couldn't believe it. I still have no idea what the deal was. I saw a bunch of cop cars, and a chunk of the road that I take (and that's always backed up) was blocked off with flares and stuff, but I didn't see any sort of problem. It was a royal pain in the ass and left me in a none-too-good mood.
     
    At any rate, I'm finally home, and now I can relax for a few hours before I have to go to bed, then get up in the morning and do it all over again. I've also been working on a translation project in my spare time. It's not that big, only about 5,000 words, and I've had tons of time, but it's highly technical stuff. I only have about one more page to go, and I'll be sooo glad when it's finished. I'll end up making about $400 extra for doing this, so that'll be nice.
  4. LittleBuddhaTW

    Damn, It's Cold!

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    I kind of forgot what cold weather was like since I spent the last 10 years in Taiwan and Florida. I'm thinking I should probably invest in some gloves and a scarf. I like the cold weather as long as I don't have to be out in it for very long. Fortunately, the heat in my apartment works well. I wish I could say the same for my office.
     
    Last night was our holiday party at work. It was pretty fun. We had our "Secret Holiday Friend" gift exchange, and somehow no one got my name, so I was the only person who didn't get a gift. It was kind of depressing. Oh well. We ended work at 3:30 yesterday and played Pictionary. My team won, and we got $50 gift certificates to Target. Then we all went to a nice restaurant for dinner. The prime rib was really good, but I was still hungry afterward. Fortunately, I still had some pumpkin pie left at home.
     
    Last weekend was a great weekend for college football. I was totally psyched when UCLA beat USC, which was totally unexpected. UCLA's quarterback, Cowan, was really impressive. The loss for USC, and Florida's big win over Arkansas in the SEC championship opened the door for Florida to get into the BCS championship game. It was either going to be Florida or Michigan versus Ohio State, and since Florida and Michigan are my two favorite teams, I would have been happy either way -- although a little happier with Florida. Anyway, Florida is in, and I hope they beat the pants off of Ohio State on January 8th. I 'm sad that the season is over now, though.
     
    I'm still seeing that Taiwanese-American boy. Since he's in school and works part-time, I don't get to see him that much, but I don't really mind, since I've gotten used to being by myself. I'll see him tonight, and then once or twice more this weekend. He lives literally right around the corner from me, so it's pretty convenient when I do want to see him.
     
    Anywho, that's about it for now. I woke up obscenely early this morning. But alas, now it's time to get ready for work. I need some coffee ... or Red Bull ... I wonder what it tastes like to mix coffee and Red Bull???
  5. LittleBuddhaTW

    Devil Cats

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    My cats are absolutely incorrigible, and I'm about at my wits' end. Every morning when I wake up, and every evening when I get home from work, they have somehow managed to open all of the lower level cabinets in the kitchen and strewn everything (including cat food) all over the kitchen floor. I can't leave toilet paper or paper towels around anywhere, because they shred them and scatter the shreds all over my apartment. They also tip over the trash can and strew the contents (including kitty litter -- ugh!) all over the place. Are anyone else's cats as bad as mine? They keep getting into more and more things, and getting naughtier and naughtier. They weren't like this back in Taiwan or at my parents' house. Unfortunately, cats aren't trainable like dogs, and I have no idea what to do, short of having to go out and buy friggin' baby locks for all of my cabinets. It's no fun having to clean my whole friggin' apartment TWICE every day, when I'm tired, because they get into anything and everything they can possibly get in to, even things I never would have guessed they would be interested in!
     
    On a brighter note ... I met a boy! He's a Taiwanese-American, born in the States, but grew up in Taiwan, and came back to the States for school about a year ago. He's VERY cute, and for some strange reason (probably because I can speak Chinese, and his English is pretty bad) he's really into me. The only concern I have, though, is that he's a bit too young, 18 years old (although he doesn't seem to think so). We went on a romantic walk around a lake nearby last night and ended up kissing behind some bushes. I haven't kissed anyone since February when I was still overseas. I definitely missed it. We'll probably have another date on Friday evening, and hopefully more on the weekend. So, we'll see how that goes ...
     
    Thanksgiving was pretty boring, except for the excellent college football games last Saturday. I was pleased that Florida defeated Florida State, but Florida's kicker has issues, and he needs to get his act together if Florida is going to beat Arkansas this week, and maintain their slim chance at the BCS title. I was disappointed that Notre Dame got totally creamed by USC, because that lessens Michigan and Florida's chances for winning the national championship. Also, I think Notre Dame's quarterback, Brady Quinn, is really hot! I don't think the rankings are very fair. USC should not have jumped ahead of Michigan to the #2 spot. The SEC championship game is this Saturday, and that'll be a big one. I can't wait to watch it!
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now. Anyone want to adopt a couple of really naughty cats? :wacko:
  6. LittleBuddhaTW

    Muahahahaha!

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    So, I went to see "Borat" last night ... that has to be one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I'm a big fan of "Da Ali G Show," and always thought it was pretty outrageous, but this really took the cake. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but ... whew, it was TOTALLY off the chain! I also ran into my boss at this little Thai restaurant near the movie theater which was kind of creepy, but it's all good.
     
    One of my best friends from high school is crashing on my living room floor for a couple of weeks until he finds a new place. He's going through a divorce right now. It makes me feel sooo old that two of my good friends from high school have already been married and are going through divorces, and a bunch of my old high school classmates have kids now, too. Seeing all the high school kids at the movie last night made me feel really old, too. Ugh!!!!!
     
    I've had a bunch of ideas for my new story, and feel a bit inspired. Hopefully I can force myself to actually sit down and start writing soon. I need something to do other than working and watching TV. Nevertheless, I've been enjoying getting reacclimated to American TV again. I've become addicted to that reality show, "Little People, Big World." I don't know what it is I like about that show, but I can't stop watching it.
     
    I need to go to the grocery store and do laundry today, two of my least favorite activities. We'll see if I actually end up getting anything done. I also need to get the oil changed in my car pretty soon. *sigh*
  7. LittleBuddhaTW
    Well, I finally made it to my new apartment! It was quite an ordeal, with lots and lots of problems, but I'm pretty much all settled in and have my internet service now. My cable/internet provider was a pain in the ass to deal with, because the previous tenant here never cancelled their account before moving out, and they had an outstanding balance, so they wouldn't set up my account. That was totally stupid, because it's not like that was my problem, and I shouldn't be made to suffer for some other idiot's problems. Anyway, it finally got all settled by the technician who services the particular apartment complex I live in, several trips out here, and lots of bitching on my part to the cable company. All's well that ends well.
     
    It's really nice not having to make that commute to work every day. Work has been rough this week, though. Today, one of our translators missed their deadline, which pissed off our client (they've had two late jobs in as many weeks). Also, the boss is out of town for the next few days, so I've been left in charge to deal with all kinds of issues, like the government deciding that they wanted to subpoena one of our translators to testify as an expert witness at a trial, which they didn't notify us of until after the fact. I'll still be dealing with those issues tomorrow when I go in to work.
     
    I have to go pick up my cats this weekend. They've stayed with my parents this week because they would have gotten in the way with my unpacking and stuff. Now that I'm settled in (somewhat), I can go get them. Hopefully when things get under control at work and I'm totally settled in, I can get back to writing. I'll have to wait and see. It's been a rough few weeks. I haven't even been on MSN or chatted with any of my friends in weeks. Things have just been so hectic.
     
    Anyway, that's it for now. I just wanted to check in and let everyone know that I'm still alive.
  8. LittleBuddhaTW
    I'm counting down the days until I can move out of here and get my own place. It's only three weeks away, and I called some apartment places today at work and will go check them out on Saturday. It'll be sooo nice to have my own place again and won't have to listen to my parents complaining about every little nonsensical thing. Since all I brought back from overseas with me were boxes and boxes of books, I'll have to buy all new furniture. I love buying furniture and decorating the places where I live, but it's so gosh darn expensive. I had a really comfy IKEA bed when I was in Taiwan, and would like to get the same one again. Right now, I'm sleeping on a really awful twin bed, and I can't stand it.
     
    Work is still going fine. I think I'm going to start doing some freelance translation on the side to make a little extra money and hopefully keep up my foreign language abilities. 'Diego' is doing well, too. We went outside together for a cigarette last Friday ... I didn't even know he smokes. He's such a sweetheart, and it really sucks that so many of the good guys are straight. Straight women often seem to say that all the good ones are gay, but I think they're mistaken. *sigh*
     
    Last night was the "Chat with LittleBuddhaTW" night in the chatroom, and I was surprised that so many people showed up. Even Dan, Dio and Luc stopped by. I was very flattered and enjoyed chatting with everyone. It also gave me some encouragement to get working on my new stories. So, once I get the heck out of here and get my own place, and if the new translation assignments I take on aren't too time-consuming, I'll try to start getting some chapters written and posted. I'd really like to re-design my site, too, so I guess I'll have to talk with Rhawes about that, since I'm pretty computer illiterate when it comes to stuff like that.
     
    My best friend (and ex-girlfriend) from high school called me this evening, and she's back in town this week to visit her parents, so hopefully we'll get together with a few other high school friends and go out to dinner or something. Anytime that I can get out of the house and away from my parents is much appreciated.
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now.
  9. LittleBuddhaTW
    It's now officially Fall, my favorite season. My third week of work went pretty well. Our boss wanted us to get out by 4 o'clock on Friday, but we got a big French and Italian translation job right when we were getting ready to go, and the client wanted it early next week, so we had to find translators who could do it and it took a loooong time.
     
    I thought I'd learned my lesson a long time ago about falling for straight guys, but this guy I work with, we'll call him 'Diego,' is just too hot for his own good. He's got a baby face and the most disarming smile. He's a year older than me and I don't think he has a girlfriend (he lives with his brother), but I just don't get the 'gay vibe' from him, unfortunately. He's really sweet, though. *sigh*
     
    I've read a few more new books. 'Desert Sons' and the sequel, 'Into This World We're Thrown' by Mark Kendrick weren't especially well-written, but they were fun to read. I really liked 'Dream Boy' by Jim Grimsley, though. That one, and 'Leave Myself Behind' by Bart Yates, are definitely worth taking the time to read. 'Dream Boy' is really short, I finished it in one day. Next on my list is 'Common Sons' (which Vance didn't like because it didn't have any graphic sex in it! )
     
    The weekends are really boring, just sitting around my parents' house doing nothing. I haven't really tried to make any friends, 'cause I'm embarrassed that I'm living at home. Hopefully that will change once I get out of here. I'll probably start looking at apartments in mid-October. The cost of living here is soooo expensive, though. It really sucks.
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now. Just checking in.
  10. LittleBuddhaTW

    Another Weekend

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    Well, Vance mentioned that I haven't done a blog in a while, so I figured maybe I should write something. Work is going pretty good. We had a pot luck yesterday, and I stuffed myself on all kinds of good food. I brought a pasta salad with feta cheese, pepperoni, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes. They usually do that kind of thing about once a month, and we'll be having a chili cook-off next month. I LOVE chili, so that should be pretty fun.
     
    I bought Elton John's new album, The Captain and the Kid, the other day. It's really incredible. It's the sequel to his 1975 autobiographical album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirty Cowboy, which was about his early days with his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, before they became famous, and all of the trials and tribulations they faced together back in the late sixties. This one covers the rest of their 30+ year career together. My favorite song on the album is 'Blues Never Fade Away,' and Elton has said that he thinks it's his best vocal performance ever. It's an incredible song.
     
    I've been reading a lot of books lately. I really enjoyed Leave Myself Behind by Bart Yates, and just finished Desert Sons by Mark Kendrick last night. I tried reading Mark Roeder's A Better Place, but it was absolutely horrid. It's really a hit-or-miss thing when you buy self-published books. The book by Bart Yates is worth checking out, though. He's no J.D. Salinger, but it's not bad to read for fun if you're bored.
     
    There hasn't been much else going on ... just working and counting the days until I have enough money to get the heck out of my parents' place. It should only be another month before I have enough money. I could go right now if I wanted to, but I'd like to have a little extra money saved up first. I haven't started writing 'My Elusive Drug' yet, but have been spending some time getting the characters and story line worked out, and I think it'll be a pretty good story.
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now.
  11. LittleBuddhaTW

    First day at work

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    Well, today was my first day at my new job. The commute is about an hour each way, which really sucks, but I only have to tough it out for a month or two until I can get my own place. That should cut the commute down to 20-30 minutes. The work is actually quite complicated and there's tons of stuff to remember, a complex computer system and series of databases to learn, etc. I'm very familiar with the translation industry and linguistics (which is important for quality control and just knowing how the business operates), but the management and technical side of it is going to take some time to learn. Oh well ... at least I'm getting paid pretty decently. I found out, though, that my health insurance doesn't include dental, which kinda sucks. I also have a ton of forms that I have to fill out tonight, and then even more to do tomorrow. I HATE paperwork ...
     
    A good thing, though, is there's this really HOT Latino guy who works in our office. I don't think he's gay (my gaydar is VERY accurate), but at least he's a nice piece of eye candy, and I have been known to be able to convert cute guys if I really put my mind to it ...
     
    Chapter 26 is now posted. Writing SOOTB has been a lot of fun, as well as a great learning experience. It's also given me a chance to meet some really great people, and I've learned quite a bit about editing along the way, which will actually be a big help in my job. I hope everyone enjoys it! I'm not sure when the next story will start posting ... my job is going to keep me quite busy, and I'll be even busier when I start getting ready to find my own place and move out (I can't wait!!! Living with my parents, albeit briefly, is driving me absolutely nuts!
     
    Anyway, that's it for now. Enjoy the last chapter of SOOTB!
  12. LittleBuddhaTW
    I just got a call from the translation company I interviewed at about a month ago, the first interview I went on. They called me last week to tell me that they were about ready to bring me on board, but just needed to check out my references. Today, they called me with the official offer to be their new project manager, and will be paying me $40K a year, plus benefits, free parking, etc., etc. I'll be starting next Monday, and I'm VERY relieved to finally have something. It's not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life, but at least it's in an industry that I'm familiar with and enjoy. He also said that if any Chinese-English translation projects come through that I'd be interested in, I'm welcome to do those myself and make some extra money. The company seems very laid-back and casual, and the work will be interesting. So ... YAY ... I'm really happy about that! And now I can also start officially counting down the days until I can get my own place! It'll probably be a month or two, because I need to save up a little money, but at least now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
     
    For those of you who have been patiently waiting for the last chapter of SOOTB, I'm VERY sorry that it's taken so long. The good news is that I'm almost finished, and the last chapter (+ epilogue) should be ready to send off for editing this week. I did a lot of writing last night, and now that I'm feeling all happy and stuff about the job, I'll be in a better mood to write. So, thanks a bunch for being so patient, and I'll do my best not to disappoint!
  13. LittleBuddhaTW
    Yikes, it's been a long time since I've updated this ...
     
    Anyway, so I've been watching the Little League World Series. The final game was today, and Team USA (from Columbus, GA) defeated the team from Kawaguchi, Japan, with a final score of 2-1. I was pulling for the team from Oregon to win (since that's where Kitty lives! ), but they were defeated in the US Championship game. There were a couple really outstanding players from both teams, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw them in the majors a few years down the road. I've read a lot of stuff from sports 'commentators' who have been complaining that the LL World Series shouldn't be televised, how it put unnecessary pressure on the kids, was just an avenue for them to show off, blah blah blah. After seeing the incredible displays of good sportsmanship by the Georgia team when they won (and from many of the other teams), I think the LL belongs on ESPN a helluva lot more than so-called 'professional' baseball, where steroid abuse is rampant and the players make millions of dollars to act like arrogant pricks. The kids are much more genuine, are excited about the game, displayed incredible sportsmanship (I think the Georgia team hugged the Japanese kids more than each other), and are out there to have fun. No wonder attendance at big league games is so low, and the games at the LL World Series were all jam-packed. The LL program is excellent, and I'm glad that I had that experience when I was a kid.
     
    I still haven't found a job yet, and I have to admit, I'm getting very frustrated. The whole experience has put me in a bit of a funk, and I think that's a big reason why I haven't gotten Ch. 26 of SOOTB finished yet. I can't write when I'm in a crappy mood. It's almost halfway done, though, so it shouldn't be too much longer. But the job thing ... *sigh* ... it's really dragging me down. Everyone I talked to before I made the decision to come back told me how I'd have people beating down my door and how many jobs there are for fluent Chinese speakers. Well, the latter is true ... there are quite a few jobs ... but I haven't gotten any of them yet. And it's making me very moody, cranky, grouchy, frustrated, and bitter. I do have a few leads, but nothing very firm, and probably not anything serious for a while. Ugh!
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now. There really isn't much to blog about, as my days are quite boring. On a positive note, my diet is going extremely well, and I've now lost a grand total of 19 lbs. so far. I'd like to lose about 11 more lbs., and then I'll be back down to a much more reasonable weight. I've lost one or two pants sizes so far, so I may need to get some new shorts pretty soon ...
  14. LittleBuddhaTW
    I had a phone interview today with a large translation firm. They're looking for a Project Manager. The interview went well, and they asked me to go in on Tuesday afternoon for an in-person interview. The pay isn't that great, and it would be a lot of work, but it might be a good place to start, and the benefits are pretty good. If I get the job, I'd have to go through a government background check for a security clearance, since about 50% of their work is government contracts. I shouldn't have any problem with that, though.
     
    I've also got another good possibility at my dad's bank. Since he knows people, he managed to get me in touch directly with one of the district managers instead of having to go through the bank's HR department, which would save me waiting for at least a few weeks. That would also be a position as a manager. I'll have to see which would offer a better salary. The translation company said $35-$45K a year, but I wouldn't be able to start out at the highest end, since I haven't done that kind of job before. $35K wouldn't be enough to live off of, so hopefully they'll be willing to pay $40K ... if not, I may have to turn it down. We'll see ...
     
    I've made some progress on Chapter 26 of SOOTB, but it'll still be a few more days at least until it's ready to send off to Sharon and Kitty for editing. I think it's turning out to be a good chapter, though.
     
    EltonJohn.com has released another new song from the upcoming album The Captain & The Kid, this one called "Postcards from Richard Nixon." It's a pretty good song, but like "The Bridge," I don't think it will go over very well commercially. According to an e-mail I got from EltonJohn.com, though, "The Bridge" entered the charts at #36, which isn't too bad considering Elton isn't as popular as he used to be ...
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now. Wish me luck with the job thing! If it doesn't work out and I can't find anything here, maybe I'll be tempted to take Dan up on his offer ... I've always wanted to live in California. Lots of cute boys out there!
  15. LittleBuddhaTW
    Elton John's new album, "The Captain & The Kid," is coming out in September, and the first single, "The Bridge," is now available on EltonJohn.com -- you have to be a member of the official fanclub to go to that part of the site, though. It's an interesting choice for a single, since the track is only Elton's vocals and piano, no other instrumentation. It's a beautiful song, with very touching lyrics, but not very commercial. The whole album is a concept album, the sequel to his 1975 "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirty Cowboy," which chronicled Elton and his lyricist, Bernie Taupin's, early days in the music industry. The sequel will cover their days of success, excess, and finally, finding peace. Another "guilty pleasure" album that I'm looking forward to is Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell 3: The Monster Is Loose." That one will be released on Halloween. The title track, "The Monster's Loose," is available at http://www.myspace.com/meatloaf.
     
    Still no job offers yet, and I'm getting more and more frustrated. Hopefully I'll hear something this week, but I'm not very hopeful. My dad thinks I should work at a bank or be a police officer. If I don't get something else soon, I may just do that.
     
    Chapter 25 of "Someday" has been posted. I've started working on Chapter 26, but I haven't been in much of a writing mood. I'll do my best to finish it up this week since it's the last chapter, and I know people are anxious to find out what happens to Connor and the gang. I've also got a new story planned that should be debuting in a few more weeks ... hopefully.
     
    I've been home for a month now, and although the job search hasn't borne any fruit yet, my diet has been going well. I've lost 13 lbs. so far. I've also cut waaaaaay back on my nicotine consumption, so hopefully I'll be able to quit altogether in the not-too-distant future.
     
    Not much else to report on. My life has been pretty boring.
  16. LittleBuddhaTW
    This has been quite an interesting week. Unfortunately, no requests for interviews yet, although I have gotten a couple minor nibbles. I'll have to wait and see if any of those pan out. In better news, the other day, one of my high school classmates (who I haven't talked to in about 10 years) called, looking for my parents, to try to find out my current address so they could send me info on our 10 year H.S. reunion, which is coming up this fall. My parents weren't home, though, so she got me ... which was a pleasant surprise for both of us. I didn't even know that she was still living in the area, which is cool, and she invited me to a crab cookout in a couple weeks. I LOVE crabs, so I'll definitely be there. And my diet has been going well, so I think I can indulge myself for one day.
     
    Last night, I met this 21 year old Malaysian Chinese boy online, and he only lives about 30 minutes from me. Needless to say, he was pretty shocked when I told him I spoke fluent Chinese, and that was a great conversation starter. Eventually, we went from talking online to talking on the phone ... until 3 AM! It was funny switching back and forth between English and Chinese, but I think we've both decided we prefer speaking Chinese. And now we're planning on going on a date on Monday. Oh, and did I mention that he's really cute? Also, he's out to his entire family, which is a big plus, and also pretty unheard of in Chinese families. He says they're very supportive, and that he even has an uncle who is gay. So, if anything develops, that will definitely make things much easier. If the first date goes well, and we end up having a second and third, I may invite him to the crab cookout, too. I love to show off, and I'd have a ball bringing a really cute boy along with me to show my friends.
     
    BTW, Chapter 24 of SOOTB should be posted sometime on Saturday. I apologize for the wait. Fortunately, the next chapter has already been written and sent off to Kitty and Sharon for editing, so there won't be such a long wait between chapters again.
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now. Hopefully my date will go well, and if I'm really lucky, I'll get some calls for interviews soon ... *crosses fingers*
     
    DIET UPDATE: 10 lbs. in three weeks
  17. LittleBuddhaTW
    Last night, Rigel from GA treated me to a wonderful meal at an Ethiopian restaurant. It was my first time eating Ethiopian food, even though some people may have thought I had, since I wrote about that in a previous chapter of SOOTB. The actual experience was pretty much as I described it. The food was spicy, which I love, and the Sam Adams beer washed everything down nicely. Rigel and Mrs. Rigel were also excellent dinner companions, and I enjoyed meeting them and chatting. So, thank you for a lovely evening, Rigel!
     
    On a totally different subject, I've never had asthma before, and I've never had much of an allergic reaction to my cats other than the occasional sneeze or itchy eyes, and that only happens if they've been right up in my face for a while. But ever since I've gotten home, I've been having some reactions when I stay down in the basement, which is where the cats are, and we have a computer, TV, DVD player, and comfy sofas down there ... it's basically our rec room. Last night, after being down there for about only 30 minutes, I started having trouble breathing and was coughing a lot. I've never had that kind of reaction before, so I'm thinking it has more to do with the basement than my cats. Maybe mildew or something (although I never had that problem when I was living here during my teenage years). Over the next few hours, it became harder and harder to breathe, and at about 3 AM, I woke up my parents, wheezing loudly, barely able to talk, and told them I needed to go to the emergency room. Fortunately, my dad had had asthma a while back, and still had an inhaler that is used for acute attacks. It worked. However, I'm going to need to go see a doctor now and get my own prescription in case it happens again. It was not a pleasant experience.
     
    Ok, on to the story stuff ... I've gotten sooo many PMs and e-mails over the past couple of days, asking what is going on with the story and editing situation. I think everyone has been reading too much into things, and there is no reason to get worked up. Sharon and Kitty will BOTH be working on the upcoming chapter of SOOTB. I think people were making it out to be much more than it actually was. There are NO problems between Kitty and I, so please, no more PMs or e-mails about that. Thanks!
     
    I hope everyone has had a chance to read "A Free Man In Paris." I know short stories usually aren't as popular as serials, but Kitty and I both worked hard on this one, so please go read it if you haven't yet, and post your thoughts/comments in the discussion forum. We'd both really like to see some more feedback. And Chapter 24 of SOOTB should be posted this weekend.
     

  18. LittleBuddhaTW
    Now into week two of my return Stateside ... still nothing ... it sucks when everyone tells you how incredibly marketable you are and will have no trouble finding a job ... and now they say that I probably won't hear from anyone for a few weeks ... at least ... Well, I don't like sitting around ... it totally bites.
     
    But anyway, I've posted a picture of my new car ... the only good thing to come out of this move so far.
     
    I got my new karate uniform in the mail yesterday, along with the patch to put on it (the particular style of karate I do has a very nice, colorful emblem, and I refuse to wear a karate uniform without it ... otherwise, it's just too bland ... and being the gay boy that I am, I NEED some color, dammit!). I also got a couple nice karate weapons when I went into the city the other day. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to buy the really nice ones, 'cause they were too expensive ... but one day ... *sigh*
     
    Writing has been slow. Chapter 24 is about 3/4 finished, and I haven't been in the mood to write for the past few days. But, since the anthology is coming out this weekend, I won't be posting it until around July 29th anyway (sorry!) After consulting with Kitty, I've decided that I'm going to pursue another serial I'm really itching to write when I'm finished with SOOTB, instead of "When I See You Again." However, since the first chapter of that is almost done, I'll probably post that to see if it's worth continuing. The other one that I want to work on, I think, will be pretty good, and I'm looking forward to it.
     
    Anyway, that's about it ... nothing much to report here, except I've been really bored, and the A/C in my parents' house sucks, so it's been very hot. Ugh! My place in Taiwan was cooler than this!
     
    News from Taiwan ... :businesssmiley:
    "Student claims father poisoned him for being gay"
    http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/arc...7/18/2003319315
  19. LittleBuddhaTW
    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!
  20. LittleBuddhaTW
    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 ......
  21. LittleBuddhaTW
    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
  22. LittleBuddhaTW

    Say Goodbye

    By LittleBuddhaTW,

    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:
  23. LittleBuddhaTW
    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!
  24. LittleBuddhaTW
    I pitched a bunch of stuff last night, and my apartment is looking emptier and emptier. I also made what was probably my last trip to the supermarket here ... I can safely say that that is one thing I won't miss about Taiwan. But there are a lot of things that I will miss. Despite my seemingly constant bitching and complaining, this place has been my home for over five years, and it's what is familiar to me. So much has changed in America since I've been gone, it's going to take some time to adjust.
     
    I've edited my last blog entry to describe more of what I'm feeling and expecting when I move back, so you can go and re-read that one if you haven't yet, and maybe leave a comment to cheer me up!
     
    I went out for tea this afternoon with one of my close friends here, who is a classmate of mine. He's also gay, and really cute, but unfortunately he already has a boyfriend. But, since I'm leaving, that's not really an issue ... although I have to admit that I wouldn't have minded a little romp in the hay with him ... you know, to satisfy my curiosity and all! hehe But it was nice to have the chance to talk to him and say a proper good-bye. I have a good professor friend who I'd also like to see before I leave, and we'll probably have tea together at this really nice, traditional Chinese tea house next weekend or something. He's been one of my best friends since I've been here, and a fantastic mentor. I'm going to miss him a lot. Fortunately, there's still e-mail, and I'm sure I'll be asking him for lots of advice. He's also got lots of contacts that can help me get acclimated to the world of Sinophile jobs in the D.C. area.
     
    I've finished making the first set of corrections on Chapter 21. Kitty spent an especially long time editing this chapter to get it just right, and even added some own parts herself, which I think work very, very well. I know the past few chapters have been really rough for some people, and I can't say whether or not it's going to get any easier. Just stick with it and wait until the story is finished to decide how you feel. Like I said, in my last entry, I'm going to finish SOOTB before I start posting chapters of the new story. I'm also working on finishing my Summer Anthology story. I kind of like writing short stories, as it can be a nice break when you're in the middle of writing a very intense serial novel. It will be a much more "happy" story as compared to what we've been going through over the past few chapters of SOOTB, so I am looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.
     
    And please remember, the next few weeks will be really tough on me ... there is so much to arrange for an international move, and then getting reacclimated back in the States, so if there is a week or so delay between postings, please bear with me. I'm trying my best to keep up with my obligations to my readers, but at the same time, I also have my own stuff that I need to take care of. So, please keep that in mind! Over the next few weeks and months, I'll need a lot of extra support from my friends here, since I don't have any friends left at my old home.
     
    Anyway, that's about it for now. I have another dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon, which should be fun. No one seems to understand how I can actually like going to the dentist, but it doesn't bother me at all. Maybe I'm just weird ... :wacko:
     
    to Vance, Ben, and Kitty for all being such wonderful and supportive friends. You guys have been great, and have taught me that "online buddies" can actually become "real" friends. I don't know what I'd do without you guys as I'm going through all of this stuff, so just know how special and important you all are to me. And, also, special thanks to Nicko, who has been really sweet lately, and I'm happy that he's enjoying the story so much ... and to Shadows as well. All the e-mail messages, PM's, etc. really mean a lot to me. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
     
    And ... don't forget to go check my last blog entry again, since I've added some stuff.
     
    Anywho, that's it for now ... I need to get back to work on Chapter 22, so hopefully it will be ready to post without too long of a delay. But I promise, it won't be long. You guys have all been great friends and readers, and I feel really blessed to have found GA, and found a hobby that gives me a sense of accomplishment, and it's a great feeling that I know that I have touched some people with my story. I just started out writing it for fun, to see if I could actually write fiction, and it has take off beyond my wildest expectiations. So, THANK YOU to all of you. It means the world to me!
  25. LittleBuddhaTW
    I can see very well
    There's a boat on the reef with a broken back
    And I can see it very well
    There's a joke
    And I know it very well
    It's one of those that I told you long ago
    Take my word, I'm a madman, don't you know ...
     
    Fabulous song! *wipes sweat away from forehead* Whew! I had a busy morning! I had a doctor's appointment at 9 AM, dentist at 11 AM, my final trip to the post office, and I had to stop by the vet to get the date changed on my forms for the cats. So, anyway, when I was at the doctor's office this morning, I saw the most incredibly HOT guy I have ever seen in my life sitting in the waiting area. He must have been about 25 or 26 years old, and was just ... GORGEOUS! My gaydar was pinging off the chart, too, which got me all excited ... he was like a wet dream with legs! So, I did the only thing I could do ... sit there and just drool while staring at him ... I swear I had to wipe the drool off my chin. Unfortunately, he was there with his older brother and mother (don't ask me why a 25 year old guy needs his mom and older brother to go to the doctor's with him -- but hey, this is Taiwan!) Sooo ... I couldn't exactly go hit on him, which I really would have liked to do ... he really was that hot! Jeez, just typing this is getting me all worked up again! LOL I'd tell y'all what I would like to do to him, but that might qualify as "TMI," but I will say that his butt looked sooooo delicious in the shorts he was wearing!
     
    Anyway, between the doctor and the dentist, I did a little shopping, and bought a really nice pair of reddish jade Pi Xiu statues. The Pi Xiu is a mythical fierce wild animal, similar to a leopard or panther, and they're meant to scare away evil spirits. They're really cool! They only cost about US$150, too, which isn't bad. I might have been able to get them a little cheaper at one of the weekend jade markets they have in Taipei, but you can't always be sure that what you're buying is real jade, so it was worth it to pay a little extra at a high-end store to get the real thing!
     
    The other night when I sat down on my sofa, it broke! I couldn't believe it! It's kind of a cheapo sofa, anyway, with just a flimsy wood frame. I got it really cheap at IKEA about two years ago, and I figured it would break at some point, which IKEA furniture tends to do. But anyway, I had to disassemble the whole thing so I could carry it outside to the trash area. But now my apartment looks even emptier. The rest of the furniture is going to stay, though, and I think my landlady is either going to keep it or give it to family members or something. But when you sit on something and it breaks, even if it was crappy to begin with, you tend to get a little self-conscious about your weight! UGH!
     
    Also, my favorite pair of Versace glasses broke ... well, one of the lenses did ... so, I had to take them to get repaired. I can go pick them up tomorrow night. They're my favorite pair of glasses, and since they're Versace, obviously VERY expensive. So if they mess them up, I'm going to be a VERY unhappy Buddha!
     
    Story stuff ... I won't retype the news and updates here ... if you want to know what's going on with the writing projects, you can check out the "News & Updates" section on my website. Anywho, that's it for now!
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