One Day without MTV?

So, as has obviously been stated several times before, tomorrow is my birthday. And as I'm typing this, back on the mainland it's already my birthday. Man, birthdays, and the days leading up to them, are strange days indeed. Because suddenly, with the passing of a minute, you go from identifying yourself as 20 to 21. Suddenly I'm going from two decades old to legal drinkin' adult. I'm still entertained by the fact I'm one day older than MTV. That's all the life I had without it, something less than 24 hours.

WARNING: WHAT FOLLOWS IS A RECAP OF MY YEAR AND MAY NOT BE INTERESTING
If we measured our years as beginning on our birthdays--instead of Jan. 1st--I would have to say this was one of the worst years of my life, mostly. At this time last year, I was miserable in Columbus, OH for the most part, working away in a lab, completely over my head and trying desperately to understand what the heck was going on. At home, my mother's close friend Pam Warfield died of skin cancer, and Father Ray, the head of the school mom taught at--a veritable fixture of warmth and joy he was--was found dead in the supply room. Mom's Uncle also died that summer, on the hottest day that season. It was a cruel season for her. The Fall was pretty much unremarkable, until that one day in September when we walked out of Japanese class to learn that terrorists had crashed planes into the world trade center. And then life at school stopped. But eventually it started again.

Christmas break was the best christmas break I had had in the last three years. I was happy, busy, surrounded by family and friends, and finally starting to communicate with Dave D. on some very important issues. And then, of course, you know the story of what happened next (and if you don't just go to the january-february entries of 2002) and I'm really tired of going over it, because it's a dead issue. Dead and mostly buried. But it ate up approximately three months of my life--it gulped down my february whole, and etched away at things right through April. I couldn't concentrate on schoolwork, I couldn't think about anything else but what all had happened.

But that was the right thing to do. I was forced to think about things, about myself, and what I needed in life and what I didn't. I got the chance to reinforce the bonds of friendship, I got the chance to see again what single life was like. I had to learn how to love without fear or hesitation, how to know when to give advice and when to just shut up and listen. I learned that some people aren't worth trying to help, and that true friends, the people who you care about and who care about you, are something to be thankful for. If you've got close friends, thank them. Thank them TODAY. Give them a hug and let them know just how important they are. I wouldn't have made it out alive without them.

Going from absolute emotional poverty to happiness is a really slow, painful gradient that all you can do is climb. You just have to keep going, day after day to get there.

And where am I now? Happy, a little lonely, but seeking my fortune and adventures in Hawaii, away from everyone and everything I know--clean slate, baby! Not much is happening, but so much is ABOUT to happen. You can almost feel it under your skin: all the tremendous things yet to be. Sometimes it's just plain scary, but sometimes all I can do is fall asleep smiling. 21 could be a good year. And if it isn't? Well, at least I can drink ;)

No One Likes Mondays

Arrrrgh. I feel yucky and tired. Maybe it is some combination of me not drinking enough water (I tend to neglect that) and it being rather humidly hot, hotter than is normal for Oahu. Or maybe I'm sufffering from ibuprofen/caffeine withdrawl. . .but if that's the case this diet pepsi should be helpin shortly!

I'm sitting here wondering if I bug people too much about updating their webjournals. I just did that yesterday to Dave K even. Bah, it's not worth worrying about. I do it with the best intentions: I like to know how people are doing! In some cases, I've been glad to have an idea of what is going through a person's head, just to know what if there's a storm brewin. But basically, I care about my friends, I like to know what they are thinking and how they see their adventures. So please, if I start bugging you too much, just say NO WAY SISTER.

What a weekend! Saturday I woke up luxuriously at 9:30AM (I can't seem to sleep past this time, which would be about 3PM EST), took a shower, got off to a late late start as I puttered about eating and watching VH1. What can I say, I'm addicted to both VH1 and MTV now. Eventually, I got on the bus, and stopped off at Borders to supplement my summer reading. I just finished my collection of Phillip K. Dick short stories--which were great fun by the way. I love short stories, because they don't require a lot of commitment to get to the good stuff, and Mr. Dick (hee!) has great sci fi "twists" for endings. Gotta love that. So ANYWAY. Right as soon as I walk into the store, I hear "Hello. hello. hello." and I turn to find, once again, a strange little round man with the look of the mentally slowed on his face, his ears muffled in extremely large headphones. I don't know if I mentioned him before, but the first time I came into this particular borders he followed me around asking where I was from and repeatedly saying hello. Just me. Why me? Man, I'm getting off topic.

I bought two books: "The Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club" by Laurie Kotaro (sp?)--I just fell in love with the title. Then I got "The Mothman Prophecies" because it's set in Point Pleasant, WV. My ex-boyfriend-now-friend Chris's best friend Jasen's girlfriend, Erin, lived in Point Pleasant, and I recall an ill-fated plan made between some amalgam of those guys to go camp out at the abandoned dynamite factory to look for the mothman. It was so deliciously scooby-doo sounding I had to mention it here. They never went.

I've been reading "The Idiot Girl's. .." and let me tell you it is the most hilarious thing I've read in a long time. It's all non-fiction day-to-day stories . . .man, it's hard to explain. there have been a couple passages I wanted to type here, but this is going to be a long entry anyway, so I'll spare you the details. It's just fucking hilarious, and I have to try very hard to to burst out laughing on the bus, because if they kick me off I'll have a lot longer to walk.

I eventually got to work, only to discover I had not allowed enough time at all to get all my work done, chat online, AND be ready to go to a movie with Sam and company at 4PM. SO I rushed a bit, and magically managed to get most of it done. And soon Sam and other friend Amber arrived. Oh dear, two Amber's in a group of three! Immediately, it seemed, we were all giggling and having a good time. I felt a little out of place at first, being taller and quite a bit paler than those two. Sam and Amber are both about 5'4", round, tan. . Amber later admitted her real name was in chinese, and so she picked "Amber" instead for people to call her. "Austin Powers: Goldmember" was indeed a very funny movie, despite the man next to Amber calling out all the lines that he had apparently memorized in the one day since it had been released, and the wafting vapors of cologne from the group of young men in front of us. After the movie we all went out to dinner. They got gigantic gourmet pizzas, I got a huge, delicious ahi sandwhich. . .mmmmm. We talked alot about things you don't see here that are on the mainland, and vice-versa. Sam informed me that "haoli" literally means "One without breath" referring to the fact we're so pale that perhaps we're not breathing enough? They were entertained by my recounting phrases used only here, like "Have a sat" (have a seat) and "howzit" (how's it going?) and begged me to use my West Virginian accent. I refused, because I've worked all my life to NOT have it, and it really only works best around other WV's. Later while talking to myself in front of the TV, I managed to get it out. All through the meal, the waiter kept giving me weird eye-brows raises which I could not fully interpret, but which could have been either "What the heck are you doing with these two?" or "Hey baby" or "Are you all on crack? Stop giggling!"

It's a good thing we weren't drinking, because we were acting goofy enough as it was. I mean, have you ever been having such a good time you couldn't stop laughing? I was so happy. After dinner, we drove around Waikiki looking for a place to park, and found none. So we just drove and drove for awhile (apparently a pastime shared in both Hawaii and West Viriginia). Amber told me the long story of her painful and messy breakup with her boyfriend/fiancee. It was easy to comfort her, and give her a litle bit of advice, mainly pertaining to the fact that it just takes time to get better. Most other lessons, baby, you have to learn on your own. But I was glad to have something in common with this other Amber. We tried to find dessert, but with little luck, so we picked up some icecream bars at Safeway and ate them at my house, still giggling as the Dove chocolate fell off the icecream in giant patches. And so ended my Saturday.

Sunday I was back at work again--AM I INSANE? I just feel like I lose so much progress by not going. While I was walking to work from the busstop, I heard a voice coming around the streetcorner, and the clickclickclickclick of a bicycle. Suddenly, a man with a bright orange safety vest turned the corner with his bike, and belted out "MYYYYY LAND IS FUUUUUUUUUULLL OF RAINBOOOWWS!"

That made my day. Worked by butt off, got home much later than I would've like, and couldn't even do my situps. .. managed to flop down on the bed, and woke up this morning. groggy, but alive! Wednesday I turn 21. Holy crap.

GETTING SOCIALIZED

So, tomorrow my plans are to get some work done, and then go see Austin Powers: Goldmember with my new friend Sam! See! I'm making friends! I tried to get the other student workers in on the plans, but they were both busy. Peh! But it seems like we'll all do some stuff together. Today the whole lab cleared out of grad students and post docs, so it was rather chaotically fun for the undergrads. so Yay!

I hesitate to say that Carl is supposed to leave today. . we'll see.

Oh! and of all the horoscopes I've ever read, this set is the best: FreeWill Astrology
whoever does these is both creative, contemplative, and often just interesting. And they seem to be right! I'm a big horoscope fan.

One Week To Go

That right folks, one final week left until I'm legal. I don't think it will be much of a big deal once it's come and gone, but then again birthdays are typically that way. The good news is Cheryl and I *may* go to a luau on my birthday! That would be fun, and I am required on penalty of wasting my time in Hawaii to see one. I mean, people may ask lots of questions, but inevitably "SO DID YOU GO TO A LUAU?" would be one of them. Although I'm not sure I'm spelling it right.

Cashed one of my two tremendously huge paychecks today at the Federal Credit Union. Seeing all that cash counted out made me almost pass out. The largest amount of cash I ever held before was 200 dollars. This was approximately 6 times that amount. Holy Maracas, to quote the great Miss Piggy. And I also have some birthday cards finding their way here, so I'm beginning to wonder if buying heaps of clothes wouldn't be such a decadent thing. There's also the possibility of visiting another island, but I don't know. I almost feel like I'd rather come back someday with friends and do that. I'm finding travelling alone just isn't really that fun at times. But that's all part of the journey and the lesson that is this summer.

One thing I should learn is to NOT watch MTV "Fear" right before going to bed in an empty house. Not that I was really that scared--the show, to me, is only creepy because I can imagine myself being locked in abandoned basement for 20 hours, and how scary THAT would be if I was there. I think that's the only thing the show really has going for it. That and whoever is writing the dares for these kids to complete is downright sadistic (Example: going to the Childrens Ward in an abandoned Asylum and rolling balls around and asking the children to "come and play."). I think perhaps the show is a little scarier for me these days as I have been forced to rethink my views on the afterlife, and coming to the conclusion that there is one of some sort. . .which opens a whole new can of metaphysical worms for me. But I severely digress.

There was supposed to be a large swell (meaning 5' plus waves) on the South Shore today. I think maybe that did happen, and I hope so, because the water is packed with surfers waiting for it. Apparently there are some real rules of conduct on catching waves, including that a wave can only be ridden by two surfers going in opposite directions--which means there are alot of people waiting for waves. Aquatic traffic jams: they do exist.

Yeah, it's gotta be tuesday

BLAH. Leave it to the human brain to get bored even in paradise. I think that's why I should never live here long term: I'd just stop appreciating it. I guess it's the only benefit to living in a temperate climate. . .the winters are so bad that when it's nice you can't help but appreciate that. Oh well. Trying to figure out what I should do to make things more fun/interesting/exciting. And at the same time get work done, and also at the same time just RELAX occasionally. Tomorrow will mark the one-week-till-I'm-21 point. I'm happy but not really excited. I think, just maybe, I'm starting to wilt and get a little homesick.

CORRECTION FOR THE LAST ENTRY: the name of the show is "Sorority Life" NOT "Sorority Girls". . . .I'm sure I just *rocked* your world with that!

I'm still craving sushi--just the sushi rice and seaweed combination--so I'll probably by some more tonight at the grocery store. They make it as part of the deli section. . .what bliss! Maybe some poke to go along with it. After all, it IS Buffy Nite. Yes, you heard me say it.

Irony apparently has been making a list and checking it twice. . . and don't I know it. I was walking home from work yesterday, when I just thought "Carl is probably still home. I bet he didn't catch his flight"

I hate being right.

I came home to find him wandering around with his belt unbuckled--which always bugs me because it's a little TOO informal for my standards--with a semi-dazed semi-grin on his face. "As you can see" he said "I did naught ketch my flight." Yeah, I could see that. He then explained about how he had fallen very ill, and had gone to a friend's house for the night (that's a whole other mystery I care not to delve into), and so now he was booked for "wednesday a week from now." I was trying to look concerned and not really disgruntled, but I don't think it was working. Thankfully, he was going back to the friend's house so someone would be able to watch him. He looked horrible, boiling red, and the flecks of an unidentified substance on his beard didn't help things. Hopefully it was food poisoning and not something contagious.

I don't like being so negative about someone who's really done little that was wrong, but man, it has just bugged me to have to come home to this guy. I can't tell yet if he's staying at the friend's house until he leaves. We'll see.

*Sigh* like I said, my birthday is next week. . . if all else fails I have a date with a bottle of rum. I walked down the aisles of Safeway looking at the world that soon will be mine: the aisles filled with all the beverages I've felt wrong just standing in at times, like someone would card me right there. Yeah, I know, I'm silly :)

Hula Queens

I was flipping lazily through the cable channels last night when I came across the Oahu Public TV, where they were showing what looked like the LGBTA parade through Honolulu (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transexuals, and Allies I do believe). They were showing a festival, and I was very fascinated to see what at first looked like female hawaiian dancers walking on stage. Further observation revealed that they were all in fact very much male, despite their graceful grass skirts, soft gathered tops, and long flowing hair. They all chanted in unison, and soon the drum beat began and they were whirling and swaying their hula. It wasn't as hesitant or as soft as the other dancers I've seen. They were GOOD. Not glamorous like the drag queens you usually see in the media. They were just beautiful. So, I've seen my first hula queens. . .who'd have guessed?

Later on I found myself transfixed watching "Sorority Girls" on MTV. Ok, I know what you're thinking. The title brings certain images to mind. Basically it's a RealWorld version of pledging. . . but it's a bit more than that. It really seems to capture just how rough the popularity contest can be when you're a girl, how mean we really can be to one another. At times it's just horrible, watching the girls form tight cliques and excluding others. I couldn't stop watching the show, because man, I've been there. It was like being transported back to sixth grade and beyond. You get the luxury of watching the plotting, the secrets, and the rare moments of true fun that are so often a part of being girlfriends. Man. If you're a girl, I'd recommend watching it. If you're a guy. . . I just don't know what you'd think!

Today is a slow slow slow day. And to boot I'm getting drowsy from staying up late to watch the show. And tonight there's Witchblade to look forward to! JOY! And Carl should be gone, so now the house is MINE!!!

SNORKEL FUN at Hanuama Bay

Oh yeah! Snorkeling! After all the hard work we've being doing (she's obviously working harder, but still) Cheryl felt it was high time we go do something fun. So we hopped into the car and drove over to Hanuama Bay, legendary on every travel show as THE place to stop and stick your face in the water. The place was a sea of japanese tourists, but that's ok. For the most part, they're nice folks.

Hanauma bay is actually a marine preserve, and it's better protected from the waves than Shark's Cove. However it has one of the highest deathrates of anywhere on Hawaii; mainly because of the high traffic of dumb, unexperienced tourists that flock there. In fact, two tourists had died there last week. . .they swam out to the Witches Brew--a semi-underwater cave that gets slammed with waves continuously. . .what they were thinking, if they were thinking at all, I don't know. We stuck to the nice, calm waters near the coast :)

There were TONS more fish here, ranging from some regular black and white striped sergeantfish to the GIGANTIC bigger-by-far-than-your-head parrotfish. I was especially excited to see the parrotfish, not only because they were huge, but because they have these big beaks that they use to chomp on coral. I floated about for 15 minutes just watching and listening to one go "chomp chomp chomp!" on the coral. Then it got pissed off at another parrotfish and started chasing it around. That made me nervous, so I moved on, floating about and hoping my poor little white belly wouldn't scrape against the coralbeds as I passed over.

Reefs are just wonderous places. You can hear a constant background of clicks and crunches as things munch on the coral and go about their little lives. There are fluorescent fish here! I mean, bright glowing greens and pinks and yellows and blues! I mean, you see it on tv, and it's kindof neat. But in real life it's damn near unbelievable. And thankfully I didn't see any moray eels or sharks or anything possibly scary like that. So I had fun, and even found a quarter! AT first I was psyched because I thought I'd found some ancient coin. .but then I saw the Georgia Peach on it. . . so. . .well. . .I was impressed just to find one!

So, good times. Didn't get burnt, although the freckles are aplenty now. And Carl leaves tomorrow! And ten days till I"m 21!

The Weekend Arrives, and Amber Continues Going to Lab

I guess either I like my work. ..or. . . I'm a workaholic? Who knows. I slept in--it sure is neat to have 9AM feel like "sleeping in". Princess apparently is very displeased with the alarm clock, and so I woke up nose-to-nose with the yowling feline. The thought "we are NOT amused!" came to mind.

It's funny that my dream has kept me laughing all morning. Alot of it involved me being upset about silly things that wouldn't upset me in real life anymore. Also the generic "riding the bus" segments which I now have (perhaps I have overdosed on public transit). The part that keeps me laughing is where I really got fed up with someone who was bugging me. We had run across eachother on the street as I was stomping around in my luxurious temper-tantrum, and when they asked what was going on I turned, looked them straight in the eye, and yelled, "MIND YOUR OWN GOD-DAMNED BUSINESS!"

I don't know, it was pretty fun to be angry, pissy, and altogether not polite. Refreshing, satisfying. Unfortunately, in real life stepping outside the bounds of politeness rarely seems to get you anywhere but stuck in the slot of "rude, and obviously the bad guy." Funny how often I strive to come out looking like the good person, even when what I really want to do is wreak mass havoc and violence and scream out my curses to the world! I don't know what that makes me. Human, I guess.

So, eventually I made my way down to the bus stop, and off I went to town. A lady on the bus asked me where I bought my dress. I was flattered, but then again I had to tell her that I bought it at Sears on the mainland a couple years ago. OH well! I'm pleased that it fits me again. I hopped off a couple stops early to buy myself a Jamba Juice (a smoothie! my favorite being the Aloha Pineapple with it's pineapple sherbet and rasberries. . mmm!). Then I did some window-shopping through ward centre, where some sort of event was going on, involveing some lovely guitar music. So I walked slowly to enjoy it.

And now I'm at work! And everyone has gone away!

BLAH!

Well, I woke up in the middle of the night convinced I was still on the M-class spacefreighter NOSTROMO trying not to be killed by an alien (ala Sigourney Weaver in "Alien"). It was at the very moment I woke up that Princess Prettypaws began scratching about in her litterbox. .. which made a horrifying skittering noise. EEEEeeek! But eventually I realized I was ok, and went back to sleep. Woke up, scarfed down some delicious yogurt, and suddenly had the urge to greet my breakfast anew. Why? I don't know. Still can't figure out what made me so ill for ten minutes or so. .. although sometimes waking up can be rather nauseating. Well, it's not morning sickness or food poisoning, so perhaps it's just my body saying ENOUGH WITH THE YOGURT ALREADY! PEH!!

The point being, it just wasn't a good start to what wasn't really a great day. Nothing really horrible or traumatic happened in lab . . . just a couple small mistakes I couldn't have known any better to avoid, and a general "blah" sort of feeling. I guess I'm just hitting the middle of my stay, and it's not really all that exciting. ON the upside, I did get my second paycheck. . .now I just have to cash it and be nervous about having money around. Oh well! I'm starting to get my birthday money, so I will certainly have to buy useless pretty things with THAT. probably clothes. I'm in a clothes-shopping mood. There are actually times when I'm not!

Went to the Garlic Festival on Wednesday. It was thoroughly crowded with that great aroma hanging over the vicinity. I tried garlic icecream and came to the conclusion that there is no good reason for it to exist, except perhaps to gross even me out. the combinations of sugary creamy and garlicy is just WRONG. ON the upside, there was a bounty of garlicky shrimp, including "Rock Shrimp Dynamite" which was shrimp deep fried in tempura (a light Japanese batter) and then coated in delicious sweet-sour garlicky goodness. HURRAY!

Cheryl came back from her weekend in california--with a diamond on her finger! Yep, she's engaged. Exciting times! Forcast for this year of school--in my opinion--is going to be many more such events. At least, this is what my senior friend Meghan from last year told me!

Carl is *supposed* to leave on Monday I think, so then the house will be mine! To do what with? I don't know. Drink perhaps. Because in 12 days. . . I'll be 21!!!

MMmmm, caffeine!

I think it was divine intervention that the soda machine guy showed up on the very day we ran out of diet pepsi. Thank the soda gods I need not go one day without it. I need it too. . I was up till 1:30 last night, and then woke up at 8AM this morning with little princess curled up at my feet and under the blanket. SLEEEEPYYY.

Finally talked with Ned today. For those that did not know, Ned is in fact Ned Ruby, head of the lab I'm working in. Cheryl had pushed for us to talk at some point about my project and pick his brain about what to do in the next steps--Ned is well-known for being out and about alot, and being sometimes I bit hard to find when you want to talk. But finally, yes, we got to chat! I'm very proud of myself for remaining calm and alert, putting out suggestions and answers that were intelligent and showed a good grasp of biochemistry and bioinformatics (Thanks Prudy! Thanks Brad!). So I am very pleased. That, and I got some good suggestions for fixing one of my projects, and also some good ideas for where to take my potential mutants after they are finally finished. We talked a little bit about my plans after graduation; I basically said "Definitely grad school"

I'm really quite sure now that it's what I want to do. I've been having so much fun here, and learning cool tricks and techniques. .. and we haven't even started on microscopy yet! I had begun to forget why I chose this field of work in the first place. Now I'm starting to remember! I love the people for one thing: the wide-eyed student workers and the fun-yet-stressed grad students and the veteran-like post-docs, and the lab heads, with their eyes on the big picture--bringing everything together. There's the day-to-day activities like making media, pouring plates and gels, setting up pcr's. .. . and then there are all the interesting questions being answered, little by little. Oh yeah.

I don't know, I think you'd have to be there and be sciencey to get excited about this kind of stuff. Sometimes I pretend that I'm showing a friend what I do, so that it becomes more interesting and amazing to me when I realize all that I have learned. And there's so much left, as there will always be.

I am SO psyched

There is a new Weezer video, and to top it off, the video has The Muppets in it!!! I think everyone knows what a big fan I am of those crazy things. I wish The Muppet Show was still on :(

That, and this pina colada yogurt is pretty tasty. Not a *horrible* day so far :)

Whole Brain Dominant leaning to the left You enjoy structure and work best when you can devote your attention to one task at a time. You also work well with abstract ideas and can visualize theoretical situations.

test yourself at geekykid.net

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Who let David Bowie wear those pants in "The Labrynth"!? WAS IT YOU JIM HENSON?

Just watched the movie again last night, and still couldn't figure out why he should be wearing ballet tights. I guess he is proud of the gifts God has given him?

Oahu Bus Conspiracy

Sooo, slept in till 9:15 AM today. . .yeah, I know, living large. Princess is the first cat I've met who likes to sleep under the covers. I rolled over and practically killed her sometime during the night--she was down by my knees underneath the comforter. But still she came back. This has to be the most loving cat alive.

Ate breakfast and was once again offended when, upon telling Carl I was going to work again today, he said "Oh, you're not a beachgirl."

Baby, I was born by the beach. I love the beach. Have lived with the beach! I do take offense to the insinuation. I haven't spent alot of time at the beach, but mainly this is because of the extreme amount of sunblock I need to apply to avoid burning. It's a big pain. And when I'm all by myself, I can't really leave my stuff and hop in the ocean, so there's little point to my going alone. It's just not much fun. Besides, there's alot of other things I'd like to do here. I'm just sensitive to the idea that I'm not seeing enough of the island. I can't vacation from that notion apparently. I want to just enjoy Oahu like a local: go to the beach when I feel like it, wander around whenever, eat wherever. . . .the beauty is everywhere. OK, rant done.

As soon as possible, I walked down to the shopping plaza, bought myself a shoulder-bag (so I'd have an alternative to my hefty backpack) and some delicious tom yam soup from the Vietnamese place, and sat down to wait for the bus. It was there that I overheard two guys talking, although for awhile I just ignored them and began reading my Phillip K. Dick short stories. But inevitably the same topic kept arising between them, again and again, very loudly in fact.

"man, then these BIG GUYS sat down, yeah! and they just kept looking at us, and talking!"

Obviously, this upset the louder of the two men. It may sound silly, but I could hear the tone of a revolutionary in his voice. . someone who likes to stir up thought and trouble, and has enough theories to fill your ear for many an afternoon. So I put my book away, ready my bus pass, and try to listen in. But it's all too fast and rambling for me to catch, even when we get on the bus. Even when one friend leaves and the louder man finds another buddy, I can only pick up the refrain "man, then these BIG GUYS sat down, yeah! and they just kept looking at us, and talking!"

I imagine his eyes got wider as he lowers his voice to tell his friend:"The time has come, my friend. I was just waiting to see an armband with Department of Homeland Security on one of em'!"

He then proceeded with a casual discourse on the FBI being able to tap into every computer now, monitoring the websites people visit, etc. Who knows, perhaps the time HAS come. Personally, I never worry to much about that kind of stuff, but then again it's the American thing to do. I had just finished reading a short essay by P.K. Dick on what is science fiction, the ending lesson being that good sciece fiction takes our society and uses a good idea to take it down a different path, or one of many possible paths. And we DO live in interesting times, what with books like "1984," "Farenheit 451," and "Brave New World" which whisper the same ideas we are sometimes, and inevitably more often, seeing today. I'm excited to be living now, although sometimes a little concerned.

Finally, the guys hopped off at the Ala Moana shopping center--where they were bound for, I'll never know. I still wonder if perhaps the big guys who sat down beside them were just looking at these two guys who were talking loudly, filling the room with conspiracy theories. I'd look too, perhaps. But then again, maybe the guy was right. Maybe the time has come :)

Friday

I woke up this morning--at the luxuriously better time of 9AM--to peace and quiet in the house. Now, I'd woken up earlier to the talking of Princess Pretty Paws (I don't know why she does this every day, or why I don't just shut the door at night), but there was NO CONSTRUCTION GOING ON BENEATH THE HOUSE. I don't know if I've mentioned that the owners of the house I'm living in are having a downstairs built, where once there was only a one story house on stilts. On Thursday morning, the jackhammering began at 7:40. . .at least. Carl insists it started earlier, but he seems rather offended that it's going on at all, so I don't pay much heed. But Friday I guess the construction crew took a break, because they were nowhere to be found!

I had another wierd dream. I dreamt that I was leaving work early, so excited that I was going to go visit Dave D.--and then I remembered I'd have to take the flight back to the mainland to get there, so it was impossible, and I was sad. Then all the sudden he showed up! His hands were full of pieces of paper. . . they were horoscopes and handwritten notes and he was trying very hard to get me to read them. I can't remember what they said, but once again I had that "awake" in a dream feeling. I don't know what's up. Maybe I'm getting weird psychic superpowers, or maybe I"m just bored and a little lonely :)

I've been staying later and later at work. . . because really there's no reason to rush home at 5PM. That's what I'm really enjoying about the atmosphere here:No rush to get home. I could sit at my bus stop even after it gets dark and not feel too threatened, and the walk home is best taken when it's cooling off and all the plumeria blossoms are opening up. But that's not really the point. The point is that I just amble home. The complete opposite of rushing. It's nice to just walk for the heck of it, whereever, without direct purpose. . try it some time :)

This weekend, I'll be working in the lab. I know Cheryl said I didn't have to come in, but I want to make great progress, both because it will continue to assert what a great student I can be, and also I want to get as far on this project as possible. And besides, I really don't feel like going on some great adventure this weekend. I'd just like to take it easy, you know? It's my internship/vacation, so perhaps it is best spent, at times, this way. Besides, Cheryl promises to take me snorkelling when I get back!

Howzit?

Due to the well-deserved urgings of certain individuals, I am updating again.

First, let us beam ourselves back to Saturday afternoon, and my journey to the Ala Moana Shopping Center. It was a semi-long walk, but between the walking to the bus stops and general window shopping. . .I've been doing alot of walking lately. Ala Moana really is a city unto itself. . and island of shops surrounded by vast parking complexes. after fording the parking lot, I managed to enter through the food court, which was a rough start indeed. It was a gigantic circle of an area, bordered on all sides with Sbarro's and McDonalds and other foodcourt staples, plus places I have never heard of like "Curry House" and other asian-themed things. If you've ever seen the marketplace in "Blade Runner" it's kindof like that, only perhaps a bit more sanitary. It was completely packed with people swirling around the center stalls. Neon olfactory insanity.

Past the foodcourts, it was more pleasant and familiar. It's an open-air mall which stretches length-wise and has 3 levels of shopping goodness. What struck me most was the "level" of shopping to be had. There I was in backpack and jeans walking amongst Prada and Chanel and a bunch of different stores who's names I cannot recall but noted as expensive. Definitely a window-shopping experience.

A hula festival was being held in the center courtyard--can you believe my luck? I only saw two dances, both of which done by Japanese. I think it sums up the hybrid society of Oahu quite well--there's definitely a huge asian population. The best moment was a little girl with a smile frozen perfectly on her face, with soft mauve flowers in her hair and matching fabric underneath the grass skirt, doing dance after dance for the crowd. Hula is such a soft dance sometimes you forget that dancing is what they're doing, if that makes any sense.

The people watching was pretty decent, as I spotted a woman in a see-through chainmail shirt, a man covered head to toe in tattooes, and also a couple from India crashed upon a bench, the woman reading to the man even though they both looked ready for a nap. I wish I could have taken all their pictures, but I'm not sure they would have cared for that.

I had vowed to spend no money on this outing, and so after seeing every store that was to be seen, I decided to hike back to the Ward shopping center--which is closer to lab--to go see a movie. The Ward Center has one of those gigantamous movie theatres with ampitheatre seating. JOY!!! I decided to see Men In Black II--I figured since I was by myself it would be less pathetic and also still quite enjoyable. It's always a little weird to go see movies alone, but once the lights go down, who cares? I was happily rewarded with BOTH a very fun movie and also previews for the next Lord of the Rings movie. . .I wanted to jump up and down and cheer when I saw THAT. . but I think my excitment would've been lost on most people. After the movie, I walked back to Ala Moana--I'm a walking fiend!--and experimented with catching the bus there. Worked well!

Sunday was rather uneventful, except for the fact I bought two fine books:
"Tales of a Female Nomad" by Rita Golden Gelman
"The Collected Stories of Phillip K. Dick: Volume I"

I bought the Phillip K. Dick collection of short stories because he's the author behind the stories used for "Blade Runner" and "Total Recall" and "AI" and "Minority Report"--all of which were really fascinating. But I haven't cracked into that one yet, because I'm profoundly in love with "Tales of a Female Nomad." It's a true story, a memoir written by a middle-aged woman who just picked herself up from a divorce and began roaming about the globe, through great luck and communication landing herself in different cultures and great people. It's amazing, entertaining, and basically gives you the adventure bug. And since I'm on an adventure, it gives me great inspiration. So, I've had plenty to keep me entertained at the bus stop.

Monday was rather uneventful. Only two things of note: one was looking out the window to see two hooded figures cloaked in black complete with fake knives and "scream" masks chasing after surfers. . .that was pretty random. The other was when the next step in my project was successful--in a long line of lucky successes--and Cheryl turned to me and said "Did you know you were really good at this?"

No, I didn't. Last year at OSU had me thinking I was completely inept. . .I guess I've learned alot. I've still got alot of learning left to do! I've really understood so much of what I've been doing and accomplishing. . .things seem alot less scary these days. . .and I'm beginning to fall in love with my work all over again. And that's a big relief.

Tuesday. . today. .also uneventful. Such is work! wake up, do chores, go to work, come home, eat, sleep. Repeat.


"

GOOD JOB BRAIN!

Well, dear Princess prettypaws, being a purebred siamese cat and therefore not fixed, is in heat. So here's another first in my life, watching a cat go absolutely crazy running around and rolling around and literally SCREAMING at all hours of the night. It's a little disturbing, as she often sounds like a small child being strangled. Yeah. Poor thing, all cooped up in that house with no boyfriend!

My dreams, once I got to sleep--had to shut the door so Princess didn't come in--were pretty neat. I had my first lucid dreaming experience, where I was sitting at a cafe table with Dave D. And it was like I just "woke up" in the dream, look around, and was just amazed. I was awake inside my dream! It was like breathing underwater, if that makes any sense. I asked Dave, in the dream, if he knew what this was. . .I really felt like I was actually talking with him, over the thousands of miles. Heck, maybe I was. Then again, maybe I was just dreaming. Doesn't matter. It was a fantastic experience, and I felt like I had at least five minutes with this person I miss a heck of alot. If I'm crazy, I hope I never get sane.

Plans for today include chatting online for awhile, and then heading over to the city-sized Ala Moana Shopping Center for some hardcore window shopping. Then home again for whatever I feel like.

I think there may indeed be some magic here in Hawaii--so much is happening, so much is being healed, and man who could ask for a better adventure? This really is a great vacation/internship. It's good to feel good, and there's a great swell on the ocean today, so the surfers are very happy too. Although five-foot waves look a little scary to me.. . .I'll be happy for them :)

Take the What High School
Stereotype Are You? quiz, by Angel.

Well, I can't help but want to try out a quiz after I see it done. SO, yes, I was a geek in highschool. Someday, if I ever write my memoirs, I want to entitle them, "The Dungeon Master's Girlfriend"

Maybe. But anyway, I'm still a geek. That hasn't changed and I'm glad, because I think it is by far one of the most fun existences in the world. But maybe that's just because I'm a girl and my geek status doesn't change how easily I can.. . "get a date". . . if it did, maybe I'd think twice about it. It took me a long time to be ok with being geeky, so dammit I'm going to enjoy it. And get it on as much as possible. Ok, I'm not going to think these thoughts. . .bah. damn brain. Damn scrambled porn.

Today is America's birthday, and yet still I came to work, because there really isn't alot else to do, and it's tempting to get more work done when it's an option. A geek and a hardworker. Dear lord. That's me. Got up late--at 9Am--and did my chores and made a chickpea salad for the barbeque tonight. . .I'll eat it if no one else will.

My travels to work brought me two interesting experiences. The first was a Japanese tourist with one of those poorly-worded english language shirts. This one was baby pink with blue letters, and it said "Touching is love, love is feeling, love is believe." It entertained me enough to record it in my journal for posterity.

In other recent events, I got bugged by a guy for the first time since I've gotten hear, and it wasn't even traumatic. I was walking the long and winding road past the fish warehouse (where all the fish gets dropped off every day and then shipped off around the island) and some guy in a white truck kindly asked me if I wanted a ride. I did my best to be nice but still say no. He drived on up the road, and when I passed his parked car he yelled "hello!"

I like this city. Even if guys do bug you, it isn't a "hey, young lady how you'd doin'" in a lecherous manner sort of thing. Just people wanting to meet you, being nice about it. I don't know wether to chalk it up to the holiday or my looking dressed up slightly, but it doesn't matter. Once again, I am affirmed in believing this city to be a grreat place!

So, other than that, not alot to report. Cheryl found an apartment, so she gets to keep her doggy with her. She gave me a hug and was very happy for five minutes, and then more worries settled in. Such is her life, apparently. Oh well! I'll just dream of coming back to Hiram, and enjoy my tropical paradise in the meantime.

Buffy Tonite!

At least I hope so. Can't always count on this crazy hawaiian tv to deliver on time.

Not much has really occurred since sunday, but I had some time off so I thought I would bring the weblog up to speed.

I am now the proud owner of a adult monthly bus pas! Hooray! Only took an hour round trip to get to the silly 7-eleven that sold it! Oh well, I bribed myself with an aloha pineapple jamba juice (a smoothie). So happy and cold of tongue am I. Although now I'm sitting back in the lab, wondering if I should actually do work that will get me home more quickly, but will ultimately involve more walking. Should've brought a bike.

At this point let me say, once again, that Alice is awesome. She's meeting all sorts of famous people and having lots of fun adventures. Friends you can trust and talk to are precious indeed, and to have them be super cool too? well, those people are even rarer gems.

I've tried to cheer up Cheryl by getting her a birthday present: some pretty glass fridge magnets and a little book on margaritas--she's a professed "margarita snob." And it seemed to cheer her up a bit, which was well worth the walk to Borders.

For dinner last night, I made Japanese eggplant sauteed in garlic with lightly cooked spinach. . . .I about keeled over when this weird experiment actually looked really good, especially compared to Carl's ramen noodles. It even tasted good. Maybe there's hope for me yet as a cook. I sat down and watched "Witchblade" and found it to be quite enjoyable--when havent' I found girls kicking butt enjoyable?--but the claim that this show is as good as Buffy is VERY FALSE. But at least there's the strange swarthy guy who follows the lead lady around making weird, cryptic comments and wearing a cape. That's entertainment enough :)