Thursday, October 30, 2008

Beijing Huan Ying Ni... da da-a da da-da



We watched that music video in my Tingli (Listening) class a LOT.  And this iteration seems to be the VH1 Pop-Up Video version with people, places, and translated subtitles plus pinyin.  It's super-deluxe!  (The translations make the lyrics seem really awkward, even though they seem to be true to the words.  I guess it's one of those things where the flow gets lost in translation.  In Chinese, it's a very cute song.)

Today I tried to make an appointment with my academic advisor, but the list that should have been on his office door was not.  I asked the intern at the desk, and she agreed that there should be a list, but there wasn't anything she could do about it, and he, of course, was out.  

Then I walked over to the on-campus Starbucks (surprisingly less dangerous than you would think for me) in order to drop off Velvet Elvis and Blue Like Jazz for Edith (and probably Eryn) to read.  I hung around the counter talking to E and E for over an hour.  My friend Patrick was also working, so we all had a good chat.  I'm hoping to go to Portland on Spring Break with E and E.  That is, if things work out money-wise.  (Last year they road-tripped to Boston to see a band play and stopped at every coffeeshop between here and there.)

They're moving to Chicago after the spring semester so Edith can go to U of Illinois's Physical Therapy school.  That's like watching a carnival move on to the next town.  I'm sure to miss them.  Eryn's going with because they're best friends, and jobs happen everywhere.  I think it's kind of sweet.  

I wanted to hang out with my fledgling friend, Ryan, but we didn't sync up.  I think he called me (unknown number), but my phone would not communicate back to that number.  I tried calling several times, and I texted, but it all bounced.  I'll try again tomorrow, maybe.

This weekend is Hallowe'en, and I feel a bit of a fuddy-duddy because I am not dressing up or really celebrating.  I just don't feel it.  I kind of don't want to celebrate the night when spirits have free reign.  Even if I don't believe in that kind of spiritual free-for-all, I definitely believe in malevolent spirits, and I'd like to not celebrate them.  I know Fall Fests and stuff are springing up, and they're fine, but I don't know.

You know what else I don't know?  This election.  You know that margin of swayable voters CNN and Fox News keeps squalling about?  It's me.  The problem, of course, is that I think both party nominees are fatheads, and it puts me in the predicament of not wanting to support anyone.  And I don't believe in voting "against" someone by voting for their opponent.  Votes are all affirmative.  That's how it works.  Who knew responsible civics was so taxing?  Pun intended.

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Lest I forget to mention it, I have a new job working for San Francisco Bread Company here in Conway.  It's a café, coffeeshop, and bakery, and I'll be working in the front taking orders, making drinks, etc.  I hope I enjoy it.  The pay is a lot less than my other job (which I am not quitting, since I don't really work anyway), but I don't have to burn half a tank to get there, either, so it easily evens out.

T

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