My test writing dilligence was rewarded by a computer crash when I was 2/3 through the document. And no I didn't save it.

I guess I was a day early for Michelle's birthday. Chalk it up to celebrating a day early last year and my spotty use of my pda.

I came to the pc lab down the street from my apartment in Seoul to prepare my classes tomorrow. I've now been here for an hour, and have accomplished exactly nothing. Well, I've looked at lots of pictures of folks back home and read up on my Canada.com news, but that doesn't amount to much. And it certainly doesn't equal the test I'm supposed to be making for my hellians. I shouldn't call them that.

I have one bad class in my new job. It's a class of 10 kids, all in 5th or 6th grade. There are 4 girls and 6 boys, and all the hormones are a-raging. Just when they get to one degree shy of the disruptive behaviors that would cause me to either yell at them, kick them out, or get a teacher who can yell at them in Korean, they do something cute or smart or funny, meaning that I can't do anything but get back to the lesson. It's so frusterating. But at least they can understand 1/4 of what I say, unlike the kids at most schools. I think my attitude with them just has to be a bit more relaxed. I bribed them with candy today. That happens a lot. And I think the test will be open book - but only for the kids who did their homework. So I guess I should write that test...

Hmmmmm... Friends must all be busy salivating over sushi they'll be having later today. Too busy to blog. Thinking about salmon. Mmmmmm, salmon. Stupid practically salmon-free Korea... and bad sushi too.

Happy birthday to Michelle Mccann. Today she turns 25 years old. She's one of my friends that has actually accomplished some pretty impressive things so far in her life. The least of which was deciding that I was not evil incarnate. I still laugh every time I think about the conversations that must have gone on when I was declared enemy number 1 by Ms. Mccann. An honours undergrad, a soon to be approved MA, a President of the GSA, an organizer of judicial conferences, a former Tory sellout (former because you don't get to keep the full on sellout title when you boldly criticize the provincial budget your boss just announced on the radio, and well, with the position change it isn't as much of a sellout job). But wouldn't you like to know why she hated me so?

And so the story goes: I finally gave into my brother's pressure to run for a position with the Students' Union at U of C. Ok, well, the academic commission race hadn't filled up after the deadline, which gave us procrastinators and undecideds a bit of a second chance, but who's really counting? Had myself and 4 others not decided to turn in our forms that day, Nic Porco, Michelle's Chosen One, would have been acclaimed to the esteemed office of Academic Commissioner. Grand plans were crimped, however, when it became evident that there would in fact be an election - one for which our grand strategist was not quite yet prepared (as she was working long hours at a *reputable* publication in order to buy large quantities of milk and support the U of C Ancillary Services slush fund through monthly payments of $650). It is rumored that after my posters went up around campus Michelle received a somewhat panicked phone call from one Mr. Porco regarding the readiness of his own campaign... I can only imagine what they looked like. Neither Michelle nor Nic, nor any others involved will show me a copy.

Because there were 4 spots up for grabs in the election things were never really harrowing. Everyone knew that I wouldn't be taking Nic's spot, there were many others open. And yet, there was this underlying aggressiveness in every word that was said, in every look that was by Ms. Mccann that alerted me to my status as a threat to her grand plan for Nic's greatness. I, therefore, signed up for every committee that Nic did, not allowing her a moment's respite until well into the fall when I made it clear that 'twas not the VPA's office that I was after. Even then there was that one panicked lunch, oh you two know the one I'm talking about...

So here's to you Michelle, on this grand day in your life I ask only that you look back and remember the good times together. All of those pitchers at Max's, plotting and scheming, among other things. And then there was the Den, but it was never the same. The patio in varsity, bottles of wine, cats, cars on the lawn, and gazebos. The ya-yas. Making Andrea cry. Not that I had anything to do with that, I just like to think about it occasionally, and it doesn't make me a bad person. Yamato. Doors falling off vans in parking lots. Crows in campsites. And the tears, the circuit, and the fights.

There's just one more memory to call up, my darling. Remember always, no, don't ever let it slip your mind, that you had me wrong at first. One of only 2, I believe. Trust those instincts for the next 25 years, but never let them keep you from seeing your friends.

I always think about hot pockets when people start talking about the economy.


George W. Bush - President of The United States of
America
You are as sneaky as you are dimwitted. You have
an "aw shucks" down home feel about
you, but are quite devious when you want to be.
Easily lead and more of a follower, you do as
instructed with little complaint. Big words
puzzle you, and public policy frusterates you.
You believe the world would be a better place
if only everyone accepted Jesus.


What member of the Bush Administration are you?
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It's been a while. Here's my latest time waste.


Threat rating: extremely low. You may think you can
subvert the government, but if you should try
you will be smited mightily because God likes
us best.


What threat to the Bush administration are you?
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