APPLE BALLS!!!

Late summer is, by far, Samantha's favorite time of year. That can be explained in two words: Apple balls! You see, we have an apple orchard and, as wormy as they are, we never eat them. That means they fall to the ground and are a perfect size to fit into Samantha's mouth. Meaning, there are more balls to throw for her to chase than she knows what to do with. I think Samantha's version of doggy heaven will be endless fields of apple balls and plenty of people to throw them for her.

I had her running back and forth like the energizer bunny across the yard. I'd throw one in one direction and she's go full speed after it. Then, soon as she picked it up in her mouth, I'd throw another one in the opposite direction and she's zoom another good 200 feet in order to get it. Rinse, repeat. End result, a golden retriever who has run about a half mile and who is panting like mad and a circle under the main apple trees quite denuded of apple balls since they are strewn all over the yard.

The time of apple balls means that we also have to check her mouth to make sure there is not a half rotten wormy apple that she has tried to smuggle inside the house. But it's worth it. She is sooo disappointed when all the apple balls rot away.

But here is a list of thirty of Samantha's simple pleasures in life:

1. Eating frosted mini wheats hand fed for breakfast each morning (no matter that it's bad doggy manners.... )

2. Having Grammy wound completely around her paw - hence number 1.

3. Getting to sleep in any bed she wants despite flees and shedding.

4. Tummy rubs

5. APPLE BALLS!!!

6. Sitting on top of Grandpa's head whenever there is a thunderstorm because she's scared of the lightning (plus she gets lots of petting and reassurance)

7. Two words: APPLE BALLS!!

8. Trash cans to dive in even though she knows she is not allowed.

9. Duckie 1 (so loved it is missing its stuffing)

10. Duckie 2 (has stuffing and still squeaks)

11. Long green santa squeak/throw toy

12. APPLE BALLS!!!

13. The crotches to Momma's undies (I have lost more underwear to this dog than the Doctor has fought Daleks...)

14. Socks which get carried around everywhere.

15. Toilet seats left up so she can drink at her leisure.

16. Table scraps thanks to Grammy.

17. Two cats to chase around who even... sometimes... pretend to be intimidated

18.APPLE BALLS!!!

19. Comfy couches and overstuffed chairs to lounge upon and look alluring on.

20. A big yard that she can explore (when she behaves and comes when called and... when she does not)

21. People who chase after me amusingly when I decide I don't want to go back inside.

22. APPLE BALLS!!!

23. Having folks come home at the end of the day so she can look cute and grin at them (and pee. Peeing is always good)

24. More soup bones to chew on than Momma has underwear (did I mention she EATS mine?)

25. Playing kickball in the yard in all seasons.

26. APPLE BALLS!!!

27. Romping in the snow.

28. Riding in the car to pick Grammy up from work.

29. Getting a milk bone from the bank teller each time Grammy takes her to do the drive through banking.

30. APPLE BALLS!!!

Operation: Move Our Asses to Columbus!

It's been... well, quite awhile since I posted here. Some things have happened - Doctor Mew disappeared and my aunt and grandmother passed on in the fall. But nothing really too noteworthy aside from that has happened and those things were rather too personal to just blog about where anyone can read. I've mainly been enduring and making Gaia in my little basement hideaway.

However, that has changed over the past couple of weeks. Christina Boyd (Desedemona, McCall, Gimpy from Gaia and my adopted little sister of about a decade now) has submitted her resume to a dog training company down in Columbus and it looks promising. We get along extremely well so I have decided that, by hell or high water, I'm going to find myself a job down there too and we'll be roomies. We get along famously and, as long as we each get a bedroom, we shouldn't end up murdering one another in our insanity. Plus, she's ALMOST as crazy about audiodrama and Doctor Who as I am. Bless her, she's got a really good idea for her own show and wants to mix and run it just like I run Gaia. Poor innocent thing has not a CLUE what the hell she'll REALLY be getting herself into (I love you, Gimpy!) and wants me to teach her to mix. She just needs to get her lessons done. Heeee!

Anyway, I've been putting applications in like mad via Monster.com and craigslist. You know a city is dead when even the JOB scammers avoid it. Craigslist is spotty and in Columbus most are scams. In Cleveland a scam is an endangered species almost more rare than an actual job. So, I have REALLY got to get OUT of Cleveland. I've told you all before that Cleveland is dead but it REALLY is. That's one of the amusing things about my making it the capital of the Confederation 500 years in the future.

I've been on two interviews in Columbus. The first one decided not to call me in for the second interview. Their loss. I don't really want to sell marketing strategies anyway. The second one was at a Preschool and they said they will be calling me back for a second interview. That same day (Wednesday last) I had a delightful sushi lunch with W. Ralph Walters AKA THE Zombie Astronaut of the Frequency of Fear (who also will show up in Gaia from Ep 14 on). He's quite as insane as he is on his podcast - a sheer delight. Anyway, Christina is waiting to hear back for an interview time for her job and I'm waiting to hear on my second interview so we're both getting nervous and all that - good nervous though. I've also put in about 4 other child care job apps in tonight - one which is in the same general area as the first Preschool. I think that SOMETHING is going to pan out.

So, in the next two weeks Christina and I should know more about our job situation. My GUT (or maybe wishful thinking) is telling me she'll get her dog job and I'll get my Preschool job and that we all might be in an apartment or townhouse (we really want a townhouse) by this time next month. So THAT is our big goal - by Mid March be moved (or at the least have a for sure job landed and the move be in progress).

Speaking of apartments and townhouses we have also been pouring over apartmentguide.com and apartments.com looking at all sorts of apartment buildings and townhouses in our price range. It's quite a lot of fun, really. I'm starting to get a bit afraid that I'm going domestic... We need ourselves a sexy houseboy with a really nice... ahem... Yes, wishful thinking. I wonder how sexy the men are in Columbus... Hey, we're both single!

It's fun looking at price ranges, floor layouts, and especially pictures and walkthroughs. We both want a dog (eventually! Eventually! Like MONTHS and MONTHS from now so stop rolling your eyes! I know you are!) so pets being allowed is one big requirement. Also being close to where I will eventually work is another as I don't have a car yet. Le sigh. That will be one thing I will be saving up for as soon as possible once we get established. One place we both like is a two bedroom townhouse right next to this big nature preserve. *happy sigh*

I'm also making list of things I have to pack into the U-haul eventually:

Computer - check (obviously)
Computer desk - check (again obviously)
TV + stereo + DVD + entertainment center - check
flowery dishes - check
spice rack - check Had the dishes and spice rack for YEARS
nice cushy bed - check
posters for wall - check
little bookcase - check
throw rugs - check
couch - check
towels - check
clothing - check or I'd be going around nekkid!
Microwave - check (somewhere)

Things Christina Has:

Twin Bed
TV
Desk
Dresser
Couch from Grandma
Bookcase
Laptop
Computer desk
A bazillion Breyer Horses
Hope Chest (don't have an inventory there)
Microwave

Needed to buy:
new dresser (mine is falling apart)
plastic bins for folding clothes til I can get said dresser
kitchen table (or folding card table)
kitchen chairs
coffee table
big bookcase for mountain of books (though these can stay in boxes at first)
silverware
glasses
pots and pans
knives
cell phone
Yeti mic or portable digital recorder (yeah right but SOMEDAY BY GOD!)
laundry baskets + hampers
more twinkle lights (better than lamps all over and take less power than ceiling lamps. Plus they look BLOODY COOL)
glow in the dark stars for bedroom ceiling (have these at home and they are just too fun!)
Clothes washer and dryer (eventually if we have the hookups which we should in a townhouse)
Frige (only if we are unlucky and have an apartment without one)
Sexy pinup poster of David Tennant to put on the inside of the bathroom door to lust over (I'm halfway serious)
Grill for the patio/balcony (when it gets warm)
crock pot

As Christina says, Salvation Army shall be our friend! I am looking forward to poking through there and finding some cheap stuff in cool condition. Our apartment is going to be a mishmash of stuff where nothing matches. It just might turn out damn cool! And, also as Chris says, as long as the lines match you can cover stuff with covers and make it look however you like. We'll probably also keep an eye out on craigslist for moving sales and garage sales and the like. Flea markets would be fun too!

So, to Ralph and all the rest of you in the audiodrama community that are in Columbus, beware, cause two crazy audiodrama ladies are moving into your neighborhood! Monthly audiodrama/gaming/Who/recording parties at our place! And, if you want to help us move in when the time comes we'll order pizza and beer!

A Thunderstorm Rescue

"Doctor!," called a familiar voice out into the night. He flicked his ears and glanced up at the sky overhead, lightning flickered through the air and thunder rumbled.

"Doctor!" the voice called again. The voice, of course, was that of his companion, Elaine. She thought of herself as the boss but even she had the wisdom to acknowledge him a true Time Kitty. She was calling him to come inside. His original plan was to stay out all night and spy on the workings of those strange alien creatures called birds. They were sleeping and he would have a better chance of sneaking up on them and figuring out what their plans were for the invasion. He hadn't had much of a chance to ferret out their evil intentions while in Korea - living in an apartment does limit your exposure to the outside world. He knew what birds were, of course. He was a Time Kitty. He pretty much knew everything - or that was what the world was supposed to think. But you know those Americans. They always were very strange and while Cleveland might appear to be a quiet city where NOTHING ever happened and Painesville a quiet little town on the outskirts... appearances could be deceiving. It was the perfect place to launch an invasion because it was the last place anyone would expect. People would expect the Browns to win a Super Bowl before they'd expect alien birds to invade.

"Doctor!" The Doctor twitched his tail in annoyance just as thunder crashed again overhead. Yes, yes, she was probably right. If he didn't hurry he was going to get very very wet. The bloody alien birds would just have to wait. He'd take his sonic mouse and infiltrate them with a perception filter tomorrow. He set out for the front door as the storm came closer and closer.

Of course, just like most Companions, when you REALLY wanted them to stay put and be useful they were nowhere in sight. Of course, Elaine was NOT at the door and it was securely shut he saw JUST as the sky opened up and torrents of rain fell down from the heavens. In a matter of seconds he was not just a Time Kitty. He was a very wet and disgusted Time Kitty. He made a dash for the bushes and crouched under them as the storm continued. Maybe it wasn't a normal storm... Perhaps the birds were using it as a cover for aerial manuvers and the lightning was really weapons fire. He'd have to add it to his list of possibilities if he ever got dry again.

"Doctor!" Elaine called as she opened up the door!

"Mew!" he called. He was soaking wet and he was not about to leave the relative shelter of his bush. She wasn't there to hold open the door when he was ready to come in so she could just come out and get him.

"Doctor!"

"Mew!"

Elaine walked out the door in her kitty cat night gown, bare feet, and with a hot pink umbrella. The storm was really blowing now with lightning flashes every few seconds and enough water falling down to refill the Great Lakes in nothing flat.

"Doctor!"

"Mew!"

Of course, she walked to the end of the walkway and peered into the bushes.... just the bushes in the opposite direction from where he was. She called into the bushes, holding her hand out for a few more moments before giving it up and going back inside the house. That woman really does need to heed Time Kitty telepathy better. He was over HERE, thank you, and getting wetter every second! Fine Companion she made!

"Doctor!"

"Mew!"

She was back, still in bare feet, a now very wet kitty cat nightie, and pink umbrella. This time she had a flash light. Yet, again, she went in the WRONG direction, pointing her flashlight at the wrong bloody bushes and calling for him. Blasted Americans!

"MEW!"

She turned around and started calling for him. She finally seemed to have gotten the right idea since she started walking down the walkway towards him, feet splashing through puddles and pointing her flashlight at the right direction.

"Doctor!"

"Mew!"

"There you are!" she called, in relief and amusement. She reached down under the bushes and pulled him out by the scruff of his neck. He loudly mewed in protest. He was a Time Kitty and in charge of this operation! Alien birds were probably watching their every move looking for a weakness and she had the gall to appear in kitty cat pajamas with a hot pink umbrella and drag him out by his scruff? That was NOT dignified! You can't show any weakness to those birds! You have to razzle dazzle them with technobabble and timey wimey pazazz and kitty cat pajamas and looking like a drowned rat do NOT cut it!

"Mew!" he said, trying to convey his outrage as she scampered, laughing back into the house with him under one arm. She seemed to think this whole adventure was highly amusing. Bloody Americans. He WOULD have to have a crazy cat lady as a Companion.

She showed him off in all his mortified bedraggleness to her Mom, laughing and relaying the whole adventure before grabbing some towels - one of them pink, of course - and heading back to her basement dungeon. After vigorous application of the pink towel (pink! HONESTLY! Time Kitties are NOT pink, woman! If we must have a color we choose blue! NOT PINK!) he was still bedraggled but also very fluffy and still not amused.

It was all her fault for not being there when he was ready to come in, he thought to himself as he hurried groomed himself, trying to regain the tattered fragments of his dignity. At least his prior regeneration was due to make a visit in a few days. Then perhaps they would be able to figure out what went wrong and get him back into his proper form - preferably still ginger and with certain manly bits fully intact and operational. Nobody could EVER know that the Doctor had gotten... neutered... If the Daleks and Cybermen - or even worse - Captain Jack (not the kitty one) found out he would never live it down. He shuddered and groomed himself faster, curling up on his blanket. He would sleep and pretend this whole adventure was nothing but a dream. Tomorrow, however, he would get to the bottom of what those birds were up to. Something nefarious he was sure... But for now... he yawned.... it was time for a Time Kitty cat nap.

Mom

Well, today is Mother's Day and I want to say a bit about my Mom. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Mom is her cooking. All the time growing up we always had the most fantastic dinners. She was a stay at home Mom cause she didn't want to miss a thing and always made sure that we got to our various activities on time. By us, I mean my little brother and I. Her meals ran the gamut from her roast chicken and pot roasts to creme brulee (yes, Mom, I know I probably spelled that wrong) and things she just dreamt up. Food has always been a feature in our house and she is famous for it all over the neighborhood. All the kids we grew up with always say we will get Vickie Barrett to do the catering for our weddings. They all know how good her cooking is cause she always makes enough to feed an army. The boys all know to come around at dinner time and just pull up a chair. Nobody leaves our house hungry because she'll make sure you get second and third helpings. If it wasn't for my high metabolism I would be as round as a Sumo wrestler. My low weight has been Mom's despair for years now.

Another thing about my Mom is just how hard she works. She's always taken on the weights of the whole family and stresses ENDLESSLY. She's always worrying but she's also always willing to lend a helping hand when anyone's in need. She's been working even harder later with my sick Aunt and the economy being as it is. But, still, she always has a smile and tries to make things special. She always tries to make room for one more even when perhaps she shouldn't.

She works hard but she can also play hard too. She loves to dance and it is so cute to watch her dancing in the kitchen some nights before a party or after dinner or just for the hell of it. She LOVES 50s and 60s music and will just shake her booty.

She always looks fantastic too. She never leaves the house without looking like a fashion plate.

We've had a lot of family vacations over the years but our two big vacation spots have always been Allegany State Park and Rehobath Beach in Deleware. At the former we all go rustic in winter through camping in cabins that had wood stoves for heating (well used to. Not anymore). It's always been fun watching Mom scream her head off snowtubing down a hill or falling down (not all the time) cross-country skiing. At the latter we go to the beach, swim, play on the boardwalk, and eat Maryland blue crab with Bay Seasoning. We didn't go on a ton of vacations but they always were memorable.

My Mom's always encouraged me to go for my dreams and push the limits. In 8th grade she put me alone on a plane to London to visit my school friend who had moved to Cambridge. The next year she sent me back to Europe for a trip with my French class. Then in 2004 and 2005 she sent me off to Alaska for the summers. And, more recently, she sent me off to South Korea for 6 months. She's also supported me in my efforts with Gaia and now, in my efforts to turn it into a book. She's used to me coming up with wild scheme after wild scheme and only sometimes tries to bring me back down to earth.

So, here's to you, Mom. I love you. You're the greatest. You're the bomb. You're Doctor Mew's meow. You're a Rock Star. You're the best. You're my Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

Doctor Mew: A Feline Regeneration

The Doctor lay on a windowsill staring down at the black and white border collie staring at him from the floor five feet away. It was not enough that he had regenerated after that frightful business he REALLY preferred NOT to think about. BUT, to top it off, for some reason unknown to him he had regenerated into a CAT of all things. He sighed on his windowsill. The one time he was actually ginger he had paws, fur, and a tail.

Something certainly had gone wrong with this regeneration – obviously. It was incredibly hard to work his Tardis with paws and jumping all over the console. At least he had managed to fix the Chameleon circuit so that his Tardis looked like a cat carrier and even could be used like one unless he pressed the exact right spots to reveal the control room. But he hadn’t yet managed a way to actually fly it to go anywhere. So, here he was stuck as a cat in Seoul Korea with a Tardis that couldn’t fly anywhere.

He had regenerated as a kitten on the streets where he had been found by this one woman. It had taken him awhile to escape but then he had been recaptured again. Next he had become part of Animal Rescue Korea. He lived in a foster home for awhile with several other cats and a little dog before he was adopted out. There were some aspects of being a cat he rather liked – sleeping, playing, and though he would never admit it, catnip. The food was atrocious though. Three months later he was taken to another foster home and then… yesterday.

Yesterday this mad American woman with long brown hair and blue eyes had come to his foster home. He had paid close attention to her talk with his foster mother and past owner (though he would NEVER admit to being owned. The very thought was ridiculous) and it seemed she was going to take him home with her to Seoul. She even had a new name for him – Doctor Mew. Disgustingly diminutive but perhaps she was mildly psychic enough to see through to his true self. It was something to think about and she was probably worth some effort to cultivate. But, there was also the more likely possibility that she was just one of those many people who was a FAN. But living with a fan would be better than living with Scottish women who were NOT fans. He could perhaps use his touch telepathy to influence her into helping him.

So, he had been bottled into his Tardis (making sure it was completely disguised) along with some of his cat toys (including a ribbon toy he was rather fond of) and carried off. He was rather indignant at all the noise and the fact that this Elaine woman had called him fat. He was NOT fat and this entire situation was not to be born! Traveling in such a manner was NOT how it should be. If only he could get his Tardis working again. It was noisy, bumpy, smelly, and long. Plus, these cat instincts he was always having to deal with were telling him to run, run, run. Eventually, he’d exhausted himself and fell asleep pressed up against Elaine’s hand. It was possible she could be Companion material afterall.

Eventually, after two long subway rides, several walks, and the KTX train, they had arrived at the apartment. He was more than ready to get out of the Tardis and explore a bit. Only one problem, he heard barking. And it wasn’t little dog barking, it was a BIG dog. Just his luck. Fan or telepathic as she might be she had a DOG. At least, as he found several minutes later as he peeked out at the dog through the Tardis mesh door on the way to the bedroom, the dog was kept crated.

Elaine unzipped the door of the Tardis and he climbed out, rather stiffly since it had been a long trip and set out to explore the room. One of the first things he heard was a low growl and hiss from under the bed. He quickly jumped down and poked his head underneath. There he saw a black and white cat, obviously scared, cowered in the corner growling and hissing at him. Elaine was talking softly to the cat, peering under the bed herself and snapping pictures left and right. Yep, she was a fan alright.

“Good boy, Captain Jack. It’s alright,” she murmured.

Captain Jack? Could it be? No, it was impossible! He walked forwards a bit to check.
“Jack, is that you? It’s me, the Doctor! I’ve regenerated into a cat of all things. Dreadfully inconvenient, I must say. Is it really you?,” the Doctor said in cat language.

“Back strange cat or feel my claws!” Captain Jack spat, firing a warning volley.

“Ooops! My mistake then. I’ll just leave you to it, shall I? I’m here if you want to talk later. I’m the Doctor. I’m here to help. I’m not really a cat at all – or I shouldn’t be. I’m a Time Lord. Something went wrong with my regener-“

“GET BACK!” hissed the black and white cat.

“Oh alright. I’ll go explore the rest of this place instead.

The litterbox was ready. Oh how he HATED using those. No privacy whatsoever. Why did it have to be pink? He was a boy cat even though he hadn’t been able to keep them from taking him to the vet and – well, he really was trying NOT to think about it. Hopefully that was one thing that would get fixed in his next regeneration.

He was very cautious in his explorations. One thing he had learned in over 900 years of travel in space and time was it paid to be cautious cause you never knew what you would find when you stepped out of the Tardis door. He tried to ignore Elaine as she cooed over him and recorded his explorations with that camera of hers and when she tried to get him to play with cat toys. There were more important things to figure out. Like, were there aliens present…

No aliens under the desk and certainly none under the bed. It seemed safe so far… That woman liked her comfort. She uses an overstuffed leather chair as a computer chair. Computer! And a window! Time to take a good look through it. Easy as pie! Time to jump! Allons-y!

“Damn! It’s dark outside! But at least Elaine’s good enough to move the blinds so I can see out easier,” he murmured to himself. “Time to check out the computer.”

He paced over behind the computer, careful to sniff at every connection and placed his paws so as to not disturb the wires.

“Fairly basic setup, Elaine, but I can make use of this, I think,” he said, with a glance at her over his shoulder. “You really can put the camera away.” Of course, she didn’t understand him and kept filming anyway. She looked exhausted and was wearing the silliest red and black cat sweater.

“HEY!” he protested as she picked him up and clambered over the bed, almost dropping him a couple times.

“You are fat, Doctor, and shall be going on a diet,” she informed him.

“I am NOT fat!” he corrected her but she didn’t seem to hear him as she placed him up on top of her wardrobe.

“Well! This is more like it. I can see the whole room from here! Including the computer screen. I rather like this!” he exclaimed. He peered over the edge at the computer screen. There at the front was a program called Skype and on it was a name he recognized. David Ault.

“David AULT?!” he exclaimed in surprise. That was a name he had used in a past regeneration. Elaine… “Oh NO! She couldn’t be THAT Elaine. She had driven me batty! And now I am LIVING with her?! She’s definitely a fan. I had thought she looked familiar.” But that regeneration had been years back – his memories of anything before being a cat were a bit fuzzy. Two versions of him living on the planet at once… “This could be an opportunity! I know you’re not supposed to go back on your own timeline but this is an emergency!”

A quick jump off the wardrobe onto the Return key did the trick. The call was being made. “Please be there! David! Wake up! It’s me… well… you… in the future! I’m stuck as a cat! Get your Tardis over here and HELP me!”

But, it was to no avail though Elaine thought it hilarious. David was not on skype and his pleas for help went nowhere. “Gah! Will NOTHING go right?!”

The rest of the evening was spent eating wet cat food on the wardrobe top (better than kibble at least even though it was still vile), laying on ledges, using the litterbox (he could NOT believe she took pictures), and playing with toys just to appease Elaine. That’s what he told himself. He was not about to truly admit that he liked catnip and chasing after feather toys. Elaine kept on taking pictures and chatting with her friends until about one AM – including this Scottish fellow named Chris and this girl named Kelsey.

Elaine went to sleep at one. She was exhausted. Of course she brought him onto the bed with her. He fell asleep (or seemed to) by her feet for awhile. In reality he lay there contemplating his predicament and making plans. He meowed and kept meowing. Perhaps if he meowed enough with the meows being psychically augmented she would be able to understand… Oooo! He peeked at the screen. David was on! If he could wake her up and get her to call him he might get a message through. He meowed… and he meowed… And she woke up and went to the computer like always. Of course, she talked with David… but, no call.

“Blast it! I can’t get my secret message out through texts! Well, there’s always next time,” he consoled himself.

He tried his psychically augmented meows for a few more hours but, it had been a hard day and even Time Lords regenerated as cats need their rest. At about 6AM he stopped meowing, curled up into a ball, and went to sleep. Much to Elaine’s relief. This being a Companion to a Time Kitty was going to be a lot of work!

Let It Snow!

Well, this past long New Years weekend was pretty much the worst of my life. Being away from home, nothing going on really in Seoul that I could easily get to, combined with something else that I'm not going to talk about (so don't ask) to send me into a pretty bad depression for a few days. But a few things happened on Saturday that helped perk me up again. One I can't talk about as it is sort of Top Secret. The other is I finally told a good friend some things I had been wanting to say for a year now. What a relief!

The depression finally left completely (well almost. There's still a drop or two left) when I looked out my window and saw snow falling. I then got rather perky as I walked through the streets to school this morning in the middle of an Edinboro-style snowstorm. There was about 6 inches of snow coming down and even more is falling now, two hours later. All but 4 of my morning class students are gone and most of my kinderpeons haven't showed up either. I was hoping all of my one kindergarten class wouldn't show cause that would have meant I didn't have to teach three classes but even a load of only two of them is nice considering they are usually a BEAR of a class sometimes.

So, now, I am quite perky again. I REALLY needed this snowfall. I love snow. A snowy winter is my favorite season of the year. Give me a thick snowfall where the trees are covered in it and the branches look like fine white lace and I am on cloud 9. Once Thanksgiving comes I am ready to have snow on the ground and not have it leave until February is over. By that time I'm ready to have spring come again. I hate winters where there is little or no snow. It's so brown and grey and blah then. And it seems so much colder without snow. Snow changes everything. It turns the blah into a magical fantasyland and makes everything seem warm and wonderful no matter how cold it really is.

I walked to work with a big grin on my face and laughed to see people on their way to work carrying umbrellas to keep off the snow - not something you commonly see back home. There were snowplows and people shoveling snow off the sidewalks and storefronts. Though they didn't do too good a job on the roads or the sidewalks since the roads had a decent load of snow on them causing traffic to move to a crawl of maybe 5-10 mph and there was only a thin path to walk on the sidewalks with snow on both sides. But it was gorgeous. The trees had a full load of snow (and by stopping to brush off some books and tests I managed to narrowly avoid getting a complete avalanche of snow falling onto my head from some pines above) and their branche were like lace and popcorn. It was cold but not too cold and I got pleasantly winded and thirsty from running through it (snapping pictures at every opportunity like a tourist) to school. I got a bun at the bakery (the bakery lady knows my order by heart now and always hurries to get me one the moment I get in the door) and hurried to school.

Needless to say I have been bouncing around the school like one of those winter fairies from Disney's Fantasia dancing to the Nutcracker suite. I've got my neighbor Josh who sits next to me grumbling at me cause he's so blah and glum. If I try too hard to cheer him up I might make an enemy for life. Hehehehe.

A friend also said something this morning. Something to the effects of "You're only in the shadow that you cast upon yourself." He's right. So, here's my New Year's Resolution. No more being invisible. I'm going to get out there and see if I can shine somewhere outside of audiodramaland. I'm going to take Korea by storm. If I have a problem with someone I'm just going to tell them. I just have to start thinking differently and put some more effort in. I'm also not going to let anyone hurt me again like what happened over the weekend. Nobody has the right to hurt someone like that and it will NOT happen again. I'm done walking on eggs around people. I'm done being invisible. I'm done letting people make me feel bad about myself. And I'm done making myself feel bad about myself. I'm wonderful and it's time that this world started to see it. Elizabeth's not invisible and wouldn't let anyone treat her like she was. So, I'll just try thinking more like my space captain alter ego. Look out world! Here I come!


PS I just got word that there's no classes today after 3pm but we'll have to make them up on the 16th. It works cause I am seeing Avatar 3D on the 15th and Mycroft leaves home on the 17th. I get Doctor Mew this weekend and I have High Tea on the 10th. The 11th is my birthday. The rest of this month has things looking up! I'll get out there. Just wait and see!

Christmas in Korea

Christmas at home is what I have REALLY missed this year. I'm usually the soul of the Christmas spirit in my house. I'm the one crawling out on the roof to put up the twinkle lights. My Mom and I are the ones who really do the tree decorating. i was always the one who would get REALLY excited about Xmas cause it's my favorite day of the year. Nothing comes close. I love the overblown commercial Christmas. Christmas isn't about religion for me. It's about family, decorations, music, good will, and presents. Korea's Christmas is not about family. Christmas is for couples and kids (who barely even know about Santa. They don't know he lives in the North Pole and don't really know about the Reindeer). There are decorations out and about but for the most part, the holiday season in Korea has been just any other month. And, I've been alone for it for the most part except for a few outtings with my coworkers (Lotte World, Messiah, and XMas dinner) and Mycroft. So, overall, it's been a blah Christmas with almost no presents, few celebrations, and a teeny Christmas tree on top of Mycroft's crate (and I only have that cause it was here when I got here from a previous teacher). I've been rather depressed over most of it and I'm kind of glad it's over and I can start looking forward to next Christmas when at least I will be home for it.

Lotte World in December was cold and rainy but still fun. It's Korea's rather toned down and smaller version of Disneyland with most of it being indoors. I have pictures and such I'm going to post later once I find my camera (I THINK I left it at school). There were Christmas decorations and music and the best part was the stage show where they did a Christmas version of Cinderella. Watching Santa boogy down and breakdance with Cinderella was a riot I actually got on video. The rides were fun too and it was altogether a fun way to spend a free Thursday off.

Messiah was a delightful evening. A bunch of us from school went to listen to a full performance of Messiah. The US Ambassador to Korea actually was there in the audience but I didn't see her. There was a full orchestra and the soloists and choir were excellent. All together a most delightful experience which brought back memories of when I used to sing the Messiah at Christmas. Hearing some of the choir number was like revisiting old friends.

Christmas Eve Day was fun with the Christmas party and each of the Kinders was dressed up in a Santa suit. They sang, they did little plays, and then Santa came and gave each of them a present. All and all, very cute.

I did get a few presents, though. I got some Christmas cutout cookies Mom made from home and a pair of fun socks from a family friend which was most unexpected. And then, I got one last very unexpected Christmas present.

Christmas Dinner was at this Irish (and I DO mean Irish) pub in Itaewon. There was this big buffet of traditional Xmas foods including turkey, smoked salmon, mashed potatoes, bread and more. There was pumpkin pie and greenery and twinkle lights hung above the bar as well as a Christmas tree beside the buffet. Both stories were chocablock full of foreigners. It was very strange to see so many non-Koreans in one place. I'm used to being the only one except at school. It was also strange to hear English being spoken. I am used to, nowdays, having background Korean conversations around me more being like white noise. I don't understand what is being said so suddenly hearing English again all around is a bit of a surprise. For awhile I thought all the turkey would be gone by the time Hannah, Margaret, and I got to the buffet but they brought out more. Who would have thought chicken wings were a traditional Christmas food? They tasted good though. After we got our plates full we picked our way over to perch ourselves on bar stools around tables that were completely full. I was right by the window which wouldn't shut properly and let in a draft. It was quite nice considering how warm it was in that building. I got myself a mojito and we talked while I got pleasantly blurred. It was one strong mojito. Then, remember that unexpected Christmas present? Well, it started snowing! The one thing I had REALLY wanted was a white Christmas and it happened over Christmas dinner. I opened up that window and stuck my head outside into the snow and let out a cheer. It was great. It didn't snow hard and it wasn't more than a dusting but it was snow and that's all that counted.

I've spent the rest of the weekend watching Doctor Who, writing Gaia, mixing Who, and relaxing. I think I might make the trek out to Yongsan and seeing if I can at least reserve myself a ticket to Avatar in 3D IMAX. Not the best Christmas overall but it could have been worse.