I think I'm going to end my current job around May or June timeframe, and one of my many job searches was with this military intelligence detachment in Japan. I just happened to have kept in touch with some of the people that I've met when I went over there for this present job.
Got a reply from one of the guys in charge of that military detachment place in Japan and he has expressed an interest in me working there on assignment for 6 months. Not only would I get to use my Chinese skills for something more practical (translation), but I'll also get a chance to pick up some Japanese! (Not chicks, the language.)
But....I can't stand to not be around my GF and the pets for that long of a time again. This is a great opportunity for a new cultural and job experience though.
The GF and I are still mulling over this....stay tuned!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
And just when you think stuff like this don't happen anymore....
Comes a story like this....
Wad of Cash Found in New Orleans Home
March 21st, 2006 @ 7:48am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Trista Wright was spending her spring break cleaning out hurricane-damaged homes when she discovered some unusual papers among the moldy plaster board and debris.
"I started raking it out of the air conditioner vent. I thought it was garbage and I was going to shovel it up, but I bent down to pick it up, and it was a stack of $100 bills, and then more and more kept coming," the 19-year-old said Tuesday on CNN.
By an unofficial count, it was more than $30,000.
Wright and fellow students notified the organizers of their church mission, who told the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office.
The woman who owned the house, who has asked that she not be identified, was as shocked as Wright.
"She was speechless," said Wright, an Armstrong Atlantic State University student was among 175 Georgia college students spending their week off volunteering in the city's Arabi area.
Deputy Gary Adams verified the identity of the woman who owned the home.
Adams said it's not uncommon to find weapons or medications behind the walls of homes, but this was the biggest sum of hidden money he had heard of. "It's good to see someone find something like that and turn it over to proper authorities and the rightful owner," he said.
The homeowner said she suspects the money belonged to her father, who was wary of banks. The home had been in the family for generations, she said.
"I had my suspicions about the money at first, but once I met the family and talked to the woman, I have no doubt she's telling the truth," said Aaron Arledge, one of the organizers of the mission. "She said her father grew up during the Depression and must not have told anyone in the family about it before he died."
The one-story house was flooded to the eaves by Katrina and, aside from the hidden money, none of its contents could be saved, church officials said.
"To see that woman's face when we told her about the money, that's the kind of positive story that makes all the hard work worthwhile," said the Rev. Warren Jones Jr. of New Salem Baptist Church in the Ninth Ward, which has served as a base for church missions. "She said it was a miracle. And when you think about it, it was."
Haley Barton, a fellow student who was in the house with Wright, said there was never a question of keeping the money.
"I think that it's expected of us as young people, or people of any age this day, to go in and take it and not be faithful or trustworthy in turning it in, but that wasn't even an option for us," she said.
Courtesy of ksl.com
Wad of Cash Found in New Orleans Home
March 21st, 2006 @ 7:48am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Trista Wright was spending her spring break cleaning out hurricane-damaged homes when she discovered some unusual papers among the moldy plaster board and debris.
"I started raking it out of the air conditioner vent. I thought it was garbage and I was going to shovel it up, but I bent down to pick it up, and it was a stack of $100 bills, and then more and more kept coming," the 19-year-old said Tuesday on CNN.
By an unofficial count, it was more than $30,000.
Wright and fellow students notified the organizers of their church mission, who told the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office.
The woman who owned the house, who has asked that she not be identified, was as shocked as Wright.
"She was speechless," said Wright, an Armstrong Atlantic State University student was among 175 Georgia college students spending their week off volunteering in the city's Arabi area.
Deputy Gary Adams verified the identity of the woman who owned the home.
Adams said it's not uncommon to find weapons or medications behind the walls of homes, but this was the biggest sum of hidden money he had heard of. "It's good to see someone find something like that and turn it over to proper authorities and the rightful owner," he said.
The homeowner said she suspects the money belonged to her father, who was wary of banks. The home had been in the family for generations, she said.
"I had my suspicions about the money at first, but once I met the family and talked to the woman, I have no doubt she's telling the truth," said Aaron Arledge, one of the organizers of the mission. "She said her father grew up during the Depression and must not have told anyone in the family about it before he died."
The one-story house was flooded to the eaves by Katrina and, aside from the hidden money, none of its contents could be saved, church officials said.
"To see that woman's face when we told her about the money, that's the kind of positive story that makes all the hard work worthwhile," said the Rev. Warren Jones Jr. of New Salem Baptist Church in the Ninth Ward, which has served as a base for church missions. "She said it was a miracle. And when you think about it, it was."
Haley Barton, a fellow student who was in the house with Wright, said there was never a question of keeping the money.
"I think that it's expected of us as young people, or people of any age this day, to go in and take it and not be faithful or trustworthy in turning it in, but that wasn't even an option for us," she said.
Courtesy of ksl.com
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Random, Sunday post
My pillow makes me snore if I lay on the back of my head, the GF noticed. If I was really asleep, I would not really notice that I was snoring.
I was up for a while around 7 AM, with my mind so infused with how I'd hate to go back to work, the prospect of talking to my boss while holding my own positions. I was at a birthday party last night for a collegue of mine, and I could tell that my other supervisors have no clue of what has been going on in our little team. Oh heck, I just wanted to get this little part of my life over, done with and not look back!
Rest In Peace, Whisky the dog.
I've also got the greatest GF ever! 8 years and counting!
I was up for a while around 7 AM, with my mind so infused with how I'd hate to go back to work, the prospect of talking to my boss while holding my own positions. I was at a birthday party last night for a collegue of mine, and I could tell that my other supervisors have no clue of what has been going on in our little team. Oh heck, I just wanted to get this little part of my life over, done with and not look back!
Rest In Peace, Whisky the dog.
I've also got the greatest GF ever! 8 years and counting!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
What's happening
I recently took a four day visit to my folks in Houston and it was a good visit. My folks looked healthy, although they still do get tired a lot. My sister was there too, and there was a lot less tension between us this time, partly taken over with her PMS. You know how PMS is, when you have it, nothing would seem right.
We'd take the folks out to eat traditional Chinese breakfast, and some grocery shopping, then take them back home so they can nap, eat dinner, and ending their day with a 8 PM mahjong game. Grandpa is religious about his mahjong games.
I also took my seventeen year old cousin to the museum to see "Bodyworld 3". It was a exhibit of naked and dead people....really naked, as in skin stripped, then muscle, and some internal organs stripped. There was some controversies about the corpses purchased for the exhibition, and the allegation was that the exhibition sponsors used corpses of executed Chinese political prisoners, and purchased wholesale. To tell you the truth, I really couldn't tell whether or not the corpses were Asian, Caucasian,etc. I think once you get that stripped, it's really hard to tell the race. This German guy decided to take corpses, preserved them in some special way that the body will be "plasticized". He'd pose these bodies in different poses and display them to the public, supposedly to educate and inspire people about the wonders of the human body. I really suggest that everyone go and see the exhibit, should it come to your city.
I felt bad for the gf, who, while I was gone, was having a cold, her period, and all kinds of boredom all packed into 4 day. Yet she managed to make her work orientation and worked the rest of this week, and I highly commend her for that! Soon she'll have some $ for poker playing, and other fun things.
About work, let's just say that I'm now looking for something else. I think I've had about up to here. The folks that I work with are cool, for the most part, but it just feels harder for me to keep on staying there. My boss is becoming unclear in his intent and starting to become overbearing too. I have all the respect in the world for him, but I'm just not sure if continuing to work for him is a good idea. So wish me luck in finding my next gig!
I also am going to try to make this blog more exciting than it has been. It's a bad sign when I am thinking that way! My apologies to all and please stay tuned!
We'd take the folks out to eat traditional Chinese breakfast, and some grocery shopping, then take them back home so they can nap, eat dinner, and ending their day with a 8 PM mahjong game. Grandpa is religious about his mahjong games.
I also took my seventeen year old cousin to the museum to see "Bodyworld 3". It was a exhibit of naked and dead people....really naked, as in skin stripped, then muscle, and some internal organs stripped. There was some controversies about the corpses purchased for the exhibition, and the allegation was that the exhibition sponsors used corpses of executed Chinese political prisoners, and purchased wholesale. To tell you the truth, I really couldn't tell whether or not the corpses were Asian, Caucasian,etc. I think once you get that stripped, it's really hard to tell the race. This German guy decided to take corpses, preserved them in some special way that the body will be "plasticized". He'd pose these bodies in different poses and display them to the public, supposedly to educate and inspire people about the wonders of the human body. I really suggest that everyone go and see the exhibit, should it come to your city.
I felt bad for the gf, who, while I was gone, was having a cold, her period, and all kinds of boredom all packed into 4 day. Yet she managed to make her work orientation and worked the rest of this week, and I highly commend her for that! Soon she'll have some $ for poker playing, and other fun things.
About work, let's just say that I'm now looking for something else. I think I've had about up to here. The folks that I work with are cool, for the most part, but it just feels harder for me to keep on staying there. My boss is becoming unclear in his intent and starting to become overbearing too. I have all the respect in the world for him, but I'm just not sure if continuing to work for him is a good idea. So wish me luck in finding my next gig!
I also am going to try to make this blog more exciting than it has been. It's a bad sign when I am thinking that way! My apologies to all and please stay tuned!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Long weekend
A brief update of what has been happening....
I flew to S.F. for a test/interview with U.S. postal inspection service. I didn't make it, but I did get a day of free tour of the city on the postal inspection service! I walked to Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, parts in-between, and ate some good dim-sums. I used to want that job a lot, but not as much as I thought I had. There were 5 people there taking the test, including myself, and they were all people in their late 20's, early 30's, and really bright, achievement orientated, and dull as can be. There was a guy who is a ATF agent who wouldn't stop talking about the details of getting a federal job, and to a point, it got a kind of irritating. He meant well, but cared a tad bit too much about the job. There was a woman prosecutor from NYC who just about walked out of the test after she found out that she would actually be making less as a postal inspector. I had no idea whether or not they had all gotten the job, but even if they did, it would probably be at least 4-6 months before they'd hear from the postal inspectors again. I hope that they got that job, and I hope that there'll be something better for me somewhere down the line.
This weekend is a long weekend, the cool thing about being a soldier is that there are some holidays that only soldiers and federal employees get off on, and for soldiers, they're called training holidays. Soliders who are not fighting are supposedly always in training for when they will be going to war. The GF and I went to Harrah's casino, and donated some $ for the state of Missouri, ate a complimentary buffet, and I cursed at our bad luck so far at winning. The weekend wasn't all lost, we did the laundry and put in some time on the stationery bikes.
Now to go back just a bit in time, about the night after I got back from S.F.... We went to dinner at this upper-medium scaled steak place to celebrate the end of a promotion exam for someone from my office. For starters, her and I sort of get along, but that's about it. I mean, she's a nice person and all, but her personality is so strong that I simply choose not to bother any further than the minor details of life. The GF is not that keen on her, both of them have strong opinions on things and for that reason, discussions can be a bit peppered. Last but not least, the friend who, for a while, was working out with me, but not any more. Either I... a. Gave her strange vibes, or b. She got sick of me. c. She just got lazy, or d. Who really knows? Recently, a string of brush-offs to the GF by her has given both me and the GF strange vibes about her. Even though we all are still friends, it's not like either of us felt comfortable enough with asking her what's going on. She might not feel that anything strange is going on, so if you ask her, you might get one of these "making issues out of nothing" responses, and you'll end up feeling a kind of stupid as a result.
Anyway, at dinner, I was tired and not participating much in any of the 3 conversations going on at the table, and the GF was feeling and showing the weirdness of not liking the gal who had just taken her promotion exam, and how the friend didn't even really say hi to her. Feeling tired and all, I wonder why I even bothered coming to that particular dinner gathering.
Later on the next day, I caught a friend of mine from college online and chatted with her for a little while. While it was great to have chatted with her, I felt that we've drifted so far apart in the last 10 years and that, for some reasons, was making me feel old, dull, and somewhat of a loser. In my 33 years of life so far, I've met a lot of people, but no matter how I've tried, rarely made lasting friendships.
Then a few days later, on Sat. morning, I got a call from someone that I did not expect to hear from. When I first arrived at the place I am now working at, this short, balding sgt. helped me get settled here and introduced me to everyone in the office. He was a little bit weird but only in a geeky kind of way. Anyway, he got deployed to go to Iraq about 6 months ago, and I got a call from him on the 1st. day of his mid-tour leave. We chatted for a while, about what his life was like at his camp in Iraq, how many times did they get mortared, and I told him about some of the personnel happenings at the office. We're not the best of friends but we do get along. The point is that, just when you think all is lost, then you get a little sign of assurance that you just might not be as bad as you once thought you were.
I don't think that I'm one of those self-assured person, can't even pretend to look that way. As much as I enjoy friendships, I can't stand to interact with large crowds. I don't even know if I am moving on some kind of right direction in life... and if I'll be good for my GF...
...but I'm trying.
I flew to S.F. for a test/interview with U.S. postal inspection service. I didn't make it, but I did get a day of free tour of the city on the postal inspection service! I walked to Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, parts in-between, and ate some good dim-sums. I used to want that job a lot, but not as much as I thought I had. There were 5 people there taking the test, including myself, and they were all people in their late 20's, early 30's, and really bright, achievement orientated, and dull as can be. There was a guy who is a ATF agent who wouldn't stop talking about the details of getting a federal job, and to a point, it got a kind of irritating. He meant well, but cared a tad bit too much about the job. There was a woman prosecutor from NYC who just about walked out of the test after she found out that she would actually be making less as a postal inspector. I had no idea whether or not they had all gotten the job, but even if they did, it would probably be at least 4-6 months before they'd hear from the postal inspectors again. I hope that they got that job, and I hope that there'll be something better for me somewhere down the line.
This weekend is a long weekend, the cool thing about being a soldier is that there are some holidays that only soldiers and federal employees get off on, and for soldiers, they're called training holidays. Soliders who are not fighting are supposedly always in training for when they will be going to war. The GF and I went to Harrah's casino, and donated some $ for the state of Missouri, ate a complimentary buffet, and I cursed at our bad luck so far at winning. The weekend wasn't all lost, we did the laundry and put in some time on the stationery bikes.
Now to go back just a bit in time, about the night after I got back from S.F.... We went to dinner at this upper-medium scaled steak place to celebrate the end of a promotion exam for someone from my office. For starters, her and I sort of get along, but that's about it. I mean, she's a nice person and all, but her personality is so strong that I simply choose not to bother any further than the minor details of life. The GF is not that keen on her, both of them have strong opinions on things and for that reason, discussions can be a bit peppered. Last but not least, the friend who, for a while, was working out with me, but not any more. Either I... a. Gave her strange vibes, or b. She got sick of me. c. She just got lazy, or d. Who really knows? Recently, a string of brush-offs to the GF by her has given both me and the GF strange vibes about her. Even though we all are still friends, it's not like either of us felt comfortable enough with asking her what's going on. She might not feel that anything strange is going on, so if you ask her, you might get one of these "making issues out of nothing" responses, and you'll end up feeling a kind of stupid as a result.
Anyway, at dinner, I was tired and not participating much in any of the 3 conversations going on at the table, and the GF was feeling and showing the weirdness of not liking the gal who had just taken her promotion exam, and how the friend didn't even really say hi to her. Feeling tired and all, I wonder why I even bothered coming to that particular dinner gathering.
Later on the next day, I caught a friend of mine from college online and chatted with her for a little while. While it was great to have chatted with her, I felt that we've drifted so far apart in the last 10 years and that, for some reasons, was making me feel old, dull, and somewhat of a loser. In my 33 years of life so far, I've met a lot of people, but no matter how I've tried, rarely made lasting friendships.
Then a few days later, on Sat. morning, I got a call from someone that I did not expect to hear from. When I first arrived at the place I am now working at, this short, balding sgt. helped me get settled here and introduced me to everyone in the office. He was a little bit weird but only in a geeky kind of way. Anyway, he got deployed to go to Iraq about 6 months ago, and I got a call from him on the 1st. day of his mid-tour leave. We chatted for a while, about what his life was like at his camp in Iraq, how many times did they get mortared, and I told him about some of the personnel happenings at the office. We're not the best of friends but we do get along. The point is that, just when you think all is lost, then you get a little sign of assurance that you just might not be as bad as you once thought you were.
I don't think that I'm one of those self-assured person, can't even pretend to look that way. As much as I enjoy friendships, I can't stand to interact with large crowds. I don't even know if I am moving on some kind of right direction in life... and if I'll be good for my GF...
...but I'm trying.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
To Mr. Coleman....
I just wanted to thank you for the e-mail, and that rest assured, Bradli has managed to make more of a contribution and having been a positive force in his short life than a lot of other peoples' lives.
So, thanks again.
Wintermelonsoup
So, thanks again.
Wintermelonsoup
Saturday, February 04, 2006
I am a....
Tri-Lamb Material
56 % Nerd, 39% Geek, 52% Dork
For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd and Dork, earning you the coveted title of: Tri-Lamb Material.
The classic, "80's" nerd, you are what most people think of when they think "nerd," largely due to 80's movies like Revenge of the Nerds and TV shows like Head of the Class. You're exceptionally bright and smart, and partly because of that have never quite fit in with your peers or social groups. Perhaps you've realized, or will someday, that it is possible to retain all of the things that you like about being brilliant and still make peace with the social cliques around you. Or maybe you won't--it's really not necessary. As the brothers of Lambda Lambda Lambda discovered, you're fine just the way you are and can take pride in that. I mean, who wants to be like Ogre, right!?
Congratulations!
56 % Nerd, 39% Geek, 52% Dork
For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd and Dork, earning you the coveted title of: Tri-Lamb Material.
The classic, "80's" nerd, you are what most people think of when they think "nerd," largely due to 80's movies like Revenge of the Nerds and TV shows like Head of the Class. You're exceptionally bright and smart, and partly because of that have never quite fit in with your peers or social groups. Perhaps you've realized, or will someday, that it is possible to retain all of the things that you like about being brilliant and still make peace with the social cliques around you. Or maybe you won't--it's really not necessary. As the brothers of Lambda Lambda Lambda discovered, you're fine just the way you are and can take pride in that. I mean, who wants to be like Ogre, right!?
Congratulations!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Update
I got a copy of a order for me to attend the reserves civil affairs reclassifications course in Ft. Dix, NJ, leaving in about a week. This was done after the people at the reserve unit that I was at told me to goto the course, then turned around and told me not to goto the course because I did not pass my physical fitness test. (Missed the 2 mile run time by a minute.)
I felt rushed and confused.... and that's not a good sign.
You see, I went to a drill at that unit, wanting to know whether or not it'll be a good unit for me to attend drills at. Once I got there, I found myself in a inspection by the colonel of the brigade, then door guard, and endured a PT test in the freezing wind. No one wanted to see my records or tell me what the unit is about. Officers were sitting around doing nothing, and the enlisted were running around with no real missions. The only folks that I got to talk with was this young private who was really neat to talk to because he was also deployed to Iraq but doesn't yet have that battle-hardened perspective. There was also a 52 year old sargeant who could not stop talking about the military and how he's doing his part for the country by sending his kids into the military, and last but not least, a skinny, 35 year old guy who is leaving behind his life as a computer programmer and going to attempt to join the special forces. For a guy with such ambition, he was not acting gung-ho at all. I felt especially sorry for this older woman specialist, who, despite losing her husband to deployment (she was the one deployed), still is willing to let her unit step all over her.
I guess not having attended weekend drills for a year, it has become a pain in the ass again.
On what could be a positive note, I got a call back from the postal inspection service to do another job test/interview with them on Valentine's day! In San Francisco, of all places. I hope that I'll do well this time around. It would be a really cool job to have, even if it'll be a long process even after you pass the interview process.
Also, I'd like to say that my dog is the cutest dog in the world. The GF said that he's liking me better now... well, I sure hope so!
Congratulations to the GF, who is now a full-fledged phlebotomist! Soon, she'll be making some $$! (Translation: More tasty snacks!)
I felt rushed and confused.... and that's not a good sign.
You see, I went to a drill at that unit, wanting to know whether or not it'll be a good unit for me to attend drills at. Once I got there, I found myself in a inspection by the colonel of the brigade, then door guard, and endured a PT test in the freezing wind. No one wanted to see my records or tell me what the unit is about. Officers were sitting around doing nothing, and the enlisted were running around with no real missions. The only folks that I got to talk with was this young private who was really neat to talk to because he was also deployed to Iraq but doesn't yet have that battle-hardened perspective. There was also a 52 year old sargeant who could not stop talking about the military and how he's doing his part for the country by sending his kids into the military, and last but not least, a skinny, 35 year old guy who is leaving behind his life as a computer programmer and going to attempt to join the special forces. For a guy with such ambition, he was not acting gung-ho at all. I felt especially sorry for this older woman specialist, who, despite losing her husband to deployment (she was the one deployed), still is willing to let her unit step all over her.
I guess not having attended weekend drills for a year, it has become a pain in the ass again.
On what could be a positive note, I got a call back from the postal inspection service to do another job test/interview with them on Valentine's day! In San Francisco, of all places. I hope that I'll do well this time around. It would be a really cool job to have, even if it'll be a long process even after you pass the interview process.
Also, I'd like to say that my dog is the cutest dog in the world. The GF said that he's liking me better now... well, I sure hope so!
Congratulations to the GF, who is now a full-fledged phlebotomist! Soon, she'll be making some $$! (Translation: More tasty snacks!)
Monday, January 23, 2006
My poor sister
My sister sent me a e-mail from Tokyo Narita Airport this morning.....
Hey,
I have arrived to Japan Narita airport since Jan. 22, our flight was cancelled due to weather, so I had to sleep at the airport overnight. This morning (Jan. 23), I am still trying to get on a flight to take me to Taipei. So far everything are sold out and completely booked, I might have to stay in Tokyo another day. Ugh. I am so frustrated.
Mom actually went to the airport and waited for me there, I tried to call but it wasn't easy trying to figure out how to use the stupid phone is Japan. I am going to cancel my tour in Japan, I am fed up with the J*%s!
I have not showered since the 21st, I feel so dirty and tired. Pray for me, I believe I will get to Taipei sometime this year! LOL.
Talk to you soon!
Jenn
She was on her way to Taipei to visit our mom for 2 weeks, and even having been in almost hellish travel/combat situations, I still say that what she's going through right now is just sucky.
Please join me in wishing that her ordeal will be over soon!
Hey,
I have arrived to Japan Narita airport since Jan. 22, our flight was cancelled due to weather, so I had to sleep at the airport overnight. This morning (Jan. 23), I am still trying to get on a flight to take me to Taipei. So far everything are sold out and completely booked, I might have to stay in Tokyo another day. Ugh. I am so frustrated.
Mom actually went to the airport and waited for me there, I tried to call but it wasn't easy trying to figure out how to use the stupid phone is Japan. I am going to cancel my tour in Japan, I am fed up with the J*%s!
I have not showered since the 21st, I feel so dirty and tired. Pray for me, I believe I will get to Taipei sometime this year! LOL.
Talk to you soon!
Jenn
She was on her way to Taipei to visit our mom for 2 weeks, and even having been in almost hellish travel/combat situations, I still say that what she's going through right now is just sucky.
Please join me in wishing that her ordeal will be over soon!
Thursday, January 19, 2006
College made me dumber
Study: Most College Students Lack Skills
By BEN FELLER AP Education Writer
Nearing a diploma, most college students cannot handle many complex but common tasks, from understanding credit card offers to comparing the cost per ounce of food.
Those are the sobering findings of a study of literacy on college campuses, the first to target the skills of students as they approach the start of their careers.
More than 50 percent of students at four-year schools and more than 75 percent at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks.
That means they could not interpret a table about exercise and blood pressure, understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.
The results cut across three types of literacy: analyzing news stories and other prose, understanding documents and having math skills needed for checkbooks or restaurant tips.
"It is kind of disturbing that a lot of folks are graduating with a degree and they're not going to be able to do those things," said Stephane Baldi, the study's director at the American Institutes for Research, a behavioral and social science research organization.
Most students at community colleges and four-year schools showed intermediate skills, meaning they could perform moderately challenging tasks. Examples include identifying a location on a map, calculating the cost of ordering office supplies or consulting a reference guide to figure out which foods contain a particular vitamin.
There was brighter news.
Overall, the average literacy of college students is significantly higher than that of adults across the nation. Study leaders said that was encouraging but not surprising, given that the spectrum of adults includes those with much less education.
Also, compared with all adults with similar levels of education, college students had superior skills in searching and using information from texts and documents.
"But do they do well enough for a highly educated population? For a knowledge-based economy? The answer is no," said Joni Finney, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, an independent and nonpartisan group.
"This sends a message that we should be monitoring this as a nation, and we don't do it," Finney said. "States have no idea about the knowledge and skills of their college graduates."
The survey examined college and university students nearing the end of their degree programs. The students did the worst on matters involving math, according to the study.
Almost 20 percent of students pursuing four-year degrees had only basic quantitative skills. For example, the students could not estimate if their car had enough gas to get to the service station. About 30 percent of two-year students had only basic math skills.
Baldi and Finney said the survey should be used as a tool. They hope state leaders, educators and university trustees will examine the rigor of courses required of all students.
The survey showed a strong relationship between analytic coursework and literacy. Students in two-year and four-year schools scored higher when they took classes that challenged them to apply theories to practical problems or weigh competing arguments.
The college survey used the same test as the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, the government's examination of English literacy among adults. The results of that study were released in December, showing about one in 20 adults is not literate in English.
On campus, the tests were given in 2003 to a representative sample of 1,827 students at public and private schools. The Pew Charitable Trusts funded the survey.
It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
___
Damn!
By BEN FELLER AP Education Writer
Nearing a diploma, most college students cannot handle many complex but common tasks, from understanding credit card offers to comparing the cost per ounce of food.
Those are the sobering findings of a study of literacy on college campuses, the first to target the skills of students as they approach the start of their careers.
More than 50 percent of students at four-year schools and more than 75 percent at two-year colleges lacked the skills to perform complex literacy tasks.
That means they could not interpret a table about exercise and blood pressure, understand the arguments of newspaper editorials, compare credit card offers with different interest rates and annual fees or summarize results of a survey about parental involvement in school.
The results cut across three types of literacy: analyzing news stories and other prose, understanding documents and having math skills needed for checkbooks or restaurant tips.
"It is kind of disturbing that a lot of folks are graduating with a degree and they're not going to be able to do those things," said Stephane Baldi, the study's director at the American Institutes for Research, a behavioral and social science research organization.
Most students at community colleges and four-year schools showed intermediate skills, meaning they could perform moderately challenging tasks. Examples include identifying a location on a map, calculating the cost of ordering office supplies or consulting a reference guide to figure out which foods contain a particular vitamin.
There was brighter news.
Overall, the average literacy of college students is significantly higher than that of adults across the nation. Study leaders said that was encouraging but not surprising, given that the spectrum of adults includes those with much less education.
Also, compared with all adults with similar levels of education, college students had superior skills in searching and using information from texts and documents.
"But do they do well enough for a highly educated population? For a knowledge-based economy? The answer is no," said Joni Finney, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, an independent and nonpartisan group.
"This sends a message that we should be monitoring this as a nation, and we don't do it," Finney said. "States have no idea about the knowledge and skills of their college graduates."
The survey examined college and university students nearing the end of their degree programs. The students did the worst on matters involving math, according to the study.
Almost 20 percent of students pursuing four-year degrees had only basic quantitative skills. For example, the students could not estimate if their car had enough gas to get to the service station. About 30 percent of two-year students had only basic math skills.
Baldi and Finney said the survey should be used as a tool. They hope state leaders, educators and university trustees will examine the rigor of courses required of all students.
The survey showed a strong relationship between analytic coursework and literacy. Students in two-year and four-year schools scored higher when they took classes that challenged them to apply theories to practical problems or weigh competing arguments.
The college survey used the same test as the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, the government's examination of English literacy among adults. The results of that study were released in December, showing about one in 20 adults is not literate in English.
On campus, the tests were given in 2003 to a representative sample of 1,827 students at public and private schools. The Pew Charitable Trusts funded the survey.
It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
___
Damn!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
1st. day of work out
Has been weights, for all the major body parts. My work out partner is one tough lady! She's tiny but can lift! I think I'll start to feel my underused muscles pretty soon! The GF was not too happy that today's work out took about 2 hours to do, what can I say, I'm such a novice that it's not funny!
Back home now with the pets and the GF, and waiting for the meat loaf to cook. I feel grateful that, despite my dilemmas with work, money, and everything else, the GF and the pets do their parts to help me feel stable.
Now, if only the dog would stop harassing the cats.....
Back home now with the pets and the GF, and waiting for the meat loaf to cook. I feel grateful that, despite my dilemmas with work, money, and everything else, the GF and the pets do their parts to help me feel stable.
Now, if only the dog would stop harassing the cats.....
Monday, January 16, 2006
The new work outs
A friend of mine from work, who is now striving towards a career with the FBI and has also gotten to know the GF and I pretty well, has started a sort of physical training alliance with me. She wanted to make sure that she will be as physically fit as she can be before she goes into training, which can be any time from now, and I wanted to make sure that I can pass the army standard fitness test if I have to take it soon.
The decision about whether or not I should reenlist is still up in the air, supposed I can leave all this military stuff behind, but our savings account is just not where I'd like for it to be right now. I can only hold out for a miracle or a sign from God for like two weeks more, you know?
Back to the workout, we're going to do cardio three times a week, and some weights on days that we're not doing cardio. Today is the first day of the workout and we had to brave high winds and low air temperature, so running one mile felt like one and a half.
I just hope that I'm not going to be slowing my friend down, she's a lot more fit than I am. We'll see how it goes.
If you are reading this, my friend, I wanted to say that you and your hubby have been a pleasant suprise to both me and my GF in this semi-stimulating place called the Midwest. Good friends are hard to find!
The decision about whether or not I should reenlist is still up in the air, supposed I can leave all this military stuff behind, but our savings account is just not where I'd like for it to be right now. I can only hold out for a miracle or a sign from God for like two weeks more, you know?
Back to the workout, we're going to do cardio three times a week, and some weights on days that we're not doing cardio. Today is the first day of the workout and we had to brave high winds and low air temperature, so running one mile felt like one and a half.
I just hope that I'm not going to be slowing my friend down, she's a lot more fit than I am. We'll see how it goes.
If you are reading this, my friend, I wanted to say that you and your hubby have been a pleasant suprise to both me and my GF in this semi-stimulating place called the Midwest. Good friends are hard to find!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
What has been going on
Just taking a little break from filing out this ass-long application packet for the US postal inspection service. A bit of a long story about why I'm applying to be a postal inspector...again, back in 02', I had heard about the postal inspection service from someone who was working with the GF at the time. Once of GF's collegues was dating someone who was a postal inspector and told the GF a lot about her GF's job. I never did meet that particular postal inspector, but I did have enough interest gathered to take the test for it. There are three tests that one needs to take before they'll even consider hiring you, and I passed the first two, but not the final one.
Maybe because they are short on agents, if you didn't do well on the last test, you have a chance to retake it in one year's time, or you'll have to start the process all over again. I got deployed to Iraq (what a crazy time that was!) and didn't even think about re-applying for the job again until quite recently. I had just mentioned it in passing to the GF and a friend at work and they all suggested that I write a letter explaining why I couldn't take the retest and see if they'll let me take it again.
So I sent the letter away and almost 2 months later, I get a certified envelope from the inspection service, stating that I have 7 days to fill out and mail back the application packet in order to have a chance at retest. So, working at a almost break-neck pace, I'm going to send the packet away tomorrow and hope for the best.
It's a long shot, it always has been. Looking at my job history, I've held so many mcjobs that it's not even funny. I'm hoping that someone up there is rooting for me. I think it'll help a lot.
The poor GF have to wake up at 4 in the morning so she can get to her class by 6. I think she'll do really well overall, she has always been very smart and intuitive.
Now I must get back to my application packet...ugh!
Maybe because they are short on agents, if you didn't do well on the last test, you have a chance to retake it in one year's time, or you'll have to start the process all over again. I got deployed to Iraq (what a crazy time that was!) and didn't even think about re-applying for the job again until quite recently. I had just mentioned it in passing to the GF and a friend at work and they all suggested that I write a letter explaining why I couldn't take the retest and see if they'll let me take it again.
So I sent the letter away and almost 2 months later, I get a certified envelope from the inspection service, stating that I have 7 days to fill out and mail back the application packet in order to have a chance at retest. So, working at a almost break-neck pace, I'm going to send the packet away tomorrow and hope for the best.
It's a long shot, it always has been. Looking at my job history, I've held so many mcjobs that it's not even funny. I'm hoping that someone up there is rooting for me. I think it'll help a lot.
The poor GF have to wake up at 4 in the morning so she can get to her class by 6. I think she'll do really well overall, she has always been very smart and intuitive.
Now I must get back to my application packet...ugh!
Monday, January 02, 2006
Changing things.....
Hello everyone! Just got back from winter break and the weather in Austin, Houston, and Dallas were all nice, imagine running around in flip flops in December, while it has been raining and cold in KC.
The GF took the dog with her to her parents' in Dallas and even though she got to see the cute nephew and ate some whataburgers, her mom's addiction to talking non-stop is worth anyone's sympathy. She (the mom) means well, but you just have to be there for about 24 hours and you'll see (or feel) what I mean!
I spent about a week in Houston, and I'm glad to see that my grandparents have been doing better physically than the last time that I saw them. They're still not really up to speed physically, and they'll probably never be, but I'm glad at least none of them are in the hospital, you know?
It wasn't all smooth sailing though, I had a huge fight with my sister over how things have changed. My grandparents' illnesses has put a lot of strains on everyone in the family, and my way of coping with the aftermath is to kind of keep a bit of a distance between myself and everyone in my family, and I suspect that it also might have spilled over to my own relationship with the GF. I got mad with my sister because she became more attentive to the family and became the favorite and in a weird kind of way was "rubbing it in". (She basically was reaping the rewards of her attentiveness, and deservedly so.) By the way, this favoritism thing is and has been something that's kind of underlying between my sister and I in relation to dealing with our grandparents. Now, I've come to admit that.
Now for the other end of the familial problem, I've got a uncle from my father's side who has been nothing but helpful to me as I was growing up, now that doesn't mean that he has been in full support of me and my GF. (That's a whole other horrific story.) He (the uncle) married this lady and they've got 3 kids, who are in their teens now. In the beginning, his wife and I were friendly, then a few years ago, something changed and I guess she really hates me now. No, she's not pelting me with rocks whenever I'd show up to see my grandparents, but she does this thing where she just will not acknowledge my presence. I guess she either got mad or jealous from my uncle having spent so much time in care of my grandparents and caring about my sister and I, or something happened that made her really bitter, I mean, if you saw her from a distance, without even knowing her, she looks miserable.
I've basically adjusted to that display of attitude, I just started to pretend that she wasn't there too. I noticed that she'd be really friendly to my sister whenever we're both around, and it's tolerable but irritating to say the least.
So we've got this really interesting but annoying dynamic going on here. My grandparents may be old, but they're not dumb and they could see/sense the tension between my aunt and I, my uncle for having to serve two masters, his wife and his parents, and my sister, for now suffering from the mistake that she had made in picking a mate more out of not wanting to be alone than anything else. I thought about e-mailing my uncle about all this, but I haven't yet, because who'll really change? He's not going to talk to his wife about her attitude because she'll just bite his head off, and why accomodate to the way I wanted to feel when I'm hardly ever there at home in the first place? I know, that's a lame excuse.
My sister and I eventually talked out our differences, but I'm sure that won't be the end. We're catching up on years worth of differences, you see, we didn't exactly grow up together. We do have on common goal though, and that is to try not to make our grandparents worry too much over us. They're old and tired, and there are some stuff that they just don't need at this point in their lives.
On a lighter note, I did get to eat lots of good Chinese and Taiwanese food though, not to mention some really good local Austin favorites!
I flew up to Austin from Houston to meet up with the GF, not only the plane was late but this one beefy male flight attendant was giving me the attitude, it was like reverse-air rage and of course I did what every concerned customer would do, I called the airline and reported him. I doubt anything would be done in terms of any sort of customer complaint follow through action, but I do hope for him painful and explosive ass-explosions. :-)
We took it easy in Austin, shopped for GF's snow boots, took the dog to his beloved Greenbelt dog park and watched him run himself with joy, until exhausion. We slept in late, ate some really good foods, and even got our tarot cards read at bookpeople, this local book seller. That same guy read for us about 3 years ago. He said that the GF is going to embark on a new career (he's right), and the world belongs to her. I got the death card, indicating change, and I hope it's for the better!
I checked online while on vacation for my pay stub and found that "they" jacked with my pay again, and I think that was the key to helping me decide that I've got to do something different with this job thing. Don't get me wrong, this current job is great, but unless I can get a civilian equivalent of my position there, my pay will never increase unless I get a military promotion, to which I've still got a year before I'm eligible for. So here it goes with the job searches for the new year!
I want to compliment my GF because she has put up with so much from me, and I want to wish her good luck with her new learning/job endeavor. I really suck at expressing how much I love her but I'm trying!
The GF took the dog with her to her parents' in Dallas and even though she got to see the cute nephew and ate some whataburgers, her mom's addiction to talking non-stop is worth anyone's sympathy. She (the mom) means well, but you just have to be there for about 24 hours and you'll see (or feel) what I mean!
I spent about a week in Houston, and I'm glad to see that my grandparents have been doing better physically than the last time that I saw them. They're still not really up to speed physically, and they'll probably never be, but I'm glad at least none of them are in the hospital, you know?
It wasn't all smooth sailing though, I had a huge fight with my sister over how things have changed. My grandparents' illnesses has put a lot of strains on everyone in the family, and my way of coping with the aftermath is to kind of keep a bit of a distance between myself and everyone in my family, and I suspect that it also might have spilled over to my own relationship with the GF. I got mad with my sister because she became more attentive to the family and became the favorite and in a weird kind of way was "rubbing it in". (She basically was reaping the rewards of her attentiveness, and deservedly so.) By the way, this favoritism thing is and has been something that's kind of underlying between my sister and I in relation to dealing with our grandparents. Now, I've come to admit that.
Now for the other end of the familial problem, I've got a uncle from my father's side who has been nothing but helpful to me as I was growing up, now that doesn't mean that he has been in full support of me and my GF. (That's a whole other horrific story.) He (the uncle) married this lady and they've got 3 kids, who are in their teens now. In the beginning, his wife and I were friendly, then a few years ago, something changed and I guess she really hates me now. No, she's not pelting me with rocks whenever I'd show up to see my grandparents, but she does this thing where she just will not acknowledge my presence. I guess she either got mad or jealous from my uncle having spent so much time in care of my grandparents and caring about my sister and I, or something happened that made her really bitter, I mean, if you saw her from a distance, without even knowing her, she looks miserable.
I've basically adjusted to that display of attitude, I just started to pretend that she wasn't there too. I noticed that she'd be really friendly to my sister whenever we're both around, and it's tolerable but irritating to say the least.
So we've got this really interesting but annoying dynamic going on here. My grandparents may be old, but they're not dumb and they could see/sense the tension between my aunt and I, my uncle for having to serve two masters, his wife and his parents, and my sister, for now suffering from the mistake that she had made in picking a mate more out of not wanting to be alone than anything else. I thought about e-mailing my uncle about all this, but I haven't yet, because who'll really change? He's not going to talk to his wife about her attitude because she'll just bite his head off, and why accomodate to the way I wanted to feel when I'm hardly ever there at home in the first place? I know, that's a lame excuse.
My sister and I eventually talked out our differences, but I'm sure that won't be the end. We're catching up on years worth of differences, you see, we didn't exactly grow up together. We do have on common goal though, and that is to try not to make our grandparents worry too much over us. They're old and tired, and there are some stuff that they just don't need at this point in their lives.
On a lighter note, I did get to eat lots of good Chinese and Taiwanese food though, not to mention some really good local Austin favorites!
I flew up to Austin from Houston to meet up with the GF, not only the plane was late but this one beefy male flight attendant was giving me the attitude, it was like reverse-air rage and of course I did what every concerned customer would do, I called the airline and reported him. I doubt anything would be done in terms of any sort of customer complaint follow through action, but I do hope for him painful and explosive ass-explosions. :-)
We took it easy in Austin, shopped for GF's snow boots, took the dog to his beloved Greenbelt dog park and watched him run himself with joy, until exhausion. We slept in late, ate some really good foods, and even got our tarot cards read at bookpeople, this local book seller. That same guy read for us about 3 years ago. He said that the GF is going to embark on a new career (he's right), and the world belongs to her. I got the death card, indicating change, and I hope it's for the better!
I checked online while on vacation for my pay stub and found that "they" jacked with my pay again, and I think that was the key to helping me decide that I've got to do something different with this job thing. Don't get me wrong, this current job is great, but unless I can get a civilian equivalent of my position there, my pay will never increase unless I get a military promotion, to which I've still got a year before I'm eligible for. So here it goes with the job searches for the new year!
I want to compliment my GF because she has put up with so much from me, and I want to wish her good luck with her new learning/job endeavor. I really suck at expressing how much I love her but I'm trying!
Saturday, December 17, 2005
It's snowing and I'm feeling restless....
...about trying to find a new gig that'll pay better and not make me feel that I'm just writing papers and not much else, not being in uniform all the time, being stuck in that mentality, and to see what's around the corner for next year.
I'm going back to see the folks in a few days, and I hope that it'll be a good trip. I've not seen my grandparents since Sept. I also haven't been calling them as much as I should, I think I felt a kind of burned out with all the nervous tension associated to my grandpa's illness and when the hurricane hit and they didn't get to evacuate. (But thank God, the hurricane barely even touched their area in Houston.)
Had a dream about my mother and her boyfriend last night. In my dream, they lived in this really small place and they weren't doing so well. For those of you who don't know, my mom and my dad split when I was 7 years old, and she (mom) re-appeared 2x in my life, once when I was in high school, and now by sporadic telphone calls, mostly from her to me and my sister.
I tend to keep or maintain a distance between me and her, not just the physical distance, but mental as well. I'm not mad at her for her not being there for most of my child and adulthood, but it has been hard for me to warm up to her also. Maybe in the back of my mind, I'd remember that she just about always left after a while, so why bother, right?
Yet something in me tells me that I should try to somehow take care of her as she is getting older. You know how you know there are things undone or someone might re-appear in your life if you start to have even semi-re-occuring dreams? I think dreaming about my mom is kind of like that.
Now onto something slightly different. There is this gal at work who's a few years older and has been a kind of social director at sort. A nice gal, don't get me wrong, but sometimes, I'd get tired from being around her. She is very controlling of herself and sometimes, that eminates onto others. The GF is facinated with her because she said that watching that gal is like watching a train wreck. What do I know, we all get on with our lives with the ways that we know best, even if others don't see it that way. I don't know how many people have taken a look at me and said to themselves that I should be more this or that.
I am borrowing a yello 02' GMC Sierra for two days, seeing whether or not it's a worthwhile purchase/trade it. I'm a big fan of trucks, it satisfied that slightly butch side of me. However, it's snowing tonight so we've decided to stay put and just enjoy the drifting snow, otherwise, we'd have taken to truck to get some dinners and snow boots (finding out that it's one of these essential items for winter life in the Midwest.)
I will write more as events unfolds. If I don't write again until after X'mas, I'd like to wish y'all a merry one and a great new year!
I'm going back to see the folks in a few days, and I hope that it'll be a good trip. I've not seen my grandparents since Sept. I also haven't been calling them as much as I should, I think I felt a kind of burned out with all the nervous tension associated to my grandpa's illness and when the hurricane hit and they didn't get to evacuate. (But thank God, the hurricane barely even touched their area in Houston.)
Had a dream about my mother and her boyfriend last night. In my dream, they lived in this really small place and they weren't doing so well. For those of you who don't know, my mom and my dad split when I was 7 years old, and she (mom) re-appeared 2x in my life, once when I was in high school, and now by sporadic telphone calls, mostly from her to me and my sister.
I tend to keep or maintain a distance between me and her, not just the physical distance, but mental as well. I'm not mad at her for her not being there for most of my child and adulthood, but it has been hard for me to warm up to her also. Maybe in the back of my mind, I'd remember that she just about always left after a while, so why bother, right?
Yet something in me tells me that I should try to somehow take care of her as she is getting older. You know how you know there are things undone or someone might re-appear in your life if you start to have even semi-re-occuring dreams? I think dreaming about my mom is kind of like that.
Now onto something slightly different. There is this gal at work who's a few years older and has been a kind of social director at sort. A nice gal, don't get me wrong, but sometimes, I'd get tired from being around her. She is very controlling of herself and sometimes, that eminates onto others. The GF is facinated with her because she said that watching that gal is like watching a train wreck. What do I know, we all get on with our lives with the ways that we know best, even if others don't see it that way. I don't know how many people have taken a look at me and said to themselves that I should be more this or that.
I am borrowing a yello 02' GMC Sierra for two days, seeing whether or not it's a worthwhile purchase/trade it. I'm a big fan of trucks, it satisfied that slightly butch side of me. However, it's snowing tonight so we've decided to stay put and just enjoy the drifting snow, otherwise, we'd have taken to truck to get some dinners and snow boots (finding out that it's one of these essential items for winter life in the Midwest.)
I will write more as events unfolds. If I don't write again until after X'mas, I'd like to wish y'all a merry one and a great new year!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Kitty found a home!
Things sometimes have this amazing way of working itself out. In the case of the stray kitty that I found, it now finally has gotten a good home! For a while, I thought that I might have to "force it" onto my folks in Houston.
I had put up posters for the kitty, but no call called. In the meanwhile, the kitty has gotten more used to the apt., the other cats, and Ramen (who was behaving better but still kind of a dickhead.). The kitty's cold was also slowly getting better,the rest and the food that she had gotten certainly didn't hurt either.
There is a woman from our IT dept. who approached me about one of her friends wanting a kitten for her sons to have. She gave me her phone number and we arranged a meeting at my apt. today. I couldn't be there to meet her because we had a strange work schedule, so the GF met and talked to her and her kids. It seems like the kitty will be going to a good home. That lady even offered to pay me for the kitten, although tempting, it just wouldn't be right, you know?
So by the time I go home, the kitty would not be there anymore, and I'll be sad. At least she has found herself a good home.
I wished that all things worked out like that, at the right time, place and with the right people.
Now if me and the GF would have a bit of kitty luck, we'd be on our way!!!
I had put up posters for the kitty, but no call called. In the meanwhile, the kitty has gotten more used to the apt., the other cats, and Ramen (who was behaving better but still kind of a dickhead.). The kitty's cold was also slowly getting better,the rest and the food that she had gotten certainly didn't hurt either.
There is a woman from our IT dept. who approached me about one of her friends wanting a kitten for her sons to have. She gave me her phone number and we arranged a meeting at my apt. today. I couldn't be there to meet her because we had a strange work schedule, so the GF met and talked to her and her kids. It seems like the kitty will be going to a good home. That lady even offered to pay me for the kitten, although tempting, it just wouldn't be right, you know?
So by the time I go home, the kitty would not be there anymore, and I'll be sad. At least she has found herself a good home.
I wished that all things worked out like that, at the right time, place and with the right people.
Now if me and the GF would have a bit of kitty luck, we'd be on our way!!!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Kitty update
Got the newfound kitten scanned for microchip, and just as I expected, there were no microchips in her, id'ing her to a owner.
As for her cold, the post vet wouldn't treat her because she's a stray. However, the vet told me that, most often, if the kitten is still eating and drinking normally, then one should let the cold run its course....kinda of like human colds.
It's getting colder and colder, a sure sign that winter is here.
The dog is still going nuts about the kitten, whenever she's out running around, he'd make a point to chase her and I guess that's his way of playing with her. She's a sharp little thing (I've already gotten about 5 visible scratches on my hands)but I don't think she has clawed Ramen just yet.
The latest: My dog was caught trying to hump the kitten!!??!!??!
As for her cold, the post vet wouldn't treat her because she's a stray. However, the vet told me that, most often, if the kitten is still eating and drinking normally, then one should let the cold run its course....kinda of like human colds.
It's getting colder and colder, a sure sign that winter is here.
The dog is still going nuts about the kitten, whenever she's out running around, he'd make a point to chase her and I guess that's his way of playing with her. She's a sharp little thing (I've already gotten about 5 visible scratches on my hands)but I don't think she has clawed Ramen just yet.
The latest: My dog was caught trying to hump the kitten!!??!!??!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Popsicle
This is the kitten that I found hiding under my car this morning, she's about 6 months old, not afraid of dog(s), has a bit of a cold and is looking for her human! I'm going to see if she's tagged tomorrow, but if not, and if anyone's interested, please send me an e-mail and I can see about linking you two up!
Monday, November 28, 2005
On the last day/night of thanksgiving break
The GF and I were talking about $ the other morning and it seems like we'll be pretty low until we both get paid again. Thank God that we are not "broke" yet, we still have our savings and worse comes to worst, I can always sign my happy ass for another 6 years of active duty service, to which I've heard that the sign-up bonus is something like 15 G's.
Most of the time, I just wish that neither of us will have to worry about $ matters. Not to worry about bills, you know. I know that's the dream of a lot of people. At least we are alive and healthy,plus our immediate families are all around and well. The in-law's and nephew were here with us for two days, and I'll have some photos up later, there are nothing like a cute 4 year old boy snuggling up to you and telling you that you're his best bud!
The dog could have looked a bit more excited with the nephew being there, but maybe he's getting a hint of the winter blues.
Thanksgiving at my friends' house was great! We were there from 4 in the afternoon to two the next morning! Chowing and chatting about everything under the sun. I really enjoyed that sort of social interaction, and maybe one day we'll get lucky and have more people to enjoy that kind of social interaction with. No heavy drinking, good foods, and exchange of conversations.
I am excited for the GF as she gets ready to take her phlebotomy classes and see if she likes this new endeavour. I hope she'll like it.
Most of the time, I just wish that neither of us will have to worry about $ matters. Not to worry about bills, you know. I know that's the dream of a lot of people. At least we are alive and healthy,plus our immediate families are all around and well. The in-law's and nephew were here with us for two days, and I'll have some photos up later, there are nothing like a cute 4 year old boy snuggling up to you and telling you that you're his best bud!
The dog could have looked a bit more excited with the nephew being there, but maybe he's getting a hint of the winter blues.
Thanksgiving at my friends' house was great! We were there from 4 in the afternoon to two the next morning! Chowing and chatting about everything under the sun. I really enjoyed that sort of social interaction, and maybe one day we'll get lucky and have more people to enjoy that kind of social interaction with. No heavy drinking, good foods, and exchange of conversations.
I am excited for the GF as she gets ready to take her phlebotomy classes and see if she likes this new endeavour. I hope she'll like it.
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