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| I've been in Minneapolis for awhile, finishing up my second-to-last co-op term for Northwest Delta Airlines. Since my birthday last month, I've visited home, nyc, dublin, and just came back from fort lauderdale. I'll be back in florida (this time, miami) for the weekend, then it's japan with the guys, and hopefully korea with the family. Then its back home to celebrate the new year. fort lauderdale was the only "business" trip, so that one was free. But so was everything else...except for dublin. that one cost $49. Japan/korea should be about $20 each. Strangely enough, I got a coach seat for my "business" trip, but everything else has been first or business class. Yes, I took advantage of their free drinks.
There's no real point to this entry, just felt like sharing :>
..with the one or two people left on xanga :<
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| this is pretty sad
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hello-mum-this-is-going-to-be-hard-for-you-to-read-1753008.html
'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...' In the spring of this year, the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles deployed to Afghanistan. Halfway through the battalion's tour, it has lost nine soldiers, with dozens injured. Of those to have given their lives, four were teenagers. Here Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, who was 19 when he was killed by an explosion near Gereshk seven weeks ago, tells his own story, through letters home and the last letter he left behind to bid farewell to his family – his mother Helena, father Robin and brothers Zac, 21, and Steely, 17. These are the words of a proud soldier described by his officers as possessing "a rucksack full of potential", and by his friends as a rascal always cracking jokes and helping to keep morale high. Most of all, they are the words of a young son to his mum, dad and brothers.
Terri Judd 27 April 2009 Hello Mum I've just got your bluey [letter] (the 1st one) yea you are right it does get fucking hot, I can't work out wether I'm tanned or just burnt to fuck!! I've spoke to you on the phone so you no what I've been doing. I'm well proud of you loosing all that weight. Suppose you've got a pretty good insentive. We'v had the same shit maybe a month now. Everyday a Monday out here. You kind of loose track of days. I cant quite work out if its going fast or slow. This pen is shit its doing my head in!! Iv been thinking of loads of things and places to do, go and see. Me and Elliott are gonna go to Amsterdam after this. THINK WE MAY HAVE DESERVED IT!! It should be a good day (November 5th) [their homecoming parade]. On the 6th we can go Belfast Iv'e got loads of sad things I wanna buy ie Sky+ Big TV. Get the old man to help me rearange my room and help me fix my shelves. Im not the DIY type normally resort to celler tape or blue tack. HA HA HA. Hope everyones safe at home. Complete detox out here – water no drink. So my dance moves might involve a bit of stumbling when I return! Im coming home 2 weeks earlier now so that's kinda good, it might be worth Zac picking me up give me a bit of chill out time so I don't try stab a gobby civvi plus he's a good listener, sumtimes I wonder if he's listening or thinking of sumthing completely irrelivant. Well pass this round the family so they can all admire my extream spelling (infantry eh!). Lots of love to all the nearest and dearest. Love Ya!! Xxxx 1 May 2009 Hey Mum + family Ill always address my letters to you cuz I no your probley the only one who gets to the mail!! You'll have to let me no how quick these are getting you ill keep writing the date?? Everything is good up this way getting hotter, still moving at a million miles per hour (HA HA HA) I think Iv'e stopped burning Im slowly going brown and my hair is getting ridiculous just wait till I come home ill look like a fucking wooky?! I was gonna write to granny + grandad but to be honest with the few spare hours I get Id'e rather write home ey? BTW send my regards to Daphne, Joan, Brian etc. Let em no how Im doing? Every so often we get old people and churches send us little gifts like baby wipes, razors, sweets and stuff so its quite a good bit of moral. Got some really good photos ill have to bring my camera back so we can get that Kosovo collage on the go, to bring back on the 5th of November. If you saw what and where Ive been sleeping you would be shocked!! So pictures will back me up! Unfortunately 3 blokes died 2 days ago in an IED explosion in one of the FOBs [Forward Operating Bases] bout 2 kilometers away – we visited that FOB 2 days before the attack – fucking mental quite scary actually! We'v had a rest day so Im doing a bit of hand washing and fitness! God you'd be so proud Ha! Ha! Ha! We've still had spam, rice, beans and unflavoured noodles every day – promise me actually I promise you if I see spam in the house ill fucking destroy it!! Im getting pretty good at making flat bread and we bout a goat of a local for 200 dollars and we slaughtered it. I got a good video. Its either catch it, kill it, or make it out here or else you go hungry LOL!! The showers are also freezing whilst Im on the subject of moaning?? Id'e best go again BUT ill keep writing when I get the time + ill be home in a couple of months. Love you'zzz all don't worry bout me to much. Theres only 3 things that kill people over hear BULLETS, BOMBS + EGOS so I might go down with a bad case of swollen head!! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Love ya xxxxx 12 May 2009 Hello Mother Yesterday was a massive day for moral an american chopper came in yesterday. I got 5 blueys one from Zac, Daphne, I think Sharpie sent one and Dad?? With some pictures that was great. I stared at them for about an hour I cant explain how good it is to get pictures and stuff you get grown men close to tears at the sight of there kid or a good night out its really strange how this place fucks with your head and emotions. A BIG ONE that I NEED you to try do (get started ill help when I get back) is appeal to local charitys, churches, major companys ie Zoo, Cadburys, boots you name it. Write to them and explain my whereabouts and they do send gifts, chocolate, sweets, magazines you name it trust me a lot of the lads parents did it and they've got clothes, the lot. Trust me Red bull, lucazade, fags AND SWEETS are wicked just keep sending them and URGE people to send photos they keep the moral SKY HIGH. I thought Steely and Zacs [poses] in the garden were quality. I can only prove how much a letter or small parcel means by finding time to right back – that's probley the most precious thing I have and Id'e trade hours for a letter. On some much sadder news one of our rifleman died a few days back, we had a parade and a few minutes silence its so strange how many emotions you go through living in these conditions its like everything wants to beat you and rewin your day. Its about not letting it get to you and don't worry nothing fucking gets to me. Well Im off I love you all loads thanks for my parcels and letters. Lots of love xxx 14 May 2009 Hey Mum! Its just gone 10 in the morning here Im on a stag rotation for the next 7 days guarding the FOB. Its 6 hours on 3 hours off so not much sleep. (Im already an hour in). If you could see what Im looking at now you'd be pretty shocked. Its pretty stunning to be honest. I could probley sling shot a stone from where we were last contacted [shot at] from Ha! Ha! Ha! Pretty fucking crazy huh? I shouldn't really tell you this but its safer than on the phone – were leaving this place. Its gonna be a fucking massive operation moving this lot + a lot of helicopter rides. So when I come back after R&R [leave] ill fly to [the main British camp] bastion then out to our new FOB. You don't really do much on stag. Swetting my tits of its gonna hit 50 degrees today. AAAAH Shit my grenade just fell out of my [body armour] – we wont mention that to any higherarcy will we now. I think you said you were going to a weight loss thing a few days ago hope that well? (Just keep going) 37 days ill be home – not that Im counting or anything??? THINK there's a bird coming in today at 13.30 so this bluey will probley arrive with the others – well as always gotta go ill try ring when I get a top-up of minuets on Monday. FUCK knows what day it is I thought it was Sunday today. Ha! Ha! Well lots of love to you all! Cyrus Thatcher was killed on 2 June 2009. This is the letter he wrote to be delivered to his family if he died: Hello its me, this is gonna be hard for you to read but I write this knowing every time you thinks shits got to much for you to handle (so don't cry on it MUM!!) you can read this and hopefully it will help you all get through. For a start SHIT I got hit!! Now Iv got that out the way I can say the things Iv hopefully made clear, or if I havent this should clear it all up for me. My hole life you'v all been there for me through thick and thin bit like a wedding through good and bad. Without you I believe I wouldn't have made it as far as I have. I died doing what I was born to do I was happy and felt great about myself although the army was sadly the ending of me it was also the making of me so please don't feel any hate toward it. One thing I no I never made clear to you all was I make jokes about my life starting in the Army. That's wrong VERY wrong my life began a LONG time before that (Obviously) but you get what I mean. All the times Iv tried to neglect the family get angry when you try teach me right from wrong wot I mean to say is I only realised that you were trying to help when I joined the army and without YOUR help I would have never had the BALLS, the GRIT and the damn right determination to crack on and do it. If I could have a wish in life it would to be able to say Iv gone and done things many would never try to do. And going to Afghan has fulfilled my dream ie my goal. Yes I am young wich as a parent must brake you heart but you must all somehow find the strength that I found to do something no matter how big the challenge. As Im writing this letter I can see you all crying and mornin my death but if I could have one wish in an "after life" it would be to stop your crying and continueing your dreams (as I did) because if I were watching only that would brake my heart. So dry your tears and put on a brave face for the rest of your friends and family who need you. I want each and everyone of you to forfill a dream and at the end of it look at what you have done (completed) and feel the accomplishment and achievement I did only then will you understand how I felt when I passed away. [To his brothers:] You are both amazing men and will continue to be throughout your lives you both deserve to be happy and fofill all of your dreams. Dad – my idol, my friend, my best friend, my teacher, my coach, everything I ever succeeded in my life I owe to you and maybe a little bit of me! You are a great man and the perfect role model and the past two years of being in the army I noticed that and me and you have been on the best level we have ever been. I thank you for nothing because I no all you have given to me is not there to be thanked for its there because you did it cause you love me and that is my most proudest thing I could ever say. Mum, where do I start with you!! For a start your perfect, your smell, your hugs, the way your life was dedicated to us boys and especially the way you cared each and every step us boys took. I love you, you were the reason I made it as far as I did you were the reason I was loved more than any child I no and that made me feel special. Your all such great individuals and I hope somehow this letter will help you get through this shit time!! Just remember do NOT mourn my death as hard as this will seem, celebrate a great life that has had its ups and downs. I love you all more than you would ever no and in your own individual ways helped me get through it all. I wish you all the best with your dreams. Remember chin up head down. With love Cyrus xxxx
:<
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| it snowed last night .. fuck | | |
| sooo...yea
i was gonna write an entry complaining about stuff, but then i was gonna write something about how we shouldnt complain
then the virginia tech tragedy happened.
and my mom called me right after, just to make sure i was ok
im not gonna even try to get philosophical or judgmental on anyone, just do what you like and what makes you happy (with the consideration of others)
but anyways
i slowly realize that as much as i hate where my life is going, im getting strangely (and regrettably) comfortable with it
i guess its like how they say you should never work at a restaurant, because you can get comfortable with the job, money, lifestyle, then bam! youre the old guy at the restaurant, teaching the youngins how to wait tables
there was an old episode of home improvement where tim was talking about his "daily routine," and his ugly wife and their autistic kids were complaining that he needs to change things up cause its boring to have a pattern for life
i have a routine... :<
6- wake up
6:15- wake up again
6:30- eat, wash up, get dressed
6:45- walk to light rail
7- ride light rail
7:30- walk to office
8- get inside office
8:01- turn on computer, scuffle papers around (so it looks like im working on stuff), run to bathroom
8:30- janitor comes in and wakes me up
actually, the naps have been stopping, now that i found coffee (where have you been all my life?!). i have a mug and everything. well, my roommate does, but its mine now  . oh man, what a bully
the thing is though, i cant sleep anymore. well, i mean i can sleep, but not on time. i guess all those late night chats and stupid daylight savings time is still hurting me.
oh well
the good thing is, that because im only in places for a few months at a time (3 at the most), that means that i get along with the people i meet. if it was any longer, than we'd probably get annoyed and cabin fever-ish, but thankfully its just short enough so that you meet them, hang out, then bam youre gone
and because of that, my biggest problem is figuring out which place i wanna go next. yay for problems!
i tallied it up, and i figured out that i have a very random list
(in no particular order):
-vegas (twice)
-seattle
-michigan (8 mile!...and kettering)
-tennessee (only country music on radio!)
-indiana (twice for inyoung! and drove through it a bunch of times)
-ohio (gay!)
-philadelphia (rocky!)
-wisconsin (beer and butter!)
-chicago (traffic!)
-minnesota (n-dub! and mall of america! and queers!)
-alabama (racism!)
-mississippi (more racism!)
-kentucky (fried chicken!)
-florida (disneyworld! at least i think we went there)
-maryland (ok the exclamation point thing is getting old)
-boston (twice)
-new york (4 times)
-cali (too many times to count)
and i havent even gone to any of the outer islands yet. stupid teachers strike
next stop...zippys!
ok well, its jane and new york again, but then its zippys!
actually, maybe cali, but either way zippys is somewhere on the list
one of the safest websites you can look through during work with the minimal "youre fired" potential is msnbc.com, or any other news site. i used to only look at the sports section cause politics bored me, but now i read it all. i milk every article for all its worth.
ok, i used to read the entertainment section only. a guys gotta know whats in nowadays
my boss is this big, baseball coach looking guy. for some reason, we used to always end up going to the bathroom at the same time during the last work term. the bathrooms had about 8 uhh..."you can pee on the wall" stalls (or whatever theyre called). i would choose one, and i thought he would oblige with the man rule and pee at least a stall away from me. but he would always use the one right next to mine, and just look at my face and talk to me about sports. i guess its my fault that he thinks i watch sports. i remember our first conversation:
boss: "hey peter, you like sports?"
peter: "of course i do!"
DOOM!
but anyways, i think he hates me now. right when i walked in the office for my second term, he took one look at me and he had this look of disappointment- which lasted for a millisecond, then he was able to hide it. i think its because i havent cut my hair since christmas, and its still orange-yellowy. he just said "oh, hey peter," and that was it. when i see him in the hallway, i say "hi bob!"
he looks away
i used to feel "different" from the workers here because i was the youngest one in the office. now, im the youngest worker with the longest and brightest hair. oh, and im the only asian intern.
i started to get so pissed at him. who is he to judge me, just cause of my hair? i mean, it has gone to the point of long and ugly like those j-pop guys  , but still. i was gonna sneak into his room and steal a candy bar from him. i even made a sketched outline and plan, cause i saw oceans 11 the night before and felt all cool and oceany
and then i took a sip of coffee, and i forgot that it was just made. and the filter must've had a hole in it, cause it was full of ground up coffee beans
so i decided that was my sign. you play with fire, you'll get burned. i guess the same works for coffee beans.
speaking of coffee (my, this entry is getting long), i brought a pack of kona coffee as a gift to the coworkers. right after i gave it to them, they said "hey, let me show you something." then they whipped out a drawer full of really crazy expensive coffee.
i felt like charlie when he gave willy wonka the everlasting gobstopper back
turns out, the workers were sick of drinking the generic office coffee (and having to pay for it), so they decided to pitch in a pack per person of something really good. "the coffee club." im in the mailing list!
since they have unlimited free flights (international too), they go all over to get the best stuff. well, you can just import those from anywhere. but still, its cool because for them, its cheaper to fly to france and pick up some coffee, instead of paying 2 dollars more for shipping.
anyways, this entry is all over the place yo. i was gonna write about life and how we shouldnt take it for granted (which i think i tried to say in the beginning), and then allude it to this crazy msnbc article about there being this "second earth" out in space. it could have water and everything. pretty freaky:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18293978/
and then there was something about a hadron collider that could be used to make a wormhole to travel there so we wouldnt have to wait billions of years. but then that could completely erase our whole existence.
the scary part is, the swiss (i think) were planning on finishing that thing by 2015! thats like dr octopus and his whatever machine, just theres no octopus guy and the machine is totally different.
save us spiderman!
aigoo...read all of this, and i'll love you for life. or just think youre weird.
happy joanne?
:>
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| whoooaa new entry time
well so far, i think i failed every one of my new years resolutions
but thats what next years for!
so heres a quick update on ol' me
i realized (well, i knew this for the longest time, but anyways) that i never want to work in an office. i wanna teach :>
actually, i have it all planned out
i graduate
then peace corps
then grad school
then phd time
then prof chung? no? well, i guess we'll see
its a little less than 3 months now since the new year, and man what a mess its been
well, not that messes are bad
home, the school, the flights, the girl...
yea its a mess, but i always thought that the guy who thought of mixing vanilla icecream with oreos just made a mess while he was trying to clean up, but was too cheap to throw it out so he just ate it all
and voila!
no?
well whatever
...this was a terrible comeback entry
so heres a picture of daniel henney, because i know only girls use xanga now
  
and just to redeem myself (and cause shes oh so pretty)
heres a picture of sarah shahi
dang!
take care you. things arent as bad as we make them to be
:>
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