Mark

geredan — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 12:47:33 GMT

Happy birthday to doctorpepper, whose birthday came 4 days earlier than I thought it did. Damn him, warping time just so I miss early congratulations!

cai would also be wishing him a happy birthday, but as of this moment she probably has just boarded a plane to fly home.

geredan — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:09:11 GMT

I'm home now. Well, I'm in San Antonio, which is closer to what I consider home than I have been in months.

After a very delirious day of jetlag and good food, I finally feel semi-concious. Even though I snagged an uncomfortable 8 hours of sleep on the international flight, I was a zombie most of yesterday. I do remember getting the best fajitas in the world and being treated to an Outback steak dinner. I talked to Kathy. I fixed up my car -- simple things, changed the battery and a break light. I was using a socket wrench, you should all be proud.

Still have quite a bit to do, but nothing that's too strenuous. I just wanted to drop a note and let you all know I'm alive and home!

geredan — Sun, 22 May 2005 11:51:21 GMT

Woot!

Just finished Episode III. Yes, I know I live in China. Yes, I know that I'm very picky about the quality of the movies we can get. I still haven't seen Constantine or Alexander, even though we've bought them 5 times each. So, that should give you some understanding of how excited I was to get my hands on a good copy.

Oh man. I'm still buzzing after the film. Pleased does not begin to describe it.

geredan — Mon, 16 May 2005 16:20:16 GMT

I just received mail from Delgado. They'd like to meet with me! If I can nail down two classes from them, then Kathy and I are even closer to being able to support ourselves (again) in New Orleans!

geredan — Mon, 09 May 2005 04:01:07 GMT

I'm back from Bangkok, but most of you are on the mailing list, so you have already gotten the first two days adventures. More will be coming as fast as Kathy can get around to finishing them. Our vacation is still active for another day, so don't be surprised if the posts come out a little slow.

I've just finished emailing Xavier, SUNO, UNO, Loyola, and Tulane begging for jobs. I would have mailed Dillard, but their website is fucked up. No contact information for anyone and the only information I can find through a google search is four years old.

German studies are progressing. Slowly. I'm starting by trying to memorize all the way to do verbs. It's incrediably boring (Sorry, waysmeanstonola). After I get that down, I will try to build up a vocabulary.

It's monsoon season here, I think. At least, it's been raining for days. Kind of nice, when you don't have to go outside. Unfortunately, I did yesterday. The phone service went out (we can't read our bills, so we don't know when our money is up. We go to pay the bill once the service gets shut off), so I tromped down to the China Telecom and gave them some money. We got the phone back in an hour, but the DSL was down until this morning. So, we watched another episode of Deadwood and I played some more Bloodlines.

Tomorrow, school starts back up. Tests, grading, and showing English movies to 40 Chinese students who barely speak any English. Who said ESL couldn't be fun?

geredan — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 05:18:24 GMT

I'm leaving for Bangkok in a few hours. Damn, it feels good to have the thesis off of my back.

I'll try not to bitch in my journal about the German studying when I get back. No promises, though.

I've sent out requests to both the Soc and the English department at UNO, fishing for some classes for the upcoming year. It would be nice to teach and not have to work at an office. But, you have to do what you have to do.

Oh, Bill. I've been meaning to tell you these things, but I keep forgetting.

1. I finished all of the Swamp Thing. Looking forward to talking to you about them.
2. The first five or six issues of Fables that I had not read were corrupted. So, I haven't been able to read any of them.
3. The Grim Tales are FUCKED UP! I don't know if they are fun or creepy. I think I'll settle for creepy.
4. I can't get into the G.I. Joe. Too much of it and the early writing was so bad.

I might have internet while in Thailand. If so, I'll try to post about it.

geredan — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 15:04:51 GMT

That's it. I'm finished. It's done. Only 30 pages, but we'll see what the thesis advisor has to say about it.

Now, to go rest my head and relax. And go to Bangkok.

geredan — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 08:40:40 GMT

Good news/bad news of my own

Good news: I've gotten a good chunk done of my thesis. What I mean by that is that I'm almost finished with the rough draft. I have one section on Shadow to write, then a conclusion. This was much less stressful than my last thesis (and also about half as long, my last thesis topped out at 75 pages).

Bad news: My request to waive the foreign language requirement for my MA was denied. It seems that I did not focus enough on how my studies in Sociology informs my work at a level far beyond a sophmore's understanding of a foreign language. What it really looks like is that Dr. Shock was assuaged by allowing the possibility of a waiver (the idea was all his iniative), but the Graduate Committee has made it nearly impossible to get one. All of those applied were denied.

So, I have two months to learn how to translate a German text into English. I haven't studied German in ten years. Wooo!! Go me.

geredan — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:15:49 GMT

There is something patently unfair about slaving over Mexican Hot Chocolate for hours while in the US over spring break, when I just melted a dallop of chocolate fudge frosting with some hot water and Swiss Miss sugar free hot cholcate mix and it tastes just as good.

Better even. Going to add a bit of cinammon and see how that works out.

geredan — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 05:31:35 GMT

So, Kathy's dinner didn't turn out to well...for her. The fish she bought was bad, although my black beans and Johnsonville brats were amazing. As was the little taste of black bean, Johnsonville brats, and tomato chili. The only brats we could find, though, were Johnsonville's Irish o' garlic, which Kathy doesn't like.

So, I was feeling antsy anyway, so after I finished up we took the city bus out to town square with Javier. Stopped in at McDonald's and had a hot fudge sundae while Kathy had her meal. It wasn't quite a hot fudge sundae, though. The ice cream is very different, less sweet and more creamy, maybe? The hot fudge sauce was just a thicker version of Hersey's syrup. Still, it was tasty.

On the way back home, we decided to look for a new wardrobe. We have no closets and the rod in the wardrobe we have busted. There is this huge furniture warehouse, several of them actually, upstairs above some smaller convience stores. We were in this one room warehouse, dusty and attic like. It looked like a chop shop for sofas. Dimly lit, cement floors, everything slightly dusty. We walked around until someone came out of a small office. We picked out a wardrobe (390 yuan, about 50 dollars American) and before I could bargain down the price, the saleslady had the furniture movers taking out the merchandise. Within 10 minutes of pointing to it, it was on a truck on its way to my apartment. I had to catch a moto and race home so I could be there when the truck pulled up. I think I got taken on the price, a little, but we really needed it, so I didn't care much.

Restlessness solved.

geredan — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 02:38:36 GMT

Feeling my first bout of homesickness, though I'm pretty sure it's just temporary. I'm in one of those moods where I'd want to go pick up Bill, run out to the Denny's and have me some pie.

Or, just see some familiar faces. I could go out to Zengcheng Town, but it's not what I'm wanting. Instead, I'd rather be in Guangzhou or Hong Kong, again. We don't get paid 'til next week, however, so that's out.

Instead, I'll just start my new book, eat dinner, and curl up with a movie and my lg. Maybe I'll go ahead and go into Guangzhou this Saturday, even though the weekly trips are little more than glorified errand running.

geredan — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 21:14:59 GMT

I walk down the floor flight of stairs to get outside of my apartment complex. The front gate isn't that far off, but when I walk out there is no bus sitting there. This rarely happens, but even if the bus /was/ there it still could be fifteen minutes until it moves. My stop is the end of the line and everytime a bus pulls up the driver gets out and sits in a little kiosk for fifteen or twenty minutes before it moves again. This means that frequently there are two or three buses piled up outside and none of them leaving.

Within thirty seconds, a guy on a motorcycle pulls up. It's basically a little two wheeler with a lawn mower engine attached and couldn't go faster than 35 miles an hour if it wanted to. For three yuan, about 33 cents US, he'll take you anywhere in the city. After he beeps his horn at me, I nod my head and tell him Ren Ren Le. I climb on behind him and he takes me the 2 miles to the nearest grocery store at top speed. So, I'm gripping onto the small metal frame, without a helmet, in shorts, while this guy who speaks no English speeds down the wide streets. I am amazed, however, there is a series of stop lights between me and the store and he actually stops at one of the red lights. That's a first for me while I'm on a moto.

He pulls up in front of the grocery store, I pay him and walk in. I like Ren Ren Le, it's laid out well. I know where everything is. It's about the size of a regular Wal-Mart and carries most things that a Super Wal-Mart carries. Attendants wait in every section that isn't food related, ready to help you with your slightest whim. Even in the food aisles, you can find a worker within 15 seconds to help you out. The only hard part is that aside from the imported food, most labels you can't read. It makes shopping an adventure. I pick up some Coke Light and some Coke Lemon Light (I love the Lemon cokes here, it's more like Lemon soda than lemon cola) and a big bar of Dove chocolate for my sick girl. Hazelnuts, raisins and almonds in this bar, although they have dark, milk, and white chocolate versions.

Then I stroll over to the produce aisles where I meet my nemesis. Anyone who has ever spent anytime in an asian grocery store is probably familiar with the rank odor of durian. Durian is a large, spiky fruit. It looks a bit like a armadillo with a handle on it. Unopened, it smells like you are boiling all your used gym socks since middle school in a big pot in the kitchen. I can't describe the smell when it is opened...and it tastes worse. Lots of people love durian, much like the French love limburger. The smell hangs like a wet blanket over the entire store, though the closer you get the produce the worse it gets. I habitually stop breathing through my nose the moment I enter a grocery store, but when I pick up the dragonfruit and apples which are right by the durian, even then I can taste the stench on my tongue. I quickly pick up all my produce, take it over to the girls that weigh it and then practically run to the meat section. I bypass all the live frogs, eels, fish, shrimp, and other seafoods and past the iced down rows of the same after they've been cut open. I grab a few packages of chicken breast which was probably killed that morning, it's so fresh.

Pushing past the crowds, I get to the front and check out. China has a different sense of personal space than Americas. Hell, most of the world does. It is not considered rude to push past people, as long as you're not knocking them down. Today is a good day, actually, not very many people. And they must be getting used to the Westerners, because not everyone stared at me. Only a few people openly gawked and most of those were children. A few adults started when I pulled up next to them to pick out of the fruit bin they were looking through. One kid even grabbed his dad's sleeve and pointed me out to him.

I pack up my groceries into my backpack and still have a few bags left over. I decide that I wouldn't feel comfortable with all this weight on a moto, so I take a taxi. Kathy is fearless, she would do it. I still have to stop myself from gripping the metal with white knuckles everytime we take a turn when I'm on a moto. The taxi pulls up to my front door and I take the four flights back up to my apartment.

The groceries were pretty cheap. 135 yuan, which is about 13-14 dollars American. The only reason they were that expensive is because the grapes were almost 50 by themselves. Must be out of season. I could have gotten it for half as much, but I would have had to gone to the open air market...and they don't have sodas and chocolate there. Plus, I was hoping to get a pillowcase, but I couldn't find them.

What I got for 13.50 American - five cans of Coke Light, 3 cans of Coke Lemon Light, 1 giant Dove bar, 3 dragon fruit, 6 fuji apples, a thing of lettuce, 6 tomatoes, two potatos, 3 pounds of grapes, two carrots big enough to choke a donkey, and 3 packages of chicken breast. Not too bad.

geredan — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 19:50:28 GMT

Hey folks!

After talking to Kathy, we both realized we've done a poor job at documenting our trip. So, I decided to try to be like some of my friends and post more frequently, talking about what's going on.

For instance, this is not a trip. I realized over the last few days that I live in Mainland China, now. We had to run over to Hong Kong to renew our visas (the school has had problems with getting our work visas). When we got back to Guangzhou last night, we were approached by a cab driver in the train station. At least, I thought he was a cab driver. He led us out the back, showed us a van, and told us to get in. Kathy asked him how much and he dawdled in telling us. Finally, he said 100 yuan and I about exploded on him. We left while he was begging us to say and Kathy turned and said "We live here, we won't give you more than 15." That's when he sulked and went to pester some other foreigners.

When we got in a real taxi (the final price was 17, but I tipped him 3 yuan even though you are not supposed to tip in Guangzhou, it still offends some people), we leaned back and relaxed. Both of us started talking about how it was good to be back in a city where we couldn't read the street signs and the driving was insane. We were home. And we've only been here two months. When another taxi pulled up inches away just to shout out "hello" to me, I felt relieved to be back where everyone is nice and friendly. Well, most people.

Don't think I didn't love Hong Kong, though. It really is like a Chinese New York City or London. We spent Friday walking the streets on Hong Kong island from Soho in the west down to Causeway Bay. Spent way too much money on English books and spent two hours hunting down the last Dark Tower book. I've gotten so used to Guangzhou prices that I forgot how expensive it could be outside of the city. The English stores charge more than stores in the States do. I spent 223 on "Confusion" by Neal Stephenson, and that's around 30 bucks American. Granted, it's the trade paperback edition, so it's only a few dollars more than I would spend on it back home. I can't even find an English book store in Guangzhou.

This trip to Hong Kong was all about shopping, but Kathy and I are talking about returning to do sight seeing. The botanical gardens, the zoo, Victoria Peak. We did spend Thursday night at the Star Ferry Pier looking out over Victoria Bay, that was romantic. We indulged our hunger for Western food and ate at TGI Friday's, Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Outback for our four meals there. Next time we'll get British and Indian food, but both of us were starving for some American restaurants. I figure, when we eat out it's Chinese or the Chinese variant of western, and when we cook at home it's more often Chinese influenced that something we would make back in New Orleans (I blame the lack of an oven for that).

So, it's Saturday. Kathy is down with a cold and I'm not feeling very energetic. It's going to be an indoors day. I'm going to make a run out to Ren Ren Lur (pronounced len-len-LURE) for some groceries, haul them back to our fifth floor apartment and read and watch movies for the rest of the day.

Speaking of movies, our last exursion into pirated movies did not turn out as well as the first. We bought 51 movies and found that about 15 of them don't work, are the wrong movie, or just so poor in quality that we can't watch them. That being said, we've seen Home on the Range, Wicker Park, The Manchurian Candidate, Jersey Girl, and The Bourne Supremecy in the last week. I won't go into any detail other than to say that I really enjoyed all of the films.

I'll let Kathy post about the new CD she has by a eur-asian band called Bond. On that note, I'm going to stop postponing my trip to the store and get it done. Miss you guys!!!

Mark

geredan — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 04:05:59 GMT

It has come to my attention that I should probably do a quick update post about where I'm living. About a month ago, I moved from New Orleans...and I had thought that I contacted everyone and let them know.

A friend of mine hit me with an ICQ message a few days ago, worried that I hadn't been returning his calls. He was afraid that the hurricanes might have done some damage, or something had gone wrong.

I haven't disappeared off the face of the map. At the beginning of August/end of July, we were offered jobs teaching in China. We had about two days to decide and 30 days to get everything ready. So, I'm currently living in Zengcheng Town, about an hour east of Guangzhou (old Canton). I'll be back in the states in February for a visit, and in July for good. No, I don't know where I'll be moving back to in July, it all depends on where Kathy gets her first job now that she's gotten her PhD.

Sorry for not telling everyone!

geredan — Tue, 22 Jun 2004 15:28:56 GMT

Happy Birthday Doc!

You old man!

geredan — Tue, 11 May 2004 06:25:35 GMT

I got into the conference. July 30-Aug 2.

They didn't receive my first email and the second was sent about 9 days after the deadline. I was accepted within an hour of the second mail.

So, either I'm very cool or this conference isn't doing too well.

geredan — Fri, 30 Apr 2004 13:53:18 GMT

So, I applied for my first conference. Mythcon up in Ann Arbor.

Wish me luck!

geredan — Mon, 09 Jun 2003 14:21:56 GMT

1. What aspect of domination do you enjoy the most? Be as specific as you can, since I vicariously live for this stuff.

In the face of being stereotypical, it is the feelings of being in control and being desired that give me the biggest kick. None of you know me very well (at all), and aren't aware of what kind of person I was in the past. I used to be meek, shy, and introverted. I was never happy with myself. I decided to make a change, and I have. cai introduced me to bdsm, and I thought I was a sub. None of that felt right to me, however.

I ramble. To answer your question, I love seeing the look of fear and hunger in my LG's eyes when I grab her by the throat. Or when I decide to punish her. Knowing that I could do anything to her that I wanted, whenever I wanted. It's an ego trip, I know. I am completely aware why I enjoy dominance. But, it's there and undeniable.

2. What is your favorite book (work of fiction)?

Argh! If I had to choose one, it would be American Gods by Neil Gaiman. I was blown away by that novel, and have become a Gaiman addict since reading it. Also up there are Jeff Noon's Vurt , Nymphomation , and Pixel Juice . Oh! And Steve Erikson's Tours of the Black Clock . I knew I couldn't do one.

3. Was there ever a time when you were ashamed of your need to dominate? Even if there wasn't, how do you justify hurting another person? Beyond the tried and true, "They want to be hurt..." answer.

Oh yes! When I was first introduced, I thought I was a sub. When I realized my mistake (I never took orders well, I was always fighting for control), I had a lot of trouble dealing with my desire to dominate. While I do have sadistic tendencies, I want control much more than I want to hurt others. I was always setting down boundaries (I don't think I could choke you, I don't think I could mark you, I don't think I could slap you) then breaking them. Early in the relationship, it was a running joke.

I do what I want to do because I want to do it. Social mores are socially enforced, and they only have power over you when you don't realize it. What I do isn't wrong, so therefore, I don't need to justify it. To anyone.

4. What is your favorite color?

Depends. Favorite eye color? Favorite color to wear? I look damned good in all the earth tones, but I think I'd have to go with blue.

5. If you could choose three people to join you and cai for dinner, whom would you choose and why? You can choose historical figures.

Oh jesus! Jack Zipes. (Influential fairy tale scholar guy). He's probably an academic ass, but if I could impress him it would make my career.

Doctorpepper, dammit! Because he makes me laugh so hard I cry, sometimes. I'm going to miss him now that he's up in the Great White North. I only knew him for almost two years, but he's still consistantly one of the people that I enjoy the most.

There are tons of people out there, both obvious and not, who I'd like to ask a question or interview. But dinner is such a social thing, something to enjoy. I'm big into self gratification (thank God that cai doesn't want kids), so I wouldn't want to invite someone just to grill them about their lives or their work. So...my third would be...Seth Green. He looks like a celebrity who is down to earth and is funny as hell. Someone I could pull the PS2 out and kick his ass at Soul Caliber and we'd both have a good time.

geredan — Sun, 08 Jun 2003 22:05:30 GMT

And, so I'm not breaking any part of the ritual.

Does anyone want me to interview them?

anoisblue's shower meme:

If you want me to interview you--post a comment that simply says, "Interview me." I'll respond with questions for you to take back to your own journal and answer as a post. Of course, they'll be different for each person since this is an interview and not a general survey. At the bottom of your post, after answering the Interviewer's questions, you ask if anyone wants to be interviewed. So it becomes your turn-- in the comments, you ask them any questions you have for them to take back to their journals and answer. And so it becomes the circle.

geredan — Sun, 08 Jun 2003 21:50:42 GMT

1. At what point did you realize, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you absolutely could not ever live in Missouri again?

Sometime after my divorce. I had convinced myself that I could enjoying living in St. Louis for the rest of my life. Frequently thought of my future in that town, becoming a member of some little suburb community, having kids, joining the local political arena. After the divorce, I was able to admit to myself that all of that would have been a nightmare for me. I knew that I had to get out and would never be happy in that little podunk state again.

2. I know most of the lessons you've taken with you from your previous relationship. And most of the ones before that. But what about your friendships? What are the most important lessons you think you've learned from the many strong (and even the weak ones) friendships you've had over the years?

That I have a strong (almost dependent) need for a large body of friends. I learned that I would let a friend walk all over me (and have tried to change that). I learned that I am a snob and that I am classist. I learned that I could /always/ depend on Walter. I learned that I have more than my one true friend on this planet, and I am lucky.

3. What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming nuptials? Anything you're particularly nervous about?

The wedding night. Being able to call cai my wife. Seeing all my friends and family again. Nervous? That something might go wrong with the ceremony itself. I have no nervousness when it comes to my fiancee.

4. If you had a good, well-paying job that you loved, would you object to keeping your little girl...er... SO at home, taken care of and pampered, or would you, somewhere deep inside, be resentful that she isn't out working?

If my LG cleaned the house and cooked meals while I worked (similiar to how I clean house and occasionally cook while she works) I would feel no bitterness whatsoever. Plus, my LG would also be writing novels and making more money than me. I only regret I'll never have a job that well paying.

5. If I told you that you had a beautiful body, would you (please, pretty pretty please) hold it against me?

That isn't near enough begging.

geredan — Wed, 04 Jun 2003 19:31:51 GMT

Just watched Primal Fear again.

Damn, Edward Norton looks young.

geredan — Wed, 04 Jun 2003 05:26:33 GMT

I am very tired.

That being said, I'm doing pretty good. My birthday was a bit slow, but that is from the complete lack of finances.

Thanks to the LG for doing everything she can to make my day better when we are flat busted broke. At least I didn't have to work on my birthday, although it's starting to get a little worrisome that I haven't gotten an assignment in the last three days. Hopefully that won't last, or we might be royally fucked.

My thesis is all turned in and everything, so all that is left is to defend it on July 11th. I can't believe it's already been two years since I moved into New Orleans.

Here I was planning on getting all introspective, but the LG needs to go to work. Oh well, I'm too tired to think anyway.

geredan — Mon, 26 May 2003 13:08:35 GMT

BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

I'm done! Woot! Finished.

Well, the rough draft at least. I'll turn that in tomorrow, and just relax for the rest of the week.

I have lots of fun I need to cram into the next week, as the Doc is leaving on Sunday. Not looking forward to that, it's going to be hard for both my LG and for me. But, it's a good move for him and we're real proud of him.

Time to go shower, go out, rent some movies, and wish I had money to spend on myself.

geredan — Thu, 22 May 2003 13:20:45 GMT

Opal says, "My paper has a number of foci that all tie together. That's
just one of them."
Geredan is very proud of you.
Opal says, "Foci? Focuses? Focali? Foucault? Something."
Opal says, "Thank you."
You say, "Foucault."
You say, "From now on the plural of focus is Foucault."
Opal grins.

geredan — Thu, 22 May 2003 08:58:47 GMT

I broke the block!!!

Woot!