"One of them had to stop burning. The sun wouldn't, certainly. So it looked as if it had to be Montag and the people he had worked with until a few short hours ago. Somewhere the saving and putting away had to begin again and someone had to do the saving and keeping, one way or another, in books, in records, in people's heads, any way at all so long as it was safe. free from moths, silverfish, rust and dry-rot, and men and matches. The world was full of burning of all types and sizes. Now the guild of the asbestos weaver must open shop very soon."

-Ray Bradbury

So I've rediscovered an old flame:

Books

She's a manipulative mistress, but long ago I fell slave to her charms. I escaped her for a short while and went a-whoring about with Real Life, experiencing this diversion or playing with that bauble, but she has come a calling once again and I am powerless to refuse her gentle knock. Wave Adieu, O readers who actually see me face to face, for the long cold winter approaches and a literary hibernation is imminent.


See You on the Dark Side

Small Victories...

Things I have conquered in the last 5 months:

1. Homesickness: To be honest I never thought I would have it, but the oddest things creep up when you're a long way from anything remotely resembling the familiar.

2. Fear of talking to strangers: Healthy though it may be for a child and certainly requiring it's own level of personal discernment, it was time for that to be done with.

3. Fear of asking ladies on dates: This one is hard for every nerd slowly coming into adulthood.

4. Fear of getting lost in a foreign country: Come on guys, it happens. Don't worry you'll eventually find that metro station if you keep walking north through those apartment buildings

5. Need for control: Let's face it, there's no such thing here for us, so just roll with it.

6. (Most of) An overinflated sense of justice: I can't threaten First Ammendment law suits here. No First Ammendment.

7. Shame at having to ask for help: Trust me, you'll need help.

I'm sure there are more but I've spent the whole week playing tour guide and it's naptime.


See You on the Dark Side

"I don't know if what we did last night was right or not. But at the time I decided not to force myself to judge anything. If the flow is there, I figured I'd just let it carry me along where it wanted."

A friend of mine said something very insightful the other day. It's probably a bit of a misquotation, but it went something along the lines of "Sometimes people haven't had enough of something, and you know that no matter how many times you warn them they won't quit until they have." It is with limitless regret that I open the following can of worms. I was briefly (what I, a reasonable experienced, albeit woefully untalented, adult, would call) dating someone. Said person was apparently either already involved with someone and misread my intentions, or was in the midst of making a decision on whether to make said someone a serious installment in her life. The point is moot, as the result is the same either way. That's right, I am once again fully available at any local meat market (rejoice ladies) for the low low price of one sloppy makeout session. However, as most (read: all) of my Suwon friends have either moved or been fired or both over the course of the last month, that leaves me with little choice but to accept the offer of "plain ol' friendships". So here I go, repeating a pattern I have adopted with at least a mild degree of success for over a decade.


Now for Totally Awesome News, we move to Olly. Olly?

"FAMILY'S IN TOWN!"

Thank you Olly.

That's right kiddies, my brother is coming on Saturday. Now I haven't seen this guy in over three years, so we've got some catching up to do. He's got his own share of issues which are, frankly, none of your damn business, but hopefully we'll be able to go over those while he's here as well as see some of the touristy crap I haven't had the stomach to do by myself.


The job is still a bit shit, but I still have one so once again, my paranoia refuses to pan out.

Well, that's the news for now. I know it will change some of your lives and might even inspire a nunnery for a few of you. Try to maintain your sense of individuality. For the others, I have some delicious Kool-Aid on the table to your right...


See You on the Dark Side.