September 1-7
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(1) Monday -
You ever feel like not waking up? that is me today. It's 7:36am. I had a dream about an ex-girlfriend. Nothing too crazy. Just remembered how she once said to me while walking at full speed, together arms locked, in some enclosed building or maybe even the skyways in downtown Minneapolis... she said, "how great it was that we walked at the same pace." Then I woke up and remembered, I will most likely never see, or talk to her ever again.
This thought kind of makes me sad of course but after thinking about it for a long while (an hour or so) I created a absurd little Rick & Morty like rant (great show if you don't know it download an episode) ... where Rick is lecturing Morty about not wasting too much time chasing Jessica around, that eventually he's gonna have to pull the band-aid off and face the facts... that love is not an endurable thing for most people, look at me Morty one of the smartest people you know and I failed miserably at it... whatdaya... think...burp...the chances are that you'll fail. Pretty grim Morty.
This thought kind of makes me sad of course but after thinking about it for a long while (an hour or so) I created a absurd little Rick & Morty like rant (great show if you don't know it download an episode) ... where Rick is lecturing Morty about not wasting too much time chasing Jessica around, that eventually he's gonna have to pull the band-aid off and face the facts... that love is not an endurable thing for most people, look at me Morty one of the smartest people you know and I failed miserably at it... whatdaya... think...burp...the chances are that you'll fail. Pretty grim Morty.
The first time I got up this morning was at 10 minutes before dawn. I sat on the ledge of my bed stared out at the front door at the row of trees, towards the beach. I watch it go from near blackness to one of the best sun rises I have watched that intently for as long as I can remember. It might have been twenty some years ago that I went on fishing trips to Canada with dad to have done something like that.
It was perfect and the sky was mostly cloudy, making the sun pinball around the clouds, like hitting the jet bumpers, which of course lights them up. It was like watching a wizard play the 70's style Dr. Who pinball game in the basement of Caffetto's coffee shop. Man I miss that coffee shop. It is a beat-to-shit and kind of dirty place with one of the best coffee bars in the front of the shop. It has swivel chairs from the fifties as well. The walls are covered in old spanish war ships and English ships of the line. The barista's were all funny and some crabby but really cute as well. I could sit all day.
It was perfect and the sky was mostly cloudy, making the sun pinball around the clouds, like hitting the jet bumpers, which of course lights them up. It was like watching a wizard play the 70's style Dr. Who pinball game in the basement of Caffetto's coffee shop. Man I miss that coffee shop. It is a beat-to-shit and kind of dirty place with one of the best coffee bars in the front of the shop. It has swivel chairs from the fifties as well. The walls are covered in old spanish war ships and English ships of the line. The barista's were all funny and some crabby but really cute as well. I could sit all day.
I thought about taking a photo after I saw all the colors swirling around... but by the time I got this idea to take a photo... it was too late. To get the ideal position I would need to run with my camera down to beach, walk around to get past the bend of tall trees, to maybe just maybe get the right shot. There was not enough time. Then I sat down and ate a bowl of cereal.
Not much excited ended up happening Monday. I met with Sam bought some lumber to make her some book shelves. Walked around town met some people from a cargo ship from Canada and hung out with this French guy for a bit. He was a card player/world traveler.
Not much excited ended up happening Monday. I met with Sam bought some lumber to make her some book shelves. Walked around town met some people from a cargo ship from Canada and hung out with this French guy for a bit. He was a card player/world traveler.
(2) Tuesday -
Today is starting out ok... No insane or just annoying dogs barking their heads off all night, no roosters... nothing!!! It was just nice and quiet most of the night. After weeks of non-stop noise and shit I finally slept. I am sure tomorrow the dogs and roosters will be at it ten times louder to make up for a nice night. I used to be the biggest dog lover, but this country has turned my opinion. Maybe it just the way the locals own and treat their dogs kicking them whenever they see them, how they run wild in packs at night, how they attack you if they don't know you. I carry a stick when I walk around my campus at night because they try to attack from time to time. Even though most of them are cowards, I kind of hate these nasty local dogs all covered in lice or fleas.
For today, lets see... since no one is interested at my school is learning anything computer related so I will collect the lumber make some book shelves for Samatha and then hang out with a friend from Ratua Island, Penelope... Not sure what she wants to do. Maybe go to a blue hole or something.
I wish the Ratua/Malo project was ramping up. I miss working on projects. It is hard to adjust to the complete underwhelming challenge of working and living here.
Scratch that... for the last hour (7:30am - 8:30am) I spent trying to troubleshoot a mind-numbingly stupid problem at my school. They have 3 wireless routers. And they have people that break in to my school's compound and steal their internet... who really gives a shit my principle does. So he asked me to lock down the wireless. I did on one of the three routers but the other two have had their password changed so I need to reset them to factory defaults but in doing so I might interrupt the office internet for the day (because they use these routers as a daisy chain to connect the other locations in the school) and I dont want to have to waste my time troubleshooting that all day. So if they would give me a key I could work on it at night like IT techs do in every place on the Earth versus doing network changes during the day.
Back home again 3pm... the lumber place cut the board wrong so I will return after lunch. Guess I can look at the wifi issue again. So annoying. I almost wish I had my usual contract work to occupy my mind like in the states with 5-10 million budget, 10-40 developers, me in the middle of all the action as usual, so I could assign a network admin to diddle around with the router while we developed a massive program that generates millions. Oh well. I miss all that troublemaking and political wrangling to get it all solved.
4pm... and the network problem is solved... internet locked down.
Ok so I was feeling pretty shitty today I admit it. Not every day in Vanuatu is Paradise but Rich and Molly came over for a bit. Rich made me work out which was great. I feel so lazy and weak without the Soap Factory keeping me busy building and smashing stuff. We walked around my beach and I never really explored it... there are some pretty cool things to see. It must have been relics from WW2 an old shipyard and a beached ship rotting away. Hope we can have a beach party there this weekend.
Today is starting out ok... No insane or just annoying dogs barking their heads off all night, no roosters... nothing!!! It was just nice and quiet most of the night. After weeks of non-stop noise and shit I finally slept. I am sure tomorrow the dogs and roosters will be at it ten times louder to make up for a nice night. I used to be the biggest dog lover, but this country has turned my opinion. Maybe it just the way the locals own and treat their dogs kicking them whenever they see them, how they run wild in packs at night, how they attack you if they don't know you. I carry a stick when I walk around my campus at night because they try to attack from time to time. Even though most of them are cowards, I kind of hate these nasty local dogs all covered in lice or fleas.
For today, lets see... since no one is interested at my school is learning anything computer related so I will collect the lumber make some book shelves for Samatha and then hang out with a friend from Ratua Island, Penelope... Not sure what she wants to do. Maybe go to a blue hole or something.
I wish the Ratua/Malo project was ramping up. I miss working on projects. It is hard to adjust to the complete underwhelming challenge of working and living here.
Scratch that... for the last hour (7:30am - 8:30am) I spent trying to troubleshoot a mind-numbingly stupid problem at my school. They have 3 wireless routers. And they have people that break in to my school's compound and steal their internet... who really gives a shit my principle does. So he asked me to lock down the wireless. I did on one of the three routers but the other two have had their password changed so I need to reset them to factory defaults but in doing so I might interrupt the office internet for the day (because they use these routers as a daisy chain to connect the other locations in the school) and I dont want to have to waste my time troubleshooting that all day. So if they would give me a key I could work on it at night like IT techs do in every place on the Earth versus doing network changes during the day.
Back home again 3pm... the lumber place cut the board wrong so I will return after lunch. Guess I can look at the wifi issue again. So annoying. I almost wish I had my usual contract work to occupy my mind like in the states with 5-10 million budget, 10-40 developers, me in the middle of all the action as usual, so I could assign a network admin to diddle around with the router while we developed a massive program that generates millions. Oh well. I miss all that troublemaking and political wrangling to get it all solved.
4pm... and the network problem is solved... internet locked down.
Ok so I was feeling pretty shitty today I admit it. Not every day in Vanuatu is Paradise but Rich and Molly came over for a bit. Rich made me work out which was great. I feel so lazy and weak without the Soap Factory keeping me busy building and smashing stuff. We walked around my beach and I never really explored it... there are some pretty cool things to see. It must have been relics from WW2 an old shipyard and a beached ship rotting away. Hope we can have a beach party there this weekend.
(3) Wednesday -
It was an interesting day, starting with the brief skype chat with my family and Jerry and Linda. I showed them my house and Samuel stopped over (my counterpart) and spoke a little Tana local language with them. They thought thats was neat.
Then I ran around in circles trying to 1) Fix my school internet outage, 2)dying router likely cause, fixing internet issue at a local lumber milling company, 3) getting a power solution for Malo island, 4) eating a pizza... 4) being sent back and forth to TVL (phone/internet company) to fix internet issue at both my school and lumber company, 5) talking with Daria, Megan, molly, Patricia (German baby-doc) then being so worn out I just wanted to sleep but instead I 6) started writing in my blog.
Missed ultimate frisbee again. One day I will make it again.
It was an interesting day, starting with the brief skype chat with my family and Jerry and Linda. I showed them my house and Samuel stopped over (my counterpart) and spoke a little Tana local language with them. They thought thats was neat.
Then I ran around in circles trying to 1) Fix my school internet outage, 2)dying router likely cause, fixing internet issue at a local lumber milling company, 3) getting a power solution for Malo island, 4) eating a pizza... 4) being sent back and forth to TVL (phone/internet company) to fix internet issue at both my school and lumber company, 5) talking with Daria, Megan, molly, Patricia (German baby-doc) then being so worn out I just wanted to sleep but instead I 6) started writing in my blog.
Missed ultimate frisbee again. One day I will make it again.
(4) Thursday -
8 am means back to fixing internet problems, hopefully the school gives me money to buy a new router because I think the problem is the ancient one we have in the lab.
I might try and bang together Sam's bookshelf... wish I had a nice router I want to put curves on the top to make it look neater.
I found a router made one book shelf. might add a support in the middle but for now here is a photo of it:
I forgot I took a photo of the commercial they aired when I lost my wallet. Hard to believe they made a radio commercial for a lost wallet.
And I would be lost without my trusty bike: I love this bike
8 am means back to fixing internet problems, hopefully the school gives me money to buy a new router because I think the problem is the ancient one we have in the lab.
I might try and bang together Sam's bookshelf... wish I had a nice router I want to put curves on the top to make it look neater.
I found a router made one book shelf. might add a support in the middle but for now here is a photo of it:
And I would be lost without my trusty bike: I love this bike
I think I figured out why I was not feeling particularly happy lately, I forgot to take my thyroid med for a few days. I knew something was off. That can affect mood and stuff. Well I suck at remembering sometimes.
Turned out to be an interesting day. Few peace corps vols had a layover in my town Emily, TRW, Phil, Megan for the week, and they went to beachfront for kate's birthday. They have a salt water pool we same in. Alban and her friend from Paris Vladimir (not sure how to spell that) were there. I inviting them for the beach party we are having at my site.
Since I don't have a huge hunger for pizza at the time Ieft the pool area and headed into town to grab some groceries. I then found out something very interesting. I want to call it the egg-conspiracy. There has been a serious egg shortage in Luganville for a month now. No one can find any eggs. I get lucky from time to time and buy a bunch, but today I went to LCM at the closing hours which tends to be the time of restocking and saw 4 different people walk out with stack of egg trays, some 30 some 40 or about that. I asked about it they kept saying all out. but more and more restaurant owner employee's came in and left with eggs. There is no real shortage, there seems to be a deal setup with certain people to hold eggs in the stockroom and sell them to preferred customers. I stood there and asked my friends that work there how is it they get eggs... and no one else can... then she (the lady I know) said I save you 12 for Saturday. I knew there was no shortage. It is a friend system. Well if you can't beat them join em right? Let's see how this turns out.
(5) Friday -
All day I battled the internet, at my school and a friends house and lost both fights. But come monday there is a good shot at fixing them. I was lucky enough to get a new 16 port switch for my school which will be extremely handy because it is faster than the old one and we can use the old one in the teachers lounge to expand their access to the internet. We are moving away from wireless because it is easier to support (they always forget passwords) and more secure from being pirated and chewing up our bandwidth.
The new baby docs were at Deco stops happy hour and at aqua. They are all great just like the last group but I miss each groups that leaves.... hard making new friends and watching the leave in 4-6 weeks.
(6) Saturday -
Today I managed to find a bunch of eggs for both Bryan & Kate and for Rich. Score!
Later today we are walking down the Saracata river and cliff diving into the river. Should be interesting.
Well just got back about 5pm... took some photos of the river jump:
(7) Sunday -
Most of the Santo Peace Corps are heading out to Champaign Beach today. I decided to stay home and read a bit (nearly done with the asimov series Foundation's Edge) write and just think a bit. I think that is maybe the one thing we have in common amongst PC, is a lot of time to think.
I watched a storm cloud approach. I can't recall ever caring much about watching one except once when I was with my dad on a fishing trip on Lake Superior. It's pretty cool seeing a mist form, then the trees near the beach started to dance around moving up the football field before starting to hit the tin roof. It sounds like highway traffic. Maybe not that epic sounding unless you're hear to see it but it was great.
last night I did not really sleep until about 5 am. then work up at 7am. So 2 hours is little less than my normal but oh well. I was talking with a friend of mine Kat Luna on skype, seriously she's one of the coolest women I know back in Minneapolis and an amazing artist. She works/volunteers at the Heart of the Beast Theatre doing a variety of things including puppetry, acting, set building and so on. I invited her to visit Santo, which she is now considering. I met her in 2009 and never forgot it even though all she said was hi.
If there is a way we will try and organize an event of some kind. Maybe she can have a puppetry workshop and a performance. I would love it if we can organize some kind of class to teach how to put together a more epic parade like we do in May in Minneapolis. They love parades here but they do it in such a strange way... all massed up in one big bunch screaming their heads off and laying on their car horns. Not very interesting if you ask me. The MayDay parade is one of the coolest events of the year in my home town. I am dreaming big but might as well. If we could have street performers and stilt walkers, masks, dancing and music that would be so amazing and I think people here would want to do it. All you need is cheap materials to make these. Who would I contact to make this happen? Is there any suggestions... ok desperate attempt to solicit advice from whoever is reading this blog and I see there is traffic 50 people click on this blog yesterday, leave a comment come on.
