Conversations with God

This was kinda heartbreakin.


Kinda like Pursuit of Happyness but with more...God.

Measure of a Man

The only part of Rocky V worth watching was the credits

Don't quit your day job

So it's like this...

I've been on this rock since December 2006 and it's now March 2007. To date I haven't gotten a state ID, a Hawaii driver's license or a new social security card (my original one went to micronesia). These are things I've had all the time in the world to do but haven't for one odd reason or another. As important as these things are though, each one of them has taken a backseat to the bigger issue: NO JOB.

At first it was a matter of pride. "I made THIS much back home doing THIS kind of work and so it shall be unto Honolulu". Snap back to reality, the places I wrote to and called couldn't care less whereas the offers from retail stores far and away were more than happy to offer starting salaries of $7.45 and up.

Barnes & Noble and Starbucks were the first to offer and the first to not work out. More pride I guess. I didn't think I had any left after seeing my living conditions and day to day lifestyle but turns out there was still enough to keep me from taking the jobs. So I kept looking.

Next up were the Applestore and FedEx Kinkos. These were the upper-levels of retail as far as I was concerned. Both made offers and even though I would've preferred Apple, FedEx Kinkos offered more money ($12/hr...I made more as an intern) and a full time position as opposed to apple's part time. But a weird thing happened on the way to the mall and a couple of friends suggested doing both jobs simultaneously. Suicide I thought. But on the other hand, it would've meant more money, so I caved to the idea that more money was worth the time served.

I took the FedEx job with the intention of becoming a signs & graphics/prepress guy. What they gave me was higher paying, more prestige and absolutely NOT in line with what I had applied for. They wanted me to be a sales guy.

The manager said, "I see something in you, I haven't even looked at your design work but you've sold me on your ability to communicate. I want you out there suited up and growing FedEx Kinko's presence on this island".

Riiiiiiiight. At the end of the second week, before completing my training but after the staff meeting where my boss told everyone how key and integral I would be, I walked into the office shook his hand and said "thanks but no thanks" and walked out. In at 8:30 am, out by 8:45. That was a good day. A surprisingly very good day.

Downsides to that move:

1. Less money from a part-time job
2. That place is right where I catch my bus so every day I'm outside the window hangin around
3. The same day I walked out I had to go back a couple diff times to send faxes (nice and awkward)

Upside:

1. Chance to find another (better) job
2. Focus on screwing up at Apple instead of screwing up both
3. More time to get all the aforementioned documentation I didn't get already


So now it's just the applestore, so hopefully I can smile and make some money while looking for another 9-5 job. Funny little anecdote from the FedEx Job: A coworker mentioned how Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate of the entire country, but what they don't tell you is that people here are working at least 2 or 3 jobs just to get by so of course there's no unemployment! It was even funnier when she said it because she's Thai and has a wicked accent.

Yesterday when I came home from work I got a call from my cousin Cindy. She heard from her sister in Guam who heard from my mother's sister in Micronesia that my dad was rushed to the hospital out there. Words like "Dad" and "hospital" in the same sentence make me feel helpless. I should've known better than to trust the grapevine but nevertheless I ran across the street and bought some phonecards to call them. I can't even call from my cell, I have to dial a 29 digit phone number to talk to my family.

Anyway, he was fine. He went in for a scheduled checkup and his blood pressure was high enough for them to want to keep him overnight, but he opted for medication and went home. The reason I bring this up is, first and foremost, it scared the shit out of me. And second, that medication he's taking is a substitute for the meds he was on out in Washington. His supply ran out as it did many times in DC, but back there I would usually kick in and buy it for him if he couldn't afford it himself (micronesian health insurance sucks so hard). These days though, our entire family has to contribute a little just to afford mom's meds. Dad quietly bowed out of the picture until he was almost hospitalized and I just quit my day job. Some big help I turned out to be.

I'm living out of a suitcase in an overcrowded apartment but for the most part, settled now. I have a part-time job and don't have to pay any rent (yet). There's a right thing to do here but I can't seem to lock it down for some reason. Oh yeah, I missed church 2 sundays in a row. Can you believe that mess? I can't. Wtf is going on?

Here's hoping things get better in the near (post-lent) future.


Short takes from the past weeks:


This kicked ass from start to finish



Whedon's run on Astonishing X-Men has been great. John Cassaday's art has been solid too.



Hot, delicious, and Lent-friendly



And for no reason other than his ultimate coolness




And I guess that's it for now until something funny or eventful happens.



Also, this is probably the funniest show in the history of television

Quack Quack

Oh man, I almost lost it watching this in the coffeeshop.

300

The BOOK was so incredibly badass.



Annnd, I guess this was cool too.




Much more sex and politics in the film. Straight sex to offset the homoerotic tour de force of 300 chiseled (airbrushed) men in their underwear and capes grappling. Politics because they fight persians just like we (America) do. Good movie, but read the book first.

So much else going on at the same time, but I think I'll have to write about it later.

Tired now.

Goodnight.

Freakazoid!

They don't make them like this anymore.

EVERYBODY DOWN...caveguy's underwear is brown

Ready for War

Thanks mar.

Crush

Watched 40 days and 40 nights again tonight. I don't think I've seen it for at least 3 or 4 years now, but I figure it's good to watch during Lent (even though it really doesn't have much to do with actual Liturgical practice of Lent).

The story is about a guy who takes a vow of celebacy for the 40 days and nights of the Lenten season and then subsequently meets a girl like his second day into it. It was an amusing movie, but that's not what this is about.

This is about a girl named Shannyn Sossamon



The "girl" of the movie, I'm crushing so hard on her (her character?) it's sad.

According to the wiki, Shannyn Sossamon is "of French, Hawaiian, Dutch, English, Irish, Filipino and German descent; her maternal grandmother is Hawaiian-Filipino, and her maternal grandfather is English-German".

I have a weak spot for mixed girls and that has to be one of the maddest mixes I've ever heard of. Also, there's something to say about a girl who looks so good in regular bummy clothes. Yeah, mixed bums are what do it for me.




/crushing on a B movie character
//carefully ignoring the "married/mother" part of the wiki article

Photoposer Battle

Since I don't have a job or any money left in my savings there's only one thing to do:

Look at toys!!



or




Either way, I don't know how to use them properly and I really don't deserve them but I don't think that should get in the way of owning one.

Not being able to afford either, that's something harder to get past.

The Canon 5D is running close to $3,000.

The Leica M8 is about $5,000.

Man, those are big numbers.





Hmm...

Confuseable bathroom products

There is a fundamental difference between hairspray and spray-on underarm deodorant. Unfortunately for me, I have had to learn that the hard way. Twice.

So I acidentally sprayed hairspray under my arms (twice), which sucks. But as I felt the sily & soy protein formula taking hold of the hair under my arms, I decided that I should just follow through and put the deodorant on there anyway because finesse doesn't do much in the way of anti-perspiration. But the resulting funk of the mix led me to believe that a little AXE body spray was necessary to balance out the body responsive/extra protective combo that only a haircair product and antiperspirant could provide.

Three different spray-on products in one area of the body.

Long story short: I've got a rash

First Friday

Out here in Honolulu, on the first friday of every month, the art community opens the doors of all it's downtown art galleries for a semi-street festival viewing. Self guided tours lead into different galleries where the artists hold discussions, food and wine are served, and many new exhibits debut with a plethora of people ranging from the college age to senior citizens weaving through one another to get a glimpse of what's "hot" on the honolulu art circuit.

Here're some quick blurry snaps









Wish I coulda spent more time there. Maybe bring some of my friends or maybe a date. Ah well, there's always April.

Paprika

Wow.

Better quality here: trailer

Facts & Fictions

This...did not suck. As a matter of fact, about two thirds of this movie were refreshingly cool. I give Will Ferrell some credit for taking a role outside of his college humor safety zone and actually running with it.

What else is going on?

I went for a couple more interviews this week. Second interview with the applestore and if I was reading my interviewer correctly the only thing stopping a job offer by tomorrow would be the background check they're still conducting. So that's pretty cool, I wouldn't mind having discounts on trendy tech stuff.

First interview with FedEx Kinkos. The job they're offering me is a CSR position, which means calling to follow up on customer satisfaction with orders and since this is Kinkos the reactions are probably gonna be less than stellar. But they're offering more money than the minimum avg and it's literally down the street. My commute would be a 5 minute walk.

Funny thing about the FedEx Kinkos place was the girl already made up her mind about me before I came in, so she took the liberty of setting up a drug test the same day as my interview. Since the only things pills I take are vitamins (now) and the only thing I smoke is hookah (I miss you so) I was like "yeah sure brrrring it".

So I went to the little testing facility and it was this small space in a big office building. It was just me and the 40 yr old receptionist in this one room and she started making small talk,

"So what are you gonna do over at Kinkos?"

"Probably whatever they tell me to"

"haha, where are you from?"

"Washington D.C." (Don't pretend like any of us say VA)

"Ohhh, you know you look like you're local"

"Yeah, well...kinda. I thought my haole (white) accent woulda given it away"

"What did you do over in DC?"

Blah blah blah, and it went on like this until she said...

"What'd you study at George Mason?"

"Art & Graphic Design"

"........."

"What? Do you know someone who needs a designer? Send my results to them instead!!"

"no no, it's just...that's what I studied. Say, do you have an email address or contact info?"

This was when I was all proud for being prepared.

"Well actually, I carry around a copy of my resume at all times, just in case"

TRUTH: I accidentally printed out one too many copies for an interview one day, but she didn't need to know that.

"Oooh, I liiiike it. Thanks."

Then she took it, made a photocopy, and I never heard from her again. So I give it at least till the end of the week until she takes my resume, tweaks it, and puts her name in place of mine using my format and layout and wording to get herself a good design job while I'm taking her orders at the starbucks I'll have to work at because she got the position we both applied for but she won because she's a local and she's older.

But that wasn't the terrible part, that was just a quick afterthought I had once I realized a I gave the receptionist at a urine-testing clinic my job resume. The terrible part was actually upon me. Donating a urine sample is like this...

1. Empty all the contents of your pockets into this lock box.

This box looked like someone had diarrheaed rust all over the interior. I felt like I needed a tetanus shot for just looking at it. Anyway, after seeing what I was putting all my valueables into I dryly remarked,

"What happened here? Someone miss the bowl?"

No response. She just stared at me, to which I just stared back and in my mind whispered "Oh...my...god".

2. Wash your hands in this sink, touch nothing else.
3. Take this cup and fill it up as full you can.

"Oh, should I get some water? I might need to fill the tank back up before I start watering...the...lawn"

No sooner had those words escaped my mouth that I realized I was addressing not just this girl in scrubs (I don't want to give her the benefit of the title nurse) but her supervising scrub and the receptionist. All of whom were women, all of whom were staring at me, none of whom were laughing.

"Do you need to go to the water fountain sir?"

"No miss, I think I just 'donated' enough for 12 samples about three seconds ago in my pants"

That was what I was thinking but all that came out was,

"I'm good"

I'll skip over the part about the "do not flush the toilet when you're done" warnings and the diagram of "how to properly collect a sample" that I read the first half of before I realized it was the women's instructions, btw...wow. Suffice to say, I don't think they like their jobs any more than I do.

Anything else good this week? Muse called yesterday when I was on the bus. The convo went something like this:

"Wuzzup man?"

"I'm on a bus"

"..."

"Muse?"

"hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha"

"Can I call you back when I get off the bus?"

"hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaha"

"peaCe"

"hahahahaha thanks man, I needed that. Peace."


And then the sun set and the day was over.

The end.