The Gotee Princess Funtime Jamboree
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Thursday, September 4, 2008
8:31PM - Wow! I remembered my password!
I wasn't sure this account still existed. What. with Myfacebookspace and all those other sites I've fonud in the past year. Plus. I was still working at Harborview last time I wrote! That was over a year ago, as I've been Library Specialist for International Studies SE Asia section for over a year now. My job basically is book triage. sorting into piles of things to deal with. Immediately. Soon. Not at all.
Glad to see the game stuff is still here.
I'm this much closer to owning a zurna. In fact, I think in less than two weeks I can go blow at the highway...hopefully.
Can I embed this into another page?
Monday, July 30, 2007
8:37AM - And so another summer slips away
I can't believe the speed with which July has just dissipated. and I've been wasting precious hours at this desk. Mostly staring at this computer looking at interesting information adn counting the hours until I could run from here. All for something to live on. One of these days I'll be paid handsomely to play Romanian music. On a regular basis. maybe. If everything goes according to the Plan and Martial law isn't declared or the world isn't blown up next week. ha ha.
I've just moved my quitting date up a week so I could have a week of lounging around and getting ready to go to Canada. it has occured to me that I'd like to learn how to write grants, and maybe a little bit about Arts management. Someone has to do it. And if it means learning how to get work, then it's not a distraction.
Ah, so much for this ranting. I'll go read the etymology section of OED.
Monday, July 16, 2007
7:41AM - Okay okay -camp videos
Dina and Matt have both posted some videos from camp - Which I will paste here:
I want to play zurna...
Dina's video is a little too dard to see much. I will try to post a efw pics when I do that magic upload from the camera....
Other than that, working in Harborview is too depressing. I've now started the "one more month count down." Five weeks left. Aug 17th is my last day. ANd it won't be too soon, except for the ensuing paychecks. And it's not so bad I'm left alone most of the time, but I can only sit still and surf the internet for so long. And then the hallways are full of sick people, lunatics, and obese americans. Yoy! I've not seen this many fat people (both as patients and as "the help") in on place for a while. But I hide from middle america as much as possible. It's part of my prescibed path of sanity maintenance.
la la la
Friday, July 6, 2007
6:17AM - Culture SHock
It's hard being back in the land of offices. I'm still one-foot in musicianland. WEird to try to think with this other part of my brain. Concert tonight with HB, so that will be a momentary reprieve from having to speak with words. ay ayayayay.
Friday afternoon work should be illegal.
Friday, June 8, 2007
8:58AM - Source material
have you Met Shobolan? She's rather a hermaphrodite - hard to tell. She works for Your Government, travelling around and giving Presentations at the State Owned Coffeeshops. They are Informational presentations about what is happening with your government - she is a direct liason to Them, and conveys messages in the old fashioned physical way - It's more of a commercial ploy of Your Government to make it seem like They are less distanced the You than they are on the disembodied internet.
But everyone knows They are absolutely disconnected from your real lives. They have no idea what's going on down here. Unless it somehow ripples up and affects their Power Structure.
Oh, crap another day over, interrupted by work. And now I'm off to Operadisiac rehearsal for the big Pure Cirkus fish fry this weekend! Whee
Monday, June 4, 2007
9:04AM - The Cafe
Did I start this already?
Count: Why yes, I am in touch with one or two of the Valkyries, have you a Fallen Hero?
Impresario: possibly. I'll have details later. The is a battle that I have first hand knowledge of. Do you know of the Printer?
C: I've seen one or two pieces. They're beautiful. Is there trouble with the press?
I: Not the press so much, but the actual Printer - I know who's been making the posters - and I also know that Your Government is hot on the Printer's trail. They're quite pissed about the whole "Paradise for everyone" scheme. They'd rather keep it an exclusive club.
C: I heard that recently there were some castaways who got into Paradise. That probably didn't help the Campaign.
I: For sure. So, like I was saying, I think I may have one or two slain warriors who will need to go to Valhalla.
C: I'll get in touch with my Valkerie contact for you.
I: Great - oh - excuse me...I have to go make an announcement.
C:Certainly.
The Impresario steps up onto the small stage in the Somewhat ramshackled warehouse. There is no ceiling in parts, other parts are leaking from the incessant rains. There is a mic stand with a microphone - old fashioned with cables everywhere. Bundles of cables are strung up the wall and overhead and off to who knows where. There is a rowdy crowd of Underground individuals: people who aren't easily frightened by Your Government and folks who just don't fit in with the mainstream idea of what an upstanding citizen should be like. "Hey everyone...It's great to see so many of you here tonight. I just want to remind you to be careful with the people you talk to - if someone's asking you if you know about a good party. Tell them you usually go home and plug in. Nobody needs to know about us. And if they do, they will find us...." The crowd is half listening to the Impresario who has this annoying way of hollering into the mic - They continue to mill about, be distracted by each other, chat, drink, wager, and socialize. In one dark corner on an old car seat turned couch sits Brendan the recycling guy reading a small pamphlet.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
9:32AM - The Count and the impresario
In the well organized town which Your Government runs there are those who are not happy. It's hard to believe, I know, but there are miscreants and degenerates who for some reason are unhappy with a clean and orderly life. These people have created their own alternative gathering spaces in the underground. They have filthy little dives where they partake of sinful, debauched, and generally unhealthy ways of living. Your Government is not so happy with what they are doing, but it's not generally a problem until it starts to interfere with the power of Your Government. Until it starts to interfere with Your clean and upstanding way of life and the American Dream. You know that dream where we all get to live forever - or rather when we die we go to paradise and then live happily ever after? That and you must own the same commodities as thy neighbor. Thou shalt not slack, Thou shalt not bear false witness...and all those.
But I digress. The Count and The Impresario are having a conversation in one of those disgusting underground institutions frequented by degenerates. It is the cafe Unamerican - even the name is repulsive. let's listen in on their conversation, shall we?
Count: "There are nine valkyries - I've met only about five of them, but they assure me there are nine."
Impresario: "That seems like a lot. Are there that many passages to the Forbidden Zone?"
C: Not that I know of. I'm only familiar with two, and one has been de-commisioned because it was starting to collapse.
I: I see. Is that the one in Blaine?
C: I'm not at liberty to say...
ah - the day has ended. I will continue this converstaion tomorrow,.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
9:22AM - Shobolan shows
As you recall, the last time we checked in on Mandoline at Kalashkakoffee, she had just stashed a "Paradise: Not just for the rich" poster behind her counter. She found it when she opened the box of chairs. It's a sort of samizdat art - which is especially dangerous for her to have, since she is working in a state run Coffee house and the local information representative is on her way now. Tonight there is an Information session, hosted by Your Government. The topic: "What have you done for me lately? Ask not what your country can do for you..." These lectures, despite their heavy-handed ways, attract large crowds of people. The lure: real coffee.
Since the Border closings, goods produced in the rest of the world have become scarce. Sure, there's a remarkable synthetic coffee on the market, but it's not really anything like the real thing. Only Your Government can get the real thing. Shobolan will arrive with her presentation box and a container of the bean juice - still brewed the old fashioned way, since it involves real beans from some unknown and mysterious part of the outside world.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
1:33PM - names names names
So I found the old notes. The coffeeshop girl is mandoline. Burgess has a servant named Shin. I've changed the government agents name. he or she is now Shobolan. They appear in the Kalashkikoffee scenes.
Burgess and Lucius are about to go golfing.
My notes are at home and I've got a sharp headache which is caused by playing too much accordion and caryring the damnable thing on my shoulders for extended periods of time.
Over and out.
Friday, May 25, 2007
9:04AM - Meanwhile, back at the ranch
Lucius and Burgess have gone to play golf.
But I'm waiting to write this because I have to go read my notes to find out which one of them is going to Paradise. Only one of them is...And which one was the Music Critic.
And this job....I have time to write!
Yippee!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
10:42AM - Enter Robin, no, Starling Snood
She sits starting at the cursor in a sort of suspended animation. The shame train lurches left then right then left again. "Interesting that road repair is no longer part of the civil engineering of a world class city. Who used roads anymore?" She thinks to herself. The cursor disappears and her tiny screen reads "Welcome to Paradise!" She fidgets with the ball in her pocket and the mouse on her eye-screen moves. She floats past the palm trees and through the word Paradise to a virtual welcome room, past the receptionist who barely acknowledges her. She drifts to a tube marked "Mail room". Some more fidgeting in her pocket. Just then the bus lurches and she's thrown off her seat. "Shit" - she's lost contact with paradise. Her screen is back to the old purple-ish background she has when the device is on standby.
She looks around, most of her fellow shame train riders are in their own virtual worlds reading news, watching videos, playing games. The latest lurch was actually a stop. Starling gets off and proceeds to her favorite local hang out, a place called Kalashnikoffee.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
11:29AM - Where did those game stories get to anyway? I know I've got them on the home computer, but I though
'nuff said.
10:55AM - back to work
Tired for a busy weekend of music. Scary job interview yesterday. Back o the no-brainer job where they don't give me anything to do....weird, really.
So, i'd have to review the old entries, but I think we had a few characters already being developed...Burgess, Lucius, the recycing guy, the guy with the tunnel...the girl int he coffeeshop - was she here or just in the notes? THe congressman's wife. The stenciller. The count. The impresario. They don't all have names yet. Or personalitites.
I'ev got to find the others before I continues. over and out.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
10:16AM - FRAUD!
Grr. Before I write something fun, I must first rant about the whole-ass who stole my debit card info and bought crap online. So, I was thinking after I went to the bank and changed my account and got a new card and all that. Would I have been as pissed if they had donated the stolen money to women for women or the elephant sanctuary? Or something like that? Jerks - and they're not even altruistic jerks. WHich jsut gives me an idea for yet another character - the online robinhood who steals identities and then donates to charities. Hmm. This could be good.
Okay. later - something fun.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
9:14AM - Finally, a place where I can write.
It would seem the new temp gig is going to allow me time to write on this here space. I can only hope to be as creative as Steven with his Deus in dialogue.
Enter new character into the ongoing game. The Count. I dont' know too much about him yet. He's a foreign dignitary. Perhaps he's been to Paradise just for a visit. And there is death where he lives. Not like here in the pro-life country of america, land of eternal slavery.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
12:52PM - Saturday Morning
It's approaching the Dreaded holiday season - the one where I have, in the past, fled the country in search of non-christian solace - look to Asia - which worked in the past. This year I've just been avoiding pop culture and keeping busy with Accordions, Opera and Lautareasca. Does anyone out there know how to get a travel grat to go to ROmanian and learn/preserve Lautar music for future generations? I mean, right now all the kids want to learn is Manele, which is all well and good, but someday they may be sad. OR I will, having only some old CDs...
But enough of that. I wasn't going to write about that - what was I going to write about? I think I just came here to try to find the old threads of The Game so I could write more on that - maybe I should start a seperate Livejournal page for that...
Monday, December 4, 2006
5:05PM - it.s been too long
ANd I haven't written, but now I';m back in the admissions temping hole - and maybe I can get a word out now and then.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
11:40AM - Somewhere back there
I was writing little bits of the story for The Game. Which never happened. I should get back to that one of these days. Especially as I'm self-employed right now. (read "Living on savings") Stopped at Powell's books while in Portland yesterday and acquired a book about the Silk Road - a subject which has long held my interest. And hey! Look! Pictures! from the DAE fundraiser last Friday.
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
9:30AM - I wont even get into the information vortex
...the information vortex in Romania is like here only worse. You know, if you're not from Seattle, or an occasionaly driver in these parts, you realize that the road signage around here is absolute shit. In order to find your way anywhere you have to already know where you're going, know where to look for the tiny sign that's about ten feet in front of the turn off and be in the correct lane, because there will be no changing in about three fe....whoops! Too late. That's what it's like in Bucharest too, only with more than just driving. You have to know where you're going on the subway because there is no map. A bit like Seattle metro - pay when you get on, no. Pay when you get off. No. wait, you're down town you don't have to pay. good grief.
I just guess it's more acute when you're new to a place AND it's not your native language in which they are making the announcements on the loud speaker. I think we fared better than David Sedaris is doing in Paris, accordion an interview on This American Life. So I won't complain. But I do simpathize with the feeling of anxeity that goes along with just buying coffee - oh god, what did I order? Did I offend them by sitting down here? Shit shit shit. Ah, I'll just go to the counter to pay - Shit - how do I deal with a tip. Surely people won't refuse extra money. Duh....Culture. Funny that.
Okay. So I'm working in the Engineering Events office for this week and next week planning a party. Yay arts and crafts for me. Yesterday was stuffing evelopes. Today?...no assignment yet.
That's why I'm updating my journal.
Monday, August 28, 2006
1:44PM - Random other stuff
Well, good thing we're not in Turkey today. Mom would have freaked. Anyway, terrorism happens when governments are oppressive and awful.
In other news. In anticipation of ROmania joining the EU, they recently chopped off four zeros from their currency. This created great fun for us trying to figure things out while travelling. First, both currencies are in circulation right now. At least until the end of the year. That's what we heard. It's not a straight cut, if it were just three zeros off, then it wouldn't be as confusing, but four zeros off turned, for example 100,000 old lei into 10 new lei. So, in the old curency people would abbreviate 100,000 and say "o suta" (a hundred) instead of the full "o suta de mille de lei" (a hundred thousand lei) so now...guess what? They still say "O suta" but they mean "zece" (ten) which don't sound the same and take quite some time for my little foreign currency/romanian translator in my brain to deal with. And then it comes out wrong anyway. In desperation I just hold out a handful of bills and they pick out what is fair.
On a side note, nearly two months in ROmania and not really any blatent ripping off of tourists. Of course there's a duel economy where some things are like pennies - especially if you go to a store/magazin for locals to buy water. They never seemed to jack up the prices when they saw americans coming, and they didn't really add any sneaky chargeson the bill - not like th Hungarians who just were out to yoint everything right down to our american gym shorts. Is it the difference of being able to stumble along in ROmanian as opposed to 'um...two coffee...thanks you' in Hungarian? I dan't know. But the truth is, less rip-offs in Romania. Too bad they have a bad rep.
Back to the money thing: So, we'd say "how much" and they'd say a price - for example thirty. Is that thirty new lei? (Ten bucks) three new lei (one buck)? It was hard to tell when you were in the neighborhood of luxury items. Most of the time ten bucks would be an outrageous price to pay for anything - short of a three course meal for two people with wine. But then, sometimes, you just couldn't tell. And if we asked "is that in new lei?" They usually would just not answer and repeat "thirty" as though we were just stupid and didn't understand. Lord. So then, we'd pull out a new 50 lei bill (that's usually what came out of the bank machiens) and they would roll their eyes and say "Mai mica?" (Something smaller). And then they'd see the green of some 1's (formerly10,000) and they'd yoink three out of our hand.
I'm afraid to see what happens when they start using Euros.
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