So I haven't written in while. I've been e-mailing and calling most people because now that I'm in the states its cheaper to call.

So my cat, Grendel, has asthma, its really weird to think that a cat has that. Hes a good cat he just wheezes sometime and we noticed when we first got the cats home that you could really hear him when he was sniffing around. Sounded like he couldn't breathe in enough to really smell. So no hes on steriods... supposedly the good kind, so we don't hear him sniffing around anymore and I don't fell terrible about playing with him anymore because he used to play for about 10mins then flop down panting. I really don't know anything about asthma except that it cost me $89 for the xray to confirm it in my cat... of course the vet got two views on one sheet and didn't charge me for the visit, but still, thats a lot of money for a cat that I just got. Oh well. Hes a really great cat at least, he'll come up and sit with me sometimes which is all I really ask of a cat. He does have a habit of eating my plants but he has at least stopped chewing on anything plastic because he used to do that all time when i first got him home.

I guess I can't write to much about my job here since I know you can google my name and get this journal. So the job with collections law firm is the same as always. For any more info on that you'll have to e-mail me.

The 4th here was interesting, almost all fireworks are legal here and we live right on the highest hill in Topeka, which is not that high. Anyways Briana and I climbed up there and watched everyone else's fireworks, you can do a full 360 on the hill on the 4th and all you see is fireworks. People here don't wait for the 4th either, they shoot off fireworks days before and days after. I find that kind of pointless. Makes the day kind of pointless if you already had fireworks the night before, waiting to shoot them off is what makes the day more fun. I think that really theres just nothing else for these people to do and the thing is that although most fireworks are legal you can only sell fireworks here for one week. Every firework stand has to be packed up and gone by the end of the day on the 5th. The fireworks we're that bad but there was no band or music or anything and I think I missed it. Its better at the dell in richmond even if its crowded and you only see fire works in one direction.

still keeping up with rent and utilities and we have a couch and table and chairs so its not so bad here. everything is still as flat as it was when i got here. I heard that some people have never left kansas... i find that just silly when theres an entire world to see to sit in this flat place and pretend that nothing else exists. I have lots of pictures but again no real program to get them online, i put them on kodakgallery and email them to people but thats about it. I've got some good ones of the cats but I haven't felt like going outside with the camera.

Reading three books right now, Bleak House by Dickens, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and another one called Diamond Age I think, I don't feel like getting up to go get the book and be accurate. They're all good and I read whichever depending on my mood, since they're all very different.

well i need to take a shower and go vacuum.

So I am still alive, and still in Kansas. I have a nice little 8-5pm job with a collections law firm. I'll be moving into an apartment with a friend next week, we have an abundance of sheets, towels, blankets, lamps and glasses. We have bought a couch and table which should arrive sometime after we move in.

Briana bought a car. Thank god she finally bought it, its been weeks shes been looking and dragging me to kansas city on saturdays to go to sleezy auto dealers and look at the one honda they had online.

Now we have to buy a vacuum cleaner. We also need someone with a truck to help us move in.

Kansas is the same little storm-obessed place it has always been. There's hail in the fridge because it was fun to collect and look at so we saved it.

My job, I answer phones. I tell people we don't need their permisson to take money from their paychecks or banks and that no, we don't have to notify you first cause that would the defeat the purpose wouldn't it?

All I can say is, if your debt gets to law firm at least set up payments and make them, if you don't, its your own fault what happens after that, don't call me and ask me to release your court date because I'm not going to and yes if you don't go to the court date for the citation in contempt, then yes we will have a bench warrant put out for your arrest and you might end up in jail.

And no, if I had a court date I would never "forget" to go, that is not a valid excuse.

Just FYI.

I can't wait to move into my own apartment, I can't wait to get a cat and I can't wait to finally take the GRE and apply to grad school and leave Kansas next year. Cause that is the plan in the long term. If you want to help me, comment and use long words, don't define them, make me look it up. Keep asking if I know what the word means.

So I'm reading a book. Its the second part in a series that Briana got me reading. So I'm reading this book today and I just spent about 10mins laughing out loud and thought that I'd share. There is some language in it but not much. The book is called Voyager and its written by Diana Gabaldon. I think theres no need to really worry about the story line just now. It is set in the late 1700's though.

'Several torches were lit, bound to stakes pounded into the sand, and the flames streaked seaward in tails of red and orange, bright against the black velvet night. The brilliant stars of the Caribbean shone overhead like the lights of heaven. While it was not a church, few brides had had a more beautiful setting for their nuptials...

The spicy scent of sangria wafted from Father Fogden's vicinity, but at least he had reached the beach under his own power. He stood swaying between two torches, laboriously trying to turn the pages of his book as the light offshore wind jerked them fluttering from his fingers.

At last he gave up, and dropped the book on the sand with a little plop!   

"Um," he said, and belched. He looked about and gave us a small, saintlike smile. "Dearly beloved of God."

It was several moments before the throng of shuffling, murmuring spectators realized that the ceremony had started, and began to poke each other and straighten to attention.  

"Wilt thou take this woman?" Father Fogden demanded, suddenly rounding ferociously on Murphy.   

 "No!" said the cook, startled. "I don't hold wi' women. Messy things."                    

"You don't?" Father Fogden closed on eye, the remaining orb bright and accusing. He looked at Maitland. "Do you  take this woman?"

"Not me sir, no. Not that anyone wouldn't be pleased," he added hastily. "Him, please." Maitland pointed at Fergus, who stood next to the cabin boy, glowering at the priest.

"Him? You're sure? He hasn't a hand," Father Fogden said doubtfully. "Won't she mind?"

"I will not!" Marsali imperious... She looked lovely...She also looked angry...

"Oh, yes," he [Father Fogden] said nervously, taking one step back. "Well, I don't suppose its an impt--impeddy--impediment, after all. Not as though he'd lost his cock, I mean. He hasn't has he?" The Priest inquired anxiously, as the possibility occured to him. "I can't marry you if he has. It's not allowed."

Jamie quelled the incipient riot by striding firmly into the middle of the wedding and placing a hand on the shoulders of Fergus and Marsali.

"This man," he said, with a nod toward Fergus, "and this woman," with another toward Marsali "Marry them Father. Now. Please," he added as an obvious afterthought...

"Oh quite. Quite," Father Fogden repeated, swaying gently. "Quite, quite." A long pause followed during which the priest squinted at Marsali.

"Name," he said abrubtly. "I have to have a name. Can't get married without a name. Just like a cock. Can't get married without a name, can't get married without a c--"

"Marsali Jane MacKimmie Joyce!" Marsali spoke up loudly, drowning him out.

"Yes, yes," he said hurriedly. "Of course it is. Marsali. Mar-sa-lee. Just so. Well, then, do you Mar-sa-lee like this man--even though he's missing a hand and possibly other parts not visible--to be your lawful husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, forsaking..." As this point he trailed off, his attention fixed on one of the sheep that had wandered into the light and was chewing industriously on a discarded stocking of striped wool.

"I do!"

Father Fogden blinked, brought back to attention. He made an unsuccessful attempt to stifle another belch, and transferred his bright blue gaze to Fergus.

"You have a name too? And a cock?"

"Yes," said Fergus, wisely choosing not to be more specfic. "Fergus."...

"Oh! Um. Well. Man and Wife. Yes, I pronounce you man--no, that's not right, you haven't said whether you'd take her. She has both hands," he added helpfully.'

So today I quit telemarketing, which makes the total time I spent telemarketing exactly 5 days. I spent every single one of those days dreading the job. I watched the seconds tick by and celebrated every minute closer to when I could leave. What made me quit was that when I wasn't there I was only thinking about the fact that in a few hours I would have to go there. So I decided that I am not cut out to be a telemarketer. However, when I went in to quit the lady sad if I ever needed a job I could go back no problem.

Hopefully I'll never be that desperate. Today I applied for a job at Walmart and a job at Dillions(a grocery store). Aside from that I had my interview for the job with the state yesterday which is where I want to end up after all this. So much waiting.

Other than that I'm tired and I haven't showered today, so I'm gonna go get clean.

So now that I have access to a p.c. I can edit my journal well. February just flew by. I just now getting used to Kansas. I've got some pictures of Tim's kids that I'll put up somewhere or just e-mail to those who know who that is.

I have a job right now but its the kind of job where I don't like it and no one likes me. Telemarketing isn't so bad when you're at the computer with the headset and people are hanging up on you, but later when you leave and then you think about going back, its not so good. I have this job because its easy, they don't need you to be qualified in anything, the pay is $8/hr after the training hours and I won't ever feel like I can't quit. I'm currently set up to interview for another job this Tuesday.

For now though, if you're a homeowner and would like to get an equity loan or perhaps refinance your mortage and I call you, just remember I'm not good at what I do. They tell me that unless its a "non-rebuttal" state, I have to rebuttal twice. Often I don't. The only sales I make are the ones where people actually want what I'm selling. Mostly people just aren't home and at least 5 or 10 times a day they don't speak english. Its really funny when people put kids on the phone though, "My mommy says shes not home."

Oh, heres something, if you say you're not home or not interested, we're going to call you back. You have to ask to have your name removed or you can say its a wrong number.

I thought about it and I thought there must be worse jobs out there. I mean I'd hate to pick up trash.

Then I thought some more and decided I'd rather pick up trash. So, if you have a job for me in Topeka other than telemarketing or prostitution, I'll take it! Until then, I will be telemarketing as I watch the hours tick by slowly.

You thought YOUR job was bad.

Other than that not much else has happened. Briana has a nice house and her parents are nice too.

I'll get some pictures put up or sent soon.

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I haven't been updating but the thing is I can't really do it properly on the mac here because the tech guys at bravenet are idiots. Thats all I'll say about that.

My website underwent a massive overhaul today. Something I've been planning since I got back to the mac here. So go see cause its fun! Tell me what you think. (you have to click the 'site' link up on the left there cause I can't add links here because bravenet tech guys are idiots.)

I'm going to Kansas on the 11th and its a one way ticket. I'm hoping to get a job there. Briana is helping me. So I've got about 9days more with the great editing program my mother has. After that it will be awhile before the website is updated again so if you think I should change anything I need your suggestions now.

Nothing much is happening here. I'm job searching and babysitting my nephew when I can.

Its cold but not as cold as I know it is in Switzerland.

I was able to finally get some of my stuff in order. Opening all the boxes of stuff I've collected but never had time to sort through. I donated about two or three boxes of stuff to goodwill and threw away about two or three bags of junk. My room is still cluttered but its not too bad. I realized I have enough stuff for a whole house. I have an entire set of dishes, clothes, bookshelves, books, towels, a printer, and computer, a tv, a vcr, a dvd player, dvds, videos, cd's, cd player. Somehow I've managed to fit most of it into my little room.

My mom and I are playing a game of Wizards. Its been going on since Sunday night I think. About an hour every day we sit down and try to thwart evil! So far its not bad.

My mother has had this game since forever and I remember starting it many times. I don't remember ever finishing it. I've got nine days so we'll see.

Next week I'm babysitting my nephew all week because his normal sitter is going to California. So all next week I have to get up at 6am... I decided its good practice for when I get a real job. I mean I can't go to bed at 2am and wake up at 10 or 11am every day right?

Its gonna be rough.

That is all.

So I'm still using the "code editor" because I still can't edit in the Visual Editor, so no links to anything I might want to link to and smilies only the hard way, so few of them.

So I'm doing the whole job search thing. I looked at jobs nation wide in the federal government and found out that most of them are in California. A few in other places but mostly, CA. So I'm gonna apply for a job in CA and see what happens. Should be interesting right?

Not much else is happening here. Went out to Ukrops for a bit with my mom so she could get some ginger root. When we came back the house was filled with smoke because the fire fell a bit out of the fire place. No fire, just smoke.

Smoke is my speciality anyways, Briana knows that.

Mostly I've been hanging out, sleeping in and sort of just enjoying doing nothing at all. It won't last. I won't want to do this forever, but for now, its good.

Had a phone call with a psychic. Thats always interesting.

Life is pretty normal here. Wake up anytime between 9:30am and noon, eat breakfast, check e-mail, read or watch TV, generally "hang out" until I get hungry, eat something, usually mac n' cheese or spaghetti, sometimes order pizza, then hang out some more, do the dishes and make sure the house doesn't look too terrible for when my mom comes home.

Hang out with my mom (watch tv, or a movie, or play a game, or play with tarot cards), then go to bed.

Pretty easy really. Its gonna get boring real soon.

Well I think thats all.

So I'm posting this in the "code editor" because for some reason I can't in the "visual editor".

Obviously I'm still alive!

Customs people were much nicer to me this time and kinda overprotective.

"Did they treat you good?" thats what he said, with a look like, 'they better have'. I was shocked and amazed. No questions about my nationality! Perhaps I should go through New Jersey more often.

Oh heres something good, my boarding pass in Zurich said that I was going to New York. It was in fact Newark. I suppose that could be confusing.

My bags were 5kg over the allowed limit but the woman was nice and let me go with it.

One of my suitcases came open between customs and the next plane in Newark. I watched them load it onto the plane and saw that it was open. Why they didn't close it is beyond me. It was the suitcase that had all my books and dvds in it. Also my tarot cards.

My tarot cards did not make it. Which is sad.

Family holiday party went well. I dumped a load of Swiss chocolate on my grateful aunt, painted nails with my cousin, did some sledding down a huge hill, saw 10 deer walking past a window, and ate processed american white bread with baloney, cheddar cheese and mustard. Also met my nephew for the first time.

Hes absolutely adorable!

Since then I've been to see three movies in theaters that don't have 15min breaks or assigned seating. I saw, Narnia, Harry Potter (again), and King Kong. They're all really good. Harry Potter was much better the second time when I could see properly.

We did a tacky light tour last night. Saw some tacky lights. It was good.

I threw away a bunch of mail that had been collecting over the year and cleaned out my room.

Signed up for Netflix, my brother gave me a 1month subscription! So I finally saw the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and found it somewhat strange. Not the whole thing, just Mr Wonka in general was a little... freaky, in a Micheal Jackson way.

So we're planning to go to my sister-in-laws parent's house for Christmas day. Her father is a pastor so I'll probably be going to church too.

This farm is out in a place called Bumpass. Bump...Ass.

Should be lots of fun.

Oh I bought a new camera. Another Canon. It has a flip out LCD panel so I can see what I'm doing when I take pictures of myself!

I think thats all the news for now.

I need a job, any suggestions?

So the new aupair, Kelsey, arrived on time last week. I am now living in the living room. Wow, thats cool I`m living, in the room that is called the living room. Great huh!

You know it is.

Anyways over the weekend I went to no less than three christmas markets in an attempt to find something Swiss to take home to people. I found almost nothing. So ya´ll are getting chocolate and perhaps some alcohol.

I think I need to tell you all the story of Tami´s Thumb nail.

She slamed it in the door. Not just any door, the car door.

Not just any car either, the BMW!

Yeah thats right. So it turned silver (the nail did), then blueish black, then black, then back to white again. For three days now the nail has been hanging off her finger but she hasn´t wanted it removed because she doesn´t want to have to look at the nastiness underneath and she thinks its going to hurt.

Today while doing crafts and stuff the nail kept dangling off and she kept smushing it back on. It was NASTY.

So anyways, Kelsey and I said, just take it off, cause its already off. Of course everyone has been telling her this for three days now anyways. But today, after the offer of a horse band aid to cover up the nastiness underneath she agreed.

Well we couldn´t find a horse band-aid so we had to go with Zebra, we had to make a box to put the nail in. She had to sit with Kelsey while I slowly removed the nail then put the band aid on, but only with the promise that if she screamed I would stop.

So the nail is off and Silvio actually cleaned it for her. Then Tami decorated her box and has named and renamed the nail. Nagli, then Mary, I don`t know if she´ll stick with it and I have no idea how long she`ll actually keep it.

So anyways, just thought you guys should hear that lovely story of a five-year-old and her nail.

Okay so the room is cleaned out. My stuff is packed... sort of... mostly anyways. I have aquired another bag for all the books I'm going to take back.

Soon, in a few hours, I will be without proper... meaning my very own, internet. So I will not be saying as much for a week or so.

then I'll say some stuff.

thats all really.