The last few days, and pre-show jitters again

Thursday night Kim came over and we did our usual pizza and ice cream. We called Tricia on speakerphone and all three of us talked together for about an hour. It was so nice we were thinking we'd do that more often. It was good to hear Tricia's voice. Then we watched V for Vendetta and had one of our conversations that would probably get us in huge trouble if our own government was listening.

Yesterday at work was pretty crazy, as all Fridays are lately. There's something wrong with the new boarding system in the computers. Often they'll have only four boarders listed, when in reality we have like twentyfour, and they'll just keep booking and booking. Bad stuff.

Right after work Brittany came over, and we watched the amazing Donnie Darko. I've wanted to see that one for quite a while, and Brittany is a HUGE fan, so I'm glad she brought it over. It's one I'll definitely have to own. I like Jake Gyllenhaal more and more, the more stuff I see him in. He's fun, and he's brave. After that we watched V for Vendetta again. I'm just about worn out on that movie, and yet I tend to like it better with each viewing. In turn, we had a conversation that would get us in trouble. Added perspective of Brittany having been overseas quite a bit for the last few years, and hearing news that was censored or spun over here. Quite the eye-opener.

It occurs to me that many people who have spent a lot of time overseas, or people who are from other parts of the world, seem confused about why so many Americans don't see what's really going on in their own country. I try telling them that it's because this is how we were raised: brainwashed to think that America did no wrong; that we were always right and righteous; our wars always justified and honorable; that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave; and most of all, that our rights to free speech and information were sacred and would never be betrayed. I remember trying to explain to Kim once about how shocked so many of us were over the phone tapping, because all our lives we had been told that this couldn't ever happen in America. Now the world is smaller and we're able to find these things out if we spend some time looking around and talking to otehr people logically, and some of us are aware, but completely flabbergasted. Others--like in any case of brainwashing--still don't want to see it. And in some way, it's not their fault. They're victims of this mind-crime, if I may steal a phrase from vintage Queensryche.

Anyway, so that was the last two days. Today Kung Fu was still closed, but we did a Hula rehearsal for the wedding tonight. I must admit, I'm a little nervous, because I'm not 100% on one of the new dances. Actually, I'm not even really 90%. And it's hard to dance in front of your peers who are not in Hula, some of whom don't understand what it's about. That bothers me more than it should. I expect strangers to do stupid and spastic things when the try to imitate what they think is Hula, or when they hear Hawaiian music or the language. It bothers the everloving hell out of me, but I expect it. It bothers me that much more when it's my friends. I hate feeling like I'm scolding or correcting my friends, especially this group, to whom everything must always be a joke. Mostly I just say, "This is someone's culture," and let them think about the implications. But sometimes they don't, and that bugs me.

I should also add that I lost my lovely and wonderful baby bluejay Kilik on Wednesday. That one really broke my heart. It wasn't unexpected, since he did have liver damage (I had Rob look at him last Friday,) but for a while there I thought he was getting better. Then on Thursday I lost a robin and a catbird, wtf. I feel like I failed more than I succeeded this year.

Oh, and Trisky ended up with a chunk of skin randomly missing from her side on Wednesday, too. I brought her in to work with me on Thursday (after having sent digital pictures to work to see if it was an emergency--I do so love technology,) and it just needed to be shaved and kept clean, and she got some ABs.

I'm feeling like some other stuff happened, but I'm so totally wiped out and I can't think of what it might be. I should probably just chill out for a few hours until the wedding, so that I don't crash and burn during the show. Maybe I'll just play Dirge of Cerberus for the next few hours until it's time to get ready. Oh hell, who am I trying to kid: I'd planned on doing just that all week. Maybe I can learn not to suck so badly at this game and actually advance the story somewhat. Maybe.

The last few days, and pre-show jitters again

Thursday night Kim came over and we did our usual pizza and ice cream. We called Tricia on speakerphone and all three of us talked together for about an hour. It was so nice we were thinking we'd do that more often. It was good to hear Tricia's voice. Then we watched V for Vendetta and had one of our conversations that would probably get us in huge trouble if our own government was listening.

Yesterday at work was pretty crazy, as all Fridays are lately. There's something wrong with the new boarding system in the computers. Often they'll have only four boarders listed, when in reality we have like twentyfour, and they'll just keep booking and booking. Bad stuff.

Right after work Brittany came over, and we watched the amazing Donnie Darko. I've wanted to see that one for quite a while, and Brittany is a HUGE fan, so I'm glad she brought it over. It's one I'll definitely have to own. I like Jake Gyllenhaal more and more, the more stuff I see him in. He's fun, and he's brave. After that we watched V for Vendetta again. I'm just about worn out on that movie, and yet I tend to like it better with each viewing. In turn, we had a conversation that would get us in trouble. Added perspective of Brittany having been overseas quite a bit for the last few years, and hearing news that was censored or spun over here. Quite the eye-opener.

It occurs to me that many people who have spent a lot of time overseas, or people who are from other parts of the world, seem confused about why so many Americans don't see what's really going on in their own country. I try telling them that it's because this is how we were raised: brainwashed to think that America did no wrong; that we were always right and righteous; our wars always justified and honorable; that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave; and most of all, that our rights to free speech and information were sacred and would never be betrayed. I remember trying to explain to Kim once about how shocked so many of us were over the phone tapping, because all our lives we had been told that this couldn't ever happen in America. Now the world is smaller and we're able to find these things out if we spend some time looking around and talking to otehr people logically, and some of us are aware, but completely flabbergasted. Others--like in any case of brainwashing--still don't want to see it. And in some way, it's not their fault. They're victims of this mind-crime, if I may steal a phrase from vintage Queensryche.

Anyway, so that was the last two days. Today Kung Fu was still closed, but we did a Hula rehearsal for the wedding tonight. I must admit, I'm a little nervous, because I'm not 100% on one of the new dances. Actually, I'm not even really 90%. And it's hard to dance in front of your peers who are not in Hula, some of whom don't understand what it's about. That bothers me more than it should. I expect strangers to do stupid and spastic things when the try to imitate what they think is Hula, or when they hear Hawaiian music or the language. It bothers the everloving hell out of me, but I expect it. It bothers me that much more when it's my friends. I hate feeling like I'm scolding or correcting my friends, especially this group, to whom everything must always be a joke. Mostly I just say, "This is someone's culture," and let them think about the implications. But sometimes they don't, and that bugs me.

I should also add that I lost my lovely and wonderful baby bluejay Kilik on Wednesday. That one really broke my heart. It wasn't unexpected, since he did have liver damage (I had Rob look at him last Friday,) but for a while there I thought he was getting better. Then on Thursday I lost a robin and a catbird, wtf. I feel like I failed more than I succeeded this year.

Oh, and Trisky ended up with a chunk of skin randomly missing from her side on Wednesday, too. I brought her in to work with me on Thursday (after having sent digital pictures to work to see if it was an emergency--I do so love technology,) and it just needed to be shaved and kept clean, and she got some ABs.

I'm feeling like some other stuff happened, but I'm so totally wiped out and I can't think of what it might be. I should probably just chill out for a few hours until the wedding, so that I don't crash and burn during the show. Maybe I'll just play Dirge of Cerberus for the next few hours until it's time to get ready. Oh hell, who am I trying to kid: I'd planned on doing just that all week. Maybe I can learn not to suck so badly at this game and actually advance the story somewhat. Maybe.