I need out of this crazy job.

On the one hand, I'm interested in sticking around, because the intentions are good and the company could do well.

On the other hand, I'm very angry on a near daily basis. It's outrageous. My co-worker goes to Brazil for three weeks' vacation in July, so I will stick around until she gets back. I've been telling myself once she returns, I'm out, new job or not. But it's been nice getting a regular paycheck for the last six months (one that, while small, is still the biggest I've ever received) and knowing I have health insurance, however... crappy. I need to get over that though.

I've been trying to collect videos to watch when I get stressed/sad/angry to help calm me down, or make me laugh. I only have two. Taking recommendations.

This is not one of them, but you should watch it anyway, especially if you likes Guided By Voices. It's an AV Club project. Listen to the whole thing, because the best part is toward the end. Sorry for the ads in the beginning. The song starts at 1:40.

I walked the two miles home from work today, came in, opened the windows, got down to my unders and lay on top of the bed with the blinds open for 15 minutes. So nice (3rd and top floor apartment, little chance of voyeurs). I wanted to sit outside and drink margaritas, but no one took me up soon enough. Then I took an Allegra, and apparently I'm not supposed to drink a margarita now. According to Gabe. But the Pimm's Cup he made me is ok.

I do not want to announce these things on Facebook/Twitter/blog, so that's what livejournal's good for.

Low-key day at work in the absence of Madame.

The Alabama Bookstop

Mise en ligne par ljgolden
Today, the Bookstop on Alabama and Shepherd closed. They're moving to the Barnes & Noble at River Oaks, but you know what? That Barnes & Noble won't be as cool as the Alabama Bookstop because IT'S NOT IN AN OLD THEATER. I made one last visit yesterday, and the balcony was already closed.

A few years ago, Cactus Music next door, closed, leaving me with no particularly interesting place to browse music and movies and then go look at books and more movies right next door (uh, yes I could go to Borders and have it all, but does Borders have a juke box? Granted, the juke box never played the songs I told it to, but it was fun hoping). And, idiotequepixie recently brought to my attention Cafe Artiste's closing.

It's good to know that if I have any reason to still visit Houston in five years, none of my old hang-outs will exist anymore. The day House of Pies or Star Pizza goes, Houston will be dead to me.

I miss the hype of New Orleans pre-Mardi Gras season. One of the things I miss most is King Cake. Before New Orleans, I had a few encounters with King Cake and always thought it was stale, kinda gross coffee cake. But then I found a good King Cake in New Orleans and I fell in looove. Someone at work just had to say "King Cake" and I was off to the little corner store, dropping $11 on gooey, sugar-covered pastry.

I have Mardi Gras 2010 wishes.

Thanks for all the kudos and observations, friends.

Last night, as I biked home from work, I got hit by a moto(rcycle - we just call them "motos"). I was "changing lanes" which is an false description of what I was doing, as there are no lanes, so I just bike quickly from the right side of the road to the left. Anyway, I swerved to avoid a couple crossing the road and then got in the way of this moto and he hit me. I lost my balance and fell into the bushes planted on the median. I'm sure it was hilarious, but it scared the sweet'n'salty alligators out of me, as well as once again crushing my pride and dignity.

But all is well and all I have to show for this traffic tangle is a tiny little scratch on my arm. Boo.

Since I started working here, I have reread every livejournal entry I wrote since 2002, in both my livejournals. It reminded me of some things I'd forgotten (the Frenchman in the fax machine, my 20th birthday roommate sing-a-long) and took me back to events I'll never forget.

I was also appalled and humiliated by some of the things I'd written about (basically every entry where I publicize intoxication) and considered deleting some things. I decided I should embrace my stupidity and just leave these things be.

Moving on... I went to a co-worker's housewarming party this weekend. I met another co-worker's husband, who, about five sentences into our conversation, made the mistake of questioning my long-distance relationship. I will hold him in contempt forever.

Since moving from St. Louis in 2006 and remaining in my relationship, people expressed doubt about usually, my boyfriend's ability to stick with me. They always make some kind of face or comment that implies that I'm an idiot and of course he's cheating. Well, folks, let me just point to my slightly sullied record and then tell you that just because YOU'RE an unfaithful douche who'd cheat on your girlfriend or wife if she left you alone for two weeks, doesn't mean everyone is. Long-distance is difficult enough. I know what I'm doing, and I've been doing it long enough to know that I don't need someone's poor, know-it-all "advice".

I feel like this is the worst-written thing ever. Pardon.

More updates to come in the future, now that I have daily internet access.

I started a new job at PSI Togo today (psi.org for more info). I'm still a Peace Corps volunteer, but now I live in the capital and have electricity, running water, a roommate, a dog and a 9-5 job.

This is what I did today:

- toured the office with my roommate, JT

- one meeting with Communications staff, which didn't concern me too much

- one meeting with my supervisor

- toured the office again with my supervisor, meeting most of the people I'd met earlier a second or third time

- deleted or archived more than 100 emails from my Gmail account. To do this, I actually read or at least skimmed most of those emails

So what I'm saying is that I spent all day playing on the internet. When I got up to go home around 5:45, the guy sitting next to me goes, "It's not time yet. Still 15 minutes." I was like, "Ok... but I don't have anything to do." But I stayed anyway. Here I am now. I thought work ended at 5:30.

Tomorrow I'll take some initiative and do something. For now... time to go home.

I have nine minutes left of the hour of internet time I purchased, knowing that when the taxi guys told me we would leave in 15 minutes (8 am), they meant 15 minutes plus several hours, at least. They tell you 15 minutes because they think that's what you want to hear. This is what I get for taking my sweet time leaving the house this morning, instead of getting up at 5 and leaving immediately.

Been in Dapaong since Thursday night, when I got here from conferences in the south. Thought I would have to go back to village on Sunday for a funeral (see latest blog update for that story), but got no calls, so I stayed for Easter celebrations with other volunteers. And then I just stayed on Monday too... if travel wasn't such a hassle, going back to village would be easier.

Five minutes left, I'd better go. You never know how long something will take to upload.

I miss cheese.

I know I said I was through with livejournal for a while, but just wanted to say hi.

I just finished 10 weeks of training in a really gorgeous part of the country. Our training group swore-in Thursday evening in Lome (capital of Togo) and we're now officially volunteers. We leave for our villages on Monday morning. I'm going to Sagbiebou, in the northern region, Savannes.

I went to the beach today. Now there's a ridiculous amount of sand in my hair that apparently my quick shower didn't get rid of.

To read more about my adventures, go to http://lindaintogo.blogspot.com. I've been able to update about once a week, but this will probably change (hopefully not) once I get to village. I think the nearest internet cafe is 30 minutes away by bush taxi. We'll see how long that is by bike.

I don't know what kind of relationship I'll be keeping with my journal in Africa, as I've set up a new blog and I don't know what internet access will be like. I hope to come back to this journal sometime, but for now, I'll say bye to it.

Come visit me at lindaintogo.blogspot.com.

Bagpipes, a swami for invocation, a president named Dick and Nancy Pelosi... just another graduation at Webster.

I sneezed so much in the parking lot that my throat hurts and my nose is runny. Any suggestions on how to make it stop?

I got here yesterday late-morning. It's like graduation all over again, except this time I get to sit back and watch and visit with people.

Gabe and I went to House of India for lunch yesterday. It was tasty, but the spinach dish, disappointingly, wasn't Saag/Palak Paneer. I worked on a nomination for my former New Orleans supervisor in the evening while Gabe went to a meeting. There was a thunderstorm that rained into the apartment. I like being here without having to worry about anything, besides packing when I get home. Bleah.

This update is lame. Sorry.

Some of you may remember this post, where I quoted New Orleans' Offbeat magazine's editor about New Orleanians' love-hate relationship with the city. I emailed her the same day, and never heard back. It was just a friendly, kudos email...

It got published in this month's Letters section.

Hideous! Had I thought about it, I would have made the letter LESS LAME.

The reason I learned of this was because a Loyola student and St. Bernard Project volunteer emailed me to tell me she'd read the letter at Jazzfest. I'm torn between mortification and amusement.

So the Republican presidential candidates had themselves a little debate last night. There's no better way to get myself worked up than to listen to a bunch of old white guys talk about overturning Roe vs. Wade and ridding women of their rights to choose what to do with their bodies.

Standing slightly apart from the crowd was Rudy Giuliani, who, according to the Washington, Post said it would be "OK" if the court overturned Roe v Wade (no), but that while he "[hates] abortion" (because we all love it, baby-killers that pro-choicers are), he respects "a woman's right to make a different choice." Well, thanks alot, Rudy.

As for Mitt Romney, I'm not really sure what he thinks, since he can't seem to make up his mind. For or against? Whatever. Silly Republicans. I'm going to poop.

So, for those in the know, what's a decent GRE score? I assume that if I got the minimum requirement for Tulane's Doctoral program, I did passably well.

I don't even know what I would study if I were to go to grad school. I just know that I'd like to have a Master's. Is that like wanting a super sweet pair of shoes or electronic equipment just to have it? I think it is... whatever, I don't know what I want to do after two years of Africa (take a hot, hour-long shower and turn all the lights on in the house in the middle of the day).

Just someone tell me what's an ok score, ok?

From the Peace Corps publication for new Togo volunteers:

"Female Volunteers will have to deal with the reality that Togo is very much a patriarchal society, meaning that men are generally accorded more power and respect than women simply because of their gender."

Is that meant to surprise me? How is that different from the rest of the world, except that it will be MORE of a patriarchal society than the one in which I live now?

Last year, on my 22nd birthday (ok, so that was maybe two years ago), my driver's license expired. Due to various inconveniences, I was unable to renew it in Texas, so I got a Missouri license, rather than risk driving around illegally. Two addresses later, I still have the same license.

Today, I went to the grocery store to buy beer. I don't usually buy beer at the store, because usually it magically appears in the refrigerator. This is one of the joys of living at home - fully stocked pantries and fridges. So tonight was the first time I've been to buy beer at the store since I moved back to Texas.

The cashier looks at my Missouri license and tells me she's only supposed to take Texas IDS, but...

"Oh. Well. Is that a Kroger thing?"

"No, it's actually a TABC (Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission) thing."

I got my beer, and I understand how it would be easier to forge an out of state license, but it's still a ridiculous rule. What if I'm visiting for Thanksgiving and getting beer for the party? What if I'm on business from Minnesota and buying beer to drink alone in my hotel room?

I'll keep pushing my luck - I've got a little over a month left in the U.S. and only about three weeks left in Texas. So eat my shorts.

Oh yes, and the more I listen to the Shins' "Chutes Too Narrow", the more I love it. That's always a good sign.

I'm not going to have any running water or electricity and I'm afraid I'll get malaria and dysentery and giardia and a worm. I really don't want worms. I think I can handle excruciating intestinal pain, but if I can SEE a worm just below the surface of my skin, I'm going to go absolutely ape. I better not get a worm.

And I'm scared my malaria pills will make me sick.

But I want to go anyway. My white American girl immune system will have to learn to deal.

Australia's prime minister suggested prohibiting HIV-infected immigrants from entering the country (read for yourself). Shocking, until I learned that the US already HAS a "blanket ban" on HIV-positive visitors - a 20-year-old ban at that! You can possibly get in by applying for a special visa, and in December, Bush announced the relaxation of certain restrictions, which would apply to tourists and business-related visits.

For your reading pleasure.

Who wants to come to USA anyway.

Despite the subject line (which I stole from a shirt I saw), I am not amused.

Virginia Tech - I mean, WTF? How does someone decide that he's going to arm himself and just go shoot a bunch of college kids one morning? Apparently, the gunman was looking for his girlfriend (NYTimes article)... so he shot a bunch of people? Why, because they weren't her?

I can't wait to see how this story unfolds - identity, motives, background. None of it will justify the action anyway. Had I got the internship I wanted, I would have been there, too. I worry how this will affect my youngest cousin, who wants to break family tradition and attend VA Tech instead of UVA. As the baby and product of homeschool and a strict Christian upbringing, it was going to be enough of a struggle convincing her father to let her leave home without this. This can't possibly help her efforts.

Ugh. When gunmen shoot themselves at the end of their rampages, is that a sign of a moment's clarity or the realization that you just shot 12 or 33 people? Is it suicide out of horror at your own actions? Or are you just a crazy person?

For delightful diversion: www.fartparty.org.

I got a job in "merchandising" at Cirque du Soleil Corteo while it's in town. It's through Manpower, a temp agency. It's ideal because it ends at the end of April. I get to sell stuff and see the show (alot). It's my first Cirque, too.

The library system here suprisingly has music I want in my collection, so I've been checking out cds and putting them on my computer. I'm listening to a Devendra Banhart one right now. It makes me want to lie down and do nothing. I'll finish Lori's scrapbook instead.

I want laundry detergent commercials featuring dad doing laundry instead of mom. I suppose that's what I get for watching Gray's Anatomy on Lifetime. Nothing good can really come of that.

fartparty.org. Go spend some time there.

I made a chocolate cake. You can't see it, though, because apparently my account does not allow me to upload photos. That's ok. Just know it looks delicious.

So I had a great weekend with Jenn and high school friends. Actually, I met with friends from all over throughout the weekend - James from Webster had dinner with us Thursday night, and Jenn J. joined us for margaritas and guac (and flan) on Sunday. It's like I got an infusion of friends and activity into my lately quiet lifestyle to carry me over until the next burst of engagements.

The drive to Austin takes about three hours, depending on your speed. During the spring, Texas highways turn blue, orangey-red, yellow and pink with wildflowers, but particularly blue from the bluebonnets. It's kind of a big deal. On the drive back on Sunday, cars lined the highway shoulder near bluebonnet fields - everyone wants pictures of themselves or their kids in the bluebonnets. Jenn and I had to have OUR picture too. I mean, the last Bluebonnet Linda picture is from 1990 or something...

So in our search for some good bluebonnets on Friday, I took a sudden turn off the highway onto Indian Paintbrush Rd. This resulted in few good bluebonnets, but we stopped to take pictures of some cows. I succeeded in placing my flip-flopped foot in an anthill long enough for about eight ants to aggressively explore my toes.

Austin, as usual, was lovely. I'm always envious of the outdoors-lifestyle I could have if I lived there. We went for a stroll along the river and tried to get a squirrel to... I don't know, get really close to us. I thought it might end up scaling Jenn, though, so we stopped. I also put my flip-flopped foot into some poop. My solution was to wash my feet and flip-flops in some [probably duck-poopy] water... whatever. If I can't SEE the poop, I can pretend it was never there... right?

We went to Sixth St, but retired to a bar off it. I was always too young to go to the bars in Austin (yet always achieved inebriation there anyway), so that was a first. We took the ebus (free bus that goes around town, very good - WHY aren't there more of these in the world) back to Laura's.

On Saturday, we drove out to Enchanted Rock and scaled that. It's only a 425 ft. climb, but it's quite an incline. Gorgeous views from the top.

The whole weekend, I really wanted margaritas and guac and chips, so I requested Saturday's dinner be Mexican. Katie suggested a place called Polvos (which has no obvious signs pointing it out from the road). I think I just ordered poorly, but the guacamole salad was just mashed-up avocados with guac ingredients on the side. And my margarita was... weak. We made up for it on Sunday at Ninfa's, though.

Went back to Katie's and played Apples to Apples, which is AWESOME. I like playing games by loosely following the rules.

Since Sunday was Palm Sunday, we went to a Catholic church kind of by Laura's place. Jenn requested church, and since I don't really care where I go, we found a Catholic church. I haven't been to a Catholic ceremony for a while. Actually, I did go to a few this summer, but I was working with a photographer then, so I don't count that. Anyway, as the service progressed, I found more and more things to criticize - mainly, the fact that women can't lead the Mass and that non-Catholic Christians are asked not to take communion. My palm also distracted me, because I was trying to make it into a cross like everyone else.

Anyway, so that was the weekend. When we got back to Houston, we stopped by my house so Jenn could say goodbye to my mom and get a shirt she'd left. Picked Johnson up from Rice, went to Ninfa's, went to the airport, dropped Johnson off at Rice.

I devoured "Like Water for Chocolate", which I added to my reading list after reading about a recipe from that book in another book. I borrowed it from Katie, started it yesterday and finished it today. Then I rode my bike to the post office, the bank and the library (I don't get books from the library, only movies and music).

Ok. Now... I'm leaving. I still need to find a way to make some money besides... well, waiting tables again. Although, that probably would be the easiest.

My life was much more interesting to read about when I was in Geneva. I suppose if I were any kind of writer at all, I could still write intriguing updates... about how my mother and I cannot solve the mystery of our air conditioner.

I went to pick up Jenn at the airport... three hours too early. Her flight left from Denver at 3:15. I thought that was when it arrived. The bluebonnets out there welcomed me to terminal A, then congratulated me on a successful practice run on my way out.

I'm going to study for the GRE now. Does anyone know how long those scores count?

Dang. I need to find a job. It seems pointless, since I'm only going to be here for about a month and a half (interrupted by those two-ish weeks in STL in May), but I need to make some money.

Good news: Apple is FINALLY replacing my defunct MacBook. I'm taking this one in today. She's been through alot with me, getting dragged up and down Magazine Street and out to the Parish every day, flown to NYC, Houston and Chicago... no, I'm NOT getting sentimental over a computer. I'm just saying... we've been through a lot together.

Other things to look forward to:

- Jenn C. arrives tomorrow! We're going to Austin over the weekend. Yay, friends.

- Bryant from NOLA/BR comes to visit his dad next weekend, so I get to hang out with him, maybe.

- My family's taking a little trip down to Galveston for a few evenings (same weekend as Bryant). Beach and free eating out. Sweet.

That is all for now. Actually, no. I ran for the first time since October, a total of one mile. I'm seeing a chiropractor for my knee, and he told me to go for a little run. All is not well, even though there wasn't pain, exactly. It just felt like my muscle was trying to pull away from my joint. That's abnormal.

I made a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. It was my first frosted cake. Aside from a lack of pan-greasing, it turned out fabulously... it just looked crap.

I regret the amount of updating and writing I did in New Orleans. I should have written more.

The Apple folk told me I just needed a new battery. The man told me that they had two problems: a bad batch of batteries and bad logic boards. They replaced my logic board (is that one word?) in December. I've had THREE different batteries already (since purchasing the MacBook in August). So, I'm to believe that I've just had three bad batteries plus a crap logic board... right. Well. We'll see how long the new battery works out. I'm displeased.

I watched "Running with Scissors" last night. The book may have been a good precedent to the film, which was crazy weird. Comparable to the "Royal Tenenbaums", except slower. All I want to do is watch movies and read books. Blockbuster is overpriced.

I was confused when I woke up this morning in my Houston bedroom.

I ain't done shit all day. I ate breakfast at 2 p.m.

I miss New Orleans and the task of unpacking and repacking seems monumental and insurmountable to me.

Tomorrow, I want to take my computer to the Galleria and make the Apple folk DO something about the fact that now, I can't even unplug the computer without it shutting down. Before that happens, my music and photos must be saved, in case they do something to my data or give me a new computer. They just need to replace this crap.

There are phases I go through where I feel the need to scrutinize my Facebook and Myspace in case a future potential employer or someone does a little research. These phases usually result from a friend's account getting hacked, or articles about employers researching potential employees. Today, it was an article.

I'm wearing ugly pants I found in my closet. All the clothes I'd rather wear are in boxes. Or my hamper... which is downstairs. It always looks like the house vomited when I come home.