I shall be rich!

Have I told y'all about the English nonsense shirts that people wear in Taiwan? Basically, they'll buy anything that has English on it and looks cool (to them).

Have I told y'all about the intellectual nothing generator? I think I posted one on here once. It's a website that randomly generates essays that actually say nothing, but almost make sense--just enough to make you keep reading it, trying to figure it out.

This is an honest-to-goodness abstract of a literary analysis of Frankenstein. It sounds like it's from the above-mentioned website.

"Citation: Frankenstein: Creation as CatastropheAuthor(s): Paul SherwinSource: PMLA, Vol. 96, No. 5 (Oct., 1981), pp. 883-903Publisher: Modern Language AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/462130
Abstract: Much in Frankenstein suggests that the novel and classicalpsychoanalysis are meant for each other. The creation becomes asignificant act, at once paradigmatic and intensely human, when viewedas a repetition of Frankenstein's primal-scene trauma, with theCreature emerging as a representation of the scene and the relatedoedipal complex. A psychoanalytic interpretation, however, requires adrastic secondary revision of Frankenstein, and not enough insight ispurchased by so much blindness. The analyst repeats, yet fails toelucidate, the misreading of world, self, and Creature that rendersFrankenstein a tiresome neurotic. But before this personal collapseFrankenstein achieved the sublime. His catastrophe of origination,engendering a creative self that anxiously pursues an impossibledesire and an artifact that both represents and eclipses the creator,serves as a paradigm of the genesis of any sublime artwork, anyuncanny reanimation project."

So, my plan is to take a picture of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein, put a pink heart around his face, slap it on a t-shirt and put the above abstract on there as well (probably at a slanting angle around the front and side of the shirt) and sell it for $500 NT a pop in Taiwan.

Our friend Jon Eric died at a hospital (possibly in Hualien) today after being in an ultra light crash. We're not sure yet what the arrangements are or what our plans are. Definitely keep his family and the team in Hualien in your prayers.

I've figured out how to tell if someone is singing in Mandarin or in Taiwanese. If they sound like they're yawning while singing it's Taiwanese.

We've seen several different kids around town who have graduated already (high school, jr. high or elementary) so they're out 2 weeks earlier than everybody else. We'll ask them how they're enjoying their vacation and they all say "I'm bored. I want to go back to school." These kids have no life, no decision making skills, no independence, and no imagination. Its' tragic.

Everyone remember to pray for the Brazil team! I can't wait to hear what God's doing!

Over here umbrellas are carried everywhere by females. When it's raining they carry an umbrella so they don't get wet. When it's sunny they carry an umbrella so they don't get tan. When it's cloudy they carry an umbrella in case it rains or clears up.

I felt very Taiwanese this morning. It had been raining so I carried an umbrella to the high school class in case it deluged on me like it has previously. It never did. So 2 hours later, after the class, I start to walk in the sunshine to where we were going to lunch. I realize I don't have my sunscreen with me. So I was forced, out of self-preservation to walk down the street with an open umbrella and have everyone think I worry about being tan. 1, I would love to be tan so I wouldn't sunburn. 2, I really don't care what society says is beautiful. But, I have also determined not to base my actions on what people think. So if I ever forget my sunscreen again and there's an umbrella lying around...I would be Taiwanese again.

Quick thoughts on stuff...

Bell fruit is like a mix of bell pepper and apple.

Night markets are carnivals without any rides.

The Chen's grandpa is so cute! He's like the real thing of what Isaac does when he pretends to be really old.

Jaymz is a get-alonger, very conscientious of others, and is trying to stonewall God.

I am so slow. Samuel and BonnieJean are always waiting on me-walking, paying, putting stuff up, eating, everything. They're so patient and nice to me.

I'm getting pretty good at chopsticks.

It hasn't been very hot which is good so I'll have time to adjust.

I've adjusted to the time change except for I wake up at 7 in the morning and start falling asleep at 9 in the night.

I'm going to go visit with Mai. Love y'all!

I got my visa application sent off today. Yay! We'll get it Monday or even possibly Saturday. The sage BonnieJean says international trial is all about growing your faith. I feel like Dr. Dopple in Treasure Planet. "That's more fun than I ever want to have again!"

I got to see the animated Curious George movie today. I hated the books, but the movie is really cute, original, and funny.

I didn't pass my brown belt test. Mr. Murry said my fighting and breaking were not at the level they should be and I agree. I'm still majorly bummed though. I don't know what else to do. I run, I do makwari, I work on the bags, I fight at home, I fight at the dojo, I work hard every Monday night, and I'm still no good. Am I just going to have to make it a full-time pursuit to get any good at it?

BJ has her last final tonight and then she gets to rejoin the living. We're doing a celebratory movie viewing tonight, of course.

So yesterday I get this email from Rep. Boren thanking me for contacting him about impeaching President Bush, but he doesn't think impeachment should be used as a political tool. ???? So I emailed him back asking him to send me a copy of whatever pro-impeachment message I sent and that no, I don't want President Bush impeached.

My neck is really sore. But I'm not as bad off as Samuel (who did pass) who can't hardly turn his head.

I think I'll go eat my supper. Love y'all!

I cut my hair a week ago Saturday. It's now layered, very curly with no weight on it, and goes just to my neck. I don't want to be vain, but I look really cute with it!

Saturday was my last day at Warehouse Market. It feels good to plan my time myself.

I would like to pause for a moment of panic in observation of the 2-week mark in the countdown to Taiwan. *runs around screaming and ends up sobbing in the fetal position* Thank you, as you were.

Chera, Ethan lost $5 betting one of his students at gym couldn't lick her elbow.

I am now doing my visa myself because Evan Smith was never going to get it done and was going to charge me the $100 processing fee from the embassy. The only reason I was having him do that was because I thought that fee was waived because of what a large order we made. Now just pray that it goes off without a hitch and gets here really soon.

Dad leaves tomorrow for a week of training in hydro-generator maintence. And guess where it's held? Cour'de Laine, Idaho less than 3 hours from Wilbur! He's going to get to see most everybody over the weekend and come home Sunday. I am so jealous!

Love y'all!