Weekly Banality Update 1-13-2013

another all things mindless...

1st of all - going to yard sales = fun, having a yard sale = suck...

I finished the Hunger Games trilogy yesterday...I really enjoyed it. I teared up a little at the end of Mockingjay...don't look at me like that...it happened, let's move on...

to what...I don't know...nothing of importance happened this week... hhhmmmm...


let me get back to you...

updated 1/15/2013

had to get my frames replaced after I rolled over on my glasses in bed...got a little yard sale cash then immediately had to spend it #cantwinforlosing

and I spent an afternoon looking at my old tweets, here are a few:

1. People need to realize I don't answer the phone at 230 AM - 3/15/2009
2. People need to realize I don't answer the phone at 1130 AM - later 3/15/2009
3. i will never use the word "chillaxin"...this I proclaim - 3/30/2009
4. I left a bunch of farts at work. If you found any...keep them...i'll bring more tomorrow -5/1/2011
5. I'd hate movie theaters less if they still thought 3pm was a matinee - 6/23/2011

I'm a regular Ernest Hemmingway...

Weekly Banality Update 1-6-2013

trying a new thing to keep me writing, nothing heavy just the trivial stuff...

I got a Nook tablet just before Christmas...I discovered I really missed reading. I read The Hunger Games and The Silver Linings Playbook within the first week of having the Nook . Both were great, quick reads, highly recommended. Presently reading The Hobbit and Catching Fire

back on the video game horse:
This holiday I went a little ape-shit with all the Black Friday, Blockbuster 50% off all used games $20 or less, Xbox live holiday and Steam sales

Xbox 360 (disc)

1. Forza Horizons - you got me hooked I must say...
2. Xcom: Enemy Unkown - haven't even opened it yet
3. Binary Domain  - haven't even opened it yet
4. Madden 12 - upgraded from '09 version
5. NCAA Football 12  - upgraded from '09 version
6. Rocksmith - now if I can get off my ass and play it more, it seems really fun...
7. Need For Speed: Shift - it was $5, not bad, just an impulse buy

Xbox 360 (Xbox Live) - I bought 8000 microsoft points over black friday as well so I had points to spend

1. Bully: Scholarship Edition - had it on PS2, but sold it on Ebay, now have it again...
2. Mark of the Ninja - haven't tried it yet 
3. DLC for Trials HD, Trials Evolution, Fruit Ninja Kinect, Oblivion
4. The Walking Dead: Episodes 2-5 - if 1st episode is any indication, this will be a hell of a ride not for the faint of heart

Playstation 3

1. God of War Saga - for $15, 5 games, 1 month of PS+, a freaking great deal, the main thing I wanted from Black Friday
2. Borderlands 2 - haven't even opened it yet
3. Lollipop Chainsaw - started it...very.....yeah...it's very
4. Rage  - haven't even opened it yet, got it from Kmart, impulse buy at $10
5. The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection - haven't tried it yet, but nostalgia from my PS2 days. especially more so that the end is sooner than later for the PS2
6. Assassins Creed: Revelations - PS3 version comes w/ the first Assassins Creed, and for $10, another deal...

PC - Holiday sale on Steam:

1. Galactic Civilizations II - scifi strategy, yes please
2. Dropitz - impulse buy, at $0.99, I'm ok with it
3. FTL: Faster Than Light - a spaceship sim, again yes please
4. Fate of the World: Tipping Point - world sim, I like this stuff, now I have to just make time and play all these PC games
5. From Dust - I played the demo on XBL, I like it, great price, so yeah this happened too

Movie Time:

I recommend Silver Linings Playbook (see the movie 1st before you read the book), Like Crazy (good but depressing), Butter (straight up funny, in a Cedar Rapids meets Election sort of way)

Been away too long I know...

It's been a while. I have started numerous drafts but have never finished any. I just didn't have anything important to say...

I've been home from South Korea for 2 and a half months. I lived there for a year and 6 days...

I will go back. That is a near certainty. My time there was the only time in my adult life where I've been able to take care of myself and my mom financially. I also liked the country, a lot.

And I feel I've disrespected it by not learning the language and not being open to being "the fish out of water" as I could of been. There is a lot more to do and see there. I need another year, at least...and I'm gonna see who I can con into going back with me...

I also want to say I miss my old school. I would of liked another year to be a better teacher for the kids. When I told the students on my last regular day I was leaving I was a bit surprised by their sadness I was leaving. I have become a bit "grumpy old man" and I when one student started crying when I told her, It broke my heart. Children should be nothing but happy...At that moment If my old boss came in and said we will keep you for 20% less money and you have to live with a hobo, I would have done it...

In the time I have been home I've....really done nothing...I've spent money...laid around the house....and basically ignored things I need to deal with...Mom's happy I'm home. I'm happy to see her but she's losing her house and now with a month left before we have to leave nothing has been done to really prepare...How do you go from a house full of a lifetime of stuff to...I don't know?

I've all my paperwork done to get back to Korea but no one's even responded to my emails yet. I've picked up the pace as my desperation grows, sending out multiple resumes daily.

And I think my depression is getting worse...to the point I am investigating therapy options...

that's it...

Sorry I haven't posted in ages...

I need to post a proper blog update but now I need to rant...


The one thing I've been reading this election cycle that pisses me off to no end is when people use "Mr." to refer to President Obama.

My irritation probably comes from studying journalism in college and teaching English in Korea. But showing petty disrespect by calling him "Mr." just makes you look small.

It's OK to hate his guts. But he is the President Of The United States. You don't like it. Do something about it on Tuesday.

Not a surprise but still packs a punch...

I just found out I'm not getting renewed...

maybe it's for the best, but I just started feeling right and getting "comfortable"...


I hate starting over...

its been a roller coaster of a few weeks...

my mom is going to eventually lose her house...

i found out my contract may not get renewed after all...

new schedule at work so i have to be there 2 hrs earlier...

but on the good end...explored bucheon and area around gangam this weekend. saw "frankie go boom" at a film festival and going back to the fest next weekend...

I think have a problem with Craigslist...

I have become shopping addicted to Craigslist...

The general nature of being and ESL teacher in South Korea is you're in for a year or two, then you go home.

This means people with a decent bit of disposable income buy a bunch of stuff. Then when they move, have to then sell that stuff they don't take back with them or chuck it...

Here's my present list of stuff bought (a won is about $0.85) :

• electric water kettle 5000 won
• 2 ps3 games 25000 won (Trivial Pursuit and Uncharted, seller asked for 20000 for both but I offered and extra 5000 if he'd meet me closer to Suwon)
• toaster 10000 won and a router 15000 won
• Wacom graphics tablet 30000 won 

The list of things I asked about and didn't get is even bigger

• video game stuff
• big ass shoes
• medication (you can't get over the counter drugs here, and my nearest pharmacy closes at like 7pm, also no asprin) I'm also very glad I didn't get this...I would of been too paranoid to use any of it...
• all in one printers

Cragslist has an Iphone app which I find myself using as much as Facebook or Twitter, if not more...

To friends and the stuff they leave behind...Craigslist - Seoul