Matsuhama

As promised, this is where I am calling home these days. The point being, I guess, that the place gets a lot of light. And frankly, that's what I've been looking for. Light.

This is my new ride which says, more-or-less: Excuse me, ma'am, where's the nearest JC Penny's?
The car has yet to earn my trust as it hasn't passed the reliability test. We've gone just about 40 km together. But just look at it. It's smirking at me.

I don't know what's worse, me sending 69 cents to Tom by Paypal or Tom accepting the payment for 69 cents.

De-CI-sions

I like how George Bush sometimes does this thing where he makes an assertation, then waits about two seconds and restates it in a simpler, more pointed way with a couple of head bobs and sometimes a hand gesture. Observe: "The President has a difficult task ahead of him." (pause) "He has to make de-CI-sions." It's great.

I went to take pictures of my apartment, but my camera died.

The new car is in my possesion, but after paying some 3,000¥ to fill 'er up, I felt a bit defeated. Also, I don't know if some of the noises it's making are natural, or I should have them looked at. Regardless, it was fun to drive again.

New confines

Well, I just saw the new, wider confines and let me say, they are more than I could have ever imagined. It's huge. It's a corner apartment (windows on three sides). It's everything I could have wanted.

I had the best conversations today in Japanese with the car insurance guys and a taxi driver. I understood more than I thought I could. We talked about how great women in Niigata were and how I hugged the principal at one of my schools. It was wonderful.

You know what's funny? Sending Tom 69 cents by paypal.

As I reach the end of my internet days, I will have to bid you all good eve for a while. But not before posting pictures of the new confines. That will come tomorrow.

Imagine we're all hugging a giant panda bear. There. Doesn't that feel better?

A long, long break

Dick Cheney and John Edwards, you both get thrown off the yacht.

There, now that there's room on the yacht, I'm going to go ahead and invite the The Brian Jonestown Massacre onboard. Yeah. That's much, much better.

Come Sunday, no more internet for Steve-o. He's taking a break, a long, long break, I think. It should be good.

I will be home from December 23rd to January 6th. Let's enjoy love.

Threats

I'm gonna pretend that you all care how I think the debate between John Kerry and George Bush went. So it won't come as any surprise that I think Kerry had his way. Here's why: Bush's stances are reinforced not by facts, but by saying the same thing over and over. "Saddam Hussein was a threat." Yeah, I'll buy that once you tell me why. Bush said, "John Kerry is inconsistent." John Kerry responds saying that ::gasp:: you can have a qualified support for war and when the the qualifications aren't met you can pull your support. Bush's response? The only thing consistent about my opponent's position is that it's inconsistent. Yeah? What does that mean? He just kept reading from his talking points.

I think Bush is a good guy. He's doing what he thinks is right. And I respect that. I think he's wrong, but not bad.

Anyway.

Tonight, I'm going to a club. To see some jazz, mingle, drink some coffee.

First year elementary kids are like ants. They just swarm everywhere. How am I supposed to teach them anything? Who's the leader? Someone, take me to the leader.