news no one really cares about but isn't entirely worthless

ok, so maybe it's a little worthless, but you can decide that for yourself:

news #1:
i saw this on the msn homepage today:

"Quitting smoking may double cancer survival"

just imagine the survival rate of those who don't smoke....


news #2:
i'm excited for when this becomes the primary mode of transport.

...although jet packs seem more portable


news #3:

gay armpit moral jumbo hot nuclear scientist missing appendage plastic hungary drag knobby knees fleshy wrinkly dimpled klingon siberian prison nun beauty pageants.

weird craving

i have been eating a lot kimchi and finding it incredibly delightful. of all things, i never thought spicy fermented cabbage could ever hit the proverbial spot, but it does. so, thanks korea!

FSS

over the weekend...

- i experienced my first earthquake (not kidding)

-i tried to open a bottle of wine. but instead of pulling the cork out, it was pushed down into the bottle. so i poured the remainder of the wine into a glass jar which is currently chilling in my fridge.

-the electricity to our apartment was turned off by my neighbor (it's back on now after a lot of confusion and some conversation in broken english/mongolian)

-i figured out why the apartment has been smelling like a toilet. we have what i like to call "swamp pipe" and there is nothing one can do about it except spray air-freshener or burn smelly candles.

-i did not: take down the christmas decorations, wash dishes, clean, water the plants or go to bed early

doing

now that i'm finished teaching and on vacation one of the first questions people ask me is "so, what are doing?" or "what are you going to do?" or "what will you do?"

i find it peculiar that they assume since my 'work' is finished i must have nothing to do, or that i don't want to do anything. which is not that case whatsoever. i would rather prefer people ask me: "so what do you want to do with your time now?" or "how are you enjoying a little break?"

my answers to the former questions are getting a little bitter and sarcastic (ie 'oh, you know, sitting around, eating junk, watching movies, sleeping...'), which can be fun but not for everyone.

the truth is, i'm perfecting the art of enjoying time.

that's what i'm 'doing.'

why i hate winter

at the moment i am wearing:

tights, running tights, jeans, two shirts, a cardigan, a thick house sweater, scarf, and wool slippers.

and i'm just sitting in my living room.


good grief.

freaking ice

when someone falls here in mongolia, there's not much reaction (unless you're old or crossing the street). generally people stare at you and pass by. so today, when i slipped on the ice and tumbled down some steps (biff #2), and heard a couple mongolian girls behind me giggling...i didn't know what to do.

i'm not sure what's worse: no reaction or some reaction? being ignored or being laughed at? seems like a good 'would you rather' question.

at any rate, my butt's pretty sore. and i hate icy steps.