What do witches, crystal meth, and sweet corn have in common?

Hoopeston, IL. I spent the 4th weekend down in a very small town called Hoopeston. It's about 2 1/2 hours south of Chicago and way out in the midst of corn fields for days. However, there's much more to this little town than meets the eye. For one, my old friend Ruthann is living there temporarily helping to run the largest Wiccan school in the world. Witch School, as it's known, is based in Hoopeston and has another campus in Albany, NY. They have members literally all over the world and are growing daily. It may not be long before statistics begin revealing that Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions out there.

This little town also hosts the annual Sweet Corn Festival which has the added celebrity of having about nine former Ms. Americas who were Ms. Sweet Corns first. HA! Funny but true. Also, Hoopeston has become the largest maker and supplier of crystal meth in the midwest. Evidently, about 70% of Chicago's supply comes from this little speck of a town where exploading kitchens and basements aren't nearly as hazardous in the country as they are in the city.

"Green acres is the place to be, farm living is the life for me, land spreading out so far and wide, keep Manhattan just give me that countryside."

Look at My Links>>>>>>

With my new blog look I am now able to offer additional links to other sites I like to visit. Check 'em out and let me know if there are any others you'd like to see or think I should check out too.

Oh, I Just Hate to Wait!

I feel like I'm always waiting for something. For instance, every day I have to go to my boring ass job, I can't wait for the work day to end. Also, each and every Monday, I can't wait for Thursday which is my Friday 'cause I don't work Fridays during the summer. I know. What am I complaining about? I don't know, I just feel feisty.

I've been talking about this agency in S. Korea that's supposed to be hooking me up with a job over there so I can get the hell outta here for awhile. Well, there being soooo slow to make any offers. I had one a few weeks ago that fell through before I could even interview. Then, I got a call last Thursday and was told to look for an info email. Okay? Nothing. Nothing in almost five days, and Yes I've emailed them twice trying to find out what's going on. I'm beginning to think they might be a bit flaky over there. Then again, perhaps it's just my impatience. Maybe they're busy? Who cares! Reply, Reply!

And, I've been sending out plethoras of resumes to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who might be looking for someone with my breadth of knowledge and creative skills to grace their working establishments, but for some unknown reason all their responses have been mysteriously diverted. Could it be a conspiracy?

Oh, the worst yet, I had to file an amended return this year because I basically fucked up my taxes. Well, evidentally it takes 8-12 weeks to process. We're now going on week 11 and I'm sick of waiting. GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY!

Unfortunately, there's nothing to do but wait.

80s Forever

Has anyone (other than Ms. Charlotte) been watching Hit Me Baby One More Time on Thursday nights? If you haven't and you loved 80s music, then you should definitely check it out. It's kind of a contest and kind of a come back machine for washed up 80s bands. So far, we seen the likes of Tiffany, Loverboy, Wang Chung, Irene Cara, and many more who's names escape me now as they did then. Anyway, each week the bands or performers do one song that was a hit from their glory days. Then they choose a contemporary song to cover. Whichever band/performer does the best, most memorable (for an hour show) performance gets 20,000 donated in their name to their fav charity. I don't know if it's been funnier seeing some of these people again or hearing them cover contemporary artists. Either way, it's definitely a riot! Also, if you're just in the mood to check your 80s IQ they have a short test on the website.

My So Called Future

For those of you who haven't heard, my initial interview with the South Korean teaching agency didn't come off. It's not that it didn't go well, it's that it didn't go at all. The school I was scheduled to speak with decided very 11th hour that they only wanted to interview clients with previous elementary ed experience. That's fair. So, the agency is continuing to try to place me elsewhere. I'm hoping for a language school that works with adults though these are hard to come by because most adult Koreans already speak english fairly well. I'm also not laying all my eggs in Korea. I'm still pursuing the option of moving somewhere stateside if the right opportunity arises. However, I also feel like I'm entering crisis mode in that I have to get out of the midwest one way or another. So, if anyone is aware of an opportunity I may be suited for or has connections in any of the exciting creative industries, hook me up!

Recovery

It's Monday and I'm coming off a great weekend. My friend Jennie was in town and I ended up partying all the way through while managing to stay very productive. However, as Sunday evening passed by and I still wasn't ready for the coming Monday morn, I decided I needed Monday day too. Day job blues and all that. Anyway, as part of my recovery from the weekend and all its mayhem I got to playing around on the blog here and decided revamping was in order. What d'ya think? It was okay before but I think I like both the new title and the look more. Although, may be it's just the contrast from what it was.

I'm going back to bed now.

"Survey Says"

This comes to you curtesy of my friend Charlotte curtesy of her friend Ursula curtesy of whoever she lifted it from. Feel free to use it curtesy of all of us.

Have you ever...

(x) snuck out of the house... Yeah, many times. Once, I walked almost six miles. It took me all night and I took a cat nap in the lobby of a Holiday Inn. My parents tracked me down the next day by calling everyone in my personal address book. Snoops!

(x) gotten lost in your city... Well, yes, but it was due to an LSD trip. You know, everything familiar became rather unfamiliar.

(x) seen a shooting star... Who hasn't? Don't bother wishing. Try cursing instead.

(x) been to any other countries besides Canada... Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, USA

( ) had a serious surgery... No, but I was in the hospital for 7 days with a parasitic infection. What? TMI?

(x) gone out in public in your pajamas... There was a time when I thought pj pants were comfortable and cool.

(x) kissed a stranger... If only I had been paid each time.

(x) hugged a stranger... Came with the kisses.

(x) been in a fist fight... Twice. Once with my brother on the street on the way home from school. The other time was with my best friend David Childs. Although, we beat each other with frisbees. Does that count?

(x) been arrested... Yes and spent a night in the county slammer. Not fun.

(x) laughed and had milk/coke come out of your nose... Coke. It must be the fizz. Goes up yo nose.

(x) pushed all the buttons on an elevator... So juvenile. And yes. he, he!

(x) swore at your parents... My parents said I was a smug child. Said I thought I was better than anyone else. I didn't argue but I often told them so in a slew of choice words.

(x) been in love... Yeah but didn't care for it and don't do it anymore.

(x) been close to love... Being "in" is about as close as one can get.

(x) been to a casino... Whilst in the Bahamas. Although was promptly thrown out for being under age. Hm? However, I made up for it later when I was in Puerto Rico. That is I went in and wasn't asked to leave. I didn't, however, make a cent. Hm.

( ) been skydiving...

(x) skinny dipped... With Stephanie Riesman. Are you out there Stephanie?

(x) skipped school... Yeah, it got to the point that if my parents asked whether I was in school on a particular day, I wouldn't even try to lie. Often I would be seen around town by my mother's nosey friends. Bitches!

(x) seen a therapist... My years in therapy were practically a sub-career. I should have been paid for all the goods I gave them.

( ) done the splits...

(x) played spin the bottle... With Christians!

( ) gotten stitches... There have been times when I probably should have as the scars will attest.

(x) drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour... No, but I have eaten an entire 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting. Mmmm!

(x) bitten someone... More like a nibble. It wasn't vampiric or anything.

( ) been to Niagara Falls... No, but was a HUGE fan of Wonderfalls: ill fated tv show set in Niagara.

(x) gotten the chicken pox... I don't remember what age that was, somewhere under 10, but I do remember showing off my pox to my mother's knitting circle.

(x) kissed a member of the opposite sex... I'm an equal opportunity kisser.

(x) kissed a member of the same sex... Like I said, EOE.

(x) crashed into a friend's car... How odd, I hadn't thought about this in years. I was parked right next to my friends brand new '83 Grand Prix. I was doing a night time backing out maneuver and I turned the wheel the wrong way. I managed to get my car embedded into hers. Nothing was ever said between us. Oh she knew. She helped me get the two cars apart. She, then, managed to hide the damage from her mother for two weeks by parking the damaged side next to trees. When her mother found out, she took the 5th.

( ) been to Japan

(x) ridden in a taxi... How can you live in the city and not have ridden in a taxi at least once?

(x) been dumped... Debbie Marshall and Denise Reynolds

(x) shoplifted... I used to do this thing where I would lift something expensive (in plain sight) and then go up to the register and buy something cheap. And, yeah, I did get caught eventually. What a scene!

(x) been fired... Twice. Once from a country club restaurant on the first day of employment. The club's president was there for dinner and I managed to knock over his server who was carrying his dinner. This all happened at his table. It was funny and completly accidental. The other time was for missing sales quotas at the County Seat (an earlier competitor of the Gap).

(x) had a crush on someone of the same sex... Still happens.

(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back... Doesn't the crush fall under this?

(x) gone on a blind date... Wish I had been blind!

(x) lied to a friend... Don't listen to what your mother told you. The truth isn't always the best way to go.

( ) had a crush on a teacher...

( ) celebrated Mardi-Gras in New Orleans... No, but I did see NIN there.

(x) been to Europe

( ) slept with a co-worker

( ) been married

( ) gotten divorced

( ) had children

(x) seen someone die... It's odd, actually seeing it isn't nearly as disturbing as simply contemplating it.

(x) had a close friend die... My friend Chris who was one of the first people I knew to succumb to AIDS.

( ) been to Africa... No, but I've been to both Lion Country Safari and Busch Gardens.

(x) driven over 400 miles in one day... Driven from N. Carolina to Chicago. Driven from New York City to Chicago. Driven Chicago to Lafayette, TN many times. I don't know if any of these are over 400 miles but they are all long ass drive.

(x) been to US... Is this a trick question?

(x) been to Mexico... Went with 500 bucks and came back with money to spare!

( ) been to India... Does flying on Air India count?

(x) been on a plane... Above.

(x) seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show... Seen it, participated in it, and used to have it on VHS.

(x) thrown up in a bar... in a bar, in the street, in a taxi, on the train, on myself, and all over the toilet.

( ) purposely set a part of myself on fire... What?

(x) eaten sushi... Love it! I highly recommend Akai Hana in Wilmett and Oysy in the south loop of Chicago.

(x) been skiing/snowboarding... Water skiing screaming my head off. Weeeeeeeeee!

(x) met someone in person from the internet... Sadly yes. In some ways it's worse than being set up.

(x) lost a child... I am a lost child.

(x) gone to college/university... The first 8 years are the longest.

(x) graduated college/university... Finally!

(x) fired a gun... at people. Okay, just worthless neighborhood bullies.

(x) purposely hurt yourself... Let me count the ways.

(x) taken painkillers... However, I seem to have some intolerance for them. They rarely work. Ur!

(x) been intimate with someone of the same gender... EOE Baby!

"What Now?"

I keep telling myself that changes are on the horizon. I do this to keep my spirits up because, truth be told, things change ever so slowly. I was talking to my cube mate this morning about the passage of time relative to different places one is in throughout any given day. For instance, when I'm at home or really anywhere other than the office time seems to fly by. I almost never have to look at the clock unless I'm expected somewhere. Then, when I'm at the office it's as if time puts on the brakes or even holds itself back. Errrrrrrrr! I can hear its gears screeching against the wheels. Time just drags all day! Eight hours seems like a near eternity. I know this is probably true for most people but why? Is it just because I hate being there? But I'm not always happy at home either but it doesn't alter the effect of time's passage there. Only at the office does it drag. I think offices in general must be harbingers of warped time. What other logical explanation could there be? Hm.

I hadn't heard any news from this agency I hooked up with to try and get an overseas teaching gig and I began to get concerned. What if they aren't legit? What if they were just waiting for my official documentation just so they could sell my identity to some terrorist? So I did some googling on them but everything I read was actually quite positive. I, of course, had done this previously to signing up with them but the work situation has my mind in overtime/drive. Anyway, I saw on their site that they've placed my picture and basic stats up, so I guess that's a good sign. Also, I'm not actually available until August so I don't know what I'm expecting. Take a breather, I guess.

In the mean time, I've been running books, CDs, DVDs, and old albums around town trying to sell them off. I've had pretty decent luck so far. It's a lot of work but I made more money last weekend than I do in 2 weeks at the boring office. Whoo-Hoo! Also, there's hasn't been any anxiety about giving the stuff up like I feared there might be. I think I'm basically a minimalist and feel pretty relieved at downsizing some of the clutter. Although, there's still tons more to go. SALE in late July. Send out the word to anyone who may be looking for anything. I've got quite the assortment of interesting odds and ends.

For now, I just eat peanut butter and chocolate every day to cope. What do you eat/do to cope?