House Hunting = New Favorite Way to Spend an Evening.

When you stop going to the bar after work, it leaves a big hole in how you wind down from the day at 10pm.

I can spend hours looking at houses online. I always search in the New Orleans area. The only requirements I put in are 2 bedrooms, one bathroom, and a fireplace. After that, the sky's the limit. No financial restraints, because honestly. That would take all the fun out of it. Sometimes I do spend hours doing this. There are some simply amazing houses out there, especially in New Orleans. The old Arts and Crafts cottages that people have loved into glory. The classic Victorians with their huge porches and dormer windows and turrets.

But rich people have very bad taste when it comes to decorating.

There's one house in the French Quarter area that has fake animal skin rugs in every room and the master bedroom's headboard has a tiny deer skull with antlers sticking out it. WHO MADE THIS TRENDY??? It is so tacky and so terrible a thing to do to an amazing old house that it makes me cringe. I take it personally. There's another that is nicely restored except for the pink satin master bedroom. Oh heavens. That is just NOT ok.

And while I think baby grand pianos are a lovely decorating tool, it is just pretentious to have them in your main foyer. Also, I don't play and that just makes it uppity beyond words to have a baby grand.

Owning an old home means you decorate in an old school way. And by that I mean antique, classic. This modern crap does not go well in an old home and when I see stuff like that, it makes me want to rescue the house and beat the owners. "Modernism" is definitely not my fav and it has no place in classic architecture. If you have modern tastes, buy a modern house.

More of the world according to Alex. If more people lived by my rules, we might live in a classier, more tasteful society.

Catching up to Speed...

During my hiatus from blogging, some things happened. Let's just skip August because I can't remember anything special happening, aside from Kate visiting and celebrating Sally and Erin's birthdays. That was super fun, but not blog material. Well, for Sally's birthday we went on a charter boat that cruised the waters around Macau for a few hours. It was a beautiful day and we ended up having a super lovely time with a bunch of our friends. Erin's birthday we spent in Hong Kong with a bit of live jazz and some awesome food.

During August and September, some of us took a lead climbing course in Hong Kong. I am now a certified Lead Climber with all the gear to prove it. It was nice to get out and do something different for a change and rock climbing carries a certain challenge and satisfaction that I don't get out of my job. We had a great group of people participate as well and from all different departments of the theater. I definitely made some friendships that would not have been made otherwise.

In September, we celebrated ONE YEAR of our opening. In other words, our one year anniversary. Sometimes words escape me and I end up writing stupid things like that. We were treated to a visit by The Man himself, who thanked us for making him look good before jetting off to Beijing to sign a contract on his next project. We also were "invited" to watch a presentation of the past, present, and future projects of the company. One of them being in Wuhan, which is mainland China. Whoever does The Man's story boards and marketing presentations is a genius because it almost made me want to work on that project. And then I remembered it's on the mainland. Cross that one off the to do list. Kung Fu Panda the Tour is going to be pretty cool and I would consider working on that for sure. But it only debuts in Shanghai. It doesn't stay there. Bonus. It is also scheduled to tour North America and Europe and there is some AMAZING technology involved, but this is what happens when The Man partners with DreamWorks and there is a lot of money and crazy ideas floating around. We got some decent swag too. A pretty nice all-weather jacket WITH zip-out fleece lining and it's even got the company logo embroidered on the pocket. Fancy stuff.

Our anniversary party was pretty swank too. We celebrated like three or four times, all of which I would love to show you pictures of, unfortunately, they were on my camera that got stolen at the Atlanta Aquarium. Rubbish. They had food and drink stations everywhere. Slip n Slide, giant pool, water slide, hot tub, band, photo station. They fed us shots when we walked in the door and picked up our party hats. It was all downhill from there. But the best part was, we were all together away from work. We get along really well when there's no work involved. Not to mention free food and free drinks. There was an after party as well, but I didn't quite make it out to that. Good beer and the water slide pretty much ended my night. But I am OK with that.

October was quiet except for the dark. Those are never quiet. We were super super busy for two weeks. We planned and strategerized for at least two or three weeks and then everything went to hell in a hand basket. Like anything else would happen. I think I worked overtime every day. That pay check is going to be sweeeeeeeeeet. My bruise collection was pretty impressive by the end of the two weeks. I love the dark, it's the only time I actually feel like I am working. Most of the rest of the time I feel like I'm just "working".

In the meantime, if anyone knows of a super amazing, old, in good condition house with a lovely/sizeable backyard, a working fireplace, and at least one bathtub in New Orleans, holler at your girl. I'm in the market and I want a house with personality in The City of Personality.

Birthdays happen whether you're near or far.

I will continue to attempt - desperately - to make up for my 2.5 month absence through my blogs. I celebrated my birthday five times this year. Once with my mother's side of the family (minus my brother and favorite only aunt), once with my father's parents, once by myself (on my actual birthday with jet lag and sushi and wine), once at my pub here - the OTT - where they let me pour my drinks and run my tab because its "my home too" - yes, they actually say that, and once with some close friends at my favorite restaurant. It made me think back on memorable birthdays.

When I turned 10, LSU played homecoming on my birthday. Dad and I went to the game and Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the USA" at the halftime show. I thought that was pretty spectacular. My own personal concert for my birthday.

One of my most memorable birthdays was my sixteenth. We played games at my house, had brownies for dessert, and I got a car. Not just any car, my aunt's Mustang Convertible. Cherry red, tan top. That was a great birthday.

On my eighteenth birthday, my friend Lane and I had a picnic. We celebrated together because her birthday is the day before mine. (I forgot her birthday this year because I am a terrible friend. She is one of my closest friends and in the chaos of travelling back from the States on that day, I forgot. Happy birthday Lane, I love you!) It was a BEAUTIFUL day, so we got po-boys, drove to a state park covered in old oak trees, spread out a blanket, played football and frisbee. That was a GREAT birthday.

On my 22nd birthday, it was an LSU game day. We went to the game, my friend Brooke and I almost got into a fight with some guys who were rude and dogging on the Tigers - ON MY BIRTHDAY and in MY STADIUM. And then, because I was having a tough time turning 22 and not really being young anymore, my friends Jennifer, Brooke, Kathleen, and I, along with my brother, went and rolled down the Indian Mounds on LSU's campus. They are a couple huge hills and they were covered in dew because it was the early morning. They were probably covered in more than dew being game day and all, but regardless. Memorable.

Every year on my birthday, my mom would wake me up for school and tell me "Ten years ago today..." "Twelve years ago today..." et al. Now, for old time's sake, I make her tell me the story. "Twenty-six years ago today, I went into labor and they sent me home from the hospital because I wasn't in enough pain yet..." It's a good story, you should hear it sometime. SPOILER ALERT: It ends with me being born.

But it only gets told once a year. On my birthday.

Wow. Neglect.

So, not much has changed... Still in a follow spot chair... But I am hopeful there is an end in sight, we're hiring people and while not fully staffed YET, we are soooooooo close...

BUT. I am a PADI SCUBA diver now. WHAT IS UP. Pretty stoked about that and now I just have to figure out when and where to go get my open water certification, which is two more dives, and then I'm official and can start working towards my advanced certification. Holler. A new, expensive hobby to look forward to.

Also, in an effort to better prepare myself for moving home and to stop hemorrhaging money, I have started paying my smaller purchases and bills in coins. It's so easy to let it all just collect in a corner somewhere, but that is useful money. I'm already going to the ATM heaps less than I used to. That may also have something to do with the fact that I am going home at night instead of to the pub and I have started drinking coffee in the mornings at home instead of buying one on my coffee break at work and bringing lunch from home instead of buying a sandwich from the coffee shop at work and I don't take a taxi to work, I walk or ride the bus. Who knew such small things daily can really add up? I mean, I hear it all the time, so clearly someone knew, but inputting those small changed into your daily life can really make a difference. That being said, when I found myself without bread this morning for toast because mine had molded overnight, paying for my loaf of bread and a chocolate croissant at my corner bakery in 1 MOP coins (17MOP for the purchase) did not seem to be appreciated by the cashier.

My mind has long been conflicted about how long to stay in Macau, but I went home two weeks ago for a friend's wedding. I was able to spend two days with my family and then flew to Atlanta to spend 4 with them for the wedding. What an amazing week it was. It started out less than stellar, but it ended up being an awesome week full of fresh mountain air, real, clean grocery stores, real shopping, therapeutic driving, and an AQUARIUM. My camera got stolen at the aquarium, but I'm trying to move on from the devastation of that moment. Moral: don't leave your camera on the hook in the bathroom, even if only for 10 minutes. Other moral: take pictures off your camera regularly. Really, all this rambling about the fresh air and lost cameras amounts to one thing: I think I'm ready to come home. No dates yet, I still need to do some travelling whilst I remain out here and I want to have at least one spectacular diving/beach vacation before coming home, but I miss home so much it hurts.

I will miss semi-quiet mornings like this one, where I get up early and watch the city wake up with a cup of coffee and breakfast and my chameleon and her breakfast. I mean, the view from 34 floors up is one you will not get in an Arts and Craft cottage in New Orleans. But then I look back out my huge picture window and the smog obscures everything but the immediate view anyway, and the noise pollution kind of ruins the quiet effect.

Since I have not posted since they moved in, the new roommates are working out splendidly and funny enough, we NEVER see each other. Even with four of us in the house, we see each other more at work than at home. You have to love that in a group of roommates. It leaves little room for conflict. Brilliant.

Now, time to complete my morning routine before heading off into the mines again. Well, not to belittle miners because their jobs are much more dangerous than mine, but you know. It feels dangerous to my sanity/mental health... Maybe I need a canary to take to work to warn me of impending threats...

SCUBA Classes Have Commenced.

Yes, you read that correctly ladies and gentlemen. Your's truly, one year after she arrived here, has started the PADI course to make me a SCUBA diver. I am not able to get open water certified in our pool, but as our entire Aquatics staff is comprised of dive instructors, it is one of the perks for us as technicians. I, for one, am stoked.

We had our swim test Tuesday. I finished first out of my six classmates (the rest are boys) and even though it wasn't a race, with my highly competitive nature, it was for me. So I was pleased. We also had to tread water/float for ten minutes. I thought that would be super hard, but it was easy peasy. That was all followed by getting fitted with wetsuits (no pink... Sad.) and three hours of class instruction. Finally, I'm learning again. I was even excited about having homework. I know: nerd. Tomorrow we get in the water and have our first lesson with all the gear. SUPER PSYCHED.

On another note, we're getting two new roommates this weekend. Effectively doubling the population of the house. Cleaning out the kitchen cupboards and extra rooms was a daunting task, but we took care of it like champs on Tuesday. Sean and I discovered that somewhere along the way between the 5 persons that have lived in this apartment, we accumulated 4 whisks, 3 potato mashers, 2 can openers, 3 wine keys, 4 vegetable peelers, and a wicked new food processor that took us 10 minutes to figure out how all the pieces work. No lie. But we are excited about it and felt super smart. We are also not allowed to buy spaghetti, oil, spices, sauces, mustard, or basil from now until eternity.

Today I got the real estate agent to do his job and fix the broken things in the apartment. Finally. It only took forever. AND. We get to keep the apartment for a minimal increase in rent for another year starting in October. Whew. No moving for this crew, because that would have been a major bummer. Especially since we have no clue when we're moving on from Macoma. I can also get the deposit back after nine months if we give them one month notice that we're moving out. See boys and girls, it does pay to be a good tenant.

I miss home though. Kinda wish this apartment and this job was in New Orleans. Sigh...

Losing Friends is Never Easy.

I need to take this opportunity to write a post about someone who was amazing.

For four summers of my life I worked in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania in the woods of Caledonia State Park. Judy Houser was our executive director.

Judy Houser was a friend.

She took care of me when I was a little lost girl in the woods of Pennsylvania all by myself. She looked after me and Cadi when we were hanging out past our expiration date at Totem Pole. While she was fighting the ultimate battle of her life, she let me sit in her office and rage to her and Sue about whatever I was feeling at the moment. Happy or sad, she heard it with words of wisdom and love. She laughed at me when it snowed and (as a Southerner) I had no clue how to walk on the icy walkway to her office. She gave me work when I needed it and support when I needed that and while those few months in the woods were lonely for me, knowing Judy and Sue and Kathy were there helped. More than she may ever know.

I hope she rests easy. But I lost a friend. And nine thousand miles away from where my heart is at this given time, I am sad.

So Judy, this post is for you. It's not much, but from a scared, sad little girl to a woman who will always be remembered as one of the strongest women I know, thank you. You are and will be missed but never forgotten.

Two Posts in Two Days. On a ROLL.

As my goal for July - and July only - is to keep you, my devoted readers, more informed on my comings and goings in China, I will attempt to update my blog FOUR times this month. Yes, count 'em FOUR. Remember people, baby steps. Will reevaluate the goal for August after seeing how this month goes.

No end in sight for the follow spot situation due to extenuating circumstances (re: people leaving faster than we hire). THUMBS WAY UP.

This weekend, on a lighter note, was lovely. More of those please.

I'd also like to start taking weekend getaways to China. Dangerous, yes, but I hear it can be done AND keep your sanity. Ambitious, no? I figure, though, if we stay in the hotel most of the time and just get out of Macau, but be sure to pack a bag full of snacks, it's a winning situation for all involved!

I need to start cleaning out my closet and ridding it of surplus tank tops (I will count before I start, just to let you all know exactly how big my tank top problem is) and other things I don't wear. It's actually not that much, but I feel like I have accumulated WAY too much crap here. Story of my life, really. It's just so easy when all there is to do to make yourself feel better is shop.

Today's Forecast: R8 and Climbing...

So there's a little something we like to refer to in Macau as the "Rage Virus." Let's just say it's not pretty and it strikes at very predictable (and sometimes unpredictable) times.

Today we ventured to Hong Kong to experience the joys Ocean Park had to bring us. Our day started out by arriving at the ferry terminal 20 minutes before the ferry (plenty of time on a NORMAL day to catch a ferry) only to find out the 930am ferry we can get for 1/3 the price with our staff IDs was sold out and instead we would have to take the 1045 ferry. Not convenient if you have to wait 1.5 hours. So we paid full price for another ticket and were off on the 10am ferry bound for adventure.

And rage.

Normal days on a ferry there are maybe 30 other people on board. Today there was much more. When we got to immigration, there was a line the likes of which have never been seen before by any of the 6 of us in HK. Out. Of. Control. And we're still not sure it's even a holiday in China. It wasn't in Macau, that's for sure.

We took a taxi to Ocean Park (smart move, as the rage just gets higher the longer you spend with public transport - proven fact) and tickets in hand, began our fun filled day.

Let's just say by 5pm, half of us had had ENOUGH and the other half were ... growing weary.

One of us had her sunglasses knocked off her head three - that's right - THREE times by three separate umbrellas (or offenders - in the case of the cleaner on the ferry). And waiting in those long lines with people who have absolutely zero concept of personal space is exhausting when personal space is something you value.

However we did invent a new version of the China walk that is suitable for the summer parasol that may or may not blind you when wielded by the careless. If you need pointers, we might post a YouTube video.

After riding all the rides and sweating more than anyone would have thought possible, we attempted to make a 715 showing of a movie, only to find out that it is the last night in HK and only showing was 945. Too late for us tired girls. So instead, we bought expensive cheeses (Ok, I bought 4 types of pricier cheese) and had some amazing Greek food for dinner, bought takeout for lunch tomorrow, went power shopping for 15 minutes and caught the ferry back to Macau. Sometimes even getting away isn't a getaway.

Malaysia in September, though, sounds just about right. Stay tuned for details.

For those of you out there lucky enough to enjoy it: be thankful for your non-Chinese world. The R8 isn't pretty. And for some of us, it's unavoidable. If you must experience, be sure you surround yourself with people who understand the Rage Virus. It's the only way to make it out alive.

The Rainy Season

It promises to ruin every weekend we have for the foreseeable future. Rubbish weather. So as you can imagine, it rained this weekend. I had a very agreeable weekend planned: spend Tuesday at the pool, go plant shopping for Clara Camille's cage, get some Sari fabric for the Bollywood party next weekend, maybe do a nice outdoors dinner (with plenty of bug spray handy), just general chillaxing (yeah I said it. what.) and wandering around Macau.

Instead we got rain.

The girls and I did sushi Monday night instead of going out, which was the best idea we could have had. Tuesday, the general Macau public woke to rain, rain, and more rain. So we saw the new X-Men movie which was pleasantly surprising and also provided a couple possibilities for Halloween costumes. Let's just say one involves white go-go boots and the other black go-go boots. Whichever I find first dictates which one I pick. Then we wandered around Macau in the pouring rain. I bought some new flowers for the apartment - my new favorite, fresh flowers. Some gorgeous lilies and some what smells like gardenias and some huge bright orange daisies. Loves them. Then when we got tired of being wet, we went to the Venetian for power hour - happy hour with 45 Mop martinis and free steak sandwiches. Had a martini and then shopped for a bit, before calling it quits and retiring back here for a real dinner and some movies. Wednesday was quiet - movies and Teriyaki stir fry. I made some awesome cookies and then all of the sudden the weekend was over. Rubbish.

I spend my days playing Angry Birds and often wonder what it must be like to have a real grown up job. Probably not as good as mine.

The really expensive silk bedspread I bought in Beijing at the silk factory is on my bed now (looks SUPER nice with my fresh flowers) and I once again think to myself, "how are you ever going to readjust to life back home?"

No clue.

I'm reminded of a Zoolander quote "Who am I?" to which is reflection replies "I don't know." Kinda how I feel. BUT. Life here is ok for now. Don't know where I'm going, but I sure know where I been. That's a little Whitesnake for those of you at home playing along.

I was thinking about this today. I have travelled so far away from home, and I am surrounded by people and places and things who have no clue who I am and what I am about. I am sometimes amazed that I have managed to stay so true to who I am. But you know something? I credit my youth with that. It made me never want to be anything or anyone other than Southern. Why would you? The food, the language, the sayings, the people, the climate, the attitude, the food, the beer, the landscape, the food, the people, the beer, crawfish, the flowers, seafood, the food, the beer, the people, etc, et al...

Whenever I meet people here and they have something negative to say about Americans, they always clarify it with crediting me as an exception.

I always reply, "It's ok. I'm Southern. We're different."

And I mean that with all my heart. Why would you possibly want to be anything else?

No Rest for the Wicked. Or the Weary.

I know, this posting thing, I'm rubbish. I was reminded of this fact by my close friend this evening. A friend who lives here in Macau and I see... NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. So here's a post for her. AND. For Melissa Miller. Whom I love and adore and speak to NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. Sense a theme here? ... Awkward silence...

Anywho.

Clara Camille is shedding. Rarely have I been prouder. Sean mentioned today that she was bigger and I hadn't really noticed (I mean, I look at her every day...) but turns out she's shedding all over. My little girl is growing up... Isno, on the other hand, is just Isno. Chewing the bars of her cage at night, so she has been banished to the kitchen. I think she likes it there, though...

This weekend brought us Macomians a day at the pool (it was SO QUIET), our first T3 typhoon of the season, a delicious dinner, lots of rain and wind, and for a few of us adventurers, a day in Three Lamps where we stocked up on plants and flowers, among other things. I now have a peace lily, a bamboo, an african violet, an aloe plant, a cactus, a basil plant, a rosemary, and an oregano, along with three other plants in Clara Camille's cage and an unnameable plant. I am quite domesticated, you see.

On the bright side, the typhoon this weekend showed me that not only does one of our living room windows' sealing leak, so does the wall in my bedroom. In two places. I have two wet patches around my window bay and it is clearly coming from the wall, not the window. That won't be a quick fix. And the one in the living room managed to leak probably a liter of water onto the window bench overnight, soaking the power strip for Clara Camille's cage. Ah, Chinese construction.

So Mom and Brother came to visit. It was so nice to have them here. SO. Nice. They met my pets, we did a whirlwind tour of China, including Xi'an to see the Terracotta Army, and Beijing where we saw the Forbidden City, Tiennamen Square, and a silk factory. We also spent two days in Hong Kong. Turns out, the smog in Macoma is bearable considering the abominable pollution elsewhere in the Chinese continent. They said they liked the show and on the last day the fam was here, they got the grand tour of not only the backstage area, BUT ALSO the Chinese Movie Awards. Big stuff here people, Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery important. Not quite the Oscars, not as entertaining as the Tony's. But more tacky and definitely more difficult to understand.

So after the CMA's (not to be confused with the Country Music Awards, which my friend and your's Courtney Cole attended this year looking VERY glamorous), we had a week of dark which means there were no shows and we drained the pool for maintenance. I like the darks, I spent a week in the bottom of the pool working on the lift LEDs, and there was no one around. We get so much done and we're on a somewhat normal schedule. It's quiet and we get evenings off - BONUS.

But all good things must come to an end and now the artists are back looking very tan and god-like after their vacations, the pool is filled again, and Franco's back in a couple of days looking to recreate the show. No rest for the wicked. Or the weary. And we in Macoma are both, these days.

Sick. Again.

For a girl who never got sick at home, I sure do seem to spend a lot of my time here at the doctor's clinic. There is a wicked cold/virus/flu thing going around work right now and it seems to have caught up with me. I feel wretched. I thought it was just the fact that I've started sleeping with the aircon on, but waking up at 6am sneezing and dripping with snot just seems to indicate something else entirely, does it not? A quick visit to the clinic down the block and I now have four meds to take and a day off work to spend catching up on Law and Order SVU, even though I seem to have seen every episode I attempt to watch.

Moving on.

This weekend was lovely. The girls and I ventured to Hong Kong after a super late night and spent much money, had a delightful luncheon of Greek food (which is the one thing you cannot find in Macau), and made our way back to Macau after some much needed retail therapy and laughter. Then yesterday we made our way to the pool and spent our afternoon in the company of sunshine and water. It was delightful. Once we stopped being silly and sweating our tails off in the sun and got in the water, I needed nothing else. There really are some quite delightful people in Macau. Mexican for dinner and we trundled off to dreamland...

Only to be woken at 6am sneezing. Charming, you might imagine.

Next weekend, Mother and Brother come to Macau to experience the culture shock. We'll venture to Hong Kong for a couple days and then move onward to tour China and see the touristy sights like the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army, etc. I must admit that while I am not so much looking forward to China, it will be nice to see some sights and get that out of the way so that I can focus on taking other exotic vacations.

I decided on a name for my chameleon: Clara Camille. Classically old school. I wanted to name her Audrey Grace, but it seems so...human. So Clara Camille it is. I also just inherited a hamster who goes by Isno from some friends who had to leave quite suddenly and needed a home for it. I guess with my plants and my new pets you might say I am becoming rather domesticated here in the Macoma. How long will it last? Only time will tell.

Must focus on the television now...

Taking on a New Identity in Macoma - Acceptance.

So I've got some good news. I have decided to settle in to life here in Macoma and embrace the rage. I am sort of moving into my apartment now. I hung some art I bought in Hong Kong a few months ago in my room and I now have a pet veiled chameleon. Her name is TBD but I love her. She's teeny tiny and weighs about as much as a tube of chapstick. I am superstoked about this latest development. Hopefully she lasts longer than my fishies...

In other news, a month ago I went to Boracay with my friends Erin and Rachael. BEST beach ever. It is so beautiful and so clean, the people were incredibly friendly and helpful... We did an intro to scuba diving class, went horse back riding, got completely sunburned, ate more good food than we could have thought possible, and were more relaxed than we have been since before we moved out here. And then we returned to Macoma.

Last night, my roommate and I hosted Mexican night. The first Mexican night a couple months ago was a huge success, so I decided it was time for another one. Mexican Night Parte Dos was an even bigger riproaring success. We will not be hosting any more parties any time soon. I cooked all evening and then decided to stay out of the kitchen for the rest of the night. Waking up to pure carnage this morning was tramautizing at best. It felt like something out of the Hangover. Margarita cups, broken glass, a broken rubbermaid bin that was being used as a cooler spilling water everywhere, bags of Doritos on every surface, six empty bottles of tequila on the counter, every lime in Macoma in our trashcan, and someone's prop airsoft gun on the floor. The luchador, the Indian princess, the fake mustaches, the ponchos, very very memorable. We've had some very positive feedback, however. Feeling good about that, but all the same, the next party will have to involve much less tequila. At some point a few guests decided it would be a brilliant idea to do tequila shots. I hope those people are still alive today because everyone knows tequila shots (much like the Russian bar) is NEVER a good idea. It made people CRAZY and I cannot handle drama any more. But Macoma definitely takes on a new meaning when you settle in for Mexican night here at 34A...

There are a couple of trips we have planned on the horizon. A friend and I are planning to go scuba diving in Thailand at the end of June and then the girls and I would like to go scuba diving in the Philippines in August. I am a very busy girl who lives for the next time I get on a plane to fly away from Macoma. Don't get me wrong, I love the money I make and my new chameleon and my apartment and my friends, but this place just has a knack for sucking the life out of us.

This week, we're taking some time away from the bars and booze in general. Every now and then, you need to take a detox and this week is it for us. I'm looking forward to not paying for alcohol for awhile and instead being a little healthier than I have been recently. So cheers to sobriety and cheers to no more tequila in my life.

Macau. Macoma.

In order to make up for my ridiculously serious and somewhat downer of a post from last week, I have decided to write a new post. This one is dedicated to my friend Erin, who swears one day she is going to write a blog containing facts people didn't know about China before they moved here, that may have changed their minds about doing so. Erin, not to steal your thunder, but here goes:

1. Designer labels are always in. They may not be real, they may not be good copies, but if they have a designer label or logo on them, they are in. Buy them. Wear them. No matter what they look like, no matter if you think they match. Do it or be totally uncool here. No one cares if they're real either. Just wear it.

2. Sequins, glitter, feathers, fringe, crystals, bows, frills, lace, rips, etc. You name it, they wear it. If it is a trimming that screams "LOOK AT ME", it must be worn and worn with pride.

3. High heels. Wear them all the time. Jeans, shorts, pajamas (which are always acceptable on the street here), skirts, leggings, jeggings, or tunics with nothing underneath. Cobblestones, pavement, dirt, scooters. Whatever the mode of transport, whatever the outfit.

4. Mismatching is always in. That one is self-explanatory.

5. Screaming is the only way to talk to each other. On the cell phone or in person or up to the window from the street. Just scream, they hear you better. There's a big joke amongst the ex-pats here that if a taxi driver doesn't understand our Cantonese the first three times we say it, if we scream it at them in a very frustrated tone, they get it. You wouldn't believe how true this is.

6. Long lunches are definitely in. If you need to get something done on your lunch break and don't have an appointment, don't bother. Chances are the two hour lunch is going to lap your one hour lunch.

7. You will get stared at. A lot. Constantly. We stick out.

8. They speak a little English in Macau. Enough for you to get by with your dumbed down broken English and hand gestures. They speak more of it in HK. At least most of the signs are translated to English as well. Not so much on the mainland. They've never really heard of English. But everyone will speak to you in Cantonese or Mandarin as if you know it. If you don't, it will make you feel very ignorant. No worries, you're not alone.

9. Avoid clothes and shoe shopping here if you can help it. It only leads to frustration and anger. This has been proven time and time again.

10. What happens here, stays here. We have a new nickname for Macau - Macoma. When we come home from Macau, give us time. It will be hard, but maybe don't ask us what happened at all. Whatever you do, don't press us. If it wasn't completely insensitive, I would liken being here to being at war. We spend a lot of time on the sauce here because there is little else to do and we have had some very rough times. This may lead to gaps in our memories. We will most likely not be ourselves when we come home. We're still in there, but we've changed. Our vocabulary may be dumber, our eyes a little more vacant... But we'll be back.

This place is hard to explain. It is even harder to live. I promise. It may sound ridiculous, but we do have a good support group here. We understand each other. We support each other. So if when we get home, all we want to do is talk to each other for a little while, try to understand. Just be patient.

That being said, I can't wait to find myself back in the loving arms of the States. No matter how messed up that place is, no matter how much shit we get ourselves into, no matter how much the rest of the world can't stand us, it's home. And like everyone here knows: I'm from the South, we're different.

So today, as I sit drinking an Australian beer because it's the best we get out here, wishing it was an Abita Strawberry (which I can only hope my mother is stockpiling for my triumphant return), wearing my Saints T-shirt, thinking about the seasons of American football I missed, thinking about all the people I miss, thinking about all the time I've missed, I can only smile because I know how awesome it will feel to be home and catch up with everyone.

I'll get there soon, just give me a little more time.

PS. Thanks for the post Erin, I'll leave the rest to your blog. Which will be much funnier and more comprehensive than mine. : ) xoxox

PPS. The only way to buy DVDs here is through the flourishing pirate DVD industry. Sometimes you find real gems like Season 6 of Weeds whose DVD menu plays A Whole New World from Aladdin. This is common here; yesterday, whilst walking through the mainland, Sally and I noted that Silent Night, the perennial classic Christmas carol was playing in a park area. Random? YES. Welcome to China, we hope you enjoy your stay.

Courage

I have a very dear friend I have written about before. Her name is Jennifer and she is beautiful. She is an amazingly strong woman and I admire her more than most people in the world. She believes with her whole heart and she loves with her whole being. She is incredible and I wish everyone in the world could know her because she makes everyone she knows a better person.

When I graduated from college, I was scared. Terrified. The world is a scary scary place and the thought of being an "adult" was holding me back. Jennifer gave me a book for my graduation present. I love books, but this one meant more to me than anything else I got for graduation (no offense to anyone). It is called "Courage" by Bernard Waber. Some highlights/excerpts from the text:

"Courage is deciding to have your hair cut.

Courage is a scenic car trip and being stuck in the middle during the best part.

Courage is explaining the rip in your new pants.

Courage is exploring heights - and depths.

Courage is starting over.

Courage is holding onto your dream.

Courage is sometimes having to say goodbye."

Today I needed courage. I brought that book with me to China. I knew I would need it. I needed it a lot when I first arrived here. I needed it more today. I thought coming to China would be different. I thought it would change my life, and me. It was. It has.

I've had a lot to think about this past week. Scary thoughts. Change thoughts. I've made some decisions, come to some conclusions. I know they're right for me and for my life. They are very scary though. I need all the prayers I can get right now to be at peace with my decisions, which are grown up decisions. Sometimes we have to admit that we cannot do things alone. Sometimes we have to admit that the only option is to do things alone.

Sometimes we have to admit that it is time.

Change scares me more than snakes. Which is a lot. Trust me. Change scares me more than needles, which still make me cry at the grown up age of 25.

But change is all we have in life. Every day is different. Even if it's something as little as that, it is still change. Time is fleeting and it is not worth being unhappy in a situation.

Jennifer and my brother and I made a pact before I left that we would not rush into being an adult and none of us would grow up before I came home. In a not so weird, pretty inevitable way, I think we all have. Somewhere along the way, living in a foreign country made me rely on myself more than ever. That is grown up. My brother made the decision to go to seminary - he'll make an excellent preacher - but his current job made him much more grown up. Jennifer adopted a lot of responsibility almost by accident at her current job. I think that made her grow up too. I think our hearts will always be young. We owe that much to each other, even if we accidentally grew up. Growing up is not something you choose. It just happens to you. And if you blink, you'll miss the realization that it happened. It's a scary thing.

But courage is something you choose.

And sometimes it's all you have.

Can We Just Discuss?

I would like to climb on to my apple crate (soap boxes are so last minute) here for just a moment to extoll the virtues of friends in the right time and the right place. Disclaimer: If you are not interested in a post that is going to be mushy, read no further.

I have said it before, but it bears repeating that I have some incredible friends. And I had a moment this morning when I woke up. I thought to myself, "Isn't it amazing that I have all the right friends at the right time in the right place for me?" We are sharing this wonderful journey together and I want ALL of my friends (near and far) to know how much they are loved.

Somewhere in the grand scheme of life, I have lost touch with some friends, moved on from others, kept in touch sporadically with still others, but none of this makes me feel any less connected or distant from anyone. I think of my friends old and new constantly and feel incredibly greatful for the footprint each one has left on me.

Now: to all of my friends in Macau. You may or may not be reading this, I don't ever need to know, I am unbothered either way, but in the off chance that you will stumble across my ever so humble blog, I want to say this in the most public display I am capable of.

You.

Are.

Special.

There is a lot of distrust and backstabbing and hurt going around our place of employment, but you are loved. You are good at what you do, you are loyal, you are professional. It's very easy to forget that when the negativity drags you down. But each and every one of you have something unique and constructive to add to not only this world, but also our show. I cannot imagine having made it this far in this unfamiliar territory without you and you should all know that this experience would have been completely different without you. We expats owe each other strength and compassion in times like these because we are all we have out here. We are who we are and we need to be strong and not show weakness. But we are human. And we are also very fragile. It's easy to forget this in the good times, but impossible to forget in the bad. If you think I'm writing this for you, I probably am. There are several of you out there and I want you all to know I feel for you. I wish I could take away your pain. All I can do is try to help you smile in the face of the dark. Maybe be a little bitty spark in that dark... (Get it??? I'm an electrician... Spark... : ) ) Just a little dorky humor to lighten the mood.

To ALL my friends, I say this: I may look like I'm 16, but I love ya'll like I'm aged far beyond my time on this earth. If you need anything, a shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic ear, a hug, no matter the time, you name it. I will make it happen. {If you're in the States and need a hug, I'll send a proxy.}

You are all precious.

I love you all and miss you more (those back home - Macau, I see you every day!).

Love and misses.

xxx

Another Week, Another Dark.

We were dark this past week, so my last two have been filled with wonky schedules, beautiful weather and evenings off. And some not so fun work in between, but we managed. We completed the task that was supposed to take us all week in 3 days, so we went above and beyond. Which was excellent because our second task needed completing more than our first task. Go team!

In other news, I am officially minus one roommate. He left yesterday for a long stay in Bali. Which you can do when you live in Asia like I do currently. I am jealous and I miss him a lot already, but the transient lifestyle is consistent in one thing: change. And that one thing is the one thing I hate most. What was I thinking? I'm dealing better with it now, I think... I teared up when he walked out the door, but managed not to cry. That's improvement, right???

As of Wednesday I will be the only one in the apartment and then sometime later this week my new roommate moves in. Which will be nice, but also interesting because learning to live with someone always changes your relationship.

On the bright side, the weather is BEAUTIFUL. Sunny, warm, cool breeze... I wish it would stay like this forever. If I could find this climate anywhere in the world year round, I would move there and never leave. I may have to settle for finding a winter home somewhere it isn't cold and there is never snow.

I ordered a new dress off the internet and it arrived a couple days ago. Much to my delight, it fits perfectly! I only have to find shoes to go with it and somewhere to wear it... Oh happy day!

I have some plans for trips coming up. Once they are set, I will share, but I think this might be the beginning of my journeys abroad. Yay!

Just a quick update to let everyone know things are kosher in my world. My next adventure may be to purchase a crockpot and get a massage. Nothing too strenuous, but little things that make life more comfortable. In the meantime, yoga before work to help prepare myself. It's necessary.

I love you all and miss you more...

Love and Misses!

Post Chinese New Year Letdown

I've realized what my problem is. I mass email and blog at the same time and I seem to be alternating between the two. Hmm, must find a way to reconcile and meet in the middle somewhere.

Anywho.

Chinese New Year was interesting.

Fireworks were indeed all that it was promised to be, although prices are jacked up for dumb Westerners because they know we'll pay it and pay it gladly because we like blowing stuff up THAT much. We paid too much without a second thought. But we enjoyed the heck out of those fireworks. There was only one incident that I have been made aware of involving a smile pile of gunpowder released from its oppressive firework casing, a cigarette, and a lighter. He ended up making a trip to the hospital with burns to his hand. You do the math. Memorable, yes. Smart...maybe not... (Shout out to my friend the Bash Brother!)

Other than that, things have been relatively quiet on the Eastern Front. Kate has left us and I miss her somethin' fierce. There is a wedding in October for some friends from here and I plan to be at that wedding. Especially as it is in Atlanta, a mere stone's throw from the Dirrty South that I hold so close to my heart. Alright ya'll, start preppin' for the homecoming festivities... I want a banner and everything, but will of course inform you the minute something definite happens. It is just talk right now.

A field trip has been planned for Guangzhou (read: gwongjo) the first weekend in April. Weekend for us = Wednesday/Thursday. Silly theater schedules. But the point is we're getting away. We'll have breakfast as a group in the morning, taxi to the border gate, take a 2 hour bus ride to Guangzhou, and THEN we'll have fun. Just kidding, I simply wanted to illustrate how close we are to mainland China. There are heaps of things to do including a giant amusement park that some say is the second largest in the world, a zoo, a water show with reportedly no water - I wanna see THAT!, among others. Our friend Andy is travel agent extraordinnaire, he's even taken care of my Chinese visa for me. I need to travel with him more!

Now I need to venture out to Macau and see if I can't find a package that should be here by now. The post office has been slacking in sending package notices and they send them back to the States after a month. Hard to pick up a package if you don't know it is here. On the bright side, I also ordered a new dress. Can't wait for that to come in!!! Yay. Ok. Everyone have a GREAT day. It's my day off, so point for me!

xxx

Well, There it is Again.

We're not 100% positive, but it seems I may have strep throat again. I have 10 new meds in my possession to treat the hives and the strep.

Oh happy day.

Not exactly the start to my action filled weekend I had hoped for. Stupid antibiotics and itchy rash...

Chinese New Year

I am sitting in my bed, waiting for 330 to roll around because I have a doctors appointment to see about the hives that have taken over my body and I just caught up on Christina's blogs (my aunt is currently spending two months on a couple wildlife reserves in South Africa), so it inspired me to write an update. (No worries, I will be sure to post what the results of the appointment are...)

Chinese New Year starts this week. I am reminded of the Bible stories about going to take part in a census in your home town becuase that's a little bit like what Chinese New Year is all about. Except you make that epic journey home to visit your family and have dinner with all your relatives. There is red and gold EVERYWHERE and everyone is really going all out for the festivities. About a month has been spent constructing the fireworks stands on the waterfront and all of the various temporary shacks to go with it. There is a huge barrier that separates the freshly cleared area for fireworks from civilization, so surely that makes it safe from the drunken idiots promising to invade, right? Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhh.

Anywho. It is the Year of the Rabbit, for those who don't know, and for those of you born in the Year of the Ox, don't read the horoscope for us this year. I made that mistake and it is forecast to be a grim year at best for us. Ah well. You win some, you lose some. But in case you are interested, the Year of the Metal Rabbit is not going to be pleasant for anyone, apparently. Just go out there and make it best you can, I suppose. There are giant bunnies decorating every roundabout Macau has to offer and sometimes they just look downright creepy. Sort of anime, sort of cartoonish, all the way unappealing. This culture constantly baffles me. The lights, on the other hand, are magical. I am a sucker for Christmas lights and these New Year lights are no different. They are strung lining the streets in Old Taipa and are just lovely.

The grocery stores here are busy busy with people getting ready to cook fantastic meals. New Year lasts for 3 days, because it is based on the lunar calendar. We get double time because we work all three days and we also recieve three days in lieu, so I don't mind working. We will still get to partake in festivities because of the late nature of the culture here. Things never really get started until 12noon at the earliest, so they last much into the night. That is a bonus when you work in theater and do not get off work until 10pm. Bamboo plants and what appear to be miniature daffodils are plentiful right now and I am thinking of purchasing one soon. I am intimidated by caring for living things after the fish incidents, but hopefully this will go better. {In case I failed to mention, I managed to kill 2 batches of 6 fish. No clue how. But they only lasted a week at most, so I claim they never stood a chance. Diseased when I got them, likely...}

On the other hand, I have been caring for two cats and a chameleon for a week now and they are still alive. I also kept two puppies alive for two weeks in November. Maybe I am a better pet sitter than owner. Hmmm... The chameleon, Tony, has a bad eye and I have been giving him eye drops and I must say, he appears to be improving. I am hopeful for his not-so-speedy recovery, as the exotics vet I managed to find promises that chameleons take infinitely longer to heal. The example I was given: "Puppies take maybe...one or two day to heal. Chameleon take maybe one month to heal." It's all a waiting game now.

My friend Kate is leaving to move home tomorrow and I will miss her terribly. She is a bright spot here and has been my sanity in this out of control environment more than once. To celebrate her going home, we have three days of events and outings planned. As she says, she plans to "go out in true Macau style...Messy". Ah Macau, what have you done to all of us?

Kate and I had a lovely conversation last night about this place though. We came to the conclusion that the people here are truely amazing. Some of the most incredible people I have ever met and people like that are not so easily found in this day and age. The drama is easy to get lost in, but if we stop and think about it, the people more than make up for all the hard. And we will forever be bonded by sharing the Macau experience. That is not something to take lightly, as we all know. I am very lucky to have had this adventure to meet these people and I want you all to know that.

Enough with the sentimentality. I have to take the sheets out of the wash in the hopes that they will dry before tonight. China, you and your silly hang things up to dry rule. What I wouldn't give for a dryer and some dryer sheets. Living here makes me grateful for the little things in my real life, like full size washers and dryers that work, and fabric softener that makes thing smell nice, and normal toilets that aren't a hole in the floor. People, do me a favor and appreciate those things for me until I get back...

More on Chinese New Year and my rash to come. Promise. : )

Love and Misses. xxx

Happy Holidays, a little late...

One month and some change later...

Well, here we are again. Crossroads. I'm reminded of a classic 80s number by The Clash that asked "Should I stay or should I go?"

Life here is fairly ho hum and mundane. The only excitement is the inveritable drama that working in theater seems to beg. I could do without all that nonsense at this point in my life. Seriously.

It would seem that things around here are cyclical. Some weeks are better, some weeks are just plain painful. All I know is I don't have to deal with all the drama, but I also don't want to be bored, which I sort of am. Let's just say I am keeping the options open.

In other news, I bought an iTouch. It is keeping me very busy. My new favorite app: the one that helps you learn Spanish. I am on the beginner level and doing quite well so far. You never know when one day those years in Spanish might come in handy... Other than that, Angry Birds consumes my breaks. Great fun to be had by all. I also picked up my knitting again. It's hard to do all three at the same time and prioritizing can be difficult, at best. Sometimes I do not know how I manage.

I was able to go home for Christmas, to surprise the family, and let me just say it may have been one of the best things I have ever done. They were surprised and we were all very happy. It was not a very relaxing vacation, as I spent most of it running around like a crazy person and spending somewhere in the neighborhood of WAY too much money. BUT. I will not complain because I missed the States something fierce and that was a lovely little break from Macau. Made it a bit easier to come back to work. And then work started it's drama again. We may have to have a come to Jesus meeting in a couple of days if things don't abate.

It's cold in Macau right now. Apparently it was 6 degrees the other day. I'm not exactly sure what that is in Farenheit, but I believe it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 40. To this girl, that is cold. Especially when we walk everywhere. Sigh. The trials and tribulations of living in an exotic tropical climate with no central heating.

I hope to post again soon.

Love and misses. xxx