CPhantom's Xanga

Friday, May 12, 2006

Fri, 12 May 2006 08:00:11 GMT

Laura, of course, is right. Although the link below works just fine, it might be easier to remember this:

My URL
http://www.myspace.com/cphantasm

My Blog URL
http://blog.myspace.com/cphantasm

And as long as I'm doing this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cphantasm/

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Thu, 11 May 2006 20:13:13 GMT

I suppose you've noticed I no longer post on here as often as I used to.

What am I saying. Probably no one has noticed at all. That's why I'm moving.

Yes, it has come time to make the announcement, I have almost entirely moved from Xanga to MySpace. For those of you who care to follow, my profile can be found here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=54760401. I realize that's harder to remember. You'll just have to work it out.

The number one reason I have decided to move is because nobody ever comments here. Okay, to be fair, nobody comments on MySpace either, and I don't expect them too. At least on MySpace I can see how many people have viewed my blog in the past week, and that gives me a warm fuzzy.

But there are other reasons I prefer it. It gives you the option of putting a smilie that matches one of about 50 possible adjectives, the better to describe your mood. It's easier for me to look up old friends of mine, and easier to recieve messages from anybody who cares to send one. And then there's also the fact that it's becoming more popular. Nearly everyone I know is on MySpace now, and I may as well switch over too.

I may still update this site once in a while, but it will mostly be highlights from my other sites (MySpace, flickr, etc...) much as I have been. If anyone can think of a very good reason why this is not a good idea, I'll listen, but I think I've pretty much made up my mind.

Thanks for reading this.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Fri, 05 May 2006 15:04:33 GMT

Had a strange dream last night, one of those oddly coherent dreams that seems like it should mean something. Anyone with a talent for psychology is welcome to take a stab at this one:

It seems to me I am in Mrs. Henningson's room, my junior language arts teacher. On my desk are three very thick testing packets, some multiple choice, some fill in the blank, some essay but mostly, I think, they are short answer. I know I have till ten o'clock tonight to finish everything, so I have no choice but to stay in the room until it is all done.

Still, there's a lot of material here and I'm not even sure what books it's going over. I start leafing through the first packet, wondering if I'm be able to do this at all, when I suddenly realize something that momentarily leaves me breathless. This one is all about one of my own stories.

I grin, realizing how easy this is going to be. Just then, my cell phone rings.

I take it out of my pocket and flip it open to see that my dad is calling me. My dad doesn't usually call, so I'm more curious that anything to know why he's calling. He speaks first.

"I found your digital camera."

"Oh..." I say, embarrassed, and suddenly realizing that I didn't know where it was. "Where did I leave it?"

"You left it at Cedar Point," he says. "Honestly, if you're going to have expensive things you've got to learn not to just leave them around and forget about them."

"Oh..." I say again. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apoligize to me, I could have just stolen your camera." And he sounds like he means it, not that he's mad, just that frustrated I would leave a perfectly good digital camera lyign on a bench at Cedar Point. I get the impression that he must have left the house in a hurry and drove a long way to go pick it up as soon as he realized I left it behind, and he did know, somehow, as soon as it happened.

"I've got to finish this exam," I say, gesturing to the papers around me, still kind of embarrassed. "Then I'll come get the camera."

That't it. Don't know what to make of it.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Thu, 04 May 2006 11:54:52 GMT

The dancing guy says to come look at my photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cphantasm/

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 12:06:29 GMT

We are now coming to you live from Fort Gordon, GA! My internet connection got up yesterday, I have a cell phone and I'm just starting to get my bearings in the area.

They gave me a barracks room. Now, at first I wasn't sure if I would be living on or off post, but I want to assure you that's not a bad thing. This place has seperate rooms and everything. It's the nicest barracks room I could have ever possibly imagined. If anyone ever wants to come visit, I've got a couch for you.

I've also got a phone number and address. If you want either, maybe you should send me an e-mail and I'll tell you.

I haven't officially started work yet, but they're basically throwing the public affairs program for the entire brigade at me and seeing what I'll do with it. I've recieved zero guidance, aside from the importance of getting the quarterly newsletter out on time (which the last guy did not do). I'm stepping into a relatively simple position with unlimited freedom, and I'm guaranteed to outperform the guy before me. This rocks.

I'm looking forward to spending the next four or five years here (minus TDY's). I'm in the process of making it a home. By the time the rest of my stuff arrives in May, I should be relatively comfortable here.

In the meantime, I kind of miss my playstation.

Everyone's invited to come visit.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 19:56:57 GMT

Indiana loves you

Nobody else does, now go look at my photos.

P.S. I actually bought my own D50 now. I've been excitedly running around taking photos of everything. Seriously, check it out.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 09:12:51 GMT

Today is the day I go to buy a digital camera with Chris. I also get to talk with Tiffany and Brad about what, exactly, they want of wedding pictures. I was somewhat leary after I offered my services because I realized I have absolutely no idea what a wedding photographer does, but I suppose I can do no better than to ask.

Went to see Chris last night too. We walked and talked about life, the universe and everything. Then, swear to God, we stopped in Game Time, had two Mountain Dews each, but decided it was too noisy and went walking again. We're both starting to see the signs of getting older, but it's good to have him to talk to about it.

Besides which, I have a lot on my mind. My stay in Toledo has been very very good. So much so that I almost dread leaving on Tuesday. But, I've got a job to do.

Anyway, I had so much fun last night that I need to do it again before I leave Toledo. Must remember to call Ashie Monday, as Saturday is regretably booked, and Sunday is Easter, unless she wants to go out in the evening. Maybe I should ask her...

Yes, definately must see her again.

Back in Toledo

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 08:55:01 GMT

I'm beginning to wonder if my last post was a bit harsh.

Not because I'm in America. No, I am here, and I'm very glad to be in Toledo with my family and friends, on vacation. Nor do I miss Korea or Koreans in any way. Actually, I'm being rather specific here.

I shouldn't have insulted Josh that way. I got a little caught up in the momentum of hating people, and attacked perhaps the only person who was never mean to me. Sure, he's got a smug moral superiority that I find exrtremely irritating, but can you really fault someone for being a "good" man. Well, yes I can, and maybe I wouldn't have choosen him as a roommate, but I could do a lot worse.

The others, Brian, Molly and the KATUSA's, I still feel the same about.

I almost went back and made this post the second after I made the first, but the internet connection went down, and I didn't get another chance while I was in Korea.

In case you missed me saying it, I'm back in Toledo.

3 days...

Sat, 08 Apr 2006 02:17:03 GMT

I'm currently trying to adjust myself to Ohio time, so it feels like it's 2 a.m. now. I also moderately resent my old roommates for wanting to have a barbecue in the afternoon, even though I told them how tired I will be.

I will not miss Brian being loud, playing old-fashioned country music in his room loud enough to hear from outdoors and overusing racist, southern jargon. I will not miss Josh and his smug moral superiority, his insults that are supposed to be lighthearted or his obsession with cleaning the drain. I will not miss Molly, who despite being emotionally abused by Brian, despite the fact that he is still, technically, married, continues to sleep with him.

I also will not miss KATUSA's who's sense of ethnocentricism is even less justified that Americans. I will not miss the sound of Hangul grating on my ears whereever I go. I will not miss dealing with civilian contractors who can't communicate with me and don't seem to really know what they're doing.

I look forward to getting back to the home time zone because, honestly, I don't think I ever fully adjusted out of it.

I am saying this now so that in a few weeks, if I start to miss Korea and halfway wish I could go back there, I have something to look at. Remind me, though, to post something nice to counter this post, so as I don't look like an excessively negative person.

Ah, screw it. I'm cynical.

Message for Ashie.

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 11:07:18 GMT

Ashie,

I've been waiting to see you on-line, but this seemed like the surest way to talk to you otherwise.

Tomorrow I move into the hotel here on-post, which unlike my room does not have wireless internet access. I still know a couple places I can get to to check e-mail, xanga and MySpace occasionally, but it won't be regularly, it won't be at the times I'm normally used to seeing you on-line, and I'm a little bit uncertain about it.

This is just in case I don't get a chance to instant message you before I leave Korea. I look forward to seeing you in person next week, and I will be at your house around noon on Thursday (if I have to walk...). But hopefully that won't happen, as I intend on picking the car up from my grandpa's the day before.

Oh, I may as well mention as long as I'm on here, that I had a rather odd dream last night. Apparently, you and I owned a small cottage together... in MiddleEarth. Actually, it might have been the land from Wheel Of Time, but for the time being I'm sticking with MiddleEarth. It was kind of surreal, the cottage was in the middle of a big forest, and you were running around trying to be an elf. I went to go investigate some statues in one of the cities.

I assume you know what I'm talking about, as you're so wonderfully wierd in other ways. If this turns out to be the first dream in a series, I shall keep you posted.

And if you see me on-line tonight or any other time, feel free to write.

-Chris.