lexrobertson.ca

This is the first internet access I’ve had since I left Singapore.

India is officially not part of civilization.

And I’ve had my first official case of culture shock.

But the workshop went reasonably well despite severe technical difficulties – who’d have thought that Microsoft technicitions would be able to screw up that many times on something as simple as networking the machines in a single room.

I’m tired, but I have more things to bring back with me when I’m around for the last weekend in Feb. I also have more new coins from another new country to add to my collection. Shopping here is stressful because they are always trying to push you to buy more so “I’ll think about it” means they place it next to the register for you, unless you are very specific about which ones you’re taking.

Having said that – I’m looking forward to going back to do the advanced level training and some more shopping because the textiles here are fantastic. No I didn’t get to see any of the tourist destinations this trip. But I did get to see some great colonial architecture.

I’m glad that it’s a long weekend here after tomorrow because I feel very behind on my sleep – travelling from place to place here takes forever because of the horrible traffic.

Our flight has been delayed.

But I though I’d quickly post.

So I feel the need to add the following disclaimer : “Just because there is no other good news does not mean it is all bad news. Some of it is simply no news which is not exactly the same as bad news”

Now I am going to write a post which is not really about my life, but has been swirling around in my head.

On the subject of books:

1) Cool singaporean author: Janice Wong. Book of choice: Single Picky Girl. It’s a collection of her columns relating to dating practices, refutations of the idea that one must lower one’s standards to find a mate and a lot of local culture thrown in. Very entertaining and likely to become part of my recommended reading list.

2) Title: Georgette Heyer’s Regency World. Author: Jennifer Kloester. Done with the same beautiful cover artwork as the ones purchased in Australia. It’s over 300 pages of well researched regency and well researched Heyer that was done by the author in relation to her PhD thesis. Heyer’s son even allowed her access to the author’s papers. I’ve been rationing its consumption due to work, school, etc. But even now it’s calling me. Found by accident when I was looking for a new book to read during public transport.

3) Speaking of books to read during public transport: “All New Nancy Drew Novel”. Pick up for $6 on a whim, finished simply so I could say I’d done so, and now I’m going to tell you why it’s crap. First let me state the Nancy Drew novels were never particularly intellectual – the crimes were always solved and the detectives biggest dilemma was usually whether to stick with her long time boyfriend or choose the new cute, but slightly suspicious boy. Always accompanying cast contained widowed father, housekeeper, and two best friends George Fayne and Bess Marvin.

(Warning: Rant) In the original and then the first ‘new’ series Bess was a ‘girly girl’ (I hate that term, but it will convey the idea) and George was an athlete and something of a tomboy (she was less so in the original and more so in the second series). Now in this novel Bess has suddenly become an engineer and carpenter (she repairs a generator purchased to power an entire movie site – then she builds all of the sets). Also while the other two girls were never supposed to be as well off as Nancy in this one the first chapter says that George needs a loan to buy a new pair of running shoes, but later on she loans the movie company half a dozen laptops ‘from her private stock’. And while George picking up some computer skills might be believable that’s just slight discrepancy regarding the money situation. I know geeks with lots of computers (heck I’ve tried to be one in the past) but a half dozen fully working and ready to be loaned out laptops? And my last complaint is that Nancy doesn’t actually do anything other than have people report back to her and make the occasionally accidental discovery. So while the originals and second series may never have been high literature they weren’t this filled with contradictions and inconsistencies. Simon and Schuster publishing house of the UK – you have earned my scorn for not even being able to properly copy the formula and style of a Nancy Drew novel(End Rant)

On the Subject of Music:
When I was moving I thought I’d gotten all of my music safely transferred to my iTunes on my laptop. But recently I’d been realizing that songs weren’t there. Part of the cleaning I’ve been doing in preparation for the lunar/chinese new year has been to start organizing my laptop…. and thus I found all of my music files (most of which survived the show visit) just not listed in the library and so not on the iPod. Now I have my music back and can actually start enjoying the gift certificates from friends and family by purchasing new stuff.

On the Subject of Media:
CSI third season was a present from my family. mmmm….. CSI. It’s also shown on TV here in a three hour blurb on Sundays. CSI, CSI: NY, and then the abomination that is CSI: MI

Now my brain is a little clearer so I’m off to do things with my Saturday.

I took a quick look through my post count and a quick skim through my posts and realized that although it feels like I’m always writing on here to whine about my life I actually drastically cut back on my entries when things are going wrong.

So here’s the current status – I have a six month agreement for an apartment which already contains a lawyer and graphic design artist.
It’s got a pool and is about a 20 minute walk to work so I’m rather happy with it.

I leave for my first visit to India on Monday and I’ll be there straight through until Thursday.

And since I’m focusing on only writing good news today that’s the end of this post.

Trinity has passed into the arms of the goddess.

My apartment search has come up with one option which is expensive for nothing other than the room.

And that was the best of all the ones I’ve seen so far.

Thankfully I have temporary quarters for while I search because it looks like this one is going to take a while.

There are some little ups, but there are more downs both big and little.

So it turns out that Trinity is currently under medical care.

If every one could spare a good thought for her recovery I would appreciate it.

My co-workers have mobilized the social network and I have temporary quarters (for a month) in someone’s spare room until I have a chance to find a new apartment for myself. Which means I’m going the rounds again.

I’m falling asleep writing this so I apologize again to everyone for not writing e-mails, but I’ll get back to you all this weekend.

G’night all.

So this morning I woke up late with that feeling in the back of my stomach like this was going to be a very bad day.

And it did in fact manage to do so.

I’m going to skip the ‘little’ (being used as a relatively loose term of size) problems of the day and get to the news.

I am no longer at the address I was residing at. Anyone who has things in the post should let me know so I can pay Singapore Post to redirect them to my office.

I had been avoiding writing about the problems I’d been having with my landlady, but they finally reached critical mass.

To recap for those who’ve been fortunate enough to miss the periodic rants via msn or e-mail:

1) Asking me to commit fraud by telling AmEx that the traveler’s cheques I’d signed over to her, hadn’t been signed.
(I said no for anyone who doesn’t know me well enough to have made the leap on their own)

2) Leaving personal possessions in the room I was renting.
(Including clothes she was trying to convince me to purchase second hand from her)

3) Her inability to understand cleanliness. Bugs + Humidity + Dishes + Garbage = Sick Lex
(Thankfully cleaners are cheap here and the second she left for the holidays I could have one in without worrying)

4) Her repeated queries about using my credit cards for purchases over the internet.

5) Her ‘orders’ from the US where she currently is regarding paying for the ad to find new tenants. (Ignoring the fact that all of the rooms are filled right now)

And the final straw that caused me to move out with no notice and no plan. Something which I have never done before in my life.
Something which I am not entirely able to believe I have in fact done…

5) Failing to pay her utilities bill for three months so the company comes in a cuts off the utilities. I’d cut someone off for $800.00 too.
I came home from work to no power and as a result no internet, no water purifier, and no water heater. I realized that for the rent I was paying I could have put myself up in a hotel less than a block from work for three weeks.

So my deposit may be toast and I may currently be living in my bosses spare bedroom (she said that I’ve seen and will see enough hotels to last anyone for the next little while and I’m obviously not allowed to pick a new apartment with out her seal of approval so I might as well stay where she can keep an eye on me. She’s entertaining that way. Mainly because she always starts off with “You know I’m not trying to be your mom or anything, but….”

So I’m tired and it’s been a long day, but I finally admitted defeat on two things which had been dragging on far too long.
The problems with my course from last semester and my on going conflict with my living space.
So I’m in limbo more than I was, but it’s a new year, right? That’s a good time to make changes.

On that topic – Happy New Year everyone! I’m still working on the backlog of my e-mails, but I’m going to write back to each one person who wrote at least once as soon as things are settled.

Additionally Happy Birthday to my little brother, C, Az, and any others whom I am too tired to remember that I haven’t called yet.

I’m trying to keep it together guys, but there’s a limit to even my ability to cope, overcome, and move on. If much more goes tail end up I may just hit that limit.