get your motor running

Haven't been doing much these past days... somehow, it seems when a lot of the people I usually hang out with are away, I don't get much done (instead of rushing things due to excessive hanging out). Today was o.k. though I wouldn't say I've been feeling excellent.

All in all it's a little hot to be doing stuff, and lack of sleep doesn't help my mood. Now I'm just listening to Chinese chatter and pop music on a Taipei web radio station. I got up today, and went looking (with Grant) for a good memory card for my camera. I got a 256MB one for a good price, meaning I can now take over 100 pictures at the max settings of my camera; however, I haven't filled it up yet. maybe I will while I'm downtown tomorrow. While experimenting with my computer's picture resize capabilities, I made this:

Although the image suffers from a bit of jaggedness on one power line, I am impressed on the whole with the speed & remarkable compression of the function. I am still experimenting with my camera and photo-editing software. Though not blessed with 'Photoshop CS,' I do have version 7, which is very useful. I also want to try making digital prints before I go... and a wooden box, but that's beside the point, and probably out of my skill range when it comes to carpentry.

In the spirit of exercise, I've been working on my upper body today. Cruches, pushups, freeweights & wankinator to "Pimsleur Mandarin I" (a chinese course for businessmen) and "BCC Pop Network" are targeting my abdominals, pectorals, deltoids, biceps, triceps & various forearm muscles. Unfortunately it's pretty hot so I have to have a fan on to avoid instant death from heat overload ["Danger, heat overload. 600 degrees Kelvin. Shutting down engine." ah mechwarrior]

Tomorrow I plan to go to my Chinese lesson downtown, maybe shop & take some pictures, then go to Alleah's. My mom wants me to be home to have pizza for dinner with Foo, but I'll have to discuss that with Alleah. "Just bring her over here," she says, to which I reply, "Um, mom, it's your rule that I can't drive anybody." Silly parents; first they make a silly rule (egregious to the max) and then give a contradicting order while undermining my plans. Oh well.

While Grant & I were putting the new brake rotors & pads on his car I saw Smoker & Jenny walking the Ryans' dog. Talked with them for a while, caught up with what's going on. They've got to move to Victoria soon to attend UVic in their respective faculties. I'll keep in touch with a wonderful tool known as 'the internet'--you really must try it. Randomly: the volunteering lady woke me up today at 10:00 AM and talked me into doing 5 hours on Saturday afternoon.

I will head immediately to bed as I am somewhat tired. Hopefully tomorrow's renewed activity and absence of parental units/Foo will rejuvenate me... along with the sleep and some exercise. It is now 1:15, and my hands can hardly type as my forearms are so tight. The asian pop is beginning to get on my nerves.

Liftoff to Taiwan: 9 days
Total Googlewhacks to date: 75