I Am Not Commodity
I can’t get enough of yesterday’s pictures. Hence my new desktop is as follows:
Aw yes. And of course, old desktops: here and here and here and here. Maybe I should make a wallpaper pack of goat images and sell them. Yes. Who wouldn’t want lovely goats on their desktops? I know I wouldn’t not want to not have that on my desktop.
Today I went furniture shopping with my dad. Got myself a desk, to go next to my computer table. That’ll be nice to have, I can move some of my paperwork and mess there. Then I got a little table with drawers to go next to my bed. And then a chest of drawers for clothes. And best of all, it cost me next to nothing. My parents had treated my brother to a trip to Legoland. So in turn they treated me to some furniture. Nice. And my dad is giving me his old bike as well. So it’s been a profitable day! The furniture will be delivered on Friday. Let’s see if I can get the place cleaned up a little before then…
So, yesterday I went to TMU for a meeting. Talked to Trine, my contact person. She had finished the paper work on my case. And she read it to me. I must say, it was a little rough. Basically it’s 3-4 pages of writing about how much I suck. Well, no not really. But you know, all the reasons why I can’t make it in the normal work force and all my problems and so on. None of it is new, and none of it is mean spirited. But it’s still a little rough to sit and listen to for twenty minutes. I survived though. It’s all done, apart from a bit about my physical condition. I was supposed to see the physio therapist yesterday too, so that could get done. But her kid was sick so we have to find another date for that. Instead I talked to Paw for a bit. He had been in contact with the playground. Talked to Kurt. He remarked that Kurt seems to be a very nice guy. Indeed, indeed. And it also seems that Kurt is pretty positive about the possibility of me spendind more time working at the playground. So that sounds good. We’ve set up a meeting on Thursday. Paw will come to the playground and we’ll talk about it all. I’ll keep you posted.
It was nice to be back at TMU. Even with the unending rain. There’s a new group of “pupils” there, but there were some old faces from my old group too. And the teachers of course. Nice to see people. When I was walking to the bus on my way home, one of the nice pupils came driving by and offered me a ride. I’m ashamed to say I don’t remember her name. But it was really sweet of her. I tried to talk my way out of it, with my usual insecurity and anti-socialness. But she practically forced me to get in the car. And she drove me almost all the way to the playground. So that was really handy. And we talked a little. Turns out she knew the playground very well. She used to go there when she was a kid. And she’s brought her own daughter there a couple of time. She asked if Kurt still worked there. And once again it was agreed that Kurt is a very nice guy.
And then of course I had a really sweet time with the goats. It was a good day, yesterday. I needed that.
I also needed a postcard from Jooo, and luckily I got it today! Thank you! What a beautiful sea goat :-P
Finish with two pictures.
That is City Vest. The big shopping center right around the corner. Where slush ice comes plentifully.
And that is the other side of my appartment block. You’ve seen the green part out of the windows in the videos. This is the parking lot on the other side. Still little splotches of green though. That’s nice.
And that’s all.
August 22nd, 2007 at 14:38
As I’ve said before: “That Kurt seems like a really nice guy”. I know you don’t hear that very much. hee, hee Now he has an international following.
I’m glad the TMU interview is over. That had to be rough to listen to all that stuff.
So now you have to listen to the good stuff: Plume is very, very good with animals, especially goats; he is sensitive to others feelings and is a good listener; he does talk too much, though; he is aware of nature and his surroundings; when he wants something bad enough, he is a real go-getter; he has a very funny sense of humor; he is modest; he’s good at computers and photography; he is a wonderful descriptive writer (I’ve never met Kurt, but I know he’s a NICE GUY through Plume’s writing); and if I think of anything more, I will add it later.
August 22nd, 2007 at 20:09
Plume’s Horoscope for this week:
Leo (July 23 – August 22) – Engage someone in a lively debate about okra versus corn. Act as if the the future of humankind rests on the side of okra. Use force if necessary.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22) – A great day to go to one of those discount food warehouses and load up on butter. Two hundred pounds of butter is just not enough!
Libra (September 23 – October 22) – Whistle constantly at work until someone asks you to stop. Then hum. Repeat until fired.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) – Go to a gas station today. Ask the attendant, “One of my co-workers had bad gas today. She didn’t get it here, did she?”
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) – Call your local public television station and make an enormous donation. Then give the number of one of your enemies.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) – Involve someone in a rousing game of Hangman today. Then spring the word “molybdenum” on them and mutter under your breath, “You play with a pro, you might get burned.”
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) – Why not take up a new instrument today, like the piccolo? Refuse to play anything but that really annoying part of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Pisces (February 19 – March 20) – Try to involve someone in a discussion of how “Cosmopolitan” magazine still manages to prominently display the word “SEX” on every single cover.
Aries (March 21 – April 19) – Write the publishers of Archie Comics, demanding to know the eventual fate of Big Ethel. Explain that you deeply relate to her character and want to know if she gets married or finds a job.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20) – Write a 5000-page essay on why Crayola can’t design a better crayon sharpener. Send it to them. Eagerly await a reply.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20) – Spend the entire day varnishing your car. When you finish, triumphantly proclaim, “Now I’ll never have to wax it ever again!”
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) – Write a thousand-word thesis on the history of the word “noogie.” Bonus points if you can find anyone who cares.
YOUR “LUCKY” COLOR OF THE DAY: HENNA
August 22nd, 2007 at 22:14
Hurricane season is upon us. Here are some tips to help protect you and your loved ones in the event of such a storm:
–Run through torrents of rain screaming, “I warned you all!” while clutching placards emblazoned with apocalyptic Bible verses.
–At first signs of hurricane weather, rush to grocery store to stock up on 64-ounce containers of Ocean Spray Cranapple or Crangrape juice, just $2.79 when you present your Food Lion Supersaver card.
–At the exact center of a hurricane is an “eye” of utter tranquility. Use this safety zone as a launch window for your mission to rescue stranded astronaut Gene Hackman.
–To protect yourself from storm, build up your inner defense mechanisms by slowly retreating into state of deep denial.
–No matter how bad hurricane gets, don’t let Mr. Government Man make you leave your house.
–Stay on top of situation by keeping tuned to Channel 8’s SuperAtmoForecastTeam with live Doppler Radar.
–Detonating homemade bombs fashioned from gasoline and manure is dangerous even in ideal weather conditions. Steer especially clear of such detonations throughout the duration of hurricane.
–Tell your children firmly and clearly, “I’m so sorry that we’re all going to die.”
–Save urine in jars.
–To minimize risk of hurricane damage, avoid building vacation home atop ocean.
–Blood sacrifices have been known to appease the angry monsoon gods. If goats and chickens do not suffice, capture one of the White-Men-Who-Speak-Of-Jesus from the missionary school and dispatch him to the sky-realm of Urguta.
–Before evacuating home, coat walls and possessions with adhesive glue. Afterwards, everything will be blown into one easy-to-collect lump.
–At the height of the storm’s intensity, go at it with your spouse like there’s no tomorrow. Not only is it the thrill of a lifetime, but the heightened reflexes caused by your enhanced physical state will better enable both of you to survive in the event of a sudden catastrophic, explosive decompression of your home.
My friend in Florida sent me these timely tips. I don’t know if Denmark has hurricanes. But I’m sure if you follow them just like my friend, everything will be a O.K.
August 22nd, 2007 at 22:16
I’m Virgo: August 28th is my birthday. I need to make a “butter goat” like they made a butter cow at the Iowa state fair! Two hundred pounds ought to make a nice sized pygmy butter goat.
I also grew up near a molybdenum plant, really . . . I’m not kidding. Really, it’s the Truth! I like okra, too.
August 22nd, 2007 at 22:23
Lois Griffin: Okay, one more minute, and then if there are two pink lines…
Peter Griffin: Oh god, I hope you’re not pregnant, we can’t afford another kid. We already got Chris, Stewey, Richie, Joanie, Greg, Marsha, Bobby, Jan, Mike Seaver, Carol Seaver, Boner, Urkel, Mr. Furley…
Brian Griffin: Peter those aren’t your kids, that’s the Nick-at-Night lineup.
Peter Griffin: Blanka, Zangeif, Chun-Li, Guile, E. Honda…
Brian Griffin: That’s Street Fighter.
Peter Griffin: Red, blue, green…
Brian Griffin: Those are colors.
(Courtesy of “Family Guy”)
August 22nd, 2007 at 22:32
HELLO KITTY
Created in 1974 by Sanrio, Hello Kitty has become the single most popular cartoon character in Japan. While most popular universal characters like Snoopy or Mickey Mouse have scads of creative output that led to the merchandising of their images, Hello Kitty has avoided that time-consuming process and cut right to the chase. Hello Kitty (and related Sanrio characters) have been licensed out to so many items in so many ways that it’s almost untraceable. If an item is capable of sustaining a Hello Kitty-shaped icon for any period of time, then that item has been made and sold.
“Surely, you’re being dramatic” you might say. No, no we’re not. Hello Kitty notebooks? Yup. Hello Kitty computers? Done it. Motorcycles? Yes. Toasters? Yes. Vibrators? Yes. Sanrio might know the exact number, but over ten thousand items have recieved their permission to put Hello Kitty’s visage upon them.
In the quarter-century plus that this Feline Merchandise-ball has rolled back and forth across Japan, it’s only stressed the obvious: Japanese are weird, strange people who do odd things in large groups. Hello Kitty is just an easy-to-demonstrate manifestation of that. “The universalization of cute” or “The icon-laden society of cutting-edge-japanese”, the media will write, grappling for the right combination of words to describe a general trait in the Japanese Population: Adapt it, sell it, improve it, and sell it again, hopefully all within the same week.
Speculate all you want about the “meaning” of Hello Kitty, but realize that the whole of the philosophy can be summed up in one cry, one single sound: The sound of a cash register going ka-ching.
August 22nd, 2007 at 23:49
Debster – I just hope Kurt’s ego isn’t going to swell like Mads’s! Thank you for all the good stuff. That was nice to hear.
Luislemmings – Luis, you have too much time on your hands. Good for me though! You have me in stitches, and I’m not even in the hospital. Unfortunately (well sort of) Denmark don’t have hurricanes. I still think I might try out a few of the tips though. It’ll just confuse people even more here!
August 24th, 2007 at 21:14
I know you’ve been having the blues so I thought some giggles, gawfaws and snorts might make you feel better. And yes I do have lots of time on my hands. But then life is so wonderful when you do. :)
August 24th, 2007 at 23:17
LuisLemmings – Life is much better when you have time to enjoy it :)