28 November 2013
New Roommate!
Yay I am now relaxed on the roommate issue! Her boyfriend just came by to drop off the deposit (she lives in San Diego or San Something) so I feel like the issue is resolved! Woot!
New Roommate?
Looks like we have found a new person, a Sarah this time. She said she would get her deposit to us soon, and we are just waiting to hear when that is. Hopefully we will get it very soon. Until we do, I'm still a little worried. Just want to have the certainty. AAARG! New person hunting is stressful!
Troy Chapter 2 (II)
Alex was glad he was sitting down, for otherwise he would surely have fallen over. The heat must be getting to him. He drank some more water, and splashed a little on his face, hoping the sweet, cool liquid would sharpen his senses. The man before him still looked resplendent and golden. Godly. Alex was speechless.
“I am called Hermes,” Hermes began, then realized the boy was gaping and stunned. “But please--let us not stand on ceremony, we’ve already been talking, you and I, and I don’t mean to frighten you.” Alex remembered himself at that, and tried to muster his courage.
“Why--why are you here?” Alex asked, confused. Hermes sat himself down again so that he wouldn’t be towering over the boy. Humans and dogs always seemed to prefer interaction at eye level; it set them at ease.
“I have come at Zeus’ behest, with a message for you.” Hermes said, noting that Alexandros suddenly looked pale. “Are you ill?”
Alex swallowed once and shook his head.
“Good,” Hermes continued, “it would seem that there is a dispute. An event transpired at wedding last week at which three of the goddesses each laid claim to a title. I’m sure you know how women can get,” (Alex nodded) “and so they asked Zeus to judge between them in a contest. Zeus of course refused, knowing how dangerous it is to take sides with your relations, and so we debated how we could best decide between them when it was suggested that we find an outsider. The terms are this: You judge fairly, and give the title to the one most deserving of it. In return we swear to accept your verdict. Zeus of course will compensate you for your troubles with enough gold for you and your family to live very comfortably for the rest of your days.”
“So I could pay my father back for the bull?” Alex asked, eyes wide.
“Fifty bulls.” Hermes stated. Alex sat back on his heels, imagining what that would mean.
“And all I have to do is award a title?”
“That’s all!”
“I’ll do it,” said Alex.
“Wonderful!” Hermes exclaimed. He had Alex swear to the judgement, telling the boy they would come to him the next day.
Alex gathered his belongings, and gave the whistle for the dog to start bringing the sheep home. By the time he had them all gathered in their hut, he was brimming with excitement to tell his father. He ran to their home where his mother would have supper waiting and told the whole story, barely noticing in his excitement that his father grew paler and more solemn with every word. His mother ate slowly, as though she was having trouble swallowing her food.
“You must be careful when striking bargains with the gods, my son,” his father said. “They will always become angry with you in some way, and always try to hurt you.”
“But I will have the protection of the winner, don’t you see, nothing can go wrong! And father, the gold! You will be comfortable for the end of your days!”
“You’re a good lad, Alex, and I know you mean well. We love you for it. Now off to bed, you need to be rested tomorrow.” His mother added.
“I just don’t understand why they would choose me,” Alex continued, “it’s strange for the gods to ask a favour of a lowly shepherd.”
“To bed, Alex! We shall talk more tomorrow,” said his father. Alex obliged and kissed his parents goodnight, retiring to his pallet.
His parents cleaned up from the meal, fed and watered the animals, and undressed for the night.
“We’ll tell him tomorrow,” they agreed. “We will tell him who he really is.”
“I am called Hermes,” Hermes began, then realized the boy was gaping and stunned. “But please--let us not stand on ceremony, we’ve already been talking, you and I, and I don’t mean to frighten you.” Alex remembered himself at that, and tried to muster his courage.
“Why--why are you here?” Alex asked, confused. Hermes sat himself down again so that he wouldn’t be towering over the boy. Humans and dogs always seemed to prefer interaction at eye level; it set them at ease.
“I have come at Zeus’ behest, with a message for you.” Hermes said, noting that Alexandros suddenly looked pale. “Are you ill?”
Alex swallowed once and shook his head.
“Good,” Hermes continued, “it would seem that there is a dispute. An event transpired at wedding last week at which three of the goddesses each laid claim to a title. I’m sure you know how women can get,” (Alex nodded) “and so they asked Zeus to judge between them in a contest. Zeus of course refused, knowing how dangerous it is to take sides with your relations, and so we debated how we could best decide between them when it was suggested that we find an outsider. The terms are this: You judge fairly, and give the title to the one most deserving of it. In return we swear to accept your verdict. Zeus of course will compensate you for your troubles with enough gold for you and your family to live very comfortably for the rest of your days.”
“So I could pay my father back for the bull?” Alex asked, eyes wide.
“Fifty bulls.” Hermes stated. Alex sat back on his heels, imagining what that would mean.
“And all I have to do is award a title?”
“That’s all!”
“I’ll do it,” said Alex.
“Wonderful!” Hermes exclaimed. He had Alex swear to the judgement, telling the boy they would come to him the next day.
Alex gathered his belongings, and gave the whistle for the dog to start bringing the sheep home. By the time he had them all gathered in their hut, he was brimming with excitement to tell his father. He ran to their home where his mother would have supper waiting and told the whole story, barely noticing in his excitement that his father grew paler and more solemn with every word. His mother ate slowly, as though she was having trouble swallowing her food.
“You must be careful when striking bargains with the gods, my son,” his father said. “They will always become angry with you in some way, and always try to hurt you.”
“But I will have the protection of the winner, don’t you see, nothing can go wrong! And father, the gold! You will be comfortable for the end of your days!”
“You’re a good lad, Alex, and I know you mean well. We love you for it. Now off to bed, you need to be rested tomorrow.” His mother added.
“I just don’t understand why they would choose me,” Alex continued, “it’s strange for the gods to ask a favour of a lowly shepherd.”
“To bed, Alex! We shall talk more tomorrow,” said his father. Alex obliged and kissed his parents goodnight, retiring to his pallet.
His parents cleaned up from the meal, fed and watered the animals, and undressed for the night.
“We’ll tell him tomorrow,” they agreed. “We will tell him who he really is.”
25 November 2013
Troy Chapter 2 (I)
Splitting things up so it doesn't get to be too much at once.
I thought maybe to make it so that when the gods spoke to humans directly their language would be a little jumpy, I mean gods don't often talk directly to people, so they wouldn't have a very modern speech pattern; but they do try to blend in. So I thought I'd throw in some old English words and Elizabethan phrasing here and there, as they struggle to sound normal but forget themselves once in a while. but I'm not sure if it works or if just makes them sound weird and takes away from the story; so let me know your thoughts.
Alexandros sat in the shade of an ash tree. The heat and the sun had dried most of the grass in the field. In the distance, his sheep lazily ate and napped; and his old dog slowly but stubbornly circled the sheep to keep them together and watch for predators. He wanted to join the sheep in napping but knew his father would skin him alive if he dozed off and lost the creatures. Struggling to stay awake, he bit into an apple, chewing slowly, letting the bitterness and tartness of the apple invigorate him.
“Good ofernon, Alexandros,” said a voice from beside him.
Alex jumped and gasped. His view encompassed most of the valley and he had not seen the man approach him. His dog was old but sharp as ever and would have barked as the man came near.
Covering his shock, he boy stood quickly, not wanting to be rude, and was surprised at the man’s height. Alex was tall for his age, the only one of his 12-year-old peers to be taller than most girls, but he had not reached his full height yet. Alex knew he would likely grow a foot taller yet, as he was still shorter than his father. Even so, the stranger was a good two feet taller than Alex, fit and tan. He wore a casual toga but the cloth was exquisite. There was a helmet tucked under his arm (Alexandros knew not what for, when the man had no other armour), and he had large, clean, sturdy feet wrapped in leather sandals.
“Afternoon, sir,” Alex replied, knowing it would be rude to inquire who the man was, how he knew Alex’s name, and what the helmet was for. “Will you share the shade with me? You must be hot and tired, having approached me so quickly,” he said instead, noting that the man did not look hot or tired at all, though Alex himself was coated in a thin sheen of sweat just from sitting under a tree.
“I would be grateful for your hospitality!” replied the man, as if the tree and the shade and field somehow belonged to Alex. He seemed to remember something then, and suddenly looked very tired and sweaty indeed. Alex gaped at the sudden change, then remembered himself and offered the man some water from his water skin and a slice from his apple. They sat in silence while the man ate and drank, Alex all the while trying his best to muster all of his 12-year-old patience and play the host instead of bombarding the man with questions. After what seemed like an eternity to Alexandros, a polite amount of time to pretend to enjoy a bitter apple to the stranger, and only a few moments in reality, the stranger spoke again:
“You are very thoughtful, young man, abounding in kindness to share your food and water with a tired old man,” he said, though Alex noted that the man was looking oddly fresh again, and not old at all. His eyes were sharp and clear, his skin smooth and youthful. “I have heard of your honesty and fairness, and see from your gifts to me today that thou art of good character and have true values. You know not what a chore it is to find a man who takes hospitality seriously. Did you ever hear about Philemon and Bacchus?” The man shook his head, as if lost in a memory. Alex, meanwhile, was pleased to have been referred to as a man, if confused by the man’s occasional slip into a more archaic dialogue. “I am here because a friend of mine recommended you. He said that you were the most honest person he had met, and...”
“Now, wait!” Alexandros interrupted, leaping to his feet, “if this is about that bull...do you know how much trouble I’m still in because of that man? I’ve been working extra hard for a year and still am not close to paying my father back for his loss! I gave him up because your pal won fair and square, but if you’ve come to try taking advantage of me...”
The man startled Alexandro by laughing. Alex blushed. He was being rude, and he was very angry, and he didn’t know if the man was laughing with him or laughing at him.
“Please sit back down with me, good fellow, and listen well, for I have a great many things to tell you. I will begin with my name,” he said as Alex settled himself, “and regard me closely.” The boy did, squinting his eyes a little. He wasn’t sure what the man meant or what he was looking for, but some fibre of his being was screaming that this was no regular person. Perhaps he was royalty? Then, as Alex watched, the man became even more handsome and tall and clean. His skin was clear and flawless, glowing as if the man had just been bathed and oiled. His robes were trimmed with gold, his sandals brushed clean, his hair smoothed down, and his face looked very young and smooth. It was the man’s eyes that caught Alexandros’ attention, for despite the stranger’s youthful appearance, his eyes looked like they had seen too much, or maybe as if they saw everything. Then, as he put on his helm, is seemed as if Alex’s vision cleared. There was no better word for it. Before, he had seen the man and not thought much of it except that the man was a little strange. But suddenly the man was sharp, as if Alex had been looking at the man without focusing on him. He saw not a man but a god before him. A god with winged sandals.
I thought maybe to make it so that when the gods spoke to humans directly their language would be a little jumpy, I mean gods don't often talk directly to people, so they wouldn't have a very modern speech pattern; but they do try to blend in. So I thought I'd throw in some old English words and Elizabethan phrasing here and there, as they struggle to sound normal but forget themselves once in a while. but I'm not sure if it works or if just makes them sound weird and takes away from the story; so let me know your thoughts.
Alexandros sat in the shade of an ash tree. The heat and the sun had dried most of the grass in the field. In the distance, his sheep lazily ate and napped; and his old dog slowly but stubbornly circled the sheep to keep them together and watch for predators. He wanted to join the sheep in napping but knew his father would skin him alive if he dozed off and lost the creatures. Struggling to stay awake, he bit into an apple, chewing slowly, letting the bitterness and tartness of the apple invigorate him.
“Good ofernon, Alexandros,” said a voice from beside him.
Alex jumped and gasped. His view encompassed most of the valley and he had not seen the man approach him. His dog was old but sharp as ever and would have barked as the man came near.
Covering his shock, he boy stood quickly, not wanting to be rude, and was surprised at the man’s height. Alex was tall for his age, the only one of his 12-year-old peers to be taller than most girls, but he had not reached his full height yet. Alex knew he would likely grow a foot taller yet, as he was still shorter than his father. Even so, the stranger was a good two feet taller than Alex, fit and tan. He wore a casual toga but the cloth was exquisite. There was a helmet tucked under his arm (Alexandros knew not what for, when the man had no other armour), and he had large, clean, sturdy feet wrapped in leather sandals.
“Afternoon, sir,” Alex replied, knowing it would be rude to inquire who the man was, how he knew Alex’s name, and what the helmet was for. “Will you share the shade with me? You must be hot and tired, having approached me so quickly,” he said instead, noting that the man did not look hot or tired at all, though Alex himself was coated in a thin sheen of sweat just from sitting under a tree.
“I would be grateful for your hospitality!” replied the man, as if the tree and the shade and field somehow belonged to Alex. He seemed to remember something then, and suddenly looked very tired and sweaty indeed. Alex gaped at the sudden change, then remembered himself and offered the man some water from his water skin and a slice from his apple. They sat in silence while the man ate and drank, Alex all the while trying his best to muster all of his 12-year-old patience and play the host instead of bombarding the man with questions. After what seemed like an eternity to Alexandros, a polite amount of time to pretend to enjoy a bitter apple to the stranger, and only a few moments in reality, the stranger spoke again:
“You are very thoughtful, young man, abounding in kindness to share your food and water with a tired old man,” he said, though Alex noted that the man was looking oddly fresh again, and not old at all. His eyes were sharp and clear, his skin smooth and youthful. “I have heard of your honesty and fairness, and see from your gifts to me today that thou art of good character and have true values. You know not what a chore it is to find a man who takes hospitality seriously. Did you ever hear about Philemon and Bacchus?” The man shook his head, as if lost in a memory. Alex, meanwhile, was pleased to have been referred to as a man, if confused by the man’s occasional slip into a more archaic dialogue. “I am here because a friend of mine recommended you. He said that you were the most honest person he had met, and...”
“Now, wait!” Alexandros interrupted, leaping to his feet, “if this is about that bull...do you know how much trouble I’m still in because of that man? I’ve been working extra hard for a year and still am not close to paying my father back for his loss! I gave him up because your pal won fair and square, but if you’ve come to try taking advantage of me...”
The man startled Alexandro by laughing. Alex blushed. He was being rude, and he was very angry, and he didn’t know if the man was laughing with him or laughing at him.
“Please sit back down with me, good fellow, and listen well, for I have a great many things to tell you. I will begin with my name,” he said as Alex settled himself, “and regard me closely.” The boy did, squinting his eyes a little. He wasn’t sure what the man meant or what he was looking for, but some fibre of his being was screaming that this was no regular person. Perhaps he was royalty? Then, as Alex watched, the man became even more handsome and tall and clean. His skin was clear and flawless, glowing as if the man had just been bathed and oiled. His robes were trimmed with gold, his sandals brushed clean, his hair smoothed down, and his face looked very young and smooth. It was the man’s eyes that caught Alexandros’ attention, for despite the stranger’s youthful appearance, his eyes looked like they had seen too much, or maybe as if they saw everything. Then, as he put on his helm, is seemed as if Alex’s vision cleared. There was no better word for it. Before, he had seen the man and not thought much of it except that the man was a little strange. But suddenly the man was sharp, as if Alex had been looking at the man without focusing on him. He saw not a man but a god before him. A god with winged sandals.
21 November 2013
Update III
And scratch the last one, French Julie has cancelled her request to move in with us and we have to begin our search all over again, with just 10 days left in the month. GAH! Apparently I am no good at reading omens. I also had believed the Hyatt was a good omen when my employee number began with the same 4 digits as my high school student number. Next time I see a good omen I will turn tail and book it out of there.
Update II
Also, I forgot to mention the other thing that's been taking up time/worries is that my roommate Kailey is moving out. Eric and I have been looking for a new person to take her spot. We found a girl from Toulouse named Julie (a good omen, I think! Julie was my first ever room mate and I love her immensely). She seems okay but it's always a gamble. We'll miss Kailey a lot she's a very positive person. So Julie2 will be moving in on Dec 1. We raised the rent a bit so we can lower ours (also helpful when I need a job lol). She works at a bakery on Granville Isl and promises to bring home treats. (not that I need the extra fat since I bake so much but hey, no complaints.) I think we should get along pretty well since she seems relatively normal. She reminded me of me a bit, awkward and non-genuine. Lol kidding, she was a little shy looking at a new place but knows what she wants. So now that we have her on board it's one less worry, and one new path we will start on. I'm glad to have met and lived with Kailey though. She's a big personality for sure, but very positive, accepting, and meets challenges and change head-on. I hope to have taken some of that from her. Anyway really need to get going with my day! Kisses everyone :)
Oh and PS I will also be using all of my free time to work on my projects that I have started and never finished. Kyle-your three musketeers painting is now completely sketched out and would be half painted except that I can't find where i stashed the actual paint. But I anticipate it will be done within the next month. With the roommate changeover I can pull extra furniture out of the closet and get to my things in the back which I think is where the paint is at. For reals this time! Although your weight loss and new fit body have proved to be a pain in the ass because I had to re-draw you from the forehead down. I kept your feet too. But you look great, so I shouldn't complain too much.
And I'm working on my stories that I'm writing as well, so at least I am not a complete sloth.
And in very un-slothlike behaviour, I am actually hopping into the shower now.
Oh and PS I will also be using all of my free time to work on my projects that I have started and never finished. Kyle-your three musketeers painting is now completely sketched out and would be half painted except that I can't find where i stashed the actual paint. But I anticipate it will be done within the next month. With the roommate changeover I can pull extra furniture out of the closet and get to my things in the back which I think is where the paint is at. For reals this time! Although your weight loss and new fit body have proved to be a pain in the ass because I had to re-draw you from the forehead down. I kept your feet too. But you look great, so I shouldn't complain too much.
And I'm working on my stories that I'm writing as well, so at least I am not a complete sloth.
And in very un-slothlike behaviour, I am actually hopping into the shower now.
Update
Sorry for not updating in a bit, been in a funk. I got fired from my Hyatt job because "You don't have a genuine personality" and I'm "a bit awkward" so I've been down about that. Never been fired before. Spent the last week being lazy and feeling sorry for myself. Now I have to get back in the game and start putting out resumes. It's hard though because I feel like I've been taken down a notch and so I'm worried about what to look for and what to do. I'll be back to school soon so I'll need a part-time gig, maybe 4 days/week. I felt like I was finally on track with things in my life and it all fell apart on me. Giant pain in my asshole. But I really need to force myself to get back out there before I let myself get into a downward spiral. I'm even a week late with my library book for the first time since I moved here! When you sit around at home all day moping and don't want to go out or shower or whatever it gets dangerous. So into the shower I go and job searching is to be done! Everyone keeps telling me to look at it as a blessing in disguise, and I need to start doing that. Eventually I will find something I enjoy more and get back to working with people who aren't fake and irritating. Financially, my folks said they would help me out if I need it, so that's awesome too. It's motivating to know that people are able and willing to back you, because it means they know you are capable of getting your shit together. If I was a lost cause, I'd be one of those people with parents who are all "You messed up again? You are cut off!" whereas my folks said "those people are idiots! everybody we know thinks you are a lovely person! go get 'em, tiger!"
Also, thinking I should invest in a printer. Going to the library whenever I need to print out more resumes is a little bit annoying. But the question in my tiny living space is always where the hell would I put it?!
So send all your pleasant and lucky thoughts my way, I need it!
Also, thinking I should invest in a printer. Going to the library whenever I need to print out more resumes is a little bit annoying. But the question in my tiny living space is always where the hell would I put it?!
So send all your pleasant and lucky thoughts my way, I need it!
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