San Diego, California
February 10, 2003
Okay, I got the news, I didn't get into the graduate program in San Diego. So that means its time to look for other options in that area as well. Also, I still haven't work yet either. However, I did have a working interview at an English institute in downtown San Diego. However, they have yet to call me back to offer a job. I did call them, but they still haven't made up their mind yet. I'm still registered with a multitude of temporary agencies, but I haven't heard from them. I took the iniatitive one day, and sent my resume to about 50 import/export related companies, but nothing there either. Oh well, what can you do? Just sit around and wait.
I've been having lots of problems with my car (on top of the $2/gallon gasoline around here).. so I brought it into the shop. They found $2,000 worth of repairs that absolutely had to be done right away. Incidently, thats about twice as much what the car is worht. I just about abondened it right there. At least I'd save myself on the $40 of gasoline I must use up a week. But ultimately, I just had them fix the wheel shaft. It was making some very serious clicking and cracking noises every single time I turned the wheel, when it gets like that, its just about ripe for the wheel to just fall right off. So I'd been intending to fix that one at least. It cost $250, but was very essential. The other $1,750 can wait for eternity before I get that stuff fixed. But there are all kinds of other things that are about to go like tie-rods and struts.. and a whole hoste of other things.. its really the last thing I need is some ultra-expensive hunk of junk to be driving around. Actually, its not a bad car, its an 88 Olds Trofeo.. red.. it looks alright.. sunroof.. two-door.. anyhow.. me and the ol' boy have been spending ALOT of time together the last six weeks.. so I better speak good of him..
Okay, so I'm basically setup in my apartment now. I found a $10 TV down the street.. but i need a cable chord to hook it up copletely, so right now I'm using it as a computer stand. For the most part, I sit on the floor with my back to the wall typing on the computer. On the other side of the living room, I bought an air-mattress from the camping section of Target. It was about $15, and you just inflate it, and sleep on it. Its not too bad.. so basically, I have an air mattress one one side of the room, and a computer sitting on a not-working TV on the other end of the house. I also found a dresser outside, brought it in, and put all my stuff in there, and thats placed in the bedroom. Thats pretty much it to my house. I don't have any furniture or dihes or anything like that yet. I do however have a radio, and my ex-roommates brought over a space heater that they don't need in their new apartment. So its not too bad.
As to my apartment complex. Its kind of cottage-like, with about six apartments all right next to each other. They face each other and there is a very little cement area where all the porches converge. Sometimes people party there. I've been told this cluster of apartments is termed 'The Compound' by local Mission Beach residents. According to the locals of the Compound, this was party central for years and recently mellowed out. Supposedly one guy who partied alot, overdosed on drugs and died. Therefore causing another guy in the complex to mellow out and he's changed completely. Then some other local legend guy who lived on a trust fund, who only surfed and partied all the time, he moved out because he got a dog and it wasn't allowed or something like that. So supposedly the 3 hardiest partiers went in different directions. But anyhow, there are still a few here who party a little bit right central area. I've drank beer twice out there with a few of them, but not too much. They seem to already have quite a scene going, and since it revolves around beaches, surfing, and local rock bands, I feel abit aged to really get to wrapped up into it.
The strangest part though is the walls are SO thin!! I was talking to one of my ex-roommates the other day, and they said it was quite common for this one guy in 'the Compound' to yell through the walls.. and carry on a conversation while you were sitting home in your home. Its funny, but it really is like that. I can hear every conversation around me very clearly, and if I actually had conversations with myself, they would probably hear me. There is a definete lack of privacy here.. and around all my windows, there are people who walk around. Like one of the kids and his friends are always on their skateboards, so I hardly ever open the blinds. Its just kind of weird having people skating and/or socializing right in front of your windows - but really, here its not odd, because we're all pretty much right here and there isn't anywhere else to go - except to the ocean beachside or bay beachside.. and they do have night fires over there on the Bay side of Mission Beach.. anyhow.. its interesting..
Ensanada, Mexico:
February 15, 2003
You can email me at:
Wintermoon2@yahoo.com