I go back to school on Thursday. The University profs still have the rest of the month off. Time to start making lesson plans again. Which reminds me, I need to get some photos printed.

I’ve been getting about 5-6 hours of battery life off my iPod Nano. I’ve been looking at the Cowon S9 as a possible replacement. My electric razor is also losing its kick.

Since, the markets tumbled all my mutual funds have been down … except for one. New Markets Income has made a tremendous comeback. Pretty impressive.

I’ve been downloading the new episodes of No Reservations. Some of them are in HD and they look amazing. This weeks “Tailand” episode is supposed to be good. Where are the new episodes of LA ink?

I need to order more yerba mate, and I’m down to my last bottle of beer. There is nothing fermenting or conditioning in progress.

I didn’t go to the NIN Seoul concert. Sorry, Ceej. I’ve noticed though that Reznor is playing numerous old and rare songs on this tour.

My first HDR abstract renderings. This is one of the Anseong downtown streets in the afternoon. That’s why it’s empty… (Though, even on a Friday night, it still wouldn’t be busy).

Inverse Pinhole

Through the clouds.

Poor attempt at nothing.

Follow the Hobbit Trail and you’ll find Hobbit Beach. A place where the air is cool, the sand is wet, and the water is chilly willy.

Leaving the apartment just wasn’t an option, today.

EDIT: OK. If you looked at the ASCII autostereogram and were able to make out Pooh Bear over there then Congratulations. Give yourself a big hug. Else if, get someone else to stare at it…stare at it real good.

USPS Jedi Master

Stole this idea from Sal. Nothing fancy. Just thrown together with Quicktime Pro.

1. The kitchen. You know…oven, sink, cabinets.
2. Kitchen table. My roomy got it from his Grandma’s house. It is stained this odd greenish color, but he loves it. The clock on the wall is stupid. The numbers are scattered on the bottom and it says “Whatever” above it. “Whatever” is what I want to yell when I drop kick it out the door.
3. Fridge. Trash. Door leading to my room. I think I’d rather buy a new trash can than clean this one out.
4. Looking South through the open apartment.
5. My chilly room and where I rest my head every night.

1. Fern
2. Nois Leafus
3. Somewhatus Pleasanticus
4. Spiderous tentaculus
5. Hodgeous Podgeous. I think this plant has some ‘lucky bamboo’ in it. They had these long curves from stretching for the sun. I cut one of them shorter and am hoping for it to grow roots. The other one, I’m trying to bend back into shape.

1. Front of the apartment. Do you like the Halloween decorations?
2. Street. Many neighbors couldn’t parallel park to save their life.
3. Back. The bushes used to be shoulder level, but our landlord wasn’t happy with them. He had this idea to hack them smaller, which I took care of. We also put some bricks and wood chips around them. (I hope they grow back…)
4. 2 car garage
5. Back alley. Many times bums and scavengers will rummage through the trash and not pick up the crap they throw around. Dog owners will also walk their dogs and let them poop in the middle of the alley. Honestly, people! Take some paper with you and pick up your dogs crap. The dumpster is right there. This is why cities have rodent problems.

1. Steps leading up to shoes and coat rack
2. Living Room. My office and nook.
3. My windows to the outside world.
4. We like to rock the 15″ and thousand dollar stereo.
5. Bookcase and couch. The living room used to face the other direction, but I moved the couches after October. Depending if I’m watching shows on the computer or playing games, I’ll move the smaller couch around to change direction.

Part One: The Next Seat Passenger
Total Time: 10 minute delay

I got on Amtrak at the Alton station, as it had started in St Louis. I wasn’t able to find any open rows so I took a seat next to this woman, about my age. She was reading a notebook and I was sleepy. One of the conductors came around and asked us where we were headed. I replied Chicago and she said Bloomington. I proceeded to take off my glasses and catch some ‘zzz’s for an hour. After Springfield, I put my glasses on and minded my own business. I never made eye contact with the woman, but I could tell that she was looking directly at me time after time.

Eventually, she broke the ice, and asked “Have you lived in Chicago for your whole life?” Inside, my brain gave a “…sigh.” That triggered an entire conversation of where we live, where we work, and what we do. She told me how she was getting training to run her own bank. I told her a glamorized version of trading. You know. I left out the ramen, the homebody, and many of the boring aspects of life, and she bought into it.

Soon, Bloomington nears, and she had to get off. I stood up to let her gather her things, and I went back a few aisles to my bag. I wanted to pull out my magazines and read the rest of the way. I got back to my seat and she was still there. She said, “if you’re ever in St Louis give me a call.” She handed me her name and phone number on this gnarled up piece of paper from her notebook.

Now, she definetely didn’t classifify as a “hottie” and I’ll never call her. But…Aaaahhh! I still got it! The 10 minute delay had nothing to do with her, but we were running behind schedule nonetheless.

Part Two: Oops I drove off the road
Total Time: 20 minute delay

Past Bloomington, we got into another semi-residental area with a two way road near the tracks. I had moved to the window seat and noticed a police car with it’s lights on. That wasn’t too out of the ordinary, but it looked like someone had been pulled over, and we were slowing down. The police were out of their cars and talking to people along the road. Eventually, there was a “CRUNCH“! We come to a halt and I see this white Mitsubishi pass my window next to the tracks. We hit a car!

Now, it wasn’t a dead on smack. The car was half on the shoulder and tilted so that we nicked it. Everyone got out of their seats, but no one was allowed off the train. Ambulances and police were already on the scene and no one got hurt. The conductors got off the train and helped file a police report, but it really wasn’t a big scene.

I later heard the story from the conductor, and this is how it went. This girl had been with some friends, and she let one of them drive. Somehow, they lost control of the car, crossed on-coming traffic, spun through a ditch, and stopped on the tracks. The kids driving the car fled, and she stayed there with one other boy. Police were already on the scene and an ambulance was arriving as we got close. The police saw us coming and had everyone move away from the car, anticipating parts to fly.

We stopped once initially. Then, we pulled up a few feet to clear the car and stopped again. There was no damage to the train, and 20 minutes later we were on our way.

Part Three: I could have biked faster
Total Time: 60 minutes

Everything seemed to be on track. All the people were now animated and chatty after the car incident, and Joliet is next. However, the conductor has another announcement.

They tell us that someone has stolen a copper wire from one of the signal boxes. This controls the train signals to the roads. So, to prevent anymore possible accidents with cars, we’d have to travel at a pace of 10 mph for 10 miles. One hour to get 10 miles.

Right now, it was getting dark and everyone’s attitude was like “whatever”. I was fortunate to have my magazines with me. But I really could have used a beer. (I should really start bringing emergency beers for the train rides.) After the slow hour long cruise we got into Joliet, and there were no more delays.

The train ride should have taken under 5 hours, and I would have arrived in Chicago at 9PM. We however didn’t get in ’til 10:30. Surprisingly, there didn’t seem to be any angry passengers. I think everyone was just tired, as was I.