I’m back.. well, actually, I was back quite a while ago.. I realized what my friend meant when he said he didn’t like going home (he was previously “stationed” in Taiwan, now in the UK).. at the time, I said I would like to go home every 2 months or so.. he said something to the effect of.. let’s see.. “you’re a dumbass, you’ll see.. each time you go home, it gets harder and harder to go back”.. I’ve really only been back once (well, twice if you count the time I had to go home to pack for my “stay”).. and I’ve only been here for about 4 months.. the longest stay at any one time being about 2 months.. I’m now not scheduled to go back until early June.. so I’ll be here for 4 months until I get to set foot on US soil.. so.. knowing this in advance, I figured I’d be bouncing off the walls after about 2 months.. so I had to prepare myself.. just how did I prepare?

1. New laptop
Yes, a new toy.. with a big screen.. I dont really do much “computing” with it other than some gaming (see #2) and internet stuff.. but I dunno.. I’ve always found great satisfaction in acquiring a new computer.. geeky? yeah.. but it will preserve my sanity for now.. something to note here is, with each new computer (or reinstall of Windows), I always think “I’m going to keep this one nice and clean.. I’m not going to install bullshit software.. not going to clutter the hard drive with thousands of downloads of useless applications and junk I will never need.. I’m going to use the “folders” as they were intended and organize everything.. I will backup my documents and data religously..”.. and it never works.. I’ve picked up a few good habits in my years of “computing”.. but I still do all the things I said I wouldnt do..

2. Games
Yeah, some may say I’m a little beyond my gaming years.. to them, I say “f*ck you”.. nah.. just kidding… anyway, I figured my time spent in solitary confinement (solitary confinement begins when they drop us off at our apartment complex.. it ends when the bus comes to pick us up on the morning) would be much more lively if I have some computer games with me.. this is where the laptop comes in handy with its nVidia FX5600Go and 17″ widescreen.. so when I got back to the States, I started to horde games.. thinking I would be burning through game after game.. after I got back to Taiwan, I realized I probably have more games than I can handle.. I dunno, we’ll see.. I’m playing Neverwinter Nights right now.. I’m going to try and play, concurrently, Rise of Nations and/or Civilization III and Battlefield 1942.. also, I brought back my Playstation 2.. I got it, um.. modified with a DMS3 v2.0 and I’ve been, um.. borrowing games from a co-worker.. so, right now, I’m busy playing Need for Speed Underground.. I’m driving a Civic.. its like a 99-01 Civic Si coupe.. I painted it yellow.. I have an assortment of parts on it.. but I got the basics, including a Level 1 turbo kit.. its funny, NFS:U tried to incorporate all the “brand” names like Gran Tursimo did.. but I think they did a piss poor job.. like the “Exhaust/Intake Upgrade, Level 1″ says something like “Brand Package 1: Greddy, AEM, Apexi”, “Brand Package 2: HKS, DC Sports, Brospeed”.. some crap like that.. I also find it insulting I have to add “neon” underneath the car to increase my reputation points.. reputation? yeah.. reputation for being “The Idiot With Neon”.. as in, “who The Idiot that owns that Civic with neon?”.. yeah, its just a game.. and there’s no reason for me to get all hyped up.. but I really have nothing else to get hyped about.. so let me be..

3. Scooter
Yeah, I’m going to join the millions of people in Taiwan that rely on a scooter (or the more manly term used in Taiwan, “motorcycle”) as my only mode of transportation. I don’t really want to buy a used Honda here.. since I could never drive a Civic that didnt have at least a B16 at the minimum.. but I figure I need something faster than a bike.. a scooter is probably a little safer also.. since the scooter only has cars and trucks to look out for.. whereas the bike has to look out for the scooter, car, and truck.. I wanted a 125cc.. but I’ll probably just settle for a 100cc.. I’d rather save my money for a new car when I go home..

4. Vonage
VoIP phone service.. it allows me to call anywhere in the US and Canada for the cost of my service, which is about $40 per month.. no need for explanation here. But if you have any questions about the service, let me know.. I’d be happy to answer them, in exchange for a referral, which would give me (and you) one month of free service.. yeah, I could post up a link here.. but I’m too lazy right now and lets face it, you probably wouldnt click on it anway..

I better go back to work before my master realizes I’m not working..

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