woops

Suffered a little bit from foot in mouth disease this week. One of my little six year old friends showed up with a rather large bandage on his arm. I jokingly asked if he had cut his arm off thinking he had a fall on his bike. Turns out he DID almost cut his arm off with a saw. Poor kid. his thumb almost cut clean off. I felt quite stupid.

I ran over my tent. Its not really as bad as it sounds but here's how it went. Sunday I was invited out to a potluck. Some visiters were en route to Tofino and seeing I carried my tent in my trunk, I offered them usage of it. They declined so I propped the tent up against the back of my car so I would remember to place it in my trunk on departure. Of course I forgot. After dinner and fourteen "I really should get going" I said goodbye to the twelve people on the balcony. I decided to show them all how amazing I was at backing up and prepared myself to back the entire length of the drive way. I made eye contact and waved slowly as I put my car in reverse. A slight thump and Im down the driveway thinking about how cool I look backing up. Why? I have no idea. people back up everyday. twenty seconds after the thump I decided that ah, that was a thump.. thumps need to be investigated and thats when I notice my tent laying on the ground in front of me at the other end of the drive. Putting it in forward I drive back towards the house. I dont know wny people cant mind their own business but everybody turned to wonder what I was doing coming back towards the house. Sigh. Chuck the tent in my car - Ill check for damage later. And try once more to look cool backing up the length of the driveway.

New Pad

I've moved into my new spacious 500 square foot house. Its all I need. My landlord "Leo" seems like an alright guy despite the skull tattoos on his arms and his chrome infested Harley. I was a little worried in the beginning but he seemed pretty harmless so on my better judgement, I took the place. My gut feeling about his tough guy image being a facade was kind of reinforced when he introduced me to his Shitzu "Candy". I would say my house is kind of like a beach hut - minus the beach, though it is only five minutes drive away in about four different directions. I've tried my best to make it feel like home despite the fact I have no furniture at all!. I've been sitting on a blue stepping stool and my only sleeping arrangements are a blue foamy mattress from extra foods that has compressed to about a 1/4 inch thick. I have dreams of planting a decent garden though it is half way through the summer. I took a pair of scissors to the heather bushes at the front and placed my sad looking 'italian parsley' plant which I got half price and named "Garfield" on my steps in on of my failed pottery projects as my feeble first attempt at a garden.

"China Sue"

Well, Ive had my first experience helping to host an exhange student. "Chinatsu" spent two days at the house where I've been boarding. It is always very interesting how Japanese teenagers dress like they have just jumped out of an Archie Comic. Its like you are more surprised to see that they arent followed around by a pointy conversation bubble that says "POW!!". Its always interesting to me how humans try to talk to other humans whom they percieve to have problems understanding what you are saying. I myself fall into this trap. Chinatsu seemed to have a glazed confused expression in response to almost everything I had to say... now that i think of it most everyone does.... so Ive taken to talking in a LOUD V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W voice. Im not sure if it helps or now it just takes a bit longer for the confused look to spread over her face.
Jim never did learn how to say her name. "tChinats" received every contortion of her name by dear Jim. I suggested he call her China Sue. which of course he refused.