Wasting money sucks =\

So here we are... the weekend has come and gone, and I'm ready to jump into another week at school.

This weekend wasn't much.  Kyle works overnights and so our schedules end up crossing... he'll come home and go to sleep, and I'll wake up and be up while he's sleeping.  Then he has to go to work.  >.<

None of the places I applied to got back to me yet.  I can't work anywhere else but school right now until my six months have passed as mandated by the government, so I'm kind of stuck without a job unless one of these places gets back to me.  I mean, it's only been a week, but I'm not feeling very confident on getting hired unfortunately.  I did end up dropping a class (that Canadian Government class) because the prof is ridiculously bad and I don't want to fail the course.  I'll take it next term because I'm interested, and this guy's not teaching next term.  But that does mean that my schedule's freed up quite a bit, which I will let my prospective employers know (since they like to know your schedule so they can see if it's worth hiring you).

I hope that gets me in good with them.  Or, I mean, in better with them xD

A friend of mine who's still in high school came out to me not long ago, even though it was painfully obvious he was gay from the day I met him.  Either way, he finally said he was comfortable with it enough to accept himself and share with others, and he told me.  Since I never came out to him ever (our parents are friends and we were never classmates), I decided I'd let him know, too.  He wasn't surprised either XD  Anyway, he came out to his parents unintentionally on Saturday (his mom kind of boxed him into a corner and he had no choice but to confirm it), and his parents freaked right out.  I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him about it today since I was distracted most of the day by random chores and homework (and the inevitable 1.5 hour phone call to my parents T_T), but I could tell he was really agitated.  I hope I get to talk to him about it tomorrow, since I can feel what he's going through and I really wished I had someone to talk to when I started coming out.

On a side note, I'm a bit worried about him being forced out of the closet for mainly two reasons.  His parents and my parents are good friends, so no doubt his parents and my parents will talk... I hope during those conversations, nothing about my sexuality comes up, because my parents are not ready for that, but I don't doubt that they've suspected for a while.  I mean, it is a bit obvious, but they've never just up and asked me.  Secondly, I hope my friend doesn't drop my name in a conversation with his parents.  He always kind of looked up to me, but I don't want him to use me as a sort of an "example of a gay person" to his parents.  I don't want to be outed like that, because then my parents will FOR SURE know, and then I'm screwed.

I trust him enough for him not to do that.  There was a reason I told him to begin with, despite the risks of him being so closely connected with my family.  But, it doesn't stop me from slightly worrying about it.  Slightly.

I'll keep you guys updated on how things go on his end.  His mom's a spazz and religious nut, and his dad is pretty homophobic.  He was telling me briefly, before he logged, that his mom said he should get psychological and religious counselling.  =\  he's in a bad situation right now, so I really hope his parents chill out and stop fussing.  That kind of behavior really affects someone, and not in a good way.  It could ruin not only the rest of his teenage years, but also his relationship with his parents forever.  So yeah.  Here's hoping things get better quickly T_T

I bought some freshly-caught fish from the grocery store the day before yesterday.  All weekend I had no time to cook it, and it went bad.  Two fillets cost me $20... I'm so pissed.  They were really expensive but they were FRESH and looked GODLY.  *sigh* so much for fish for a while.  I can't afford any for a bit.  -.-

Alright, that's enough rambling for one evening.  Baiii <33

-skybluekid

Boring days are boring

I've not written anything for a bit because I don't really have much to say.

It appears that things are finally settling in.  I've started doing things in a routine, been trying to go to bed on-time (I mean, I've been trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep, not necessarily going to bed "early"), and stuff like that.  Going pretty good so far.

I've not heard back from any jobs yet, but I mean, it's only been two days so I don't know what I expect.  Haha, maybe I want them to hurry up and hire me for my cute looks and awkward expressions =P ^_^

School's going well.  I've got a quite bit of homework that I've been having to do, but so far it's nothing out of my understanding.  Even math is decently OK.  I hope it stays that way T_T  haha

I'm sure something exciting will happen in the next couple of days.  I hope xD

What's your favorite day of the week?

Mine is Thursday.  I don't know why, but Thursdays are awesome.  They feel like you're just closing off the week, but you're not quite there yet.  You feel satisfied and accomplished, but yet ready to steel yourself for the final days of the week before the liberation of the weekend.

Today's a Monday, though, which is definitely not my favorite day.  I've gotten better at experiencing Mondays, though, since I've moved here.  They don't seem as icky and unapproachable... they feel more like a new chapter in life rather than a repeating circle of hell.  Fun!

I got all the books for my classes.  Tomorrow I'm going to that poli-sci class that I just added over the weekend.  My accounting class is getting really interesting as the days go by.  The teacher is really good, and very engaging.  I'm learning a lot from him.  Can't wait to learn even more!  My economics prof drones on and on, and struggles with his computer constantly.  Half the class was shouting in sync at him, telling him what to press on his computer, to get something to work.  He's kind of ridiculous, but thankfully I've made a friend in that class and we're surviving it together.  He's pretty cute, and a fun fellow to talk to.  He's working on joining the Canadian Air Force after he gets his degree.  He already has his commercial pilot's license, which I think is so awesome.  I've always wanted to learn how to fly xD  I gave him a ride home today after class, since he would have had to wait almost an hour for a bus to take him across town.  The car ride was short; a bit under ten minutes, so I didn't mind.  Hope we get to know each other better =)

I dropped off my resume at a couple of places on campus.  I'm hoping to pick up a job, and sooner rather than later.  They don't have much jobs open for international students, since most students qualify for the work-study program and most of the jobs are reserved for those guys.  Sucks >.<  but, the places I did apply to are going to be pretty fun to work in, so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping I get an offer ^^

Tomorrow's a rather short day.  I have class in the morning at 10:30, and then another class in the evening at 7, so most of my day is free.  I don't know what I'll do yet, but I do know I have a bunch of math homework I have to finish before Friday... ugh.  I hate math... so far it's not difficult but I fear I'll soon lose my grasp on it and it will become hard.  I hope not.

I wanted to say to the few of you who emailed me, thanks so much!!  I love hearing from people ^^  if I haven't written you back, I'm sorry.  I've been really busy, but I promise I'll write back soonish!  <33 to you all =D

-skybluekid

I'm periodically political

(Caution: political rant coming up)

I try not to think about it, but I can get really passionate about politics.  I read the news every day, especially things relevant to me as a young gay boy, such as Joe My God and the Prop 8 Trial Tracker.  Usually just keeping informed is enough for me, and I go about my day.  But sometimes, I can't help but let myself become infuriated at one story or another.  Most recently it was a story not about GLBT topics, but about healthcare.  Mike Huckabee, a former Republican governor from Arkansas (and now a host on Fox News), was complaining at some political event about a new law denying insurance carriers from refusing insurance against people who have pre-existing conditions:

Here's a clip - it's short (1:30)

He compares asking for insurance when you have a pre-existing condition to asking for insurance after your house burns down.

Okay, first of all, where the fuck do I start?  Maybe that you can't compare the two, because one can be rebuilt since it's not alive, and the other cannot?  Maybe you don't die after your house burns down (presuming you're not in it of course) if you can't get it insured, but you certainly will die if you somehow aren't covered after being diagnosed with heart disease and you're trying to switch to a different provider?

The fact that he would equate a person's health and well-being to a house is really stupid, callous, insulting, and down-right just plain mean.

In reality, he doesn't want to pay for people.  In his mind, if you can't afford healthcare, or are unlucky enough to come down with diabetes, heart disease, or any number of diseases that you would have a good chance of getting as you age, you don't deserve to be treated.  At least, not without paying a buttload of money.

I don't get why these people don't just up and say, "yeah I don't want to pay any taxes, I don't want to give any money away, I don't want to do any of that because I earned my goddamned money and if you don't have any, you can just die in a ditch.  What's mine is mine, you feckless bum.  You can't have any of it, because I'm better than you"


Because while they're not saying that, they are saying that, and it drives me up the wall.


Similarly, that's exactly their stance on gay rights.  If it's not religion, it's just "not natural" or "not traditional" or "hyper-normal", or whatever their excuse is this week.  But in reality, it's just they think they're better than us 'cause they're straight.  They feel that heterosexual relationships are superior to gay relationships, for the simple fact that they just are.  No way around it; no need to explain.  It's just the way it is.

So yeah, you can see I get worked up >_<

I usually try not to, because I know I can't change anything.  I know I can't do anything about what's going on in U.S. politics, so I'm just getting upset over nothing.  And so I just try to read the news, and breathe deeply whenever I feel myself getting irritated over some thug who starts preaching how I'm the scum of the earth and how he is the shit, and how the whole country should get behind him and his ideas because god knows, a greater genius could not have come up with a better plan.


Speaking of politics, I registered for a class called Canadian Government, because I had a slot for a class free (I was originally registered for a music class, but ended up dropping it after I decided I wasn't too interested in taking it this semester).  It always annoyed me how Kyle has so little understanding of politics here.  I would ask him questions every now and then about things and he has no idea.  I mean, I'm not a political buff or anything, but I think the least a citizen of a country can do is to understand how his/her government works.  After all, they have to live under its rule for their entire lives (unless they emigrate, but that's a whole different issue).  So, since Canada may become my adopted country (who knows what the future holds, yeah?), I figured I should enlighten myself about its government.  The parliamentary system always intrigued me, and in some ways I feel it has advantages over the presidential system the U.S. uses.  So I'm excited to get started and dive in and learn ^^


Friday was a pretty ordinary day.  Other than my math lecture in the afternoon, I did nothing.  When Kyle and I came home, we just played SimCity 4 a bit, and then he went to work.  I ended up staying up until 6am (much like this evening T_T) watching a hilarious British sitcom called My Family.  Kyle's really into it and torrented the eps, so I started to watch the first season.  It's hilarious!


Today was much the same as yesterday, except without a class.  I woke up late (around 4pm XD) and just relaxed all day.  I don't have any homework, so I don't have to do anything.  I played games most of the day (Diablo 2!).  Kyle and I had dinner and then he went to work.  I stayed up and watched White Collar (a great TV show by the way... I'm all caught up now, and I'm soooo irritated by the end UGH why do they DO that?!  Stupid cliffhangers >.<).  Now I'm writing this journal, and then I'm going to sleep.


Weeeee ^_^


Oh, that reminds me.  Friday I also got my medical insurance, which I get through the school.  I was a bit miffed that the school didn't say anything on what I had to do to get it in the first place, so when I got a letter from them saying I hadn't enrolled yet and I should have when I started, I hopped right over to the international students' office and got it taken care of.  They apologized at the fact that they never told me, so I suppose I shouldn't harbor a grudge.  The person's who's handling it is just a month into the job.


In the meeting she was talking about the facilities on campus (there's a clinic with a real doctor there during business hours) and the benefits I get from the insurance (doctors' visits, emergency room coverage, prescriptions, dental, optometric, and a bunch of other stuff).  It's crazy... all of this for under $1000 for the whole year, whereas in the U.S., to get that level of coverage you have to pay way, way more.  I remember my mom complaining about how much my health insurance costs, so I think she's really happy that it's a lot cheaper now through the school here.  I love universal healthcare XD


Anyway, during the talk about the facilities, she mentioned the gym on-campus, which is, apparently, huge.  Indoor track and field, rock wall, pools (yes, plural), weight room, tennis and basketball courts, and the list goes on... it reminded me that I should start doing some of that stuff.  I used to be in martial arts a couple of years ago, but then I quit because things were getting pretty intense in my life.  Since then I haven't really worked out much, and a few months before I came here my appetite really picked up and I put on a bit of weight.  I'm still thin, but a bit softer, which I've never been.  Since I moved here, though, my appetite went back to "normal" (or what it's always been) and I lost most of it, so I'm happy about that =D   The only issue is, I want to start working out so I'm not the lanky kid I've (almost) always been.  Problem is, Kyle is adverse to anything physical (he's thin too, though, so he doesn't really need to worry about it), and I don't want to go by myself.  I guess, though, that I'll have to if I want to do anything.  I don't want to go all uber-muscly, but a bit of definition never hurt anyone.  That, and my stamina SUCKS, so anything to bring that up would be great.


Oh man, this turned out to be a long post about a bunch of random things.  Well, Sunday, 6am is a pretty random time to be posting a blog.  Add to that the fact that I haven't gone to sleep yet, and I guess that explains the randomness.


So, my apologies on the spaghetti I just threw everywhere =)  my next post will be more coherent, I promise ^^


<33


-skybluekid

Forestry boys

Yesterday I didn't write, 'cause I got home at like 10:30 and I was dead.  So I just went to bed.  I almost forgot to brush my teeth... that's how tired I was xD  So, sorry!!  I'm making up yesterday right now though.

Not like there's much to tell either way.  Met a cute boy yesterday in the cafeteria and we talked for like, an hour over lunch/dinner, while I was waiting for Kyle to get out of class.  He's in forestry, and I've always been fascinated what the heck forestry is, and what they do as a major.  So we talked about that, and about politics and what-not.  Which is always a great conversation, apparently, with Canadians, because they tend to have a not-so-great opinion of the U.S. (not that I blame them for the most part).  Unfortunately, he also had some terribly untrue conceptions of our government in general, so I had to clear those up for him.  I felt I did my part by providing some civic education about the U.S. to a foreigner =P  Turns out he's also in my econ class so maybe I found a buddy I can hang out with there =)

Other than that, not much else to tell.  I bought Diablo II the other day.  I loved that game when I was younger, and one of my friends here decided he'd play it so he convinced me to buy it we can play it together =)

I've had trouble getting my math textbook.  The bookstore ran out of copies and I'm kind of unable to get one... and there's an assignment due tomorrow.  Yeah, I know.  I'm actually about to email the prof and let him know.  I don't know when the store will have copies in, but they said they would call.  In the meantime I found one on Amazon for like $60, so I've jumped on that copy, but now I have to wait for it to get to me.  The prof didn't even have one on reserve at the library, so I can't even figure out how I'd be expected to get the assignment in to him.  >_<  I hope he cuts me a break.  I hate to miss an assignment... the first assignment, too, before school has even gone into motion.  *grumble*

Yesterday I also bought my books.  Half a thousand dollars, yessir.  I'm the opposite of in the money.  In the debt?  OH YEAH, SEXY.

T_T

Tonight is geology class.  I hope it's not as stupid as last time and I can actually hear myself think.  XD  Oh, and I'm going on that field trip!!  I confirmed my attendance yesterday, so it's ON =D

Maybe I'll have more to write about tonight, after I get back from school.  If yes, expect a post.  If not, see you all tomorrow <33

-skybluekid

Mmmm sleeeeep

I was able to sleep in today.  I ended up sleeping in quite a lot, though.  I don't know why but I felt soooo sleepy when my alarm went off 9 hours after I had gone to bed, so I decided to ditch the alarm and went for sleeping in.  I ended up waking up at 3-ish.  XD

Kyle had class really quick so I dropped him off, but he forgot his coffee in my car so I had to sneak into his lecture and give it to him =3  After that I hung out at the library until it was time for my geology class.

Tomorrow I'll have a bit of time in the morning.  I need to buy my math textbook and a few other things before I head to class.

OH I'M SO HAPPY.  I got approved by the bank here for a credit card.  Never in a million years did I think I'd get one!  In the U.S. I'd been declined so many times until finally I got one last year, but the credit limit was only $700.  Here they don't have check cards, so it's just a debit card that I get, and the bank charges you $0.60/transaction!  So stupid!  And I hate carrying around cash so I was really miffed.  But now that I have a credit card I can use here, I don't get charged and that makes me happy ^^  So I'll be using this one for all my purchases, but I have to make sure not to keep anything on it.  I don't want to go into debt =$  I didn't think I'd get it, because when I opened a bank account here they asked me if I wanted a credit card and I told them I'm from the U.S., which means I don't have an SIN (their version of the SSN) or anything, but they said I can apply without one.  So I did, not thinking I'd actually get it, but hey!!  I got it!!  $1000 too XD

So my first couple of days at school went well =)  My geology prof is so cute.  She is so excited about rocks I don't even know how to describe it to you, but she totally got me onboard to go on a field trip.  I know, nerdy!  A geology field trip!  But I'm just so eager to just jump in, meet people, and experience things, I'm gonna do it.  She's got me excited about rocks hahaha ^^  I can tell her class is gonna be fun.  What sucks is there are like two hundred kids in her class, and the ones next to me are stupidly immature.  Passing notes, whispering, giggling, right when I'm trying to listen to the prof so I can take good notes to get a good grade and pass her class and stuff... I mean, srsly, guys, it's uni, not high school.  If you want to be stupid go outside.  No one's gonna stop you or give you detention.  Or better yet, don't show up.  Drop the class.  Let me listen without having to hear you babble about how wasted you got last night that you started drinking out of a shoe (true story.  I overheard D=)

But other than a slightly-miffed skybluekid cuz of the idiots in geology, I'm really enjoying school so far.

Tomorrow's another day!!

<33

First day of school!

And it was magical =)

OK OK so let's start at the beginning before I squee about random things.

Woke up early.  That has me really tired right now btw.  I'm practically falling asleep writing this >.<  But yes, early.  Went to Staples really quick to pick up some supplies ($60+ worth of supplies =\) and then Kyle and I headed to school.  We got there a bit earlier than we needed to, so we hung out in a building for a bit, and then Kyle went off to class.  I spent most of the time just walking around and getting a sense of the place.  His class was short... only about an hour.  We met up afterwards and went to get lunch at the cafeteria.  It was pizza =P  (what else??  It's a uni!  hahaha)

We met a mutual friend there and hung out until my first class: math.  Ick, I know.  But in the end it wasn't that icky after all.  The prof was really hilarious and the hour went by really fast.  Afterward, Kyle had a class so I walked around some more and hung out at the library.  Then we went for dinner in the residents' cafeteria (I bought a meal card for that instead of the regular one)... it was SO GOOD, you have no idea.  They make everything in front of you, and they even had fresh waffles topped with caramelized peaches, cinnamon, and vanilla cream.  They made it right there!!  In front of me!!  It was DELISH.  After that I had an evening class at 7.  No biggie there, and he let us out an hour before we were supposed to since it's the first day.  I'm relieved at that, 'cause like, srsly I only had 4 hours of sleep last night so I was dying by the end there.  But it's all good!  I survived =)

So yeah, it was a fantastic day!  I met some really great people, saw lots and lots and lots of cute boys =3   I mean, I know I'm taken but I just can't help looking!!  So many cuties running around here it's impossible to miss =P  I walked past the Pride office like twice... I mean, I'm out and stuff, but I've never like... broadcasted my out-ness, so... I dunno.  I was gonna stop in but I chickened out.  It's something I want to do though ^^  I want to make other gay friends, and what better place than there?!  Maybe tomorrow I'll stop in... only problem is, I hear stories that only the most bizarre and crazy amongst us go to places like that, so, again, I'm a bit unsure =\  We'll see what happens.  It won't hurt to check it out, anyway.

Tomorrow is a light day, where I only have two classes (one in the morning and one in the evening), so things will be a bit more relaxed.  Either way, I'm gonna go down to campus to have lunch/dinner and try meeting some fun people!!

I'm so excited to finally be at a place where I feel that not only will I belong once I get settled in, but where I can be free to be myself and not have a care in the world other than just being me and dealing with homework.  So much potential!!!  <33

-skybluekid

School!

It's starting in just 8 hours!!  I need to get to bed.  I promise I'll write more tomorrow!!

- skybluekid <33

Steakhouses are yum!

It's 7am, and I'm just going to bed.  Go me.  >.<

I actually did not intend to stay up this late, but for some reason here I am.

Today (and by "today" I mean yesterday) was great.  Kyle and I went to a fancy steakhouse for our anniversary and had one of the best meals I've had in a long time.  The $100 for the both of us was totally worth it.  I love steak so much!  I had it with the king crab legs and a twice-baked potato.  I would have gone for the steak/lobster combo, but that was nearly $10 more expensive, so I decided not to.  It would've been nice though... I've never had lobster but I hear it's amazing.  Maybe next time xD

With that $100 gone, it was the last of the money I made over my summer job that I quit last month in order to move up here.  I really need to find a job up here, and soon, because if I don't my student loan debt is going to be through the roof.  Even as-is, it's expensive.  I mentioned earlier that my parents are helping me pay for school, but they can't help me with all of it, so I still had to take out loans.  The interest rate is bizarrely high (almost 10% per year), which means I'm going to get owned, and fast, by the amount of money that will start piling up.  So yeah, job.  I can't get one yet (I need permission from the school to work, and I won't get it until six months have elapsed and my grades are good), but as soon as I can I'm going to start working.  At this point I don't care where.  I'm even entertaining the thought of working at Kyle's restaurant, even though I swore to myself a while back I would never take a job with this particular restaurant chain.

After Kyle went to work, I cooked.  It took about two hours to make my mom's really amazing chicken soup (it's really finicky, but tastes divine), but I didn't mind.  I enjoy cooking, as mediocre as I am at it.  I hope I'll get better, and can cook more things than just a handful of recipes I've picked up over the years, because neither Kyle nor his mom can cook very well.  Well, okay, his mom can and does cook, except she has a tendency not to season anything, so most of what she makes tastes bland, but it's filling.  Kyle's used to it, so he's unaware that there are better-tasting things out there.  For me, his mom's cooking and my mom's cooking are at opposite ends of the spectrum.  Eastern Europeans, especially from my parents' country, love their flavorings and spices, so I grew up with rich-tasting food.  Once you experience something like that, especially for the majority of your life, it's hard to get used to anything that doesn't taste similar.  So yeah, gotta bring more spice into the foods that are cooked here.  xD

School's just one day away, and I'm a bit nervous but excited.  It's going to be a major change for me, from what I've experienced, but I can already feel it's going to be a great thing.

Can't wait!!

Mining my own business

I hope you guys like the puns in my post titles.  I work hard on them, you know!  I spend a whole minute trying to come up with a good one!  xD

I didn't end up going to orientation.  I slept in.  Like, a lot.  It's okay though; my boyfriend told me everything I needed to know anyway.  The only reason I wanted to go was they were giving out sweet swag bags, and one of them had a fleece university scarf, and I was like OMGIWANTTHATSOBAD.  Oh wells >.<  maybe they'll have some left over that I can score =3

One of Kyle's co-workers (Kyle works part-time at a restaurant) is moving away to another city tomorrow, so we spent time with her and another friend today.  We were playing Super Mario Bros Wii, which is hilariously fun (and, at the same time, disturbingly sadistic).  With four people it was so chaotic, I barely knew where I was on the screen half the time, though I did get used to it enough to do okay towards the end.  Go me!!

Before we left to go hang out with them, I discovered this awesome game called Minecraft, which Kyle and I spent much of the afternoon playing.  It even has multiplayer!!  You absolutely must check it out (along with this YouTube video introducing it), because I know you'll find it as fascinating and as fun as I did ^^  There's a free version, but it's definitely worth the €10 (about $12 US) for the latest version.  When we came back and Kyle went to work, I spent several more hours playing and exploring like crazy.  Such a sweet game =)

Tomorrow's Saturday, and me and Kyle's anniversary.  It's been a few years now, and for once we get to celebrate it in person, with each other.  I am so happy you don't even know.  I don't know what we're gonna do yet, but I know it will involve some sort of yummy yummy dinner ^^  I'll let you know what we did tomorrow =)

In the meantime, remember that I love you all!!!

-skybluekid <33




PS - Remember to comment!  I love comments.  They're like food for my thoughts.  Mmmmm, braiiiiiins... erm, food.  I mean, thoughts.  Lovely thoughtful comments.  *cough*

Disoriented

So I'm sitting here, trying to figure out what to write, and I realized suddenly that I can't really recall what I did today.  I know I went to school, and I know I went grocery shopping at 1am, but the rest of the day is really a mystery to me.  How does that make sense?!

New student orientation is tomorrow.  I won't make it by 8:30 because it's 3:30 now and I'm just going to bed.  And I'm definitely not an early riser.  But I think as long as you get there around 10:30 or so it's okay, from what I gathered from the email I received from the school.  If not, then, oh well.  My sleep is more important than being told where the washrooms are.

I spent a good chunk of the day wandering around campus.  I love exploring places, and buildings (abandoned or not) serve as a particularly exciting exploration experience for me.  I don't know why I find it so fascinating, but it is.  The science building is my favorite.  The basement is a huge maze of corridors and little auxiliary walkways, and it's lined with research labs on either side where mad scientists and graduate students do all sorts of dangerous and fascinating things.  Walking those hallways really reminded me of Half-Life and Black Mesa (one of my favorite games of all-time), and made me wish that I was a science major, so I'd get to experience all those really cool things people do down there.  But, alas, I'm not cut out for a career in science or engineering, and it's probably a good decision that I don't go into that field, but that doesn't mean I can't imagine what it would be like, and be envious of people who get to do it... xD

I wanted to go jogging today.  I've been out of shape for a few years since I stopped taking martial arts and stuff.  My stamina sucks; though, to be fair, it's never been that good anyway, but I realized it's gotten decidedly worse.  I decided I'd start doing things to get into better shape.  There's no rush, so, whatever I'm in the mood for, but, something's gotta be done.  Unfortunately, today's plans fell through and I didn't end up going.  Maybe I'll get a chance to go tomorrow evening, since I like going when it's cooler.  The school's campus is amazing and beautiful, and I can't think of a better place to spend a bit of time jogging around.

School starts Monday, and I'm really excited.  I can't wait to jump in and start the year, start meeting new people, and just learn new things.  The weekend comes first, though, and on Saturday, Kyle and I celebrate our anniversary.  I don't know what we're going to do yet, but I want to do something fun and memorable.

By the way... Owl City's new song, "To the Sky", is fantastic!  <33

Russian reversal

It was cold and rainy today.  But there was a fair share of sun keeping things warm, otherwise it would have been unbearably cold.

I haven't been feeling well for the past couple of days.  I hope that whatever it is, it goes away soon.  I don't have much time left before school starts, and the last thing I want to do is start the year with a cold *crosses fingers*

Kyle and I went to pick up a package from FedEx that he ordered (he got the new iPod and a dock connector).  His dock connector arrived, but the iPod itself is still stuck somewhere in Kentucky.  I love how Apple's shipping is free, but it takes weeks to get something.

Afterwards, we went to this sushi place in town.  I absolutely love sushi.  It's the one single food that I could, literally, have every single day for the rest of my life and never get tired of eating it.  Naturally, I couldn't eat the same kind of sushi every day, so give me a little variety please.  But yeah, sushi.  Yum!

My parents are quite overbearing.  Even 2,000+ miles away, they still insist on talking to me several times a week.  Last Saturday, I was quite busy, and I told them when they called I couldn't talk for very long.  Today my mom told me that my dad was upset because I said I couldn't talk long, and how "it's so difficult to have a meaningful conversation since we speak so rarely."  They spoke to me previously on Thursday.  That's two days.  Two days later and they're upset that they don't get to talk to me.

I love my parents.  I appreciate that they're giving me the opportunity to come to school here, but honestly, for f***'s sake, they need to back off a bit.  They expect me to talk to them twice, sometimes three times per week.  Each time the minimum conversation time is something like 30-40 minutes.  That's a significant portion of my week that goes into talking to them.  And when we do talk, it's not about anything in particular.  They ask me stupid questions that never change ("how are you settling in?" "how's the weather?" "how do you like it there?" "how are the people?").  I mean, they already know the answer.  It didn't change from last time.  Why ask it again?  That freedom I've been feeling this past week is slowly being replaced by that same, stifling dread I was feeling back at home.  I have to find a way to decrease my time spent talking to them.  I can't live my life and be happy with my bf while simultaneously trying to juggle my parents' every whim at the same moment.

Now before anyone calls me a whiner, and says that I should stop complaining, it's not quite that simple.  My parents aren't your traditional American parents.  In fact, they're not even American.  They're from conservative, Soviet-bloc Eastern Europe.  Their values clash with American values on a daily basis.  That sort of thing caused me a lot of headaches when I was younger, and fitting in with my peers was a chore; a delicate balancing act.  Conforming to American standards too much caused super-drama at home; the vice-versa caused me grief with my peers.

So I could never be myself around my parents, even to this very day.  I can never be out around my parents or extended family (or other friends of theirs from back home).  I can never really be happy while having direct contact with them precisely for those two reasons.  That's why I'm having such a hard time even this far away... it's like their presence lingers every where I go and I can't shake them.  It's like a cough that won't go away even though you're not sick anymore, and haven't been for weeks.

And every time I get that little taste of freedom; that one, glimmering ray of light that begins to shed my facade of a personality that I've had to wear while being at home for so long, the mask pops right back on, because I'm just two rings away from being reminded that, no, I'm not quite free, and won't be free for a long time.

I'm fighting the good fight, and eventually I have confidence I'll tear myself away from their controlling nature, but it's going to take time, and I can't help but feel miserable about it in the meantime.

My muse is midnight

(Two posts today!  Huzzah!)

I'm writing a story.  I've really always been writing something, ever since 8th grade.  Admittedly, my writing used to suck when I was younger, but it's gotten better over the years.  For the past two years or so, I've been creating a world in my spare time: characters, lore, history, trivia, etc., of a futuristic sci-fi universe (set several thousand years into the future), and finally about six months ago, I decided I was going to start writing the first volume of this adventure.  I started an outline that details the first six chapters, and I'm expanding on it as inspiration strikes me.

Inspiration is a funny thing.  It strikes at the most inopportune times, like when I'm waiting in line at the grocery store, or taking a math test.  The thing about it is, you really have to seize the moment and go with it, because if you don't, that inspiration will slip out of your fingers and you'll be left with just the gnawing sense of missed opportunity.  That's sort of how this story is being written.

I've had some great ideas over the years, many of them shelved amongst the mundane life experiences of my day-to-day.  I've written down a few, but nothing solid, so most of my world and my characters live in my head.  Since I've started writing things down, I've realized just how difficult it is to retrieve these spontaneous explosions of creativity which I've never harnessed.  It's actually quite depressing, but instead of dwelling on how silly I was to not write things down, I'm going to chalk this up as a learning experience that tells me I really need to start writing things down.  I feel foolish about the idea to carry around a small notebook and to whip it out and start scrawling whenever a good idea comes to me, despite the fact that at the time I may be ordering a ham sandwich or making a left turn at a particularly busy intersection.

Despite all these unsavory setbacks, I've actually made pretty good progress, and I'm happy with my result so far.  I haven't actually started on the manuscript, but the outline is really making a solid thing I can hook into when I start the prose.  So, I'm really, really excited to get this thing off the launchpad.  It's going to have mystery, intrigue, conspiracy, heroism, and romance (gay romance, at that!).  If you guys are interested in hearing more, I'd love to share.  Just let me know ^^

Oh, and it's called, Galateia.

<33

Steady as she goes

I absolutely adore Sky Sailing.  It's an Owl City project, which is like, my favorite band musical group person everrr.  Probably the best song off the album is "Steady As She Goes" (though "Captains of the Sky" and "I Live Alone" are also amazingly beautiful), and it always reminds me of sort of a journey into the unknown.  Where you pick up your knapsack and set out without having a destination in mind.  It's not a tedious journey, or a particularly dangerous one; just one where you're not sure where you'll end up.  Those sorts of journeys are the best.  They don't let you set the mind onto a specific track; they don't let you estimate what the ending will be like, distracting you from all the sights you'll see on the way there.  It frees you to not worry about the destination, and lets you enjoy the journey.  I think that's the most important in anything: the road there, not the there part.

I think that's how I'm going to approach the next few years.  Sure, I can worry about what I'm going to do when I graduate, and where I'm going to end up next.  I can pass over the next three years just worrying about the destination, missing all the sights, sounds, and freedoms of being a university student truly on my own for the first time.  Or, I can just forget the destination.  It will come regardless... no need to worry my little head over it.  Instead, I can experience the wonders of the journey there.  Stop, and really, truly experience each day.  Laugh along with friends, cherish being up late nights staring into the violet sky, walk the trails on campus and see the geese migrating.  Each day that passes is like a full meal of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.  If you skip over the main course and go straight to dessert, you missed the best part.  Live each day as though you will never be able to come back and have the same experience again.  That's what I'm going to do.

And I'm going to love every day doing it.

<33

Labour Day

It was a Monday, and I wanted to get things done, but I couldn't!!  'Cause it's Labour Day (I should start getting used to the Canadian spelling of things, eh?).  I was so ready to go to the school cafeteria office to pay for my meal program, I was just itching to go.

And then it was closed.

But I did end up getting my parking permit from the security office, since that's open 24/7, apparently.  So I guess that's good.  What sucks about the permit though is they sold out of the special permits (which are a bit more expensive but you get to park closer to school) yesterday.  Ack!  When winter hits it's going to be soooo cold and I have to park way the heck out in the boonies.  My skinny California ass will freeze and die in the winters here xD

I'm excited to start eating in the school's cafeteria.  Why?  Because so far every day has been a fast-food fest.  Either that, or like, I skip a meal because I'm poor and can't afford to eat out every day =\

There are two cafeterias at the school: one for the residents where you have 3 meals a day and an ever-changing menu, but you're stuck eating whatever they have on the menu for the day and at specific times.  Or you can go to the regular cafeteria, which really feels like a mall food court.  You walk in and there are like six or seven different places to get food.  You pick up your meal and pay on your way out.  I like variety, since I'm a pretty picky eater, so I'm skipping the general cafeteria nonsense.  Thankfully, you don't need to be a resident to go to the resident cafeteria!  Plus, you get money to spend at the general cafeteria in case you want something different.  Yay!   =D

I'm a bit stressed at not having books yet for my classes.  My boyfriend (I'll name him Kyle for this blog) advised me to go to the first day of class and see if I need the latest edition of the books (the prof will usually say).  If not, I can buy used books for like, 50% of the cost at the bookstore.  Which is good, because the books are stupidly expensive.  We're talking like, there's no book under $100 kind of thing.  Stupid.  Even math supplementary books that are the thickness of my fingernail are like $100.

Letseee... there's not much else to talk about, so I'll quit while I'm still ahead and say g'bye =P

<33

A bit about me

What blog is complete without a post about the author?  So I guess I should introduce myself.

My name is Skybluekid.  We'll stick with that.  Originally I'm from Los Angeles, California.  I moved up here to Canada to start my first year of college/university.

I'm gay, and I'm out.  Sort of.  My goal is to be out to everyone up here, but sometimes I chicken out and try to hide that part of myself.  I think most of that fear comes from the sort of treatment I got back home from coming out to a few people who meant a lot to me.  I think, though, that this will be a lot different.  People here are different.  So I won't hide who I am, because that's caused problems in the past too much.

I'm not out to my parents.  I can't do that yet.  They're European immigrants from a very conservative country, and their views on gay people just... suck.  I don't know what their reaction would be if I told them, but I refuse to find out.  So I decided I would keep it from them as long as I could... at least until I was financially stable anyway.  They're the ones paying for my school, for one.  I don't want them to stop paying or stuff like that.

I have a boyfriend, and we live together.  We actually met a few years ago online, and he came down to visit me a couple of times.  We stuck out the long-distance relationship and it finally paid off.  When it came to apply to universities, I begged my parents to let me come here, since this is where he lives and is going to school.  I used all sorts of excuses.  I said that in the long run it was less expensive to go here, how the schools are better here, how great of an experience it would be, etc.  In the end they agreed to let me apply and I got accepted!  I was so excited, but also terrified.  This would be the first time I was away from my parents for so long, and so far away!  But so far it's been fantastic.  The freedom, the ability to just breathe deeply and not feel the mental oppression that I would get every day from being around my parents is soooo liberating.  I don't think I can describe just how wonderful it feels.

So I live with my boyfriend and his mom.  His mom and I met a few times before, and she's really chill.  She knows about us and is completely okay with everything.  Imagine that!  I wish my parents would be so accepting.  I managed to convince my parents that I found "off-campus housing".  I'm really surprised they didn't investigate further.  But, I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.  It's a good deal.

I'm majoring in business with a concentration in human resources.  I feel I'm a pretty good judge of character, and a decent motivator and leader.  I think I would do well in that position.  I find workplace psychology to be fascinating as well.  Secretly, though, I wish I could be a counsellor for LGBT youth.  What I went through growing up was a difficult struggle, and I really, really wish I had someone to help walk with me, give me advice, and so-forth.  The thing is, studying psychology is not something that interests me, so it would be difficult to do something like that as a career.  But I mean, who knows.  Maybe I can volunteer at a place or something =)

I think that's enough about me for now.  It's been a pretty fantastic journey for the past few weeks as I moved up here and left my old life behind.  I feel refreshed and renewed, and optimistic about the future.  I hope it continues to be that way, and that feeling just keeps growing.  I don't think I've been this happy for a long time =)

Oh and, if anyone wants to chat or something, my MSN is on my profile.  I really like to hear from people... I don't have many friends, especially ones who are gay.  It's always a great experience meeting new people and stuff.  So yeah... don't hesitate to comment or chat or something!! <33

Cloudspace

So here I am.

I actually don't know what I want to do with this.  I don't know what I want to write, what I'm going to write, or how long my writing is going to be.

All I know is that I need a place to say things.  To speak my mind and let everything just sort of flow.  I know I'll come back one day and read these posts, and my hope is that I feel I've learned something since I posted.  Like I've somehow matured in some way, shape, or form.  I doubt it.  Heh.  I haven't matured for a long, long time.

I think there has always been an obstacle to me completely expressing myself.  Part of it was, I never had complete anonymity.  So because of that I was afraid to write what I thought.  I was afraid to be truthful and honest with myself.  I also tried to write for others.  I think it's time to try to write for myself.

So, in the spirit of anonymity, I won't talk about names.  I won't talk about ages, or post pictures.  I won't talk about locations, or specifics.  What I will talk about are things that are dear to me.