Bored Ramblings

I'm having an extremely boring week and have not much to report. I've just been studying and playing the guitar to the point where my fingers are developing new calluses and are throbbing in pain. I've already written some songs and learned a few new ones by going through my MP3's. Last night was Dave Matthews' "Lover Lay Down" and the night before was Belle and Sebastian.
So I'm almost done with The DaVinci Code and I can definitelty see how it could piss off the church. It does make you think and the last few days I've been researching the internet for more information; that's how bored I get at this place. Speaking of which, this library has the ultimate filter on their computers. I'm doing research for the library's website and I can't even search for words like "Charles Dickens" and/or "analysis". I'm sure you can figure out why that is. I need to do something about my host organization. There is just no way I can handle 2 years of this. The other volunteers are even making fun of me now telling me to put on puppet shows for them...which is actually pretty damn funny. They tell me to switch organizations or get the hell out because this is a waste of time and they just want me there as a "look at our American" circus side show. I couldn't agree more, and could have told you that from my site visit back in May...wait, I DID tell you. I am actually taking on little productive projects to kill the time, but those can only go so far. First on the list is to remodel their bathroom. No more crapping into a hole in the ground for this guy...no sir! I am going to apply for a grant to install a toilet, new sink, mirror and possibly (and hopefully) an air conditioner for the room I work in because everyday I am on the brink of passing out from heat exhaustion. I also emailed several organizations in the U.S. for book donations. An organization called Darian Book Aid has already shipped out some classic English novels per my request. I can't say enough good things about the people that work for Darian Book Aid! In addition, yesterday Marina turned into Super Moody Woman and it made for an extremely long, uncomfortable and irritating day. It is hard to escape it when there is only her and I in this tiny room for 8 hours daily. I'm not sexist in the least but have a very important question...Why is it that EVERY time in all my places of employment over the years that I have had a female boss, they are always moody and can't just chill out and stay consistant??? Is that really so difficult? Instead they feel the need to piss off the entire staff with their childish behavior and make their bad moods contagious. I don't know. Maybe it's just another one of the mysteries of the female species. I thought maybe it was just an American woman thing, but apparantly it is worldwide.

I'm so bummed I'm missing "Big Brother". I've never missed a season and I'm jonsin' for my annual dose of brainless television. I was very fortunate to complete the last season of "Lost". My sister emailed me the world's largest report on the current theory behind the show and now I'm completely confused....thanks, Julie.
I saw AFI released the updated top 100 films of all time, but I still don't see "The Big Lebowski" or "Boogie Nights" in the list so I will keep waiting until they get it right. Anyone besides Chuck see "The Transformers" movie yet? I'm trying to get my old host dad in Chernihiv to mail me a bootleg Russian copy of it, but perhaps I burned that bridge by giving them a bad write-up at the end of training and it got back to them. I don't know nor do I care. He was just my only hook-up for bootlegs out here.
I see Pearl Jam is headlining Lollapalooza in Chicago. It figures that would happen whenI'm not there. I'm counting on Mike and Heather to give me the full report on PJ's only show this year.
I think I'm going to take another road trip this weekend to visit volunteers in a nearby city about 2 hours away. I'll give my report next week.
Let's see, news from home, my cousin is going to prison for 10 years and my parents are coming out here to Romania next week and I'm not able to meet them which sucks. I would love to see Dracula's castle and spend time with them out here, but it's not in the cards this time around. They are taking a river cruise through Eastern Europe...I think to every country except Ukraine. I don't blame them. I love how everyone wanted to come out here to visit me, but after reading my blog it's more like, "Ummm, yeah, maybe I'll just catch ya when you get back" or like Chuck, for example, "Let's just meet in Rome next month". No worries, I'd say the same things. You are not missing much out here. At any rate HAVE A FUN VACATION MOM AND DAD! ...and Chuck too if I don't hear from you.
also...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

A HUGE thanks to all of you for sending packages to me. I think I have about 8 packages in the mail now and it really helps to stay in a good mood and be excited for something. In these packages I'm getting new CDs from Wilco, Velvet Revolver, Arcade Fire and Beastie Boys and new DVDs like "Black Snake Moan" and "Smokin Aces". The always illustrious Scotty Dangerous is shipping out hundreds of burned bootleg DVDs to me as well...heaven in Ukraine! Also tons of food and other goodies. I love you all for taking the time to do that for me.

My good friend in Chicago (who has been neglecting me out here, but for understandable reasons) is getting married this week and I was really torn as to whether to go home to be a part of it after he invited me to stand up in his wedding. We have been through some crazy journeys together that stem back to the days of us both rockin the mullets together. He lived with me in Montana and I lived with him in Chicago. I'm Dirk Diggler, he's Brock Landers. He's more like a brother than a friend and I hope he understands my reasons for not being there for him on his big day. I also hope since he was MY best man that me declining his offer and not being able to even attend the party of the century we have been waiting for for 15 years + did not permanently damage our friendship. I'm writing in the 3rd person because I don't even think he will ever read this, but in case he does...
CONGRATULATIONS MAR & CARRIE JIMENEZ!!! Here's to a lifetime of happiness together! Have a kick-ass wedding and god bless you both! I truly am sorry I could not be there to celebrate.

Have a good weekend, my peoples!