The new and inproved me

Well, I finally got to move. I have wanted to move my whole life, don't ask me why, and now I've done it. Thus far it doesn't seem like I've moved, it just seems like I'm on a vacation. But because I started having to look for work, I am getting this feeling of lonelyness. Do I miss my family? Not as much as I thought I would. I miss knowing where everything is. So far I have been places and I have no idea where I am going. I finally got a bus sceduale, but it is huge and I have no idea where I am going, still.
My good friend Derek's Grandmother is in charge of linin and sterilization at a hospitol in Whittier, Ca. I was/am hoping to get a job there, but again, I have no idea where it is. I feel so lost, yet free at the same time.
I am living with Nicole's family at the moment (Nicole is my girlfriend) and they have been very helpful in a lot of ways. Nicole's mom said she could help me write a resume and has put out the word at their church that I need a roommate or two. I just hope everything falls into place soon.

Last Weekend in Alaska

Well, this was my last weekend in Alaska. So, as part of my Christmas present from my Grandma Patras, my parents took my little brother and myself to Alyeska Ski Resort to ski and stay for two days.
We left the house Friday morning and John and I started skiing. I don't know what they do in the rest of the country, but up here at Aly, they changed the lift-ticketing system. When I started skiing it was just a little wire thing that you stuck this sticker that was a specific colour and had the day's date on it. Last season they changed it to those plastic bands, like what Air Marshals use to handcuff people on planes, and they used bar codes on them to let you on the lifts. Then, they changed them again this season to little plastic cards that get scanned automatically by this big 'ol things that just sit there.
We skied Friday and Saturday. I left early, because I hadn't been to church in like a month so I left in time to buy my girlfriend a present and get to Vespers on Saturday, while the rest of my family stayed another night.
Then today I just sat around and talked to my girlfriend on the phone.
Isn't my life just exciting!
JP

Unemployment

Well, for those of you who don't live within a 500 yard radius of me, today was my last day working at Wal*Mart. Finally! I was so stressed out near the end because I hated more that half of the people that I worked with and the fact that I had to be there at 3 am almost every day. Jonah (one of the "associates" that I actually like) made me some special pizza bread. Now, in the Wal*Mart Bakery, we make pizza bread using cheese bread, which we cut open and put a regulated number of slices of peperoni and a small amount of cheese inside and then close it up and reshape it. However, for me, because it was my last day, Jonah made me some using Jalepeno bread (we were out of the cheese bread). He made me 4 rolls and I gave him one to try and I bought the others. During his lunch and at the end of my last break, he shared some with me. It was delicious! You couldn't taste the jalepeno but you still got the spicy aftertaste...like heaven.
Anyway, the family and myself are going to Alyeska this weekend so that John and I can go skiing and we will be staying for 2 nights. I am going to drive myself back early so that I can go to church for vespers on saturday night and liturgy on sunday. Then I leave next friday! I am sooooooooooo excited! James out.

Musician update

Recently, with my new found power of a credit card, I have bought some music off of iTunes. Of course this is way different from my normal way of getting things for free but what the hey, right?

Anyway, I just wanted to share with all ya'll what I be gettin.



Blind Pilot - A band based out of Oregon, very mellow and just overall cool. If you like The Shins, you'll like them.

Bell X1 - A band based out of Ireland, very smooth and soothing. If you like People In Planes, you'll like them.

Jack Penate - Actually, his name has a squiggly above the "n" but I don't know how to do that. He is English with some Spanish. His music is very upbeat and happy for the most part. I can't think of another band to compare him to.

Slint - This is a very indie band from the 90's that never got any publicity or radio airtime. However I think that they are great. They are very unique in the fact that they usually don't sing so much as speak, so basically they are a bunch of beatniks? Again no comparison.

Throw Me The Statue - Is a modern indie band based out of Seattle. Their sound is very unique yet kind of generic. If you are into any indie band in general, it is hard not to like them.

That is all that I have for now. Peace, love and hugs.

Newsflash!

Newsflash! For all of you who pay attention, I just bought myself a ticket to California for the 26th of December. I am going to move down there so that I can be closer to my girlfriend Nicole Braun. Am I crazy? Perhaps, but I can't help it, I'm goin' to California!

That does it.

I moved into the "St. James House" which is also called, "The Big House" by other people in my neighborhood. It is something that my church set up for college aged Orthodox Christians. There is a host family that is in charge and sets rules and the like. This year the host family is the Frizzeles (I am totally certian that I spelled that wrong, you can call me on it if you want). I moved the most important stuff today and I hope I can keep most of my extra stuff at home. I will have limited web access so I won't be here as often (Because I knew you would be worried about that). I hope to have tons of fun.

It may be illegal

Well folks, I finally did it. I joined an online file-sharing program. I dig it. Thus far I have downloaded about 30 songs and about 3 videos (wholesome ones, you pervert!). If you want to know the name of it, I can sent it to you via e-mail because, "Big Brother Is Watching". So be safe and remember, something.

H.M.S Awesome

Well, last friday (the day after payday) I went to my place of work and purchased for myself, an eighty gigabyte iPod. It is black (like my old one, except my old one was 160-gigs and had 3 seasons of The Office (NBC) on it) and I named it "H.M.S Awesome" because I thought that was unique as well as wicked awesome. I am also looking forward to traveling to N.H for my family reunion (not really. I hate my family and all that.....not really). The part I am especially looking forward to is a trip to the Ben & Jerry's factoryorwhatever in Vermont. I didn't get to go there last time I was on the East Coast. However, I am determined to have fun. No matter what my siblings may say about my work.

Chemistry of a Car Crash...

Well, I got into a car wreck yesterday. I was driving with my buddy Derek, on our way to see Omdiecca play in Wasilla (Omdiecca is a band that I am friends with, my cousin is the bass player, and I am very well acquainted with the other two members). I was making a left turn at a light and the light was yellow. I did not see the truck until it was too late. It smashed into my car right about the front-right tire. Derek was unhurt and so was I (cuz I knew you were worried). Now I have to find another way to get to work. Right now I'm borrowing Kari's (my sister-in-law for all you stranger's out there) bike and I'm gonna ride to work. I found that it takes me an hour to get there (hey! I'm not in shape! Gimme a break!). But the best part is........................nothing. The whole deal just inhales vigorously, like a Vacuum cleaner.

Web Comics

Well it may seem nerdy, but I read Web Comics. There are currently three of them that I read on a regular basis (ie whenever they are updated). The first one that I read, called Questionable Content(http://questionablecontent.net/) I heard about from a friend of mine who was in both my Japanese and AP Bio classes at school. He said that I might like it because him and I always talk about Indie rock music, and the main character is really into Indie rock music. The second one I found off of the QC homepage where the author has a list of other web comics that he reads (I also found the third one there but that is for later), It is called Sam and Fuzzy (http://samandfuzzy.com/) I read it and just found it to be super funny, in my opinion. The third one I found is called Dr. McNinja (http://drmcninja.com/) It is about a Ninja who is a doctor (or visa versa) I found it especially funny because of the lucridity of what happens (his receptionist is an Ape and he has a Velocoraptor named Yoshi, which he requires in story line #3(ha! the "#" and the "3" are on the same key!)). I don't necessarily say that you should read them, but you should read them. Also, if you read them, you must read them from the beginning to understand what is going on. Enjoy!

Pearls of Wisdom

Well, yesterday was my first real day working at Wal Mart. Boy am I tired! I spent the first three hours helping Assistant Manager Peter (whom I know from previous experience, he is a cool cat) load palates full of beauty products and medicine stuff. Then I took a 15 minute break (required) and then I pushed carts inside until my "lunch" two hours later. I went home for my hour long lunch. When I got back I pushed carts in until about 8:30. I just got off my break when a CSM (customer service manager) came and said that they needed my help in the receiving area. Then for the next hour I helped drag palates of stuff out too the floor. Then I pushed carts for the next half-hour until it was quittin' time! Here is my take on my fellow Wal Mart employees, one of the other assistant managers kept on shaking my hand, this would happan every time I saw him (is he gay or something? Maybe just overly friendly?), also the CSM I was refering to earlier kept on making sure that I was taking my breaks. So all in all it is a pretty good place to work. I just got a cavity filled in. my face is still numb! I am so hungry...

Work work work...

Well, today was my first day off of my job. (hooray!) I am finished with orientation and I will begin my first real day on Sunday at 1 pm. Oh! I also get a bonus of an extra one dollar and hour for working on Sunday! (valid only for hours worked on Sundays. limit one per associate. not valid in the District of Columbia (not really).). So far, I am working Sunday through Thursday, 3 days of eight hours, 2 days of four hours (I think, I know at least two day a week I work less, but that is not cutting me too badly...). I get to find the joys of working for a big corporation like Wal Mart!

Got Job?

Well, today at around 1:30 pm local time, I got a call from Wal Mart saying that they got everything they needed and wanted to know when I would be available to start working. I told the lady on the phone that I could start today, she said that there was orientation this week from 3 pm to 9 pm every day. So I showed up in by blue shirt and jeans just before 3. There was 7 of us new "associates" (employees, why do that have to give it such a stupid name?). Not all of us work the same area. 2 of the women (one of whom is my age, very good looking and has a super hot southern accent) are cashiers, the only other woman was a "night stocker" (the name Wal Mart gives them, I have forgotten) one of the other males was a prescription drug stocker, and another male was an assembly man and the other male (boy really, he is like 14 or 15) is something else that I have forgotten. I am a "courtesy associate" which means that I push the carts inside, clean up spills and am basically a store "whipping boy" (I am not a boy, and I was going to use another word instead of what is in quotations, but I decided against it, I'd like to keep this family oriented). So today, we played a board game that "shows us how important customer satisfaction is" and watched a couple of video's, clocked in, filled out some paperwork and things of that nature. All in all, it was quite boring. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to being a "whipping boy" for eight hours a day...

The Mighty Moose

Well, this Memorial Day weekend I went on a canoe trip. For those of you who don't know, my church sets up a group of young people (usually high schoolers, however this year it was mostly college aged individuals) to go do the Swan Lake system in Sterling AK (population: very few). Some years, if there is enough water, we end up going down the "Mighty" Moose river (mighty is ironic). We usually go seven lakes in, camp on the seventh lake for two nights, then pack up and head out. Last year we ran into a Boy Scout leader (nothing says pedophile like a Scoutmaster) who one of our leaders dubbed "Boondoggle". Last year, the spot where we normally camp on the river was taken, and Boondoggle was ahead of us and got the next best camping site. This year, we sent out two of our own, bright and early (7 AM) to capture the good spot nice and early. Unfortunately, it was all for naught because three of our boats (canoes really) beat Boondoggle to the good spot. It only rained (drizzled actualy) one day, so it wasn't too bad. I got a little sun-burned on my nose and on the back of my neck. After we all got out of the river at Sterling, we all went to "Magpye's Pizza Pizzaria" and had some pizza. The vehicle I was in (Weldon Johnson's BMW which he famously paid for with a single check) got back to The Riv (Eagle River, a friend of mine calls it that, and I like it. thanks Tae Freeman) at around eight in the evening. I am so sore from all that paddleing...

Arctic Monkeys

Well, I have been listening to this British band called the "Arctic Monkeys". They are a couple of lads from Sheffield in England. Their music is pretty fast and up-beat for the most part; they do have a couple of slower songs, especially in their first US released album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not", which evidently according to Wikipedia, sold faster in the UK than Oasis' "Definitly Maybe" (I was probably too young to remember or to have purchased that album, the only Oasis album I have is "What's The Story Morning Glory?"). I do like them alot, with their cool brit accents and their music that just makes you want to move. I first heard them on NPR (what?) and their name just stuck with me the next time I was out looking for new music. Their newest album, "Favourite Worst Nightmare" came out last year and I got it a couple of months ago. I am impressed, they actually had a wide variaty of musical style. Not to say that I didn't like their first album (which I still like thankyouverymuch) its just that I like the new one more. If you haven't listened to them yet, you should. It will cheer you up considerably. Sayoonara!

Ben and Me

Well, I went with another male from the St. James House (a church run home for college aged kids who want to stay active in the Orthodox church) to go hike Crow Pass. Unfortunately, we ran into a few troubles along the way. First, we were unable to drive all the way to the trail-head and were forced to hike to it from about two miles out. The way was blocked by snow that was still on the ground as well as an avalanche or two the came across the road. Second, as we were hiking along, the trail disappeared along the side of a mountain, covered with snow that was just asking to avalanche. After seeing that, Ben Temby (don't actually know how to pronounce it properly) and I started to hike straight up the side of the mountain to where we could see it was clear of snow. When we got up there, we saw several piles of what appeared to be goat fur and a lot of bear signs. So we decided to head back down and find a place to camp because it was about 1:30 A.M (did I mention that we started about 10:30 P.M?). On our way back down I lost one of my Nalgene bottles. We found a place to camp and made spaghetti for "dinner" and then slept. Don't worry, we stashed the food in a tree about fifty feet away from our tent. We ended up setting the tent up on snow, which was a bad idea because the snow got frozen at night and I couldn't move my left hand at one point when I woke up in the night. We got up at around eleven o'clock in the morning, packed up and headed down. When we got to where we were dropped off, we saw a Beamer with a man in it asking about the conditions. We told him and then started hiking back to Girdwood. He ended up turning around and gave us a ride to the Alyeska Highway (which is kind of an ironic name because it is really just a road, not a highway). Then Ben and I walked to the Girdwood gas station. On the way there we got ahold of Liz Chafen (also a member of the St. James House, I don't know how to spell her last name...) and she agreed to pick us up there. While we were waiting, Ben and I ate cold oatmeal and sat around in front of The Bakery. Ben smoked his pipe while I sat in silence. After waiting about a million years (1.5 hours), Will Klatt (to some, his last name is Ihde) and his fiancee Liz came and drove us home. I got home at around 2:30 in the afternoon.

Where have all the Heroes gone...

Today I watched some Heroes via Netflix. Why is that show not back on the air? I looked on the NBC website and all it has is the graphic novel. I know I may seem nerdy, I'm not that nerdy. When will it re-start? I am sure that there are tons of people who want to see it back on broadcast television, I am going to try and e-mail NBC and all that, you should too, if you support Heroes. Marcel Out.

Gradblast for all you squares out there...

Well, last night I went to the Chugiak/Eagle River Grad blast. It was pretty fun. They had all the usual things to do there. I beat my buddy Tim-kun at sumo wrestling three times in a row. I won a Chugiak mug for the drawing. On the board where they posted the winnings, it said I won an E.R mug. I was going to keep it out of spite, but it turned out to be a Chugiak one. I also discovered that I can't play Poker at all and also that I am passably good a Black Jack. They had gambling there. Isn't that Illegal? Also, on a totally unrelated note, If you haven't listened to it yet, I strongly recommend the new Jack Johnson album, "Sleep Through The Static", it is pretty awesome. My favourite song on it is probably, "If I Had Eyes". I'll See You Next Time!

Well now that I'm all bloody down there...

Well, yesterday after I posted the first one, I went on a 90's music rage. I went to a website that you can watch video's for free (the name of which I won't say because I am not sponsered by them, however I can say that it started with a "Y" and rhymes with "boob"). It started how it always does, my iTunes was on and a song came up by "Harvey Danger" and so I looked them up on this website. After watching that, a song by "Fastball" came up on the list so I watched that one, et cetera. I ended up spending about an hour watching music video's of bands I had heard when I was younger but never knew the names of. I must say though, nothing beats "The Decemberists" for style. They are amazing and my favourite band. Check them out. Peace

poppin' the cherry

Well, here it is, my first post. I decided to do this 'cuz my siblings are doing it and I would like to leave them some snide comments. I may just talk about music I like and dislike. Maybe I'll have something interesting to say? Perhaps not. Peace.