deadbodyparade

In my life, it's been frequently pointed out that I talk about things far too serious for whatever situation I'm in.
Probably the reason I'm isolated and weird.

So let's throw in something a little more positive, and a little less, let's say... wordly.

My sister is moving to China.
I think it's fucking awesome!

I used to live with her, and one day I came downstairs to find some dude I've never met sitting in my family room drinking coffee. Turns out, this was a guy she knew in high school (she's 32, so high school is nothing but a fading memory for her; well it would be if she ever forgot anything. She puts most people's memory to absolute shame), and she met up with him at some party.

Long story short, in high school they both had a thing for eachother, but neither ever acted on it.
Ahhhh, unrequited love.

Here's the problem: he's a teacher working in China at an American school.

So their relationship continues over a series of internet video chat and his various visits to Canada, plus her one visit to China. Early on this year, he asks her to move to China to live with him.

After a couple of months of deliberation, she decides that she's unhappy enough with her job to say "Fuck it. I'm moving to Beijing!"

I don't know about you, but I think this is pretty damn romantic.
To drop your whole life and move across the world to be with the man you love... damn.

I guess I'm not all that happy with losing my sister to the Far East (small family, so we're all pretty close. I only have 5 blood relatives left, from the less than impressive original number of 10), but I'm also not stupid enough to think that this isn't an amazing opportunity for her to see the world. This dude's got another two years in China (I think), then after that he plans on going to Prague or somewhere else in Europe to teach. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.

Anyway, I don't get any bad vibes from this guy (I mean none. It's like he's a bloody Saint), and he had the balls from day one to argue with me and made no fruitless effort to impress me, and I can't tell you how much I like that in a person, so hopefully this guy will be my brother in law in time and provide my mother with the grandchildren she so desperately wants (my other sister and I are kind of write-offs in the baby producing field for various reasons).

So, I think that's a little less serious, but a really cool thing that's happening in my (well, my sister's) life.

And it ain't so serious.

A'yuh,

J.R.

P.S. Now this...

is a book.

In fact, four books. 1300 hardcover pages of regular print. This should keep me amused with a nerdy fantasy world for a couple of days.

Speaking of books, these


are two of the most interesting books I've ever read. The Zinn Reader is a series of essays by Howard Zinn (who'd a thunk it?), with a large chunk being essays regarding his time as a professor in a segregated university during the civil rights movement. Incredible stories about him getting in trouble for supporting his students to protest etc.
People's History is about American history as told by the people as opposed to the government, so it covers the underbelly of America as is was forming and progressing. Very cool.

In fact, Howard Zinn is, of course, the inspiration for this guy's


name. My little half bald, boob having rat. No, you can't see his boob in this photo, but he has a big ole lipoma on his other side.