Ignore this
Ignore this
19-Nov-06
Oops! This page is now outdated, as I've returned to Seattle. I'll soon have a page for that, which will include my layover in Fairfield Ca. Wait for it.
14-Apr-06
Yes, it has been a long time. Worse, while what is below is historic, it's now horribly outdated, considering I'm now in Santa Cruz Ca. I'm going to go ahead & upload this page as is now. But, soon, I will move it to another directory & create an Santa Cruz Chronical page. Watch for it -- it won't be long.
05-May-05
Well, the guy I was working for -- who turns out to be less Hawaiian than Portuguese -- is not an honest man. He's made quite a habit of screwing people out of money...including me. Suffice to say, I left the minute I got another job.
The job? Oh, that's nothing special, yet. I've taken a position as a Prep-Cook at Denny's. While the Manager who'd interviewed me led me to believe that they'll get me trained quickly so that they can move me to a Management position, I'm enduring the position, just now. Prep consists of cutting countless vegetables, adding water to most everything, as Denny's relies mostly on dehydrated food, &, generally, being a lackey for the other cooks.
It sucks, but we'll see.
20-Mar-05
Oi! So many things have happened since my arrival. First, I'd spent that week in the Seaside Hotel at Hilo, followed by a week at the Hilo Bay Hostel -- & spent most all my money. The hotel was nice, but it was some distance from downtown Hilo. Then, while the first few days at the hostel were good (& considerably less expensive than the hotel), the attitudes of the employees there just continued to grow worse the longer I was there.
I don't remember doing anything particularly bad. I'm actually pretty unassuming & very polite. So, I can only imagine they simply want to chase potential long-term guests away by alienation.
Anyway, I'd met some really cool people at the hostel, while I spent most days failing to find any work. Hilo is so peaceful that I really didn't feel badly about this, but my dwindling bank-roll was certainly some cause for alarm. Near the end of my money -- & my stay at the hostel -- I'd decided that maybe what I'd been hearing from so many sources, that there was lots of work on the other side of the island, that I should move to Kailua.
Two weeks gone, & the day after I arrive in Kailua, I get work! How's that? One day after getting here, & I have work? Yep.
I won't say how little I'm making, but I'm working for a really nice man of the Kanaka Maoli -- indigenous Hawaiian. At first, I was only to create a Web site for one of his other businesses. It's not yet completely finished, but it is functional. In addition, I'm also working behind the counter of his small restaurant. Well, not really a restaurant, but ice cream, smoothies, sandwiches & other stuff shop. It's not too bad -- in spite of the low pay -- because he feeds me once or twice a day, plus, when I work the counter, I get tips.
It could be worse, but I'm doing OK. I just can't wait till I get another job that I can afford my own apartment. Till last week, I was staying at a hostel here in Kailua. Now, I'm staying in a weekly place which used to be a hostel. While I have a private room, I share the living room, kitchen, & bathroom. I have a small, private lanai too. The rent's $175.00 a week, but the rents mostly go up from there here.
09-Feb-05
Whoo-hoo! I've now received a gift of a week's stay at the Hilo Seaside Hotel. Still hoping to find someone willing to exchange room & access to the bathroom for my teaching them Linux &/or html, but this is very nice.
07-Feb-05
In an attempt to save money, I've been posting anywhere appropriate an ad. This is only in Hilo. Have a look:
Do you want to switch to Linux, or maybe learn html? Perhaps both?
I am moving to Hilo, arriving 14 February. I would like to exchange knowledge of Linux installation, configuration & use &/or Website creation & maintenance for (safe) accommodations while I seek employment.
This offer extends to e-mail support indefinitely after I find my own place to live as well.
If anyone can help me out, mail me.
23-Jan-05
Ah, I've got it! The miracles are coming in, & I'm on my last days here in Seattle. I'd received a gift of air fare to Hilo from my room-mate, & the IRS is giving me extra -- now, there's a switch -- the IRS giving me more money...without cheating on my taxes? Yes. It appears that as jobs had been so difficult to come by, I'd made so little money last year that I suppose the IRS is taking pity on me. In any case, having the air fare covered & some extra cash make the move -- even without a job waiting for me -- possible. I leave 14 February. Whew!
24-Dec-04
Well, while the job in Hilo didn't exactly fall through, I didn't get a job offer. What I got was a two line e-mail saying that I should contact them after I arrive -- next year. Had they given me even a hint at a real possibility of employment, it would be fine. But, at best, they'd implied that I would be right back where I was before I'd begin sending resumes.
So, instead of just sending more resumes to small companies in a small town, I'm now sending them to most any company with the majority of them on Oahu. While Oahu isn't my first choice -- obviously -- it does present a damn site more possibilities than the Big Island.
I admit to feeling some disappointment, but I think I'm even more excited about moving to Oahu than I was the Big Island. Apart from there being more to do on Oahu, there are more of the sites I've wanted, for a very long time, to see, there's certainly more work, & being that the majority of the pages on the Web are aimed more toward Oahu than any of the other islands, I'm more familiar with it.
While it's taking more time to find a way out of here to get there, I think I'll be happier with life on Oahu anyway.
15-Dec-04
News! I've been interviewing with an isp in Hilo. Each interview had gone better than the previous, & the owner I'd spoken with last had ended the interview with implications that I had the job. He just had to discuss what they were going to offer me & get back to me. Of course, as time in Hawaii doesn't move as it does here on the mainland, I've not yet received the offer. I should think it will come this week, &, with any luck, I'll be in Hilo next week.
Not only should I be there (I hope) before xmas, but -- even better -- before New Years.
I'll give more detail on the isp & the job once (if) I receive the offer. I'll try to update this page before I leave.
09-Aug-04
Well, slowly things are happening. No, I'm really no closer to making the move than I was last entry. I get no responses to any resumes I send to companies in Hawaii -- no difference between here & there -- & a placement agency claiming to try to place people in jobs they'll like which will have little or nothing to do with any experience they may have, told me that they couldn't place me anywhere. And, naturally, what few funds I'd had while still here are gone. But, progress has been made.
I had finally succeeded in doing away with the Pile O' Crap. It wasn't as easy as I'd expected, but I got rid of it all, save a few items I'm keeping or giving to my room-mate, at no cost to myself. All I'll have to move -- should I ever be so fortunate -- will be a couple of suitcases, & a few boxes I'll ship over. I guess there's some benefit to being poor.
09-Apr-04
My plans are now destroyed. Because of new legislation, one cannot obtain a work visa in Poland -- or anywhere in the EU without a college degree. As I'd not stayed in college long enough to receive one, I'm out of luck & am now concentrating on other options.
How do I describe what I'm looking for? Naturally, I need something rather foreign. I suppose I have to remain in the US, but where to go...?
In addition to writing & one day being more successful with the businesses I'd either had or have envisioned, as long as I can remember, I've wanted to study aviation. Of course, I can do this anywhere. I've also wanted to get scuba certification since the day a friend strapped a tank to me & allowed me to use it in his pool -- being able to breathe under water is an incredible experience.
So, I think I will seek a place I can do these things -- perhaps with some comfort. A cold climate won't do, & the Pacific of the California coast has such cold water (as well as much of the East Coast), that I couldn't get very excited about diving there. I also don't care much for the South.
I think this leaves me with Hawaii. If I can find work & not become any burden to my now retired father, who's living there, Hawaii may be just the place.
10-Mar-04
Well, I've settled on a laptop to take with me. Considering I not only need some sort of laptop, but also something which can be upgraded (many laptops really aren't) & is powerful & fast enough as well as has enough storage to act as a replacement for my workstation, I really didn't think I'd find anything in my price range. But I have found this. It will do quite nicely.
As money will still be incredibly tight after buying what I need now, tuition & living expenses till my first pay check, I hope someone will be willing to share some airline miles in an attempt to reduce my travel costs. I'm planning to leave in early to mid August so that I can have some time to purge before class begins 1 September. Any party interested in contributing to finally getting rid of me can just drop me an e-mail. I know -- begging stinks, but what's a poor techie to do?
08-Jan-04
Finally. It's now 2004 -- the year Poland enters the EU & the year I actually move to Europe.
There's little happening just now in relation to my move. Money, as always, is an issue, but in spite of the fact I couldn't get bids on my guitar to match my reserve price on eBay, I should still be able to manage -- though things will be tight.
Apart from the $85.00 I'll have to spend to renew my passport (it's expired & more than 15 years old), I've also to spend either $45.00 or $50.00 for membership in one of two organizations for air couriers. But that's not so bad, as I'm likely to save round half the air fare.
While this is always subject to change, I'm thinking of flying to Vienna to see a friend, then possibly taking the train from there to Prague, spend a few days there, then, on to Krakow to meet Faustus (David -- the friend joining me in the plan to become teachers). I think hanging out in Krakow for a week or two before moving on to Tarnow for the class will be very good. I can use the rest.
26-Dec-03
For starters, I'd finally succeeded in getting a Linux distro to install -- only on a different pc than my favourite work-horse. It's an Athalon, 1.1 system. While the current release of Gentoo wouldn't cooperate, the current Slackware is humming along quite well.
Also, my search for a donor to the worthy cause of me -- a digital camera -- has come to an end. My father has come through with a FujiFilm FinePix A200.
I will soon be posting my own pics here.
Many thanks to dad.
Created: 24-Oct-03
Little happening yet. Because of relatively newer releases of Linux distributions having trouble with my old hardware, I've had to recreate this page of all that's leading up to & the strange situations I tend to find myself in when I travel -- as well as my having to install Windows 98 (yuck!). At least I can play all my Windows games & use my CD burner.
I'd also had a great realisation: What good is another text-based log of one's travels to a strange & alien land? Any travel page -- regardless of type -- needs pictures, but I have no digital camera. So, I've started a campaign to fulfill this need. Even the slightest peek at my site makes it clear I've a talent (per se) for creating twisted Web pages. Why shouldn't I have a digital camera?
Therefore, I, not being able to afford one on my meager pay, am seeking a donation. I'm not seeking anything fancy. All I need is a low-end, 2MP digital camera with flash. Any extras are at the discretion of the donater. Perhaps you can receive the good feelings & gratitude of one who is truly needy. At least I'm more honest than the common charities advertising on television.
Go back -or- go to my home page.