A lazy start to the day watching Donnie Darko and just kicking back. Later on Anastasia and I went to Roxanne’s birthday party, which consisted of watching movies, listening to music, eating pizza and cake, drinking soda and in my case trying to remember everyone’s names! Much fun and hilarity was had by all. The movies we watched we S.W.A.T. and Boondock Saints. The latter of these two provided the inspiration for the heading, as it’s full of Irish people. Naturally of course this means that it’s full of swearing, and it’s been a while since I’ve heard someone convincingly use the f-word twelve times in a row and every second or third word in normal conversation. It’s a good movie, too. Has Billy Connolly and Willem Dafoe in it. I think Willem Dafoe as a gay man may have scarred a few people though. Anyway, after that it was back to the house and in theory, sleep. I stayed up for a while as I couldn’t sleep (surprise surprise) and filled out the Blockbuster application online. Not exactly what I had in mind for work, but I’ve got nothing at this point and the temping places have been useless. Hopefully they don’t dismiss my application out of hand because “NZ” isn’t a state of America. Another trip up to Orlando has been planned for next weekend, yay! Tomorrow is a birthday party for a couple of Anastasia’s cousins, Steven and Caylin. Their birthdays are so close they sometimes have a big party for the both of them rather than separate ones.

Some sketchy sleep later, it was a quick shower and a conscious decision not to shave even though I probably should to look neat. Then it was off to the cousins’ house! I proceeded to have a good discussion with Ric (Anastasia’s great uncle) about music (notably lots of Jazz) and computers and stuff, then more talking with relations and cousins, then lots of food, singing happy birthday, cake and being forced to watch ‘Eloise at the Plaza‘ which is a crazy kids film about a girl in a hotel who’s manic. There were presents given out in there somewhere as well. Eventually we were tossed outside to play so we didn’t take root in the house. We (being the cousins, Sonny, Ric, Anastasia and I) went to Nye Park to a baseball diamond (well, packed sand and clay at least) to play petanque and kickball. I had lots of fun playing both and acquitted myself well. My team thrashed Sonny’s at kickball, Ric managed to fall over, bloody his nose and lose a lense to his glasses only to get back up and keep playing. Brilliant job, Ric! After the energy and the light waned from the day it was back to the house for coffee and I played chess with Steven with a very odd chess set. After I had finished teaching him a thing or two and slaughtering him in the main game we left to come back to Anastasia’s. We got pizza for dinner and watched The Ring, which wasn’t as scary as I’ve heard.

This morning I was awakened by the FedEx guy, delivering me a package. Yay mail! I think, anyway. Turns out to be from Dad, it was my credit card. Thanks for the morning call Dad! Anyway, I didn’t do anything overtly active during the day, some cleaning and whatnot. After Anastasia got home we cleaned up some more then went out to Angel Heart to meet up with Jen and Chris where Jen got Jess’ birthday present. As an aside, Angel Heart have redecorated, moving stuff around, which was a bit trippy to start off with when I walked in.

Then we left and went to International Plaza, a big mall thing, where we looked around various shops, including one very cool shop with statuettes and swords and other nifty stuff. The shop is in the process of closing down so everything is half price. There is a beautiful fantasy chess set there with pewter pieces of fantasy creatures and knights and so on, a glass board with frosted inlay and the holder for the board (which can also hold the pieces under the board) is carved all around to look like a giant castle and is just superb. Normally US$1200, but down to US$600 in the sale, it was a bad time for me to realise my credit card that had arrived this morning was in my wallet in my pocket. I decided not to give my father a heart attack at the next credit card bill and quickly left the shop. Although in saying that, if I get enough money while I’m over here I may just buy it and justify it to myself later (collectors item, increases in value, blah blah). After the mall visit Anastasia and I went briefly to Blockbuster where I was going to apply for some work with this dinky little electronic thing that they use but I didn’t have my Social Security Number on me. Oops, I guess I’ll come back and do it later.

After that Anastasia and I went to a basketball game at Anastasia’s high school. You know they charge you entrance to watch any sports event here, even the high school stuff? US$4 to watch some average basketball. Had some sweet shots, a few nice plays, on the whole I had some fun while Anastasia was bored to tears. It was nice of her to suffer through some basketball because she knew I liked it. She’s more football, which is ok I guess, just not as cool as basketball, as we all know! After the game we got New York style pizza from Cesares and watched new Stargate SG:1. Donnie Darko is again postponed and it’s off to bed.

Today I explored parts of the University of South Florida with Chris. We started our tour with his only class for the day, Introduction to Geology. We spent the lecture correcting the lecturer (mostly on her spelling) and laughing at the complete elementary nature (to us at least it seemed pretty basic) of the material. I got to see the library, the recreation centre (complete with an indoor heated pool), some of the buildings and grounds (which were very pretty and spacious). We had lunch from the mini-food-court and played a few rounds of pool with Chris’ friend Juan. I was playing like crap, so I should probably play a bit more pool when I get back to New Zealand. Chris and I concluded our mini-tour having seen not even a third of the campus, however most of the campus deals with graduate students so Chris didn’t know that part of the campus. Chris and I then went to school to meet up with Jen and Anastasia. We hung out in the band room for a few minutes chatting then went our separate ways. Anastasia and I hung out at her place for a while, then we had Steak ‘n’ Shake for dinner (good burgers). We went to Blockbuster (potential employment?) and I got a local membership card and the Donnie Darko DVD out as Anastasia hadn’t seen it. We came back to the house and had dinner. After dinner Anastasia had a nap, and upon waking from said nap decided it was getting a bit late to watch the movie so it was postponed till tomorrow. As it is a one week rental this is not a problem. More lack of sleep patterns ensued.

Over the next few days I don’t get a lot done, as my journal chronicles. What isn’t written is my thoughts. I did a lot of sitting around doing various activities that weren’t particularly mentally strenuous, so I did a lot of thinking. One of my goals in coming here was to think a lot about who I am, what I want to do and where I want to go in life. Some of that “deep” stuff which I’m guessing everyone must do at some point. It’s been very productive and I feel a lot more… I don’t know, a lot more focused and confident in what I’m out to do. That’s not to say I’ve got my life mapped out now, not even close, but I’m feeling a lot more prepared for the direction I’m going to propel myself in.

Sunday I sat around watching movies and sleeping. I did some drawing, answered some emails and talked to a few people online. Anastasia was in and out a little running errands. Taco Bell for dinner! I did get Anastasia to get some homework done, as she goes back to school on Tuesday.

Again, not a hell of a lot happened on Monday, no major disasters, no strenuous activity even. Anastasia did some homework and I did an email mission and watched movies. Underworld is out on DVD tomorrow here and I didn’t even get to see it at the movies! Also, it unfortunately seems my sleep is all skewed again.

Couldn’t sleep Monday night again so a very late start to Tuesday. More email and movies today and hanging out with Anastasia once she was home from school. Not a lot else went on apart from me still not sleeping. I read, watched movies, wound down all the ways I know… I suppose I should fix my sleep. I’m sure I could get it into some kind of regular biorhythm with a lot of work, but at this point I’m wondering why I need to?

Another late but very relaxing start to the day today, meditation, shower, etc. Email and more relaxing. Also as a side note, I enquired of several IT temping places with little encouragement or results. Tomorrow I am to travel to the University of South Florida with Chris to hang out and check out the campus. I’m also going to check in with the last of the temping agencies again.

Lazy morning today watching TV, then it was off to the University of Tampa grounds for a picnic with Jen and Chris. I even remembered to bring my camera, but alas didn’t remember to take any pictures while I was there… duh, Leith! We had fun sitting, chatting, playing with poi and running around in the lovely 28ºC weather! After a very enjoyable time, Anastasia and I went out to the shops and briefly to a comic place! Cool! We then came back to Anastasia’s and chilled for a bit. In the evening Anastasia and I went out to see The Last Samurai again. We also went to P. F. Chang’s, a Chinese restaurant which was very nice, even if I did briefly get mistaken for a girl by a waitress (I was wearing a muscle shirt, for crying out loud). It was dark, blah blah.