Conversations in the day of D2
Dec. 11th, 2005 02:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
greybeta[D2 wakes up at 5:30 AM. He can’t go back to sleep. He plays around on the laptop for awhile. Then he makes a phone call to an old friend at 6:00 AM. Does D2 always call up people at 6:00 AM on a Saturday morning? Yes, when he’s extremely bored and hyperfocused.]
[D2 goes back to sleep after writing a post.]
[D2 gets a phone call around 7:40 AM. He knows only one person would call this early in the morning.]
Mike: Sup?
D2: What’s up, anime Mike?
Mike: Just got off work.
D2:…
D2:…
D2:…what?
Mike: Yes, I just got off work from Wal Mart.
D2: Joy. Weren’t you supposed to get off, like, two hours ago?
Mike: Yes. But I didn’t get out till now. Do you realize that it was less than twelve hours ago that we were eating pizza at Mazzio’s?
D2: LOL (yes, we are so nerdy that we use AIM speak in our everyday conversation). Okay, so describe to me your first day working at one of the most evil corporations in the world.
Mike: They made me come an hour early to do computer training. That lasted two hours. Finally someone took me out and told me to follow him. We went outside in the freezing cold to gather shopping carts.
D2: [Nelson]HA HAAA![/Nelson]
Mike: I know, I know. Then we started stocking. It wasn’t too hard since I was untimed today. They told me I would eventually have to go at 75 boxes an hour.
D2: That doesn’t sound too bad.
Mike: Yeah, but the guy who I was helping on my aisle could do 300 boxes an hour.
D2: Wait…that’s like 12 seconds a box!
Mike: Yep, I will make sure to sandbag myself to never get that good.
D2: Smart strategy.
Mike: I’ll be applying for every position that opens up in Wal Mart. Must escape stocking.
D2: Heh, I remember us making fun of overnight stockers that one time we bought stuff before a Magic tournament. And now you’re one of them. There is justice in this world.
Mike: Sigh, but my parents will pay for my schooling once I maintain a steady job, so I guess that will work out for me.
D2: What will you major in when you return to school?
Mike: I don’t know…
D2: You were always a pretty good writer. Didn’t you say you always wanted to do creative writing?
Mike: Yeah.
D2: Well then, I have a business proposition for you.
Mike: Um, okay.
D2: I will give you back the arm and leg of your second born child if you take up creative writing as your major, but you also have to pick up education as well. Hear me out. I’d think you’d be an excellent teacher who could keep his students interested. I know how much you hate passive voice and redundancy in writing, and you’d be able to keep the students interested. For example, you’d be the type of teacher to say “Now what’s more interesting, to say I am slapping my students or that I slapped my students?” Half the students would go “Huh!” and then you’d say “Exactly!” We could even teach at the same school and be those teachers who play D&D and Magic.
Mike: I kind of like this idea, as it’s fun and easy.
D2: Teaching isn’t always easy, but it certainly is noble. Anyways, we’d be those near heretical teachers that Christian watchdog groups would target for firing by the school district. Except, they couldn’t fire us for two reasons. First, our performance reviews would be way too good for them to let us go. Second, they couldn’t get anyone else to do our jobs with the passion we have, hehehe. Just imagine us teaching at the same high school.
Mike: Teaching at the same school would be pretty cool. Daniel, let’s do it.
D2: You’re a good thief. You steal knowledge to give it to the next generation.
Dad: Son, I will pay off your student balance with my credit card.
D2: Thank you, sir.
Dad: You understand that your mom and dad love you even when we are harsh on you, right?
D2: Yes, sir.
Dad: So, THEN WHY DON’T YOU SPEND LESS TIME WITH MIKE AND MORE TIME CLEANING YOUR ROOM?
D2: (cringes) Yes, sir. I will do that right away, sir.
Dad: And just why do you spend so much time with him? He isn’t smart like you. He’s just dragging you down.
D2: I don’t think he’s that dumb or that he’s dragging me down..
Dad: You’re very naïve.
D2: Just like you, dad.
D2: Must see Narnia!
Hannah: Yes, let’s try to go to the one o’clock.
D2: I bet all of their afternoon shows are sold out though.
[A few minutes later D2 and his sister are standing in front of the ticket office.]
Hannah: You’re right! All the afternoon shows are sold out! How did you know?
D2: I worked at this movie theater in high school, remember?
Hannah: Why were you talking on the phone until 6:10? You knew we are meeting our American grandparents Ralph and Jane at 6:30 for Taste of Christmas at church.
D2: OMG, IT’S 6:21 WE ARE GOING TO BE EARLY.
Hannah: Do you have to yell?
D2: SORRY…it’s a bad habit I picked up from Dad.
Hannah: DON’T BLAME OTHERS FOR YOUR PROBLEMS!
D2: Now who’s the one yelling?
Hannah: I AM NOT YELLING!
Hannah: You know, you have to act like the person you like if you want them to like you back.
D2: Sure.
Hannah: You know what I see? The perfect girl for you would be a lazy, apathetic, girl who wore wrinkled clothes and bore a selfish attitude.
D2: Then we’d be a perfect match.
Mom: Daniel, you’re so stupid for not graduating in four years.
D2: Not everyone goes on a straight and smooth path, mom.
Mom: Well yeah, but why can’t you emulate those people who graduate a year early?
D2: I dunno, maybe I want to try to enjoy my college life for a change.
Mom: We are all disappointed in you, Daniel. Your uncle Tuyen thought you were going into computers but now even he’s silenced.
Hannah: Mom! Why is it always computers with you? Daniel said he wanted to teach history at high school. Why don’t you let him follow his dream?
Mom: Dreams can’t buy you a house or provide for your family.
Ralph: Do you see the camels, Daniel?
D2: Yeah, I wonder where they get them from.
Ralph: St. Louis.
Pastor Ford: Hi, Daniel, how’s it going?
D2: Well, Dr. Ford, I’ve been better. Had a depression this semester but I am bouncing back and looking forward to working on my alternative certification to teach history at the high school level.
Pastor Ford: I am glad to hear it! Well I have to run off to take care of other things for Taste of Christmas but I am happy to see God blessing you and your family!
D2: Thanks, Dr. Ford.
Jane: Hey, so do you keep in contact with Pastor Ford when you’re in Tulsa?
D2: Not really.
Jane: Oh, it just seemed he knew you really well…
D2: Well Jane, [D2 leans in], a good shepherd always seems to know all of his flock.
Jane: [laughs]
Hannah: What did you buy?
D2: Two choir CD’s for ten bucks. All proceeds go missions.
Hannah: Why did you buy them?
D2: One of them has my favorite hymn.
Hannah: Which one would that be?
D2: Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.
Stu: So that’s why I don’t think it’s going to work out.
D2:: I don’t agree. I actually think it’s going to work out.
Stu: Nope, I am the pessimist here.
D2: Wait, you’re saying that I’m the optimist?!?
[D2 goes back to sleep after writing a post.]
[D2 gets a phone call around 7:40 AM. He knows only one person would call this early in the morning.]
Mike: Sup?
D2: What’s up, anime Mike?
Mike: Just got off work.
D2:…
D2:…
D2:…what?
Mike: Yes, I just got off work from Wal Mart.
D2: Joy. Weren’t you supposed to get off, like, two hours ago?
Mike: Yes. But I didn’t get out till now. Do you realize that it was less than twelve hours ago that we were eating pizza at Mazzio’s?
D2: LOL (yes, we are so nerdy that we use AIM speak in our everyday conversation). Okay, so describe to me your first day working at one of the most evil corporations in the world.
Mike: They made me come an hour early to do computer training. That lasted two hours. Finally someone took me out and told me to follow him. We went outside in the freezing cold to gather shopping carts.
D2: [Nelson]HA HAAA![/Nelson]
Mike: I know, I know. Then we started stocking. It wasn’t too hard since I was untimed today. They told me I would eventually have to go at 75 boxes an hour.
D2: That doesn’t sound too bad.
Mike: Yeah, but the guy who I was helping on my aisle could do 300 boxes an hour.
D2: Wait…that’s like 12 seconds a box!
Mike: Yep, I will make sure to sandbag myself to never get that good.
D2: Smart strategy.
Mike: I’ll be applying for every position that opens up in Wal Mart. Must escape stocking.
D2: Heh, I remember us making fun of overnight stockers that one time we bought stuff before a Magic tournament. And now you’re one of them. There is justice in this world.
Mike: Sigh, but my parents will pay for my schooling once I maintain a steady job, so I guess that will work out for me.
D2: What will you major in when you return to school?
Mike: I don’t know…
D2: You were always a pretty good writer. Didn’t you say you always wanted to do creative writing?
Mike: Yeah.
D2: Well then, I have a business proposition for you.
Mike: Um, okay.
D2: I will give you back the arm and leg of your second born child if you take up creative writing as your major, but you also have to pick up education as well. Hear me out. I’d think you’d be an excellent teacher who could keep his students interested. I know how much you hate passive voice and redundancy in writing, and you’d be able to keep the students interested. For example, you’d be the type of teacher to say “Now what’s more interesting, to say I am slapping my students or that I slapped my students?” Half the students would go “Huh!” and then you’d say “Exactly!” We could even teach at the same school and be those teachers who play D&D and Magic.
Mike: I kind of like this idea, as it’s fun and easy.
D2: Teaching isn’t always easy, but it certainly is noble. Anyways, we’d be those near heretical teachers that Christian watchdog groups would target for firing by the school district. Except, they couldn’t fire us for two reasons. First, our performance reviews would be way too good for them to let us go. Second, they couldn’t get anyone else to do our jobs with the passion we have, hehehe. Just imagine us teaching at the same high school.
Mike: Teaching at the same school would be pretty cool. Daniel, let’s do it.
D2: You’re a good thief. You steal knowledge to give it to the next generation.
Dad: Son, I will pay off your student balance with my credit card.
D2: Thank you, sir.
Dad: You understand that your mom and dad love you even when we are harsh on you, right?
D2: Yes, sir.
Dad: So, THEN WHY DON’T YOU SPEND LESS TIME WITH MIKE AND MORE TIME CLEANING YOUR ROOM?
D2: (cringes) Yes, sir. I will do that right away, sir.
Dad: And just why do you spend so much time with him? He isn’t smart like you. He’s just dragging you down.
D2: I don’t think he’s that dumb or that he’s dragging me down..
Dad: You’re very naïve.
D2: Just like you, dad.
D2: Must see Narnia!
Hannah: Yes, let’s try to go to the one o’clock.
D2: I bet all of their afternoon shows are sold out though.
[A few minutes later D2 and his sister are standing in front of the ticket office.]
Hannah: You’re right! All the afternoon shows are sold out! How did you know?
D2: I worked at this movie theater in high school, remember?
Hannah: Why were you talking on the phone until 6:10? You knew we are meeting our American grandparents Ralph and Jane at 6:30 for Taste of Christmas at church.
D2: OMG, IT’S 6:21 WE ARE GOING TO BE EARLY.
Hannah: Do you have to yell?
D2: SORRY…it’s a bad habit I picked up from Dad.
Hannah: DON’T BLAME OTHERS FOR YOUR PROBLEMS!
D2: Now who’s the one yelling?
Hannah: I AM NOT YELLING!
Hannah: You know, you have to act like the person you like if you want them to like you back.
D2: Sure.
Hannah: You know what I see? The perfect girl for you would be a lazy, apathetic, girl who wore wrinkled clothes and bore a selfish attitude.
D2: Then we’d be a perfect match.
Mom: Daniel, you’re so stupid for not graduating in four years.
D2: Not everyone goes on a straight and smooth path, mom.
Mom: Well yeah, but why can’t you emulate those people who graduate a year early?
D2: I dunno, maybe I want to try to enjoy my college life for a change.
Mom: We are all disappointed in you, Daniel. Your uncle Tuyen thought you were going into computers but now even he’s silenced.
Hannah: Mom! Why is it always computers with you? Daniel said he wanted to teach history at high school. Why don’t you let him follow his dream?
Mom: Dreams can’t buy you a house or provide for your family.
Ralph: Do you see the camels, Daniel?
D2: Yeah, I wonder where they get them from.
Ralph: St. Louis.
Pastor Ford: Hi, Daniel, how’s it going?
D2: Well, Dr. Ford, I’ve been better. Had a depression this semester but I am bouncing back and looking forward to working on my alternative certification to teach history at the high school level.
Pastor Ford: I am glad to hear it! Well I have to run off to take care of other things for Taste of Christmas but I am happy to see God blessing you and your family!
D2: Thanks, Dr. Ford.
Jane: Hey, so do you keep in contact with Pastor Ford when you’re in Tulsa?
D2: Not really.
Jane: Oh, it just seemed he knew you really well…
D2: Well Jane, [D2 leans in], a good shepherd always seems to know all of his flock.
Jane: [laughs]
Hannah: What did you buy?
D2: Two choir CD’s for ten bucks. All proceeds go missions.
Hannah: Why did you buy them?
D2: One of them has my favorite hymn.
Hannah: Which one would that be?
D2: Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.
Stu: So that’s why I don’t think it’s going to work out.
D2:: I don’t agree. I actually think it’s going to work out.
Stu: Nope, I am the pessimist here.
D2: Wait, you’re saying that I’m the optimist?!?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-12-11 10:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-11 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-11 10:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-11 11:52 pm (UTC)Wow, that could go on a demotivator poster from despair.com.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 05:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 07:33 am (UTC)D2: Not everyone goes on a straight and smooth path, mom.
Mom: Well yeah, but why can’t you emulate those people who graduate a year early?
D2: I dunno, maybe I want to try to enjoy my college life for a change.
Mom: We are all disappointed in you, Daniel. Your uncle Tuyen thought you were going into computers but now even he’s silenced.
Hannah: Mom! Why is it always computers with you? Daniel said he wanted to teach history at high school. Why don’t you let him follow his dream?
Mom: Dreams can’t buy you a house or provide for your family.
Follow your dreams, regardless. You'll be miserable if you don't.
Also, as for "those people who graduate a year early," I am one of them, and you wouldn't believe the problems that I have had! Of course, this is because in Russia, they don't think it's possible to finish university in three years, and that a valid degree can only be achieved in five...so, tell your mom that! ;o)
Plus, my "dream" is to become a Russian university professor...and make $250 a month...yeah, yours seems much more rational.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 09:22 am (UTC)I have recently come to realize this.
So, um, is $250 month enough rubles to live in Russia or will you have to get a second job if you become a Russian university professor? Also, what subject do you want to teach?
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 02:54 pm (UTC)A decent flat will cost at least $300 a month. Which is why I need to do any or all of the following:
1. Find myself a husband who has a place to live.
2. Convince my parents to invest in the wonderful world of Russian real estate and buy one for me.
3. Take side jobs.
4. Accept bribes from students.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 03:30 pm (UTC):(
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 09:34 am (UTC)Which is precisely why you should follow your dreams while you are still unburdened by a house or a family -- because once they're there, you can't.
I know you dislike talking back to your mom, but I would urge you to quote me next time. I wish I could still chase my dreams.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 09:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 03:17 pm (UTC)Right now, I have other dreams, but I fear to pursue these because of aforementioned house and family. My living expenses have skyrocketed (I need in excess of 1100 euros per month to pay the mortgage alone), and it seems unlikely that I could make that kind of money while pursuing said dream (being: 'making money by designing and building beautiful electronics installations').
As such, it makes sense to pursue your dreams while you are still relatively 'footloose', with little firm commitments and monthly expenses.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 03:31 pm (UTC)