International Incident

Twitter: RisenPhoenix XboxLive: KrylonBlack Weightloss: youfatbastard

15:47 Off to see Wall-E. If I end up punching a child before the end, someone post my bail. Please? #

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Twitter: RisenPhoenix
XboxLive: KrylonBlack
Weightloss: youfatbastard

14:56 Tell you what - Moving stuff about is better exercise than an hour on the treadmill, and it's useful. #

15:00 All set up on LoudTwitter now. So now Darniil gets his daily dose of his Limey like he's always wanted. =P #

20:47 A favor to whoever finds me a download of 'Firehydrant Floods' by Black Iris Music. #

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Am on Twitter now - will post at 10pm each day. Woo.

God I hope I get this job in ATL.

Got my Social Security Number in the mail today - just 5 days after applying for it.

Now it's time to remember the damned thing.

Kinda cool milestone. Now I can go get a bank account, drivers license - all that stuff.

Just one more step on the road ahead.

youfatbastard

Updates have started - D-Day was yesterday.

Auuugh.

Well, that's it. Waiting is over.

Sydney - Auckland - Los Angeles - Charlotte - Jacksonville, NC.

Wish me luck. See you all soon.

So, after months of dicking around with the US Consulate, it finally arrived.



7 Days until I fly. It's not quite real just yet - but I'm sure that'll change.

I'm starting to think of all the things I'll be able to do now that I've been intending/wishing to for the last... nearly 6 years now.

Go to Umezono's on Fridays when TJ throws the post up.
Watch The Daily Show... when it's actually daily.
Hang out with my crew at Psi U.
Doing all the goofy touristy crap with locals.
Affordable live music events. And MAJOR BANDS ACTUALLY PLAYING NEAR ME WHUT.

So many things. Just waiting for my real life to begin.

Soon. See you all there.

Jandi flew home on the 14th - sucks. My final Visa interview is on the 27th and I fly out June 4th. It's all coming to a head, and that's awesome.

Just gotta stay focused. If I can do that, then the rest is gravy.

More to come. In the meantime, enjoy a Classical rendition of Barbie Girl.

VoicePost 126K 0:39

“Well, we talk about small joys in life. I'm currently sitting in a dead branch that is hidden by construction walls. I'm listening to Tenacious D and I'm being paid about 20 dollars an hour to do it. I'm really gonna miss the high pay rate when I get to the States. But hey, my actual fly out date now is June 4th, which means I arrive in the United States on June the 5th and hopefully I'll be there in time to see July the 4th at Jandi's Dad's and then we're heading down to Atlanta from there. I'll update later when I get more time. Bye.” Transcribed by: nyxsis

I've not posted in a week or so - that's because I've been working on something.

http://youfatbastard.livejournal.com/

This will be my motivational tool. Feel free to look in on it sometime.

Oh, and it's TF2 themed. It's my latest addiction.

I've also updated my layout, name, journal title and bio. It's time to get ready for my new life, eh?

So, here's the plan.


IMMEDIATE:
I move to the USA, and I stay at Jandi's father's house for a while. Make applications for Jobs - looking at barwork in a hotel at the moment, accent and previous experience would be a plus.

Get a job, move down to Atlanta into a Extended Stay hotel. Start making applications to Apartments and Car Dealerships. Shelved the plan to buy a Mazda RX-7 and get it driftworthy so I could continue racing in favor of a Prius for the gas mileage and being 'responsible' and all that.

LONG TERM:
Sign myself up to a crappy college, DeVry or somesuch, and get some credit hours up. My schooling from Australia would be nigh impossible to transfer over, even if it wasn't so damned craptacular.

Once I have the required credit hours - apply to Georgia Tech. Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology. Rush, Pledge and join Psi Upsilon.

Join the Atlanta P.D. and work until I have enough experience to apply as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
*****

Well, that's about the sum of it. Any thoughts?

So, hay. Six weeks until I emigrate myself to the United States. In lieu of an actual update, here's a copy-paste from an e-mail I sent to my father. I'm utterly exhausted.


***
How's things? Life over here is pretty good - finally got an appointment for my physical to go to the USA. They really put you through the wringer - shots for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Measles, Mumps & Rubella along with an antibodies test for Chicken Pox and the HIV strain. Plus a chest X-Ray to see if you've got Tuberculosis. Yeesh. Even the medical interview is in depth - asking if I've ever had an addiction to drugs, STD's, Cancer ('cause, y'know, most people have a cancer that just goes away.) and Leprosy. Leprosy for god's sake.

"Have you ever had leprosy?"
"Nope, not me."
"... Your arm just fell off."
"It usually does that."

Sounds like a Monty Python sketch gone wrong. But the doctor said it's kind of useless - I could have a rash all over my body but because it's not on the questionnaire he didn't have to ask me about it. How very American.
***

So, I'm kind of thinking that once I've got myself settled in, we throw a massive 'Welcome To America' party with all my crew. nopictures and I have decided on AustraAmeriCon. COMING TO AN ATLANTA APARTMENT NEAR YOU.

So, how's life?

Well what do you know. Still warm the blood that runs through my veins.

Sorry to anyone who might’ve thought I’d simply dropped off the edge of the earth. Real-life has this horrible tendency to take you away for extended periods of time before dumping you in a bus shelter somewhere with a $20 note and a metallic taste in your mouth.

So, for anyone who’d care to read it, the cliff notes of Ray for the last… 6 or so months.

• Received notification of winning the US Diversity Lottery.


• Planned move to the USA, current date sits at May 15th 2008


• Changed jobs. I no longer deal cards for StarCity Casino, I am now a Concierge Specialist for VISA International Card Services.


• Moved house. Well, apartment to be specific. Moved closer to town, now I ride the train to work everyday. I don’t know how people do it.


• Straightened out a lot of my personal life. Got people who were truly detrimental to my happiness out, brought in people whose company I really enjoy. It’s a good thing.

And now, the plans for the future. Well, as far into the future as I can see.

• Move to the USA in May. Moving over with my girlfriend/partner in crime, Jandi.


• Start a college course to get credits up. I don’t know if it’s going to be community college or what – but it’s all in plan for my next point.


• Attend Georgia Tech to study for a Bachelors in Applied Psychology. Then, following that;


• Attend Georgia State University for a Masters in Criminal Justice.


• Work in Law Enforcement until attaining my final goal:


• Work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Field Agent.

So, yeah. That’s about it. Please – feel free to bombard me with questions or interests. I’ve missed my LJ crew – let me know what you’ve all been up to. (O.-)b

... damn I need to update my layout.

Happy birthday to diadiadia. FROM THE FUTURE.

Rock the fcuk out, you.

http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/33866/Daft_Punk_ARE_coming_to_Australia_Presented_by_Michael_Coppel_Modular_supported_by_inthemix

=O =O =O

My hands are shaking as I type this.

I came home from work this morning to a pile of letters.

Bill, Bill, Speeding Fine, Junk, Junk... US Postmark?

United States Department of State? Huh? Am I a terrorist or something...?

Dear Mr Files, we are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen....

Holy fuck. I won.

I have officially been selected under the Diversity Visa program to recieve permanent residence in the United States.

So... guess who's moving to the USA in 2008?

Party at my place. You're all invited.

Finally finished Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica.

.... Bastards. Hurry up 2008.

Guitar Hero II for X360? Awesome.

Getting up on your feet, slinging the strap low and rocking the fuck out to Monkey Wrench on Hard ending in one foot on your armrest while you nail the last few chords? The entire reason you buy the game.

The next time I'm in Newcastle, I'm getting my guitar out of storage.

I confess I just had the most cunted up morning in a long time.

Driving down the M2 Westbound and I feel a nasty shudder reverb through the Silvia's steering. I slow down a bit and keep going but then heard the scraping sounds of the steel mesh in the tyres coming loose. Fuck.

Slowed down and pulled over just after the Westbound tunnel, right next to the Beecroft Road exit (dumbass place to pull over in hindsight. =\) Called Sensis Directory for a tow. Got put through to some company that serviced Hornsby and told them where I was. Forgot to get an estimated time. I lay there waiting and eventually dozed off.

Woken up by a knock on my window from the M2 Breakdown Patrol. Turns out i'd been asleep for almost TWO FUCKING HOURS and they wanted to know if I needed a tow. Fucked if I knew where the other tow company was and at that point I really didn't care. Called the recommended tow company for the M2 (Twin Towing, fantastic people) and was rescued 20 minutes later.

Got dropped home, parked the Silvia and had a hot shower. I didn't realise just how cold I was waiting in the car until I got in the tow truck and started to shiver without thinking. Yeesh. Grabbed a cold Corona from the fridge to help me in taking the edge off - and it's helping.

Now I need to find $200 to pay for the tow, call into work and tell them I can't come to my shift tonight and eventually finance some new rubber for the Silvia. Fuck.

What a goddamned morning.