YES WE CAN!!!

Hi. My name is Adam. I am 31 years old. And after 20 some years of trying, I have successfully beaten Super Mario Brothers. Yes, the first one that most of you will brag about beating when you were 11. Well I never did (usually got pissed off at 8-1 and 8-2... also, I could never figure out the unlimited guy trick on 3-1 even though I knew people that could and there are instructions all over the web)... until today. After a couple of days of trying (while sitting on phone calls at night), I was able to finally beat Bowser and rescue the REAL princess. Much more gratifying as a 31 year old than a 14 year old I think. I was able to beat Mario 3 all the time. Guess now I'll try to beat Mario 2 next. Don't know anybody that has completed that one. Beating Mario??? YES WE CAN!!!

More good news - Sarah got her Resident Visa, so she's here to stay!!! She still has to get the Alien Resident Card (ARC) which will take about 10 days to process, then the traveling factor won't exist anymore. She's finishing her certification this weekend, and the kiddies start on Monday. So next week will begin to finally feel "normal" around here. As normal as one feels when they move to Taiwan. Getting Sarah official in Taiwan??? YES WE CAN!!!

I am even more Taiwanese after getting a Library Card last night. The branch near my house has about 20 books in English - even one by Stephen King (Lisey's Story which I've already read:( But there is the main branch not too far away that I will go to tomorrow while Sarah's in class. Next up for me, going to get my Taiwanese Driver's License!!! All I need is my forms, and about $7 US to process it. This way I can rent a scooter up to 50cc for when we travel around Taiwan. No, I am not driving in Taipei. I need to look into what it takes to be able to drive over a 50cc scooter. Most of the normal ones are 100-150cc, with some being even bigger!! Driving in Taiwan??? YES WE CAN!!!

Another good part was I beat my first Taiwanese person in Ping Pong. He returned the favor a little later, but i was able to beat 4 of the guys, with one employee from last time STILL beating everyone else. But I am at least no longer bottom of the rankings. Beat someone at Ping Pong??? YES WE CAN!!!

And of course the amazing speech last night by Barack. I was moved and inspired. And I predict he will win, not only because he is the stronger leader that this country needs, but because the boy can speak and sound intellegent. He knows how to make himself relate to the people who will vote for him. This was the strength of Clinton and it got him elected. Neither Gore nor Kerry had that trait. Plus Obama sounds smart when he talks. That actually goes farther than you think.... So here's wishing him the best and hoping our country does what's right. You can plan on the Republican party trying to squash the excitement (VP announcement today... surprised they didn't announce in the middle of the fireworks) then let the negative campaign begins. BTW - i will not be missing those from over here in Taiwan. Return the US to a country of leadership once again??? YES WE CAN!!!

Still hot as hell here. Still 95+ by day and only down to 81 at night. But cooler weather is hopefully on the way. Have a great Labor Day for all of my US friends and family. We don't have the day off here, but we make up for it around Chinese New Year.