A couple o’ weeks back, I sent out some missives to some of our pals elsewhere demanding updates on their lives. It has been a painful exercise. Half didn’t reply, and those that did, well, see for yourself.

Firstly, we have the indomitable Ms. Shannon Downey, who gets prizes for being the first to confirm she would be sending me an update as well as the 36K email she just sent me (a hodge-podge of recent emails to Monkey Boy). I’ve decided to reprint some highlights instead of regurgitating everything:

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I think my senior year is gonna rock ass.

I went for a walk to Jimmy John’s tonight. It was the first time all year that I actually went for a walk where I didn’t HAVE to be somewhere. Let me tell you words cannot describe how nice it was. When it’s chilly out and you go for a walk, making the effort to move your face is really fun. (seriously:))

I’ve decided that I really hate that word. (Stuff, in case you missed it.:P) It’s one of those words people say when they’re doing “stuff” which means, “I’m doing something important, but I don’t want to tell you what it is” That bugs me a lot.

I think it will be an ok summer. It’s strange having my car down here. I can actually go places whenever I want. I’m gonna hate not having that next semester. Oh well.

I’ve also gotten an addiction to the Food Network. It’s scary. I actually like to watch Martha Stewart. (Don’t kill me ;P)

My shoulders are peeling off. It’s kinda neat. Considering that I have 5 aloe plants now, I should probably have enough aloe to go around. :)

Did you ever watch American Gladiators as a kid!!??? Well it’s on TV again!!! I’m soooo excited! :D :D I’m watching A Wedding Story now, its a show about 2 people about to get married and stuff, and it’s soooo cute because they are in Disney World, and they have on mickey mouse ears, but hers are white and has a little white veil and his is a black top hat with mickey mouse ears! I love it! I’m sure you’ll want to go barf now, but well I had to share that.

Cosmo came today! And you know what it makes me want to do? (don’t even go there you sicko! :P) It makes me want to do nice things for Joe. Maybe it’s cause I read all those subliminal man-manipulating things and what bitches women can be, or maybe it’s cause I hear such horror stories about what asses guys can be.

Who knows, but damn it makes me miss him and I want to do nice stuff for him. He gets mad when I spend money on him though cause he’s broke, so what’s a girl to do? Say you were a guy :P and you could get some cool sort of surprise from your woman, but it didn’t really cost much. What would you want? I need a male’s opinion on this, so I guess you’ll have to do. [Ed. She's referring to Monkey here.]

What is it with you nice guys and not being able to find nice girls? Seriously. I know so many nice guys that get screwed over by girls and stuff. Damn girls.

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I have actually omitted tons, and this might not be so much an update as a look into Shannon’s curious mind. She’s a nice girl. We need more people like her around.

Then there’s Mr. Stone, currently traversing the plains of Texas with his dad and bro:

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Going against commom misconceptions… Beers that can be purchased at “Chester’s” in San Antonio (boasting over 200 imports):

- Paulaner (wierd import)
- Franskaner (Hefe Weiss, and “club” weiss)
- Spaten
- Hacker-Pschorr
- Auga-fucking/stiener!!!! (Crazy import modifications)

Also, Warsteiner, and a bunch of other German beers, and our old friend Pilsener Urquell from Tschech Repulblic.

I talked my dad and my uncle into ordering Fransiskaner, and they were duly impressed. (it was amost as good as the real stuff, and reminded me of my home away from home).

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What can I say? He knows his priorities. I’m glad Munich beer gets around. (I wonder if I’ll have the same luck back home?)

Next, here’s the ever-lovable, ever-incoherent Lady Graham:

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Well hello there lads n lassies – it’s meeeeeeee! (hurray)

it’s been a while (I’m a bit crap)… but hey – hope you’re all happy and sunny and all that .. uni’s done with by now isn’t it? And to all of you on your travels, I hope you don’t have dysentry. (!??)

We’re in Playa del Carmen (again), Mexico’s answer to all those tackily fantastic spanish hotspots. Had a bit of a lame, lying under a palm tree (HAD to slip that in.. sorry.. :o)… ) day today actually cos of all the mexican flag coloured sets of tequila we were fed by some mingin barman last night. (stylish). blurgh.

Have had a bit of culture though – went to Merida city for the weekend and bombed it round some kinda mayan ruin yesterday. hehe. very big mmm ya mmm wonderful mmm ya …. aaaand back to the beach methinks. ah dear.

So see you (very) soon, and love to the lot of you, wherever you are in the world.. xx

Bel
xxxxxx

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Is it just me, or does the girl use way to many X’s? Anyway, as far as I can figure out from this, she is in Mexico. (Maybe.) Anyone who can decipher her further than I’ve managed (yer all welcomed to try, the lot of good it’ll do ya), please write me your psychic interpretations.

Last up is Maggie/Gosia currently trapped in the Summer Camp From Hell somewhere in the States:

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chenni says: you’re missing such great FOOD
chenni says: haha.
malgorzata says: give me a break….food is a topic I’m not talking about, the one over here is inetable, monothematic-cereals, or salad, cereals, or salad…….besides that cannot swallow anything else
chenni says: hey, one word: American.
chenni says: hahah
malgorzata says: Iwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaa there is a cheepmunk straight behind me………….
chenni says: chipmunks, huh? hee.
malgorzata says: chipmunks are terrible, they ate my chocolate few days ago…damn animals, they are everywhere
chenni says: go have fun…
chenni says: …reading, I mean
malgorzata says: I already opened it so….I’m sure I will as always…
chenni says: i know. i hear from manuel i got a faithful reader in you. vielen dank!
malgorzata says: well maybe it will sound a bit silly but as I read it a have an sensation being closer to you guys, to munich, that I haven’t left for sure…
chenni says: THAT is exactly why I’m even continuing the journal,, after the mess I’ve been in recently, to keep all the ppl i grew to love here TOGETHER

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Lovely as always.

Well, this has been a public service brought to you by, as always, K.

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Copyright © 2002 Kenny Mah Ying Fye.