I quit my job today. I have been getting less than the amount i was quoted when i signed the contract since the day i began. I brought this to the attention to the administration, who told me they would take care of it. Well, they didn't. Nor did they tell me that they didn't, until two paychecks later when my pay stub revealed it.

So, i went in today and told them that i didn't want to work for them anymore and handed them a copy of the Oregon state law which stated that i am entitled to a full reimbursement of all that money they never gave me. Ha ha. Teacher Derek is worth more than that. Some people.

So we're not rolling in the dough but we've got a little leftover to eat with until i find another teaching job around here (which is not terribly hard, apparently they don't pay teachers well in this country leading to a high turnover rate. Can you believe that? They might as well take all that money and use it to blow other people up and make hell on earth forever! Oh wait, have you seen the news?)

I haven't been on the computer much lately. In fact I have been able to effectively keep my distance from most complicated, electronic devices. Lately i've tried to expose myself to those most sophisticated and extraordinary of all inventions: human beings. I have this sneaking suspicion that all these 'lesser creations' (i.e. computers, TVs, games, iTouches) are secretly mutating us inside, erasing any memory we once had of what is truly important.

In the experience of creating a human being, i have found yet new vistas of amazement at the miracle of life. What is this profound intelligence that slowly unfurls itself, 50% me and 50% her yet entirely its own and alone once the umbilical cord is severed? Where is this dreamy little angel coming to us from and perhaps, where has it been? Also delightfully weird is the fact that its growing in the belly of the love of my life and can be awfully insistent at times. A scene comes to mind: we are out on the town, casually strolling down the street. Everyone is laughing and making merry. Suddenly, i notice Gaibi looking somewhat disinterested. She quietly mentions something about being hungry and the clock is set. When this happens i pray to God that a restaurant or pizza vendor or 7/11 might be somewhere near. If food evades us for long enough, the baby takes over. Gaibi starts breathing heavily, getting waves of nausea and punishment pains. Pushing the limit will frequently bring tears, frustration and more psycho-physical anguish. Lets just say that we've finally learned to pack relief snacks in case this little alien in her stomach should lose patience on the road.

Otherwise, however, she is by all measurements still 'perfect' (to quote our midwife). There is a huge plastic tub sitting out in our front yard. When Gaibi goes into labor, we're going to drag it inside the house, fill it up with hot water and toy boats and eventually Gaibi and our newborn, swimming its way into the world.

Ok so there won't be any toy boats.

So here I sit on the couch with a very pregnant and beautiful woman by my side and seasoned logs of cedar blazing in the wood stove. The house smells warm and earthy, like my Grandmother's used to smell. Right now there is great peace, but something is stirring down there. Soon there will be fireworks. Soon there will be THREE.