Today is my last full day in my apartment...tonight will be my last night here.  I will be staying three nights with friends and then....home.  After 6 years here.  I am moving home...so. I probably will not be around much until January, when I start school.  So to one and all...Happy Thanksgiving (to the Americans), Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!   May the season be filled with light love and happiness

Rachel

Maaaaaan...I wrote a whole entry and it didn't post it...let's see...I pretty much wrote about me being done teaching at my school (with 3 days left at Head Office) and all of the little errands I have left to do.  All of my clothes fit into one small suitcase, which I am VERY pleased about.  Yesterday I tossed 5 bags of garbage and a non-working stereo.  Taking some stuff to friends tonight when we meet for dinner, but basically everything's done...just those final 'tie-up-the-loose-ends' kind of things...like pack my carry-on bag, mail another box, reformat my computer for the person who's buying it, stuff like that.

Busy all weekend with dinners out.  Going out tonight in a couple of hours with some friends, then tomorrow night with some ex-students...Monday...oh, I'm switch the internet over to the new tenant, so that all has to get taken care of with her and the cable company.  I think I might be working Monday as Tuesday's a national holiday.  At least, I hope I am...I would rather work Monday, Wednesday and Thursday..then have Friday free.  I'm moving out of my place late Friday afternoon and going to stay at a friend's for a couple of days.  It's all happening so faaassstt! But I'm excited

Ok I forgot how crazy busy things get before a move...silly me.  People are coming out of the woodwork wanting to go out for dinner, lunch, whatever.  I think I double-booked one night, but one group didn't confirm with me, and we only talked vaguely about going for dinner...sooooooo I'm going out with a bunch of students from my first company here in Japan. 

What else? Tomorrow is my last Saturday...then I only have two more days of work left at my school.  Another week left at HQ, but I only work there during the day, so it's not too bad. 

Got pictures from a friend tonight from our trip up to Nikko (you know Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil? this is where they originated)...and I look skiinnnnyyyyy...yay.  I've lost about 10-15 pounds in the last couple of months and am slightly more comfortable in clothes that fit well.  Another 20 pounds to go...then I'll re-evaluate and see if I want to maintain or lose more or what.  I do want to get back into weight training when I move home..and aqua-aerobics.  And I think belly dancing would be fun to try...

Ok, it's been a long day but I figured I'd better add a quick update before bed.  A happy weekend to all!! 

A lot of people have created bonds, communities, friends, connections online.  I myself have and I myself enjoy talking to people online.  Because I live so far from home (for only another 22 days!!) it's one way I have of keeping in touch, of getting to know people I might want to meet in real life when I get home.  But I have absolutely no delusions about 'falling in love' or creating some kind of 'commitment' online...some people can do it, but it's not my style.  Well...about a month ago I started talking to this guy, Michael.  I was, as usual, up front about how I view the whole online world...I was also clear that I date. A lot.  If he had problems with that, then I should know now.  He said he was cool with it, wasn't the desperate sort, blah blah blah.  So far so good.  Then about 3 days ago he closed off one of our conversations by saying 'I'm gonna love you soon'  wooooaaahhhhhhh.  I just kinda went huh? and then told him to slow down...that us talking online didn't equate real life and we would have the chance to maybe meet in a few weeks when I was in Ontario on vacation.  Then last night I got home around 1am and he came online so I said hi, then asked if he was still going camping this weekend, etc...his answers were very short.  So I asked what was up...to which he responded that he didn't think I was feeling the same way towards him as he was feeling towards me, that our beliefs were different, that I would be living too far away, etc etc...again...huh? He basically, in his head, took us THROUGH an entire relationship...without my being involved--which, the last time I checked, is what relationships are all about.   So ummm yah, he's been deleted and blocked.   I know there are crazies on the internet...but that was beyond all comprehension.   Crazy.

In other new....ummm there is no other news.  My apartment looks like a disaster zone while I try to figure out how to pack my final two boxes and work my way through my ever-lengthening To Do list.

What to write, what to write?  My sleep schedule is still kinda messed.  It's almost 12:30am and I'm just slowly starting to wind down.  I should probably NOT nap in the afternoon, but maaaan I love my afternoon naps! They should be mandatory for all adults...with Hug Time following.  People would be so much happier.  Wish I woulda had my camera with me today *note to self, put camera in bag*  This kid got on the train...about 20-ish, had piercings, including one spike (ouch!), in his bottom lip...I counted 5.  For a Japanese kid, yah, that's bizarre.  So he looks like this tough-ish punk, but then he pulls out his cell phone and LOL hanging from the strap (we all pretty much have fancy 'keitai straps' here--mine at the moment is a mini-ramen cup-o-soup, it used to be a whole Finding Nemo thing) was an adorable little Lady and the Tramp stuffed animal thingy..made me grin the whole rest of the train ride.

Steve and his ex got into a fight over the weekend...I haven't heard the details yet...but apparently she doesn't like him flirting with me.  I have pretty much backed out of that picture and am not worrying about all he's doing or what's happening with his ex. Therefore not much to report on that end.  No fear dear readers, I plan to detail all my dating exploits when I move home--34 more days 'til that happens and life re-begins

First date: Army Ken

Second date: Bike Ken

Yah, to preserve their identities I will be naming them after 'Ken Dolls'...I'll add to the list as they appear

I know I haven't updated this week at all....or really been around to read other people's blogs.  This past week absolutely flew by...culminating in tonight's big quake followed by about 8 aftershocks.  37 more days then I leave...please God keep me safe and my area earthquake free!

I haven't talked to Steve this week much although we posted back and forth on his blog yesterday--after which he deleted most of our conversation.  I knew he would, because his ex reads his blog and yeah, he hides our friendship from her.  I've told him that I don't want a secret friendship, and we're either full on real friends or not...I'm thinking it's going to end up being nothing...but you know, I've started making peace with that over the past few days and while it hurts right now, and makes me sad...that's the way it goes.  Like I wrote in my comments to Codei..at least I think I wrote it, if I didn't I was thinking it...I put a higher price on myself than settling for someone who cheats, is dishonest, sneaky, etc.  I know I won't find out everything about Steve 'til I move home and get settled in, and I know I'm going to wait until then to make any decisions...but it's probably wise that I start pulling back now, so he knows that I'm not to be manipulated or treated like I'm dispensible.  Emotional rollercoaster is what this might end up being.  lol should be interesting, nonetheless.

This weekend is going to be all about getting the last few things I need to pack, packed up and ready to ship.  I'll also go through all my clothes and sort them into 'throw away' & 'take home' piles.  I've also shrunk out of a bunch of my clothes, so I'll either give them away or if they've worn out too much, throw them out.  I've lost 15 pounds in the past couple of months, with plans to lose about 20 more.  It's nice to shrink out of clothing!

Wednesday already.  One of the guys at work was saying 'it's only Wednesday.'  I guess it's all in your perspective  

Just got back in from a walk--totally lovely night--and my back is not very happy with me, stupid thing.  It keeps wanting to sieze up or spasm...I had it fixed a month or so ago by having someone do acupressure on my sciatic nerve--I pretty near went through the roof, but MAN did I feel better.  I'm thinking I might have to have that done again.  Right now I've got some muscle relaxant stuff on my back, and that helps...but doesn't cure.  I wonder if the back pain would go away if I cut off my boobs?  Hmmm...I should probably try working on my posture first, THEN go with chopping off the boobage. 

Mix up with my schedule at work today, which meant I worked a total of two classes and didn't start 'til 7:45pm.  Was pretty nice, but I'll probably have to make up the time on Friday. 

I also got to watch the Yankees-Red Sox game.  I would like the Red Sox to break their 'curse' and do well (plus it's Ben's team--Ben Affleck, of course...) but I have a very strong affection for Derek Jeter (my MSN name at the moment is Mrs Jeter...I think I need to try reality a little more...but whatever)...and Matsui is a stellar player...so I was happy to see the Yanks win today.  If the Jays aren't in the playoffs, my loyalty is for sale