it's not life that matters but the journey...

Its funny - after I wrote so much about Christmas lights the other day, my friend Naomi sent me an email inviting me out on Saturday night to see the "Christmas illumination" in Yui, which is a little fishing town right next to Kambara, where I used to live. I guess someone there must go all out! After I teach in Shizuoka, I'll meet her for dinner and then we'll go see the lights. I'm happy for the chance to get out - Masahiko has three gigs this week, but I haven't had anything going on at all! We still haven't had any more calls for our school, so the total of students stands at 9, but the 7 kids don't start until January. It's a mystery why out of 2,000 homes, we got only 2 calls - and its really frustrating!

Yesterday I lightened my burden a little and got about 3 or more inches cut off of my hair - not only does it look better, but its healthier and easier to take care of - I can just run my fingers through it in the morning! I had wanted to grow my hair out, but I realized that it doesn't suit my face, and its too much trouble (not to mention too much money on hair products to keep it from being frizzy!).

I'm not sure if its the time of the year (the holiday season is probably one of the most depressing if you're away from family or don't have many friends - or in my case, much money), or the circumstances in my life - or a combination of those many things - but I'm just not motivated for anything these days. I haven't written for a long long time - right now, I'm waiting for some books I ordered on novel writing before I go back to the books I started. I can't assume that just because I can write well, I can write fiction. I need some help! Also, I am in the middle of attempting to read a book by Virginia Woolf, "To the Lighthouse." I absolutely love her writing style - its really without a plot, very stream of conscious, moving from the mind of one character smoothly into the mind of another character. It's extremely challenging, and since i really can't follow it when I'm tired, its taking a while for me to get through it. After I finished reading all of the Harry Potter books I could get in the library here, I switched back to my usual authors, Paolo Coelho and Milan Kundera, and I decided that I would try Virginia Woolf. I am so glad I did, but what a switch from Harry Potter!

and speaking of Harry Potter, I was going to write my review of the new movie on here. As its been almost a week since we saw it, I've lost much of my enthusiasm, but I will say it is a great film. The special effects were incredible, and its fun watching the kids growing up: Harry looks basically the same, but Ron is getting so tall and has that cool long, red hair! - he's my favorite of all, with his expressions and overreaction to everything! Of course I was most anticipating seeing Voldemort (played by one of my favorite actors Ralph Fiennes), and I wasn't disappointed. Masahiko said he wasn't scary, but I don't think he was meant to be really scary - just very creepy and powerful. Anyway, I think the writers and director did a pretty amazing job getting that long book into a movie less than 3 hours long. Of course they had to lop most of the beginning of the book, including the parts with Harry's aunt, uncle and Dudley - I have to admit I missed them in this movie. And some other scenes were rushed through, but it was very enjoyable.

Now I'm debating whether or not I want to see "Memoirs of a Geisha" which will start in Japan next week - billed by the title "Sayuri" (the main character's first name). We can't get that server anymore, so I might have to start paying for movies like everyone else... Oh, I miss being in the U.S. right now.