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

I stole this from 1_rhiannon_1

Write about the 1st thing that comes to mind when reading these:

1) Livejournal - For me, Live Journal is my "home away from home" - it's been my comfort through lonely and hard times, my connection to the outside world (with ability to get shows and music and movies and talk with people about fandoms and events and news), and where some of my best friends live!! Since I'm kind of between worlds and homes and countries right now (and have been off and on since I joined LJ), coming to Live Journal is comfortable and relaxing for me. It's familiarity when I'm faced with indecision and instability in my own life. I wish I could meet all of my LJ friends in person because you are some of the best people I've ever known. I'm thankful for this place, and for the people who have allowed me to be a part of your lives!! *hugs* and loves my LJ friends!!

2) Seasons - my favorite seasons always will be spring and fall. Especially fall, when the leaves change and there's a cool crispness in the air that makes you feel alive and refreshed. It's the best time for walks outside, and of course October has my favorite holiday, Halloween!
I don't mind winter if I can be indoors where it's warm (of course that excludes living in Japan, since most places are so cold even indoors!). I don't much like summer in general, and I hate summer in Japan or anywhere that it's hot and humid.

3) Facebook - I joined Facebook reluctantly a couple of years ago when a friend urged me to. Since then I've stayed there because it gives me the chance to stay in touch with, and up to date with, many of my relatives and friends around the world. Email becomes harder and harder with our busy lifestyles, so Facebook is an easy way to keep in touch with them. But in general, I think Facebook is mostly shallow and silly and I don't go there very often. I keep my information, posts, and most photos "friends only" too.

4) Work - Right now my work is both challenging and fun. Both frustrating and rewarding. Teaching English in Japan is definitely one of the most interesting jobs one could have, and it can also drive you crazy! If I can make teaching in Japan my career - that is, to start my own school rather than being an "assistant" and working for someone else - and be in control of my own classes and content, then I think I would be very satisfied. If I can't make that work, then i will return to the U.S. and have to find a new path. Then work could be more "work" than it is now.

5) My best friend - Right now my best friend is my husband. We have our ups and downs, but we are closer than ever, and he takes care of me when I need it as I've taken care of him in the past (and may in the future). My best girl friend, Nikki, is in California and we've lost touch quite a bit lately. I'm not sure why, but she is just preoccupied with her life. My sister used to be a good friend, but lately we have drifted. And of course my mom is always my lifelong best friend!

6) Family - My closest family now is my husband and my cat. And I love them a lot! My father passed away last year, and it's almost been one year that he's been gone. OF course I've been living in Japan, so I don't miss his physical presence so much - though I felt it when I visited my mom's house in August. I do miss knowing that he's there though. And of course I miss being near my mom and my sister and my brother every day. It's hard living away from immediate family, but I talk to my mom once a week, and my sister occasionally. I've always felt blessed to have a family who I am close to. Even my aunts and uncles and cousins have always been great friends!

7) My most prized possession - For me, material things are not important. I value my laptop computer because it connects me to the outside world (tv shows, email, news, friends, family), with skype, live journal, facebook, blogs, etc... and I value things that keep me clothed and warm and fed. As for a prized possession, I can't think what that would be except for my books and photos. Those are valuable. And if you can call a cat a possession, he is most definitely a prize!!

*sigh*
I'm leaving Port Angeles tomorrow. I've had just over two weeks of incredibly relaxing time with my mom, and I'm so sad it's coming to a close. But I also know that I need to get back to Japan - to my husband, my cat, and my job. That is really my life right now and I need to go back and start figuring out if my future lies there, or back here where my family and most of my friends are!

The last few week has been really quiet - just hanging out around the house with my mom watching movies and tv, talking, and doing some last-minute shopping. We were invited to dinner at our neighbors' house on Wednesday night, and that was lots of fun. Every time we get together with them we play a fun card came called Quiddler, where you make words with letters in your hand (quite similar to Scrabble, but with cards). Thursday my mom and I went out to dinner, after a day of running around and just doing some errands and shopping. Then Friday we drove out to Port Townsend to meet my cousin for lunch. My aunt Marilyn and my cousins's son Ben, who's 17, went with us. It was very nice, except that the sandwich I ate was delicious (chicken breast with sun-dried tomato pesto and avocado), but it gave me indigestion - it was really too heavy! It's getting harder and harder for me to eat heavy American food after living in Japan for so long! But despite my stomach ache, we did some browsing around the cute shops there, and I bought a few souvenirs, and a very pretty scarf for myself. Then we went to a coffee shop, but I had green tea.
This weekend I've just been reorganizing my bags, and packing a small box to send to Japan. Time has flown, even though we've really just been homebodies all weekend, and today.
I'm glad I also had a chance to see my cousin's daughter Leah, who's here visiting her grandparents, my aunt and uncle. She's in the sixth grade, and lots of fun to be around. They came by Saturday night for dessert - my mom had made berry and peach cobbler - yum! And then Sunday morning we had breakfast at the best restaurant in town - I had french toast. I've done nothing but eaten and watched movies on this trip - but those are two good things I guess.

So now I'm all packed and ready to go. But I'm really not ready to go just yet. I will miss my mom, and her new cat Nicky too! She got a new cat recently - I can't remember if I've already written about him here but he was a stray that showed up outside the house of my mom's friend. He was beaten up a bit, so my mom's friend took him to the vet and got him patched up, and checked him for any diseases. She couldn't keep him since she already had four pets, so she gave him to my mom - which is good timing since my mom's cat died about two months ago. Nicky is a Russian Blue, with a sleek gray coat and gorgeous green eyes - and he's about six years old. he's just adorable, and loving and playful, and I've already gotten attached to him. I'll be posting pictures of him later.

Anyway I should go to bed. I'm leaving here at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon and taking the van to Seattle where my sister will pick me up - I'll stay with her family tomorrow night and then fly out at 2 p.m. Wednesday. I have a few little things to do in the morning, so I should get up early!

I'll be getting back to Japan late Thursday (Japan time), and I'll be jetlagged, tired, and stressed... so I may not post for several days. hope you are all well!
see you on the other side of the ocean!

wow - I have only one week left of my vacation. I can't believe how fast it's gone. I'm not doing much at all, but still having a lovely time. In some ways I'm not ready to go back to my life in Japan - the heat, the schools, the lack of independence, etc... I think I've completely forgotten Japanese in just two weeks (well not really, but it feels that way!).
But in some ways, I'm also ready to get back to my cat, my husband, and to a routine again. It's where my life is currently, so I can't avoid it forever.

Since I wrote last, things have been pretty slow. Saturday we went to the downtown farmer's market in the morning - and then in the evening went to dinner at a Thai restaurant with my family. I ate too much, but it was nice. Sunday I couldn't fathom another day of sitting around the house, so I suggested to my mom that we get out somewhere. We ended up driving just about 20 minutes west of town to a park called Salt Creek, which is right next to the water. I made egg salad and some cookies, and we packed up a picnic lunch with all kinds of food and met my aunt, uncle and cousin Ben out there for a nice little picnic by the woods, with a view of the water. It was a nice afternoon!

Monday we went out to Sequim, the nearest town with shops, to do some shopping. We had a little lunch at a cafe (with peach pie for dessert!), and then went to JC Penneys where I bought some new Levi's and a few other things. I couldn't find any underwear, so I'm having to order them online. This area is seriously lacking in shops, and we don't want to take the time to drive 1 1/2 hours to the nearest mall.

really I can't say where much of my time has gone. My mom and I have been just hanging out a lot at home and watching movies - and talking. It's just what I wanted to do, so I'm not bored at all. otherwise, I've done some reorganizing of my things that are stored here - and just a lot of relaxing.

I'm talking to my husband every afternoon by phone, and spending lots of time researching the whole green card process - because we might be having to go through it all again next year if he wants to return here. After much going back and forth, we've decided it's best if he doesn't return to the U.S. now to get his re-entry permit. He would have to be here for about two months - he would have to stay in my mom's house without a car or job or anything to do. With him here, I'd be living in his parent's house without him to help me with things. It would just be too awkward for both of us to be apart like that. So he's continuing to look for work in Japan, and I'll finish out my contract, and then we'll make a decision...

that's about all for now.

I haven't heard from many of you - I guess it's summer and busy. But please drop by and say hi. I miss you all!

Hello! Yes, I'm still alive, and I am still in Washington state. I can't believe that I've actually been here for over a week already - time has flown. It's been a bit of a strange trip so far, but mostly it's been great just to be back in the U.S., and back with my family again.

Let's see if I can sum up what's happened so far:
( a week in review )

Of course I have taken some pictures since I got here, mostly of my niece and nephew and on our boat tour of the strait and the island - but since I didn't bring my laptop, they won't be posted until I get back to Japan on the 26th. Sadly we've decided against visiting my family in Sacramento, California. I just realized how fast time is flying, and how little time I would really have to spend with family and friends if I went down there. Also, since we have to fly stand-by with my brother-in-law's Alaska Airlines benefits, I am afraid that I might have trouble getting on a flight back to Seattle in the peak summer traveling season - and if I can't get back to Seattle, then I'd miss my flight back to Japan. So instead of going to California, I'm going to spend lots of time here in PA with my mom, and also have additional time with my aunt and uncle here, and my cousin Lynn. My sister is also planning to come back next weekend and stay a couple days, then drive me back to Seattle to catch my flight. I haven't seen much of my brother on this trip - he's been keeping to himself. And additionally I'm having a bit of drama with my husband, who is wondering if he should come back here before the end of the month to get a re-entry permit so that he doesn't lose his green card. He is now considering moving back to the U.S. again.... It's a long story and one for another day!

So good night. I hope everyone is doing good, and I hope to catch up on your lives soon! I'll be back in a few days with more news and updates.

I just wanted to do a quick update - things are crazy around here and will get crazier as the week progresses. Yesterday afternoon, five of my family members arrived from Sacramento - my aunt Pam, uncle Roger, cousin Andrea and her two children Christian (who's 14) and Kira (who's 9). They are some of my dearest relatives, and I haven't seen them since last summer's family reunion. They'll be staying for a week - three of them are staying at our house, the other two are staying over at my aunt and uncle's house. And Kira, the 9-year-old, is staying in the empty twin bed next to me downstairs. It's fun having her around, but of course I'm having to get accustomed to sharing my space. She's a sweetheart though - and I'm enjoying spending the time with her and with Christian, who's also just the sweetest kid. Today Kira and Christian helped me to bake pumpkin cookies! The rest of the week will be super busy as all of us prepare for this huge Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, and also get the program and decorations and last minute cooking and preparations done for the big 50th Wedding Anniversary party we're having for my parents on Saturday.

And to add to the chaos, tomorrow morning, I'm meeting an old friend of mine, Carol, who I used to teach with at the college - we're going to have coffee and talk for an hour or so. Then tomorrow afternoon I'll have to make grocery lists and maybe start shopping - I've been having fun planning some of the dishes I want to contribute to the Thanksgiving meal - I'm going to challenge myself and make a broccoli, mushroom and gouda quiche - and I might also make a corn and sweet potato soup! I'm trying to add some more vegetarian dishes to the meal, since I'm trying to cut back on meat this year and not eat any turkey ... although we'll have plenty of veggie dishes like corn stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, and spinach salad.

Oh and also tomorrow, if time allows, Andrea and the kids and I are going out to see New Moon ! I'm excited to watch that with the kids, because Kira especially is a huge Edward fan.

It's going to be such a fun week, but boy it's hard to have so many people running around in this small house - we had 11 for dinner last night, and we'll have 14 for Thanksgiving since my sister and her family are also coming! my brother left today to spend two months in Portland, so he won't be around - and I'm sure he's enjoying the peace and quiet of his hostel tonight. But as loud and crowded as it may get, I'm going to savour these family moments, since in just two weeks I'll be in Japan, far away from my own family for quite some time.

Anyway, if I'm scarce this week, you'll know why... but I have a feeling that lots of people will be busy (at least those in the U.S. who celebrate Thanksgiving)...

have a great week everyone!

I have some very good news: My sister gave birth to a baby girl yesterday morning in Seattle.
My new niece, Shannon Dayle Dixon, weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces, and measured 19 inches long. Baby and mother are both perfectly healthy, and will be released from the hospital tomorrow morning. My mom and dad are staying with my sister and her family for the rest of the weekend.

I had meant to post about my niece yesterday, but my boss worked me like a slave, and then I had class until 9:00 so I was just dead by the time I got home!

So better late than never, please join me in welcoming little Shannon Dayle into the world! Pictures will be posted when (or more like IF) I get some from my relatives!!

thank goodness it's the weekend again!!

I've got so many movies to watch - one netflix dvd at home, which I believe is the James Dean biopic with my honey James Franco; three movies that I've downloaded, including The Reader which I'm gonna have to watch before Sunday night's Oscars; and I've just realized that I can watch The Visitor on instant play through Netflix. that one's got an oscar-nominated lead actor, Richard Jenkins - and I've heard the movie is quite good.

Problem is, I'm so damn tired that I can't even see straight. so I guess I'll toddle off to bed early, sleep a bit, and get up early and watch a movie or two...

then tomorrow night we're going to a church fundraiser at which my husband is playing with his band. free food and good live music - not bad!!


more later, when I'm not falling asleep on my keyboard...zzzzzzzzzzz

My uncle is recovering really well from the surgery. I spoke with my mom and my aunts yesterday morning, and they said that his blood pressure was up, which is good, and that he was stable. This afternoon, my mom said that Roger was still intibated (sp?), because they don't want him to expend too much effort for breathing on his own, and he's on a morphine drip for the pain. His blood count is good, which means that the infection is no longer there. Also, his kidneys are functioning, which is a bonus - they were afraid they would have to put him on dialysis too. Of course his colon was removed, and he is not even aware that he has the colostomy bag, but my aunt Pam, his wife, said that he wants to live, so he should be okay with it. If the alternative is pain and suffering, then I know Roger would choose life. If he keeps improving like this, then we can all breathe easily. My mom said that he even opened his eyes a bit when she and my aunt were standing next to him.

So that's good news!

The bad news is that we found out yesterday one of the greatest local blues guitarists, Chico Banks , died a couple of days ago. He was only 47 years old. We just saw him performing this summer at a festival near where we live, and he was a standard fixture at the city blues clubs like Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S. He was such a positive, energetic person, and a fantastic musician and performer. My husband even shared a stage with him a few times. It's hard to believe he's gone! Apparently his cause of death is at this point unknown - he collapsed from a sudden illness, and some kind of infection spread into his brain and he died. It's so sad, especially for my husband.

my weekend was really unproductive and boring. But after such being so productive and organized last weekend, I guess a wasted weekend is acceptable. I attempted twice to get an oil change on my car, but yesterday morning it was snowing heavily, so I opted out. and today I got to the shop and there was already a 5-hour wait at 9 a.m.!!! the weekend wasn't completely wasted, though - I did teach myself a couple basic crochet stitches (with the help of some you tube videos) , but I really need to practice. It's harder than I remember (I could do it when I was about 12 years old - my grandmother taught me). I also worked a little on my knitting. Today all I did was to read a chapter in my litigation book, do some yoga, and watched two episodes of Freaks and Geeks . What a great show that is!! Why did I never watch it before?

that's all. happy sunday night - I wish the stupid work week didn't have to start tomorrow.