Ah to be surrounded by children.

It's not ENTIRELY new to me, but today I walked outside and not ONLY was I bombarded by two little girls...  but also a little boy who came and hugged me.  cough.   I have noticed that recently that this is just becoming normal.  Walk in and I hear the name "HAMMIE!!!"  It's strange.  Very strange.

I am still mulling over the idea of what I will do when a year ends.  Will I come back or not.  There are some aspects that scream my return is more likely than not.  Like I get home sick for KASHIWAZAKI, all I want is to have the girls come and tickle torture me, or squeeze me around the neck till it's hard to breathe, or coming and hugging me or wanting to sit in my lap.  And it's not just the girls, Joshy and his personality, how could I ever leave him?  And Laura and Jerry are like family.  It will just be hard, leaving here is like leaving home all over again.  But not just home, but a purpose as well. 

Sigh, so it's still being mulled over.  There are things I need to finish back home and I am not sure how school will all work out.  I've been asked it recently and at current I still have winter to get through until I decide for sure.  So, I will keep you all updated.

Anyhow, today has been a lot of Japanese study and actually a pretty laid back Thursday.  The girls leave tomorrow for Sanjo, Laura and I will have bible study, then I will have Japanese class, go home about 3:30 and get there closer to 4.  Then I will eat and get prepared for my evening classes that I teach.  And get home somewhere in the neighborhood of 10.  So day tomorrow.  Saturday I plan to hang out with Li Fang sometime so that should be fun.  YAY!!!  And Sunday is Sanjo.  That's all for now.  Peace.

Aisukurimu

yummy yummy yummy.

Yes, I do know that I have managed not to write recently.  I was gone all weekend, and then the rest of the week was just majorly busy with watching the girls, cleaning, teaching or packing.  The week was spent going out and chilling with the girls.  Almost all day Thursday it was me and the girls.  We played some soccer and such.

Friday I was a bit tired so took a nap after supper before I went to teach.  I don`t nap.  At least according to my mom I don`t nap... UNLESS, I am getting sick.  It`s not to far fetched to conclude that I was getting sick.  Anyhow, I got home from classes.  I actually HAD both my classes, which turned out well.  Misaki even said that class was fun today.  I have had a lot of fun with that class.  They are three middle school girls all of which are full of energy.  Anyhow, I came home finished packing went to bed at 10:30 but ended up talking with Boo til 11:30.  She had some questions and then it led to a discussion.  Anyhow, it ended when Laura came in and stopped it.   Now it was approaching 12, and I couldn`t sleep.  I heard Josh and since everyone else was asleep I figured I`d go out and watch him.  He wasn`t wanting to sleep.  So I woke Laura up to figure out what to do, and eventually I stayed up with him and fell asleep in his bed only waking up to comfort him when he was whimpering.   Around 1:30 or 2 he was asleep.  So I went back to my own bed.

6:40 I was awoken by Jerry telling me what time it was.  I got up got my shower, finished packing and headed out after breakfast.  I was greeted by Seimei while I was leaving.  He followed me and finally asked me where I was going (Douko ni?)  I had just learned what Douko meant... so I said Sanjo.  The kid just stared at me with this don`t leave me look as I walked down the sidewalk, crossed the light and disappeared behind a building.  

I managed to get to Robin`s place alright.  While there I probably got some of the most sleep of my life.  I fell asleep for about an hour and a half upon reaching her place.  We ended up having sandwiches for lunch and then headed off to Nagaoka to check out an art gallory there.  Seiji`s (can`t remember his last name) artwork was there.  I enjoyed it.  Robin and I have a suspicion he might be christian but we are not sure.  He had a lot of scenes from The Bible in his work. Then we went to the mall that is there and had pizza.  I got some cool pens and we checked out the bookstore.  After eating we headed back and watched The Last Samurai.  We both had to laugh at Tom`s pronunciation of Japanese.  After which I headed to bed.

At 10:50 I woke up... realizing that I had manaed to sleep approaching 10 1/2 hours straight through at that point and we had missed church.  Sigh, I don`t like missing church.  But seeing that no one was around I fell asleep again waking up at 12:20.  Yeah that is about 12 hours of sleep.  At which case I finally got up, Robin and I went out to Gusto and got lunch then headed back and lounged about.  I managed to fall asleep AGAIN!!! But not for too terribly long.  Robin at the time was talking to Laura on the phone.  That night we had Goulash, watched two movies, Superman Returns and Tokyo Drift, and then we also had bible study.  Bible study was pretty fun and reminded me of D-group.  I love d-groups.

Today was LONG!!!  I got up had left over Goulash with Robin, her students came, right after that we headed bowling and then checked out a few stores and then I ate quick and headed onto the station.  I got into Kashiwazaki at 6:33 and dropped off some things then went to ECS.  WE had ice cream and I got to hang out with Li Fang.  And after some game of spoons... one note about me... I don`t play games, beyond my family that is.  I just have a hard time with it.  I always have.  Even at home, I don`t really like card games beyond skip-bo.  And only a few board games do I really like and dominos.  But I played anyone, despite not wanting to.  I was the first one out... which was kind of fun to do.  After all of this we, the girls, Yayoi, Jerry and I, took Li Fang back home and then headed back home ourselves.  We had tea and cake while at her place and got to see what the Kasetsuju looks like on the inside.  Li Fang also is headed to Tokyo, so prayers on her trip.  She mentioned wanting to hang out with me when she gets back, which would be cool. 

Anyhow, this is really long and I need to get to bed.  No coffee or caffeine for that matter beyond the little oreo peices in my ice cream... It`s time to sleep. 

Peace all.    

Kyo

Where to begin?

Well, last night, my eyes started to burn, my stomach ached, my ears felt hot, I felt like a headache was coming on, but none came.  It was in this moment I finally caved and took my allergy medicine, zyrtec.  I generally don't like taking the stuff cause it make me tired, but after about an hour of taking the stuff, I felt quite a bit better.  The dark rings under my eyes were gone.  But then I went to bed at about 11.  I was unable to initially go to bed, but I did toss and turn til about 12.  At which point I passed out until 9:15.  I was expecting it to be more like 8 when I would wake up, but learned quite different.  When I did wake up, I was still rather tired.  But after a few CCs of caffeine and a nice shower followed by rather cold breeze... Let's say I woke up quite a bit more.

The morning followed in that, I mixed Thursday's schedule with Tuesday (a common mistake with most college students where thursday and tuesday are the same).  But then I realized Laura was staying til PT.  Josh ended up falling asleep around 11am, then we woke him at 12:20 so he'd be ready to go to PT.  To get him up was rather interesting dealing with hissy fits and attempts to fall asleep again.  But we got him to a sitting position and finally he came to a more agreeable mood after I did some drumming on my legs.  Drums... the boy likes drums.  Though a steady pattern is best... and I'd have to say he likes tribal or bongo drums better... leave out the cymbals.  Not sure about cymbals yet. 

As such, it was down to Kei, Boo, Jerry and I.  Kei, Boo and I are planning on going out to Yamaya to look at the 100 yen shop and maybe look around at their selection of imported food items.  YAY.  Yes, it is true.  Just like America where we have Asian food stores they have imported foods as well. 

As for Japanese class... We are learning directions... I fear them.  Just like ANY OTHER language.  I fear directions all the same.  migi is right... ue is up, mae is in front, ... forgets the rest.  I have much studying to do before Friday.  My goal is to have all of it memorized, all the verbs we looked at, all the questions, I mean everything.  My goal is to be a good student.  I hated being unprepared while in college, therefore I am going back to studying like a good student.  Yay for high school.  As such, it is time to get off.  It appears to be about the time that we are leaving for Yamaya.  Tata for  now. 

The Little Pistol I be.

My computer.  The evil bein it is... decided last night that sure it would come back to life... I even got it to a webpage and into my e-mail.  Then I thought I'd move the screen up so that I could see it at a better angle.  As it turns out I made the screen black out again.  GROWS FRUSTRATED.

And I've noticed little things like it will have little errors.  I have to keep restarting my computer and such, but I have managed to get a TON of pictures off and even songs off... but still.  Blah to the evil comp. 

I managed to get a new AIM account, so I can log onto other computers, seeing as how it won't LET me get a new password on my other one...ARG!!!

And then there are the bazillion of pictures I went through... I for the days felt rather strange.  All sorts of memories of childhood and home flashed through my head.  I felt happy and missed having my CORN FIELD rather than those stupid HOUSES behind my house back in the states.  They took all the fun out of it all.  I missed our garden after I picked tomatoes for Laura.  And I don't know if it is just me, BUT when people pick tomatoes do they always start having major itchiness where their arms touched the plant.  I have... and I don't know if it is just tomatoes being tomatoes or what.  

Anyhow, today was the weirdest day of all. I sat here watching a movie, and felt like I was off in the midwest again.  Sorta like I was visiting my grandpa when all the family was home.  It was majorly creepy. 

Earlier today I was being the little pistol I can tend to be.  I joke around and there is just one thing you never take away from me... and THAT is my MUSIC.  I have a tendency to turn it back on despite what I am told.  I should't.  I know, but it's my stress reliever and not hearing it makes me nervous, cept when I am backing up into a parking spot, then the music GOES... just a paranoia I have. 

Anyhow, I was joking around all afternoon, making little jokes.  Just like the old days when my father and I would joke around at the table and make mom get all flustered with us.  Yep, those were the days.  ;)

As for right now, it is late.  And I am in need of cuddles, but I don't get cuddles, because my mom isn't here to do so.  Sad.  Here is my deep philosophical question for all... Why is it when you grow up you don't get cuddles anymore? .... unless you are married or dating I guess... It's just sad, everyone needs cuddles.  Sigh.  I just don't get it. 

And WHY don't teddy bears suffice? 

Hmmm... Ponderage.

Alright, well, I better go be obnoxious again.  PEACE.

私の computer を きらい です。

Arg.  Wreckage report*

1. computer dies ~ can`t seem to figure out  how to get my pictures off of it...  Can`t see them to know if they are WORTH saving.

2. Grumbles.  If you are a woman you can relate.

... various other happenings of all sorts. 

I don`t care if I get another computer until I get home.  I do however, want to keep in touch with home and not having one really sucks for that.  So... grumbles.  Dad... if you read this... could you tell me how to burn a cd of pictures or something... that would be helpful. 

I today in japanese class... for the first time gave my teacher a confused... beyond the point of ever understanding look.  I NEVER do that to her.  So of course she looked back at me with a WHOA shocked look.  Zhou ended up explaining to me... which ALSO never happens.  And then after all the shock and awe... I finally sorta got it.  Of which I will spending this week drilling myself on japanese.  My brain on stress shuts down.  I start forgetting... which I hate...  but that:s life. 

As such.  ON thursday the girls and I were at the park. 
We played some and then... I got really upset with Boo because she told me I had been to this certain building... or in it... which I hadn`t.   Then I asked Laura.  She said they had gone just before I came.  But Boo in the meantime told me my memory was just messed up... I sorta lashed back because it was about that time that I had nothing off my computer but a few files and it was kirsplat.  I told Boo she made up stories in her head and that her fantasies became real... of which I feel bad for saying... but at the same time... it`s what I feel.  I stopped talking about that time.  It`s better to say nothing at all.  She also seems to think I have ALL the money in the world.  Sigh.  Far from it child.  Far from it.  I am in the negatives with school loans. 

I just wish things were easier right now and things would just be normal... other than said second reference which only a few know what I am talking about.  Some weeks being a woman... just... well... yeah. 

That`s all for now... O... and always say だめ to strange men... in Japanese that means... no good (basically).

peace for now.