Cold Meds

So again, I should be doing so many things, but instead I am sitting here with my coffee in Todd's bathrobe enjoying the quiet...and recovering from a cold and Christmas party. It's about to get crazy again and there are a few things I have to do today, but for now, i am going to take a breath and relax.

It's not really fair to say that this is my first opportunity for relaxing this week, but it is my first opportunity to enjoy it. After the airport fiasco where I was able to pay for the privilege of flying to Washington-Dulles airport, finding out that my connecting flight was cancelled, waiting in line at Customer Service for 2 hours, and then sleeping on the airport floor, only to return the next morning to Charlotte without my luggage (which would not appear for another 4 days). I realize that the last sentence was a fragment, but I don't think it could handle anymore after the description of my night- I know I couldn't! United was nice enough to give me a $150 credit for my experience as a "gesture of goodwill," meaning I only had to pay $80 for them to mess up my Christmas plans, give me a night of hell, and a week without luggage. But they certainly made it clear that I was lucky to get that. So, what have we learned?? 1. Fly Direct. 2. Do not fly United.

So after that fiasco, I was sick. Was it the changing temperatures or the night on the airport floor? Or perhaps, it was simply my body giving out after a stressful semester (and a night on the airport floor). But I got a horrible cold. Luckily Herm is here and he watched the kids and let me sleep and sleep and sleep. So, I did get rest, but it was that tossing and turning, hallucinating dreams, sweaty kinda rest. Luckily I was feeling better Friday night, so we were able to go to The Trans Siberian Orchestra. That was a lot of fun, and that's not the cold medicine talking...although I am sure that made the lasers all the more exciting. Todd was able to get us amazing seats on the floor, so it felt like we were in the show!

Then last night, we went to the annual holiday party at Brian and Dawnette's. It was so much fun, and I think I drank an entire bottle of wine...hence the recovery today. It was fun though, and I made it through the Yankee Swap with my Wine decanter set! I had to steal that bad boy back a couple of times, but I prevailed.

Now it is Sunday morning and I have a couple more things to pick up. I have to go to my apartment, and should probably start preparing for Christmas dinner. My Mom is coming in Christmas Eve night, so I am looking forward to that. It's going to be a Griswald Christmas at the Haller homestead this year. Although, we cheated with the tree and just bought one off the lot. My cold is passing and there is more to look forward to. My winter break can still salvaged. Of course, now Todd is starting to feel a little under the weather...it couldn't be my cold, could it? Anyway, there is still lots to do, but for now I will just enjoy the quiet!

Just a blurrrr....

So I am writing a paper on D. H. Lawrence right now. Like literally right now. The paper is underneath my internet browser I write this. I am taking a brief break because I have been plugging away all afternoon and can hardly see straight. The topic itself is interesting to me, because I love Lawrence. I have always enjoyed his writing, and have found his words and ideas intriguing- and it's not just the smokin hot sex scenes either. I remember reading three of his novels in high school for AP Lit. It seems like a lifetime ago, although seriously- it was not THAT long ago...of course it could be because I can't remember what I wrote about, nor do I remember what one of the books was about- my favorite book no less! So I definitely need to do some rereading.

Anyway, I am taking a break now as the end of the semester wraps up in a whirlwind. I have already written, printed and turned in my papers for my Shakespeare class and 17th Century Brit Lit class. Now, I am just finishing up this Lawrence paper for my Modern Brit Lit class.

One would think that at this point, I would really be feeling the end of the semester, and they would be mistaken. In addition to finishing my paper, I still have to present my paper, give two classes finals, grade two classes worth of finals, report grades for two classes, reread King Lear, Cymbeline, and Winter's Tale, and take a final myself. Also, i wanted to get a haircut this week. Oh, and it's Christmas season... probably should do some Christmas shopping...Anyone want a brilliant paper about the marginalization of women in the 17th century written and signed by the author? I know it's at the top of everyone's list.

So do you have a minute or two to spare? Because I sure could use some! It's December and 70 degrees outside and I would love to take advantage of it!

Lazy Saturday

Oh what bliss this is! Saturday morning, sitting in my jammies, playing on facebook and being extremely unproductuve. And do I feel guilty?? Not a bit. FOr the first time in months. Of course, there are papers to write, and there is work to be done, but I have an entire week to do it. And no, I am not planning on putting it off til the end. But I do feel that after my extrememly long, extremely busy, extremely busy week, I have entitled myself to a little downtime before I dive back into schoolwork.

Of course, there is also the issue of Thanksgiving to consider. We are hosting this year, so I will be roasting a turkey, making some gracy and apple-walnut stuffing, along with plenty of starches including mashed potatos and macaroni and cheese. I love entertaining and mkaing huge meals, but there is still plenty to do to prepare! So it will be a busy week despite not having any classes.

SO for now, I will take a deep breath, drink my coffee... and go entertain a 5 year old who is bored. So, it looks like my lazy morning is over, and I am off to the pool!

Skydiving with the Golden Knights!

Well, I think the title says it all, but for those who need more here it is: Todd and I went skydiving today with the Golden Knights. It was my third jump (second with the Knights). It was Todd's second jump with the Knights- he says he will only jump with The Golden Knights. And it makes sense, they are simply the best. And if Chuck Norris and Tiger Woods can jump with them, certainly we can too! Interesting side note, Former President Bush jumped with them yesterday- and Barbara was not too pleased when she found out! Anyway, why write about it, when I can post some pictures!

Ours

It's Wednesday and I am all ready exhausted. I am planning on going home and drinking a bottle of wine and maybe taking a bath. Of course, that means I need to clean my bathtub first. Also, I have no toilet paper and I forgot to steal some from Todd's. So it looks like I am going to the store. I do love the Teeter, but I am also eager to get back to my apt with some merlot and a very very very large glass. I do not stay at my apartment often, maybe 2 or 3 nights a week. It is strange living out of a weekender bag and constantly packing and unpacking. I love my apartment, and its not worth buying out the lease that is up in 3 months. THen I guess I will be staying at Todd's until we buy a new house. It doesn't look like his will sell before the spring, so I will be moving all of my new apartment stuff into a storage area. Luckily storage areas are much much cheaper than my apartment. I will miss my place though. It's just the right size and was getting to just the way I like it. I love my balcony that faces the road. I can sit out there at night and listen to the traffic beyond the trees with a glass of wine. It's so relaxing. I love my great big garden tub and big bathroom and massive closet. I love that there is no tv to be droning on in the background and sapping my energy. I love that it's my place. The only place that was just mine. But there are things I love more and people I love more, and I look forward to joining them again full time in a few months. And hopefully soon, I will be able to post about the new house that I love that I share with the people that I love. And the best part is that I will love it because it is not just mine, but because it is "ours."

Updating the blog.

So, I should be reading criticism on Virgina Woolf, or getting a jump on my reading for 17th Century Brit Lit. But what am I doing instead? Updating my blog. It looks pretty though doesn't it? I like it- and I don't know the first thing about HTML. I got it from suckmylolly.com. It took some playing around, but I managed it, and spent a valuable hour on it easily. Oh the reading I could have gotten done! I am sure I will kick myself later, but for now I am just going to sit back and admire my pretty blog.

A little time for Tiffany

Oh my! What is this??? I am not quite sure. I think it's a moment of free time! What? You mean a few minutes where I may indulge in some mindless internet entertainment with no feeling of guilt?? Why, I had almost forgotten what that felt like. I think it's a little like what Heaven must feel like it.

Yes, I have class in ten minutes and my paper is typed and printed. After laboring over it all weekend, I think it is done. I think. But it is printed and there is nothing else I can do now but wait to pass it in. I have been working all morning on my other paper due tomorrow. I think it is close to completion, but I cannot work on it now. I think it just needs some polishing anyway. So for now, I can sit and relax and add some applications to facebook or just surf the net. I do need some inspiration for my Posh Spice Halloween costume this year. Yes, Todd and I are going as the Beckhams! I love Halloween.

I also love not having to watch my transitions, support my claims, or adhere to parallel structure or spelling. And conclusions??? Hooray for the Blog!

Wow

So it wasn't until I got a friendly comment reminder from Meagan that I realized it has been nearly a month since I posted last! Everything has been so crazy, it's been hard to find even a few minutes to jot down some new happenings. But this morning, I am going to take those minutes and work them over like they need to be, and put off grading the rest of my students' drafts for a little bit longer.

When I got back from Japan I pretty much hit the ground running. I arrived in Charlotte Sunday night after about 24 hours of travelling. The next morning I was driving to school to begin my workweek. I taught two classes that day, and I admit I was a little out of it by my 3:30 class. But there was no time for jet-lag. I had my own classes to take on Tuesday. I think the schedule forced me to readjust my body clock pretty quickly... OR maybe I haven't adjusted yet- I don't think I have stopped long enough to notice!

It has been a busy time since getting back. OF course in grad school there is always something to read or write, and now to grade. But I love it. And I really can't complain- one of the reasons I am so busy this weekend is because two weekends ago my mother paid me a surprise visit, which was awesome! I was just sitting reading Passage to India waiting for Todd to get home. When the door opened and I heard my mom's voice, I was in shock! It was so nice to have her here. And she was here for my surprise birthday party! Todd and Mary had been plotting a birthday party for me since I had been in Japan for my actual birthday. It was great, complete with a pink princess cupcake cake (tiara and sceptor included)and lots of my favorite foods from the Asian Mart.

Then last weekend, Todd took me on a cruise to the Bahamas. While we were in Nassau, Todd asked me to marry him. It was so nice. It was formal night, so he was in a suit- not something you see often. We had just had a wonderful dinner and a bottle of wine. We were taking a walk around the boat and ended up at the front of the ship admiring the stars, and that's when he took the ring out. I absolutely love it- and rather than explain it- I will just post a picture.
So we are very excited about that! Although still no date or anything like that. We are thinking next summer sometime.

I can't believe I have been back for almost a month now. SO much has happened, yet it has gone by so quickly! And I must catch up as time keeps whirling by. So before I can plan a wedding, I think I have to go grade some personal narratives!

I'm H-A-P-P-Y!

Today was the last day of SDC where I was teaching this summer. This means that I will be leaving Tokyo in only a couple of days. I am both happy and sad about this. I will miss the great friends I have made and the beauty of Japan. But I am also ready to return to my friends and family back home. As I reflect on all of the wonderful experiences I have had, I wish I could convey to you in words what they were like. Instead I will offer some pictures that I think offer a glimpse into what I have seen and what the last month has meant to me.
Flying over Alaska
Pokemon! Buddhist Temple
Prayer Cards at a Shinto Shrine Out with Uncle Gerry
Sticker Booths with Isolde

Lunch with the Girls at School
Happy Birthday to me!Bamboo Grove outside of my place

There are so many more wonderful pictures, and it was impossible to choose. But that is so much like my trip. There were so many experiences that I don't know where to start. It went by so fast, I can't believe it is almost time to go home! Yet, I am eager to return home and share my stories- and all of my pictures!

Tiffany is Twenty-foxy today!

Today is officially my birthday! As, I am on the other side of the world, I was concerned that I may be a bit homesick on my birthday. Luckily, I have made some wonderful friends here who were not going to let that happen. In Tokyo there are all sorts of fun ways to celebrate. We decided that we would celebrate in the proper fashion. That is an all-night clubbing fest in Roppongi! Since the trains and buses stop relatively early, it is difficult (and expensive) to get back to wherever you are staying in Tokyo. Luckily the clubs are open all night to keep you entertained while you wait for the next train. We planned this and got a relatively late start (and a nap on Saturday afternoon). I left to meet Isolde and Steph at their place around 8:00pm. We then caught the train to start our adventure.

We had dinner at Samrat. Yes, it is an ugly name, but the food was delicious! If you ever happen upon one, order the Butter Chicken- it's an amazing curry.

Next we met up with Jeannie and James and hit The Hub. It's a cute little English style pub that they have throughout Tokyo. Isolde and I had an extensive conversation about the irony of a Coldplay picture next to a Nirvana picture.

Finally it was time to dance! We first stopped at Motown, which has an odd obsession with Lionel Richie. There was a massive 6 foot picture of him on the way in. The place was packed, but there was always room to dance.

We moved from club to club throughout the night. There were quite a few observations to make as we went including: Even if the first Samrat is closed, don't be discouraged- the one down the road may still be open. The same goes for Motown (if the first is full). Japanese business men love "It's Raining Men" and will sing it loudly with you. Daytime comes at you fast in Tokyo. It may be dark when you go into that last club of the evening, but it will be daytime when you come out. A Mcdonalds McMuffin at 7:00 am after a night of celebrating your birthday in Roppongiis is the most delcious breakfast ever.

After savoring every bite of our McBreakfast we headed home. Each of us struggled to keep our eyes open as the trains hypnotic movement lulled us to sleep. When we finally pulled up to the campus, I climbed off the bus and dragged myself to the townhouse that I had left 12 hours ago. I then passed out for the next 4 hours, satisfied that after Saturday night, Sunday would be delightfully spent in recovery with Harry Potter. It was such a fun night, and a great and memorable birthday. Turning twenty-foxy (as Jeannie so wonderfully put it) was pretty awesome!

Pictures

I finally managed to upload some of my pictures onto the computer. Of course, in the interest of time (and the fact that I am still trying to figure out Japanese Blogger) I am just going to post my favorite right now. It's a picture of me in front of the bridge to the Imperial Palace. More to come soon!

What a week!

Wow, I can't believe that I have been here for a week already! I have just finished up my first week at the camp. That means I am half way through the first session. It has been crazy! It's been a lot of work, but a lot of fun. The kids are adorable!

Tokyo has been simply amazing. I spent last weekend with my aunt and uncle. My aunt's apartment itself is an adventure. She is on the 20th floor in Roppongi Hills. This is a particularly beautiful and newly revamped part of downtown Tokyo. Her view is breathtaking and is only outdone by her bathrooms. As many of you know, I wrote a paper this passed semester on plumbing technology. Well, her apartment has some of those sweet features- including a wall panel and heated toilet seat that lifts as you approach- I have not experimented with the bidet feature, but it's there too! When we left the apartment to explore, my uncle showed me some amazing places. I saw The Imperial Palace, A Buddhist Temple, A Shinto Shrine (where a wedding happened to be taking place), and did plenty of shopping at the markets and the giant shopping Mecca in Ginza. Of course, we also ate at all types of wonderful places. I will hopefully be posting pictures of some of the amazing sites I have seen soon!

This weekend, I will be staying on the campus and will be venturing out with some friends. We are planning on hitting the shops. There is so much to see when shopping, that it is a cultural adventure in itself- and I get to buy things- bonus!

First Day

Well, I just saw that my previous post was incomplete. Appropriately, it cut off exactly where I was saying not to expect anything fancy as google sites appear in Japanese. Thus I have to guess at what which link is which.

I have just finished my Orientation Day at the school. My Uncle met me this morning at the townhouse where I am staying. It is an adorable place on a college campus just down the road from the school I am teaching at this summer. There is a bamboo grove just outside my front door and a beautiful garden in the backyard. It is very peaceful and comfortable.

This morning after he met me, we climbed onto our bikes and headed towards the campus. This of course is the most dangerous part of my day. I am not a coordinated person to begin with, and I haven't been on a bike in a few years. Whoever said, "it's like riding a bike..." either didn't know what they were talking about, or people have been grossly missusing the quote. About halfway down the hill towards the campus and a few close calls with oncoming bikers, I finally decided that it sure would be a nice day to walk my bike. It is fun to be back on a bike though, and basically I am doing fine- but it will take a couple of days to really be comfortable! Last night on the larger and flatter road to the grocery store, it was actually a wonderful ride on a beautiful night. I may need to pick up a Huffy back in the States.

Of course the grocery store is one of my favorite places, and to explore one in Japan was some kind of Heaven for me. I am looking forward to going back again to wander and wonder (and purchase) some more. Looking at the colorful labels guessing at the contents was a delight, and marveling at the wonderful sushi creations that you can not find at Harris Teeter was a special treat.

Of course as I try to write about my day, I keep getting side tracked, so perhaps the blog about my job can wait as I recount my first experiences in the culture.

After finally settling in for the evening last night after my Uncle had left, I found myself very alone. The townhouse was so quiet, and I admit, my horror soaked American mind had a few images of the Grudge creeping through it. I opted to watch some Japanese television while my jet lagged body enjoyed some rest and an English muffin. Awesome, is all I have to say about the television. I have no idea what I was watching, but I loved it. I had previously planned to take a shower before bed to help relax and knock the day and a half of travel off me, but instead the day and a half of travel caught up with me.

Once my english muffin was consumed, I only wanted to collapse on my bed. Of course my travels had only felt like a long day. While it was 24 hours later from when I had left the US, I had not experienced night yet. We had flown with the sun, so my daytime had been over 24 hours long. Additionally, it was also almost two days later than I had left in Japan. Let me explain. Japan is 13 hours ahead of the US, so without moving an inch I had already lost 13 hours, then the travelling from Atlanta had cost another 13 hours, then there was the trip from Charlotte and layover, add another 4 hours. Then once I landed in Tokyo, there was the time before I had to catch the bus, add another 2 hours, then the bus ride, 2 more hours, then the trip from the station on the subway with my Uncle (only one stop) and short bus ride (maybe 20 minutes total). That's a lot of math that I am just not willing to do because I experienced it all and was surprisingly exhausted by it. Even though the trip had seemed easy at the time, my exhausted body was about ready to give out. So I climbed into bed and passed out.

And that's when the phone rang. I snapped out of my hazy slumber and picked up the phone. It was my Mom on the other end, who I was thrilled to hear from. The hardest part about landing in Tokyo was that I could not call anyone to tell them I had landed or to share my experience with. In fact until I met up with my Uncle, other than some interaction with people, I had not actually talked to anyone since my flight left Atlanta. I told her all about my day that had just ended while hers was beginning. No sooner had we hung up, then I passed out quickly again for 9 more hours.

Now after finishing my first day at the camp, I am playing in the computer lab while I wait for my uncle to begin the bike trip (uphill) back to the townhouse. I can feel the jet lag catching up with me, so I have a feeling it will be another early night. It is 3am in the US right now after all!

Arrived Safely!

Well, I made it to Tokyo and in one piece! Although the real danger comes in me riding a bicycle! Anyway, as I feared, I cannot access myspace from the school, so I will have to stick with my blog to keep everyone updated. Don't expect anything fancy though- all of the google

Happy (Early) Birthday to me!

True, my birthday is about a month away, but I will be in Japan on that special day. Instead, Todd opted to take me out for my birthday before I left. He selected a restaurant that would be a surprise and presented me with my birthday present before we left the house. I was beyond thrilled to see it in a certain little blue/green box. He had made the daunting trip to South Park and bought me a necklace at Tiffany's! I love it and wore it that night- Here's a picture!


I wore it to dinner at Carpe Diem in Charlotte. The dinner was awesome! I am such a foodie nerd, so I love trying new yummy restaurants. We started with a wonderful glass of wine and some shrimp empanadas. Then I had the delicious mahi mahi. And even though it wasn't technically my birthday yet, the waiter still put a candle in my dessert. Happy Birthday to me!

Boogie Boarding and Universal Studios

So after several attempts at posting some vacation pictures on Myspace and my blog, I have finally given up. Mental Note: check on my Snapfish account...

One of the great things about Cocoa beach is the miles of surf shops with super cheap beach goodies. We have had quite a good time on our $4.77 boogie boards. Other than a header into the shore, I think I am getting pretty good. Rye on the other hand has gone into early retirement after her header. We suspect she'll get back out there, because she is the best boarder among us.

On Monday, we had a blast at Universal Studios! We only waited in one long line (Jimmy Neutron) for 45 minutes. The rest of the rides we practically walked on! Other than a screaming Ryely on Jaws, all of us had a great time playing like we were 5 again.

Otherwise we've played with some wild animals and had an awesome dinner at The Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney with Brian, Dawnette and family (pictures to come soon).

Right now, we are waiting for something to happen at Cape Canaveral. We have a great view of the launch pad from our balcony, and everyone on the beach is standing in place with eyes glued to NASA. Soon we will be hitting the beach ourselves for one last day in the sun. Better start working the sunblock! Other than Todd's fiery red back, we did pretty well with keeping the burns at bay. I'd like to keep it that way- so I'm gonna go find the SPF 30!

Cocoa Beach

The weekend started off a little crazy.

Todd and I rolled out of bed at 5:00 am yesterday and started stocking up the coolers and the Element with the help of a 5 year old. Rye and I had to go work with Todd so we could leave for the beach right away. As soon as the Why Weight? Show was over at 10:00, we jumped in the car and headed to Florida. We made awesome time- and without Todd speeding. We arrived at the Orlando airport just as my mother was stepping out of the baggage area. She climbed into the Element next to Rye and we were off!

45 minutes later we pulled into a somewhat sketchy looking resort. We held our breath as we found our way to our condo for the week. When we stepped into the room, I let out a tremendous sigh of relief as Todd anxiously inquired from the hall: "How is it?" The condo is absolutely adorable with an amazing view of the beach.

We unpacked and stocked the kitchen while Rye showed my Mom pictures from Greyson's birthday party. I heated up some turkey chili for us to dine on before climbing into bed for the evening. It had been a long day and we wanted to be ready for another one- on the beach.

When we woke up this morning, the sun was shining and the blue ocean was calling us. We sat on the balcony in our jammies while the coffee brewed and Todd assessed where the cruise ships were. After some blueberry pancakes, we threw on our suits and hit the beach. The water was perfect, so we swam for quite awhile, but of course there was still time to search for seashells and build a sandcastle!

Now we are back at the condo and everyone is sound asleep. It is so nice to be here together with my Mom. Ryely is super-excited to have her here as are Todd and I. It is so funny to see a five year old with more excitement than her little body can contain. She is practically running in circles and is literally climbing all over Mom. She loves the beach and relishes every wave that knocks her over. Todd enjoys pointing out the odd looking people and tracking the cruise ships. Mom loves taking her walks and enjoying the sun. I love it all, and am so thrilled that this is only the first day. We still have a whole afternoon to enjoy in the surf today, and a day of fun at Universal Studios later this week. For now, I will just relax and listen to the ocean and quietly wait for everyone to wake up...

Summer Adventures

It's wonderful to have two full months to enjoy the summer after my first year in grad school. I am also very excited to take my first trip to Japan at the end of those two months. It is not a trip of leisure however. I will be teaching English in two two-week summer camp programs with my Uncle. I will be in Tokyo for a month before my return- the day before the semester starts at UNCC. As excited as I am for this opportunity, it does put a little bit of a crunch on my summer. I am lucky enough to have some additional trips to enoy this summer. We will be going to Cocoa Beach for a week next month, and we are planning to jump with the Golden Knights again sometime this summer. There is of course the grand festivities on the Fourth of July, which celebrates not only our country's independence, but also Todd's birthday. So of course this means, double the fireworks and double the celebration. I want to get home to NH for a week or so to visit my family and friends there, but it's a matter of trying to figure out where I actually have a week free. Right now, it's looking like the last week in June. It's either that or the week before I leave for Japan, only leaving me 3 days to prepare for a month long trip to the other side of the globe. So it looks like the end of June may be the way to go! It's really turning into an amazing summer. There are so many exciting things that I will be doing, and I can't wait to get started. Right now, I am just resting and gearing up for the adventures! So back to the pool!

Ahhh... summer

As a starving grad student, I don't make a lot of money. As a girl, I require certain staples like designer handbags. This means that some necessities have to take priority over others. So, cute new haircut? Check. Internet? maybe not. So, here I am enjoying my first Monday of summer vacation sitting in the clubhouse at my apartment complex. I could, and probably should, be sitting out by the pool, but I am still waiting for my horrible splotchy burn from day 1 of summer vacation to finish fading. Besides, I am in my sweats (hittin the fitness room in a bit), and that's just not pool attire.

Besides, I still have to hit LA Weightloss to see how much damage I did this weekend! On the upside, I was down almost 10 pounds at last check! But, it may have changed a bit since then. We had a wonderful weekend, and I enjoyed a few extra treats! I finally showed some school spirit and hit a baseball game with Todd and the kids and Kelly and her kids. We lost, but we had a wonderful time. Although I am still trying to understand the Uh huh guy... Then there was the Gwen Stefani concert on Saturday for Rye's birthday present, which she has been waiting patiently for since March. She used her birthday money and bought a concert t-shirt. Of course even the adult small is a huge on her tiny 5-year old frame. We had to knot it up and roll her sleaves to get a fit, and it looked absolutely adorable- especially while she sat on Todd's shoulders singing "Hollaback Girl." The best part though was when we were leaving, and she asked me: Was that my birthday present? I answered that it was, and she replied: That was the best birthday present ever!

So now it's lazy time. Just after I swing by LA Weightloss, the grocery store, hit the fitness room, and maybe a dip in the pool. Ahhh... summer

Shakespeare and I are taking a break

Ok, it's not a long break, but it's a well deserved one. I have just spent the last three days straight with him. I am feeling a little smothered frankly. I still love him, but we just need some time apart. I am thinking maybe, 3 months. Then when i get back from Japan we can resume in his late plays.

Yes, the semester has finally come to an end. I have turned in my last research paper and annotated bibliogaphy (yes on the bard). Now I can screw around and play on myspace and my blog... which coincidentally has not been touched since I started it at the end of last semester...

But I feel like this summer should be documented. I will be Japan after all in July-August, and I would like to share with everyone how that experience is going. Also, I am just trying to get back into my routine of writing. I am not sure I can still do it after my intensive semester!

Still, I am thrilled to be back in school. I have one year down and one to go. I am officially half-way to my Master's degree! Woo hoo! But for now, I am going to go start my summer!