7 posts from August 2009

My new place is BEAUTIFUL! I jumped up and down on a high for five minutes when I finally half moved in!

But then, I realized that it was missing the washing machine I was promised. So I just sent off an email, but since the landlord has two personalities, and his evil personality comes out when he has to actually do work, I'm not sure how that's going to go. I either want a washing machine, or I want to move into a room with a washing machine, or I want my big fat set utilities fee reduced. It's not fair that I have to pay the same utilities fee AND use the laundromat when the dude next door gets to have his own washing machine while paying the same utilities fee.

and it's slightly annoying that the internet isn't wireless, but it's not a tragedy.

Other then that though, this place is AWESOME!

Back to work tonight. This totally blows.

Things to look forward to next week:

• moving! Reconsidered it a little bit because the place is expensive and not the BEST place ever, but then I came back to this capsule room and decided that yes, I am definitely taking the room.
• lasik eye surgery! This time next week, I won't need my glasses anymore.
• last week of semi-freedom! From the week after, I'll have to wake up early and take the commuter train to the theme park job. Woohoo...
• I think that my friend is coming back from her vacation, but not sure.

That's about it, kiddos.

Here's something I figured out over the five day weekend. The Empire Strikes Back is definitely the best Star Wars film.

Ohhhhhhhhhh god, I had such a hard time getting up this morning. I managed to get home before 1:30am, so I thought I could get a decent night's sleep. But I just could not get to sleep until 3:30. Woke up at 7am, somehow fell back asleep, woke back up at 8:30, and had to fly out the door immediately to make it to the far away office at 9:30.

I found out that I'll be taking a huge pay cut, compared to when I had this job before. I have to switch agency's and this agency takes a much bigger chunk. I told them that this was a big pay cut, and they said they couldn't do anything about it.

I also have to open yet another bank account because they won't pay into my existing ones.

Then they confused me about taxes and stuff. I need to sort myself out because I keep moving, have lots of weird jobs, and its just difficult to keep track of all this.

Then they tried to pressure me into getting a new softbank cell phone from them. It would be free, but I'd have to pay for the usage. I guess they have some kind of deal going. When I told her no, she looked crushed. I think she gets money every time someone gets a cell phone, but another cell phone is the last thing I need.

My sleep schedule is going to take a big huge blow, starting next month.

Saw this in Rachel Maddow. Really good cause, you should go and sign the petition.

http://freemaziarbahari.org

Maziar Bahari is a journalist with duel Iranian and Canadian citizenship, who has been put on trial in Iran for somehow fomenting the demonstrations, and making Iran look bad.

Without freedom of speech, there is nothing.

So glad it's Friday. I'm exhausted.

We just had a 4.0 earthquake, and our building shook up for a good few minutes. It was starting to get a little scary because our building is a pile of crap, and the Brazilian girl next door suddenly screamed "I'm scared!" and kept shouting it. So I went out into the hall, and she was already out in the hall, and I told it was alright, don't worry, and just stay inside. Then the Sri Lankan guy across the hall came out and said he was getting away from his window just in case. Then he told the freaking out Brazilian girl that if a bad earthquake hit, this building had no chance, so there's no point being scared because we're just done for. And I agree. We can just hope that being on the 5th of a 6 floor building, the fact that there is less building to fall on top of us would save us.

earthquake!!!

The acceptance form had arrived.

Wow, that professor is so awesome. The form has a comment section, and she wrote in part (in a very serious, professor way),

"I understand the applicant's keen awareness of her research topic proposal, as well as the importance of said topic. Through email correspondence, I have also confirmed the applicant's positive attitude towards her research. Due to the fact that I am a specialist in minority literature, and that there are specialists in literary translation research in our department, and given that the applicant has the motivation and the Japanese ability to further promote our research course, we accept her as a student advisee into our department."

[sorry, that was my quick translation of her comments].

Wow! It's like she went into my head and praised me for everything I always wanted to be praised for. First choice school has a lot to live up to. Even if they accept me, I seriously doubt they can say anything that could sway me away from Osaka University at this point.

I am walking on clouds right now...

I'm going to eat pancakes because that's my happy food.

So, FINALLY, my first choice school called me and told me they are mailing their response to me. They won't tell me over the phone, but whatever. I mean it was just a woman from the admissions office, so I guess she's not allowed to open the envelope and everything. It should get to me within a few days at the absolute latest I guess. It will either be an official acceptance form, or a rejection.

Speaking of which, where the hell is the official acceptance form from Osaka University? It's still not in the basket downstairs where all the mail comes into.

Anyway, I'm just happy that all this will be done soon.

Either way I'm celebrating. Because on August 26, I will no longer need my contact lenses or glasses. That's right, I am getting LASIK EYE SURGERY DONE! The secret box I keep all my cash in will also suddenly be empty, since I've chosen the most expensive 2,000dollar option, but I figured it's my eyeballs and they're worth the extra money/precaution.

So I guess don't quit my day job. Or night job, as it were.

I'm not allowed to wear contacts for one whole week before the checkup, which should make work fun.

Going downstairs to check the mail basket now.

If you had eight months or more of limbo time, what would you do?

I have a full scholarship which includes "living expenses," so I don't really need to save money. Even though I should a little. I don't need to look for a real job of any kind, and I don't want to. The agency still sends me work, but I'm not chasing down any more projects.

So I am definitely blowing my cash on lasik surgery. And I'm moving into a decent apartment.

Traveling sounds good. Maybe I'll also blow my cash on some yoga retreats in Thailand or something.

I could start dancing again. I'm kind of ashamed to go back to the studio now that I'm so out of shape, but I should get over it.

I asked D-girl what she would do, and she said she'd take some classes and learn a new skill at the community center or something. Maybe I could take Spanish lessons, or some voice training classes so I can learn to sing like her (she's a really good singer).

I asked Baldy and he said he'd complete a film project of some kind. Which made me think that I have enough time to really start and complete some kind of project.

What would YOU do?

Have you seen this video yet? I didn't know it was about his parents falling in love as teenagers in a trailer park outside of Las Vegas. Breaks your heart, it's so bittersweet.