Happiness strikes again!

So, my update is: I'm happy. Yes, I've been happy for a while now, but I haven't said anything about it due to busy life schedule but mostly sheer laziness. But here I am now. I am sitting in Athens at Melo's apartment, thinking about how good my life is right now. That's not to say it's without vexations and stress, but really, it's wonderful. Here is a list of things that make my life amazing:
1. I'm in love. Yep, that's been around a while too, and I haven't said anything on here, but it's true. I am. I've been living with Rob for about 4 and a half months, and its been going great. I look forward to coming home after each day, and I miss him when I'm gone. Like today, I am in Athens, and I miss Rob. It makes me feel good to know that my feelings for him have only gotten stronger since we've been living together. It's so nice.
2. One of my bestest friends in the whole world is about to get married. I've had a couple small cries of happiness lately, thinking about how good Greg and Emily are. And thinking about how happy he makes me really makes me so happy. I wasn't sure if I would be able to be in Georgia to do my proper bridesmaids duties, and I am so happy that I've been able to be here. I would have been gutted to miss all of this. And tonight is Emily's Bachelorette Party, and it's gonna be so fun. I'm looking forward to it a lot!!
3. My thesis is almost done. Yep, I am almost finished with my Masters Thesis. Holy crap, that is amazing! It feels like it's a project that will never be done, but it will. And soon. And I can't wait. Although, after I'm done, then I have to start thinking about a job... but I am still so proud to have not defenestrated myself through the writing process. Ha!
4. Karl will hopefully be able to come home for Christmas! I am happy to have a Christmas at home this year, since I missed last year because I was in London. I wish Steve could be there too, because then it would really be a family Christmas, which I really want. But I am happy to be around my family for the holidays.
5. I am taking a trip back to London soon! I have my MA Exhibition show in early February, so I get to go back to London for a few weeks to do that and see my friends. Sooo happy about that!!

<3
Those are my top three right now.

World serves its own needs, listen to your heart beat.

Wow. It's Saturday. I have 3 full days left in London left. It is so insane how quickly time has flown by this term! And now that my return to America is soon, I am feeling nostalgic for London and the UK.

My classmates threw me an amazing going-away party on Friday night. It was super, mega sweet of them. It was 'Tex Mex' themed, and we had fajitas, nachos, chips and dip, guac! Amazing! they know me so well. ^_^ They also got a pinata, full of candy. So silly and wonderful! I tried very hard not to make it a teary night, but it was tough. I am afraid that when the time comes for me to get on the plane, I am going to feel sad and will definitely cry. I am so excited to come home, but I will actually miss it here, and I will miss the friends I've made here.

On Monday, I have my final tutorial with my tutor, Amy. I am hoping that I won't cry then. I've really gotten attached to Amy. She really understands me, and I feel like maybe if I'm lucky, I will be able to do what she does some day. I had no idea what to expect when I first met her, as she is so well-known in my field, I was so intimidated. But, she's been so supportive to me in my time here.

Also on Monday, I will be seeing my good friend Theresa for the last time (until I visit her in Trinidad and/or Canada!). We recently went on a trip to Edinburgh together, which was amazing. I got sick, and she was so patient and took such great care of me. And even though I was ill, I still had an AMAZING time with her. And on Monday when I have to say goodbye to her, I just KNOW I'm gonna cry.

So many tears coming up this week! Tears of sadness at saying goodbye (although only temporarily, as they will all see me again!!) and tears of joy at being home again. I'm trying to prepare myself for an emotional roller coaster.

3 weeks left in London

It's funny how time really does go by so fast. And then suddenly, I wake up and have only 3 weeks left here before I move home.

Yes, I am so excited to come home. I can't wait to see my parents, hug my friends, smooch on my boyfriend. So many things to look forward to: my 6 Flags season pass, BBQs, karaoke with friends, a possible vacation to Washington DC, my exciting internship... yes, so many things!

But, now that I am getting closer to leaving London, it's making me think about it more. I don't hate London, that's for sure. I have many reasons for going home, and most of them are home/people sick. It's been hard here, being so far away from everyone. I've made some amazing friends who I hope will continue to be with me for a long time to come! But, I am ready to go back for a while.

This is really the first time since moving to Japan that I've felt this need to 'go home'. I guess that things have changed for me a lot since then, and I am in completely different circumstances from then. But, all I know is that I will miss London, but will be so happy to be back.

I'm not sure what this post is saying, but I just felt like updating for some reason.

Here are a few more thoughts for anyone who might happen upon this:
*The meds seem to be helping my jaw. I don't know who all knows what's been up with it lately, but here's a summary. Last Tuesday (a week ago), I got home from visiting Becca, made some pasta to eat. When I sat down to eat it, I opened my mouth, and suddenly got these stabbing pains in my right jaw. Wednesday I had an appointment at the Britihs Museum to go to their archive for research, which wasn't a re-scheduleable appointment, so I had to suck it up to go. Long story short: OTC meds were ineffective. I had to wait until Friday to get in to the doctor (can't wait to get back to US doctors again!). Friday, I go to the doc. She can't help, but gives me meds. Monday, I go to the dentist. He said it's not my teeth (we took x-rays and my teeth look fine), so he said to see a dentist when I get back to the States to get a jaw-guard sleeping thingie to wear at night. So, now I am finishing the meds like my dentist suggested.

*I met bunnies on Saturday! Yeah, all of you probably know how bunny-obsessed I am. Well, I hadn't gotten to play with one since June of 2008 at Bunny Fest in Stone Mountain with the North GA HRS. Well, Saturday I went to Swindon to meet some of my bunny friends from Flickr, Mark and Jeanny. They were amazing! And their bunnies were absolutely adorable. I fell in love again and realized why I love rabbits above other pets. They are just so full of personality and they just fit with my personality. The bunnies I met were: Sooty, Poppy, Flopsy, Mumbles, and Eric. All adorable and amazing in their own little ways.

*Last weekend, I went to visit Becca in Preston. We had a great time together, as always, hanging out. We went dancing one night, which was fun! We also watched the entire second season of Flight of the Conchords. And we watched some Futurama as well. And mostly, we jsut enjoyed each others company. <3

*On Monday and Tuesday, Becca and I took a trip to the Lake District. We stayed in a bed and breakfast in Windermere called Denehurst, and it was fantastic. The owners, Ken and Cindy, were so helpful and nice. And thebreakfast they made us was AMAZING. We had the Full Cumbrian Breakfast and the Waffles. Both, fantastic. Windermere was amazing. We hiked mountains, watched the sun set on Lake Windermere, met sheep, saw the laziest cow ever, and talked to swans. I am so glad Becca and I were able to go, because it was such a great getaway from everything we've both been going through.

When I was a child, everybody smiled

I have been so unbelievably lazy lately. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I am having a hard time motivating myself to leave my room. I'm sure this will change again very soon, but it's odd. I went to the grocery store yesterday, and then immediately came home and stayed home. And today, I woke up at 6am, decided I didn't want to be up, woke again at 10, decided again not to get up, and then finally at 12! And now it's 1:30pm, and I am drinking my morning coffee, not really feeling motivated to do ANYTHING. Whew. Oh well. I guess I should enjoy this while I have it, the ability to stay home and be lazy and not worry. Maybe being home will get me working on my dissertation stuff more. My goal was to read at least 1-2 chapters of The Tale of Genji each day...and I haven't read it at all for almost 3 days now! So, I should work on that. And I have need to put together a presentation to give in 2 weeks to my tutors, and then to the external examiner. Maybe I should work on that. Ugh, I'm so lazy.

In other news, I am looking at buying my own electric tea kettle for when I move back to GA. I want this one. It looks so fancy! I've decided that I can't live without an electric tea kettle, now that I am used to having one...

Whew! Now that I've taken an hour break from working on this, and talked to Melo... now I am ready to work! Let's go, books!!

<3

p.s. To go old school, here is a list of things making me happy RIGHT NOW:
*My coffee tastes extra delicious today
*I got to talk to Karl yesterday! Yessssss!
*Thinking about having a yellow office soon
*Thinking about havg my own office soon
*Boyfriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiend = <3
*Genji is about to marry Murasaki. I should get reading!!

It starts with an earthquake

Well, I feel like I have some things to be happy about today and lately. I am just going to list them in no specific order. Really, the order in which they come to my brain. I am going to list them until I can't think of any more. Or until I get tired of listing. Either way... it's gonna be wonderful.

• I am in love with the idea of seeing Rob all the time. I know, I am such a girl, but this makes me so happy.
• My dissertation topic: it's tough; it makes me want to jump out windows; there's too much and not enough information about it available; the literature that does exist on it is so hard to read; the Tale of Genji is 16 million pages long; I love my topic.
• Coffee and tea breaks with Kirsli - these totally make my day. It's simple, yes, but it's nice to take a break from thinking about ancient Japan and start thinking about other things instead, having discussions with a good friend.
• Avocados. I had one for dinner last night with some pasta. I loved it like woah.
• My new shoes from Irregular Choice. Yes, they were expensive, but I promised myself I'd buy something from there before I left London. Better to do it sooner than later, so I bought them.
• Feeling crafty. I can't wait to get home to America and be able to craft again. I miss knitting. I miss doing stuff.
• Some fun trips coming up: a visit to bunny friends, a visit to Becca (<3),>
• Thinking of moving home. It makes me so happy. I am going to miss London and it's people (well, the nice ones that are my friends!) so much! But, I will be back. That is for sure.
  
• Karaoke in June in Athens. Oh man. It's been far too long!! We need to set a date for it soon so I can write it into my planner (Yes, I LOVE writing things in my planner. I even make Rob schedule possible dates with me so I can write them in. I'm a weirdo!)
• Moving OUT of Will Wyatt Court. This place is seriously the worst place to live of all time. Thank god I will be out of here soon. I've met some amazing people here; thank goodness, too, cuz otherwise I might have died!
• I found a very good candidate for my bridesmaids dress for Emily's wedding. Now I just have to get it home and try it on...

Ok, that's enough for now. Wow, I am random today. ^_~

Coloring outside the lines. In purple.

Well, things are going. Life is happening, which is amazing.

First off, let's start with my trip back home. It was absolutely amazing!

• Emily and Greg's ENGAGEMENT! Hurrah! This is the best news ever, and the party was good! I wish I hadn't have been so tired, but it was fantastic. I am so happy that they are both in my life. Truly, I love them very much and know they will be so happy together as a married couple.
• Easter Egg Hunt Party - Amazing time! It was so great to see my friends! And though I wasn't able to say a proper goodbye to anyone, I'm really glad I got to see them. I only found like 8 eggs though. Ha! But the hiding was the best part. ^_^
• Flight of the Conchords - So much fun! Such a great date with my Tora! We had dinner at The Vortex with Melo, Liz, and Danny. And we ran into Kisha, Adam, Tina, Christine, and Josh at The Vortex as well. Was a very much nice!
• 6 Flags - Such fun! Rob and I had a great time together, riding roller coasters until we were sick!
• King Tut Exhibit - Went with my parents. Mom was on vacation, and Dad took a day off to join us. It was a really well-done and interesting exhibit, though quite crowded! Good exhibits don't often make ther way to Atlanta, so it was a real treat. And afterwards, we all went to lunch/dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. My fave!
• Brew Awakenings - I got to spend 2 afternoons with Nenni, which was wonderful. We had very interesting and in-depth conversations about life, love, and moving forward in things. It was really refreshing, as always. We have such gread conversations, that Jenni and I!
• Shopping with Mom - Thrift stores! Amazing, Cheap, Funny!
• Visiting my aunt's new home in Kennesaw - It was great to see Stacey, Giselle, Olivia, Bailey, Kyle, and Ryan. A very nice afternoon visit.
  

And now, I am back in London. The weather is beautiful. I'm refresed after my visit home. I am ready to start my thesis! On Monday and today, I was able to see and meet up with (most of) my classmates, which was wonderful. They are all such unique and beautiful spirits. I do feel so happy that I've got to meet them and become their friend.

The big news I have though: I am moving home at the end of June. Yes home. For good. Well, yes. It's such a big decision, which is so scary. But, I've been thinking about it obsessively lately, and here is what's going on in my brain:
I am homesick. There are no if's or and's about it. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss how easy life in America is compared to life here. Yes, in the short term, life here is fine, but it really is so hard to live so far away. It's just so lonely for me. And I think in Japan it was easier because I was younger and so many other reasons. But now, living an ocean away is just too much for me, I think. And last semester was really difficult for me, so I've decided that being home is just what is best for my happiness. Another bonus of moving back home for a while: saving money. I will save up so much money from rent that I am considering doing some traveling for my thesis research. Hopefully to Japan. Fingers crossed!

Anyway, if you know anyone who needs some part-time help in the Atlanta area, let me know. I have an internship (!!!), so I can only work like 2 or 3 days a week... but any money I can save will really help me out a lot.

<3

Homesickness

Ever since I got home after the funeral, I've been going through some pretty severe homesickness...especially for the first 3 or 4 days. Now, that I've been home a week, it's manifesting tself is a very different way.

For some reason, I can't stop thinking about what I am going to do after I graduate, all the places I could live, all the pets I could have, all the jobs I could apply for...

Poor Rob has been dealing with my obsessions very well. Every time we talk, it seems, I send him tons of links to possible apartments in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Chicago...or the pets I would own if I lived in those cites, such as this little baby, Rainbow from San Francisco. So, I am trying to curb this new addiction of mine, but for some reason, it's really comforting for me to search this kind of stuff.

Maybe I should just stop making Rob look at every link with me. He doesn't care what bunnies or apartments I think are cute. ^_~ Well, I don't know if I can quick cold turkey, but I will make an effort to send him only half of the things I look at. . .

Summaries are fun!

Hi all! Ok, so I haven't written a substantial post for a long, long time. Here is a brief summary of what has happened to me since Christmas (wow! it really has been that long!)

-Becca came to visit me for Christmas, which was amazing. Unfortunately, I got sick and turned into a big sick baby...but luckily, Becca has a saintly level of patience with me. Christmas day in London was quite odd, as Becca can attest to. There was NO ONE around. The streets were absolutely dead. We thought it was rather like a zombie movie before zombies start jumping out at you!

-2 days after Christmas, Rob came to visit. It was... well... absolutely amazing. We had a brilliant time together in London for a few days, and then off to Rome for 3 days/2 nights! Rome was so amazing. I don't think I can fully express how much fun we had together. And then, we came back to London in time for New Years, and I even offered to watch fireworks with him! Well, we did try to see them, but there were too many buildings in the way. Rob's trip = wonderful.

-Signed up for a screen printing class. Only 2 weeks left of it! I need to think of more ideas!

-Went to Paris with some classmates. Saw lots of stuff. Went to an amazing exhibition at Musee de la Mode about the Crinoline. Fantastic! There was even a real, honest-to-god Charles Frederick Worth dress! Whew!

-More happened, but.... that's all for now. Back to school work!
-

Ancient Poetry is Beautiful

A 10th Century love poem by Ki no Tsurayuki:

Scooping the water in my hands, I muddied the shallow mountain well
And could not slake my thirst.
So now I'm forced to part from her I love
And cannot stay to drink my fill.

Birds flying high, you know how I feel

Goals of 2009:
1. Write a thesis to be proud of
2. Smile
3. Let loose and make more friends in London
4. Travel to at least 5 countries I've never been to before
5. Get a job in London
6. Learn a new hobby (Screen printing, perhaps!)
7. Exercise. At least a little.
8. Don't eat cereal for dinner any more than 3 nights per week (Yes, this is an improvement!)
9. Take a vitamin every day
10. Drink 8 cups of water a day (Coffee and tea do NOT count, Abie!)

How did I do on the goals of 2008:
1. Visit 10 cities that I have never been to before (I don't think I did this one, unfortunately. Next year!)
2. Go bungee jumping (Damn.)
3. Not be so afraid to say "no" to people (Check.)
4. Not be afraid to try new foods (Check.)
5. Leave San Diego (Check.)
6. Be happy with my weight (Check.)
7. Learn to cook at least 1 dinner meal perfectly (Check.)
8. Say "Thank you" when a compliment is received (Check, mostly.)
9. Take a long walk at least once a week (Check.)
10. Wear heels at least once a month. (I didn't really do this past April or so...Better luck next time!)

Lifetime goals: None completed
1. See the Aurora Borealis.
2. Visit Machu Picchu.
3. Get my Masters Degree
4. Go to Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.
5. Become fluent in Japanese.
6. Marry someone I love.
7. Ride the fastest roller coaster in the world (Kingda Ka at Six Flags in New Jersey).
8. Ride in a hot air balloon.
9. See Sigur Ros in concert.
10. Wear a bikini.