Resolutions 2014

It's that time of year again.  I'm rather late with this, and couldn't remember most of my resolutions from last year until I looked them up, which is probably very telling on how I did.  On to the breakdown: 

1.  Keep up with the studying, drinking tea, regular sleep schedule, and regular haircuts.

Hmmmm, I did okay with the studying, but that kinda went down the crapper the past few  months after I moved back to Seattle.  Same with the tea-drinking, regular sleep schedule, and haircuts.  The haircut thing is forgiven because I was trying to grow it out.  Still got it cut at least twice though.

2.  Go running at least once a week.  (Once the Other Job ends I should hopefully be able to do it more than once a week)

Haha!  Nope.

3.  Budget and spend money more wisely, and build up my savings.

 I did decently enough.  Didn't save as much as I had hoped but save I did.

4.  Read at least one book in Japanese.

Haha!  Nope again.

5.  Travel to at least one new place.

YES!!  Went to Mt. Fuji (and climbed it!) and to Kagoshima/Yakushima with Roomie and Yuu.

6.  ?????????????????????????  (I will reveal what this is later on.. For now I'm keeping this to myself, because I feel like I'm more likely to succeed with my plans when no one else knows about them.  Strange, I know, but still..)

 I believe initially this was to enter into a Japanese language school, but financially and logistically (due to visa laws/ school policies/ etc..) it just wasn't feasible, so it changed to be "save enough money for and apply to a Japanese language school", which I definitely did! 

So, three out of six.  Fifty-percent.  Eh, coulda been worse...

Now, on to resolutions for 2014!  A lot of which will be the same resolutions I had for 2012.

1.  Drastically cut back on my sugar intake.

2.  Eat better in general and plan out my meals for each week.

3.  Limit my playtime on the internet and do more productive things.

4.  Stick to a regular study schedule.

5.  Pay off my credit card.

6.  Go running at least once a week.

7.  Read at least one book in Japanese.

8.  ???????????????????

I'm giving myself some leeway and allowing myself to start at the end of January.  The sugar thing (and junk food in general) has been spoiled by the copious amounts I received over the holidays.  I have even tried to give a lot of it away, but still have a ton which I have been consuming at a disgusting rate.  :P  

And the internet playtime?  Really need to work on that.  I do believe it is an addiction, and I hate hate HATE feeling addicted to things..

Ohhhh, and another mystery resolution?  You'll have to wait until 2015 to find out what that one is.  Dun-dun duunnnnnn!

What are your resolutions if you made any??

2013 In Review

*Celebrated the New Year in Phoenix with my friends and family.

*Drove for the first time in Japan!  Helping S move from Ibaraki to the Tokyo area.

*Lost my Grandma R... no more grandmas left in my family.  :(

*Went to Coworker C's beautiful wedding.

*Finished my dreaded "Other Job".

*Roomie and I celebrated our birthdays with some friends at Fuji-Q (until we were rained and snowed out..)

*A visit from my mum, finally!

*Scaled Mt. Fuji with Ash, Roomie, and Yuu!

*hide MUSEUM and Sumidagawa fireworks apocalypse.

*Yuu and I started dating.  <3

*Finished my two years at the daycare.  :(

*Trip to Kyoto with Yuu, then met up with Roomie in Kagoshima to see the sights and meet Yuu's family.

*Came back to Seattle, got a job at Uwajimaya, and made some pretty wonderful friends here.

*Got a much-needed visit from Yuu.

*Took the JLPT level N2 (again)

*Spent a nice Christmas with Roomie and her family.

*Rang in 2014 at the Space Needle with some of my wonderful friends.

♪One of these things is not like the others♪

The boys

Happy 2014!

Wishing you all another great year!

Christmas/New Years 2012-2013

It's already halfway through the first week back at work, and March just can't come fast enough (because it means the end of my Other Job)!  Luckily we have a three-day weekend (Monday is 成人の日 Seijin no Hi - Coming of Age Day) to ease the pain of coming back to work.

Just for my memory's sake I'm going to do a list of what I did while back in the States, and throw some pictures up at the end.

21st- Left Tokyo, arrived in LA (I know.. flying on the supposed day of the Apocalypse!  I didn't realize it when I bought my tickets, but I wonder if that had anything to do with why they were so cheap?!)  

22nd- Pizza dinner at Grandpa O's, with my mum, older sister, nephew, two aunties and an uncle. 

23rd- Dinner at Grandma R's with lots of people from that side of the fam.  Pizza again!

24th- Took my sister and nephew to the airport, then drove to Phoenix with my mum, stopping for dinner at my brother's house, and to give Christmas prezzies to my nieces and nephew.

25th- Picked up my dad from airport, and had Christmas dinner at home.

26th- Got a cleaning at the dentist for the first time in almost 10 years.  She was poking and scraping around for a long time, exclaiming, "I can't find any build-up!"  She seemed oddly satisfied when she finally found a spot and started scraping away.  No cavities at all though, and she and the dentist marveled at how my teeth were better than some of the people who come in twice a year for cleanings.  Can't brag about much, but at least I have clean teeth!  Saw The Hobbit that night with my friends Miss C and Miss A, and my little sister.

27th- Got my third haircut of the year, then had dinner at Red Robin with my little sister and our childhood friends.

28th- Dinner at a vegetarian restaurant with another childhood friend, who I hadn't seen for years!

29th- Lunch with one of my best buds in high school Yoshi and his girl, then a Korean food dinner party with Miss C and Miss A, and a couple other friends from high school.

30th- Saw Parental Guidance with my mum and dad, then Rise of the Guardians with my Man Twin. :)  Parental Guidance was okay- it was cute and I like Bette Midler.  I really liked Rise of the Guardians though.

31st- Did some shopping with my mum and little sister, then had our traditional New Year's Chinese food dinner.  Did countdown at Miss A's house with her mom and Miss C.

1st- Took my dad to the airport, and had to stop on the highway to get 3 pit bulls off the road!  Sweet pups they were.

2nd- Dermatology appointment, then got a much needed massage at the spa where my friend works (same friend I met for dinner at the veggie place).  Then dinner that night at my brother's place.

3rd- Lots of last-minute errands with my mum, then had dinner at a Greek wraps place with my Wifee- one of my good friends from junior high/ high school who I hadn't seen since we graduated.  Miss C came over after she got off work to chat with me while I packed.

4th- Had to get up super early to catch my flight from Phoenix to LA, then on back to Tokyo.

Seems like my trip consisted mostly of... eating!

Resolutions!

I almost forgot that I had made resolutions last year!  Let's see what can be crossed off the list:

1.  Limit my "playtime" on the internet, and try to do more productive things.

 Hmm... can't say I did too well on this one.  Once I get home from work I don't have the energy to do anything!  That, and there's only a couple hours after work for dinner and some "me" time before I have to go to bed. 

2.  Study more each night, and start studying for the JLPT Level 2

 Done!  I think I did fairly well on the studying part.

 

3.  Take the JLPT Level 2.

 Done!  Just waiting for the results.

4.  Drastically cut back on my sugar intake.

 Did okay with this one.  Was pretty good about not buying sugary things for myself or eating sweets at home.. The problem was all the sugary treats people brought back and left sitting out at work that got me!

5.  Get more active.

 Did okay with this one too.  Biking to the station and back most everyday, and running around with the kiddos at work I think qualify for being "active".

6.  Drink more tea! 

 Yes!  Been drinking it almost every night.

7.  Improve my sleep schedule by going to bed between midnight and 1am, and getting up around 8:30am.

 Well, the Other Job pretty much took care of that for me!  Going to bed by midnight and getting up just before 7am on weekdays.  Weekends I'm usually in bed by 1am and up around 8 or 9am.

8.  Get my haircut at least 2-3 times this year.  (Last year i didn't get it cut even once!  I usually cut it myself every few months but it's hard to see the back of my head, and it's just gotten way too frumpy.)

 Got it done 3 times, woohoo!

9.  Sophisticate my wardrobe.  Jeans and t-shirts are fine for a high schooler, and maybe even a freshman/sophomore in college, but i'm really starting to feel too old for a lot of my clothes now..) 

 Definitely done!  I think I did pretty well, though the process did take its toll on my wallet.

10.  Travel to at least one new place.

 Went to Gunma (for snowboarding), to Himeji (to visit J), to Kanagawa (to visit my cousin's family), and to Kashiya-Yokochou in Kawagoe.

11.  Pay off my credit card.

 Done!  Though I've already gone and used it again this year, haha.  Shouldn't take much to pay that off though.

Not too bad there, methinks!  Got a few more goals for this year. 

1.  Keep up with the studying, drinking tea, regular sleep schedule, and regular haircuts.

2.  Go running at least once a week.  (Once the Other Job ends I should hopefully be able to do it more than once a week)

3.  Budget and spend money more wisely, and build up my savings.

4.  Read at least one book in Japanese.

5.  Travel to at least one new place.

6.  ?????????????????????????  (I will reveal what this is later on.. For now I'm keeping this to myself, because I feel like I'm more likely to succeed with my plans when no one else knows about them.  Strange, I know, but still..)

Anyone else have any goals or resolutions??

2012 in Review

Here it is, the last day of 2012!  I've been spending it back home in the States which has been nice, and will have an update about all the going-ons later.  Right now I'm going to take a look back at what all has happened this past crazy year.  In all honesty it was kind of a crappy year, but I can't complain too much- I have my health and a job and money to buy food and clothes and do things I like.  And the world did not end which means there is a chance to have a better year this time around.

*Rang in the New Year with the besties, S and J, at Meiji Shrine!

*Went snowboarding for the first time and loved it!  

*Lost my Grandma O, my baby girl Arctic, and my sister's kitty Diesel; and found out my aunt has cancer and had to have her leg amputated.

*Took a couple trips to Kansai with my friends.

*Acquired my Roomie!

*Celebrated my and Roomie's birthday at Tokyo Disneyland.  :D

*Watched the solar eclipse.

*Started a shitty second job (aka Other Job).

*Had to say goodbye to my first "baby", R-kun.

*Got to spend some time with my aunt, my cousin and his family at the base in Kanagawa.

*Climbed Mt. Takao, and got to go to a K-pop concert and meet the band!

*Celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving with some good friends.  :)

*Got to come back to the US to spend Christmas and New Years with my friends and family, and got to see my older sister and my nephew for the first time in almost 2 years!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year, and many good times in 2013!

Resolutions

Jumping into the New Year

So, i really don't remember ever doing New Year's resolutions- probably because i would make them and promptly forget a week later- but i was inspired by other bloggers to make a short little list of things i'd like to improve or work on this year.  It'll be fun to go back at the end of this year to see how much i have failed!

1.  Limit my "playtime" on the internet, and try to do more productive things.

2.  Study more each night, and start studying for the JLPT Level 2

3.  Take the JLPT Level 2.

4.  Drastically cut back on my sugar intake.

5.  Get more active.

6.  Drink more tea!

7.  Improve my sleep schedule by going to bed between midnight and 1am, and getting up around 8:30am.

8.  Get my haircut at least 2-3 times this year.  (Last year i didn't get it cut even once!  I usually cut it myself every few months but it's hard to see the back of my head, and it's just gotten way too frumpy.)

9.  Sophisticate my wardrobe.  Jeans and t-shirts are fine for a high schooler, and maybe even a freshman/sophomore in college, but i'm really starting to feel too old for a lot of my clothes now..)

10.  Travel to at least one new place.

11.  Pay off my credit card.

I think that's it for now.  I know there are a lot of really vague goals, but i think vague works better for me.  Let's see if i can remember to try and stick to these!

Celebrating the New Year, in Pictures- Pt. 2

Finally in 2012!  With a group of high school guys who accosted us for a picture, haha  :p

The line to get to Meiji Shrine

The high schoolers/our entertainers during the 2-hour wait

Finally in view of the shrine!  Waiting to get close enough to throw in our 5-yen coin and pray

First meal of the year- udon at 4-something in the morning

First sunrise, blocked by clouds

S's pup, Ryu!

At the shrine near my place.  Got some yummy, spicy tteokbokki

Got our omikuji.  Mine was... kinda bad?  Curse with future blessing??

Tied my fortune up with the others so my bad luck won't follow me

Lots of tied up omikuji

Heading up to the shrine for more prayers

J and S and S's pup have all gone back home.  The place is quite, and it's back to work for me tomorrow.  Luckily there's only 3 days of work this week, and then since Monday is a holiday i get a 3-day weekend to help ease me back into full-time work.  Thinking about actually doing resolutions for this year, so will probably make that a post for tomorrow.

Celebrating the New Year, in Pictures- Pt. 1

Exchanging Christmas gifts at S's place

J's gift- a semi hard porch!

Vietnamese sandwich at Denny's

They'll eat their food, and then your soul

Snacks!  Including some very expensive refried beans.  But ohhh, you have no idea how happy i was when i finally found some

Our Christmas cake

Taking a walk in Mito

Cooking at S's student's house- caramelized sweet potatoes

Rolling the datemaki

Made osechi ryori- gave the chicken to J, but i did eat those onions.  That glaze was delicious

J stirring the mochi

Drinking with some new friends~

Heading to Meiji Shrine to ring in the New Year..  we made it to 2012 together!  <3  (And i look like a ghost)

Year in Review

This year has been crazy in many ways.  Looking back at the beginning of 2011 is like looking back at a different life- so much has changed!

*2011: Moved in with S and J and rang in the New Year together with some other friends in Seattle, at the Space Needle.

*Applied to the JET Program and was rejected.

*Applied to Amity.

*Finished my last ever quarter of University and graduated in March.
*Sadly ended a nearly 4-year relationship.

*Spent a month in Phoenix with my family and met my nephew (older sister's boy) for the first time.

*Came to Japan in the end of April with S, on a tourist visa with no job waiting for me.

*Spent an amazing month traveling around the country and seeing old friends.

*Spent a month in Osaka trying to find a job, before finally coming back to Tokyo to take a temporary job.

*Went to South Korea to get my tourist visa "extended".

*Finally found a job at a daycare, moved from the guesthouse/school into my own apartment.

*Rang in the New Year this year, again with S and J, this time in Tokyo at Meiji Shrine.

Glad to have had my best friends with me to ring in yet another year together.  Hopefully we can do the same again next year. :)  Will post pictures of the past few days soon.

Happy New Year's, everyone!  Hope 2012 is all you hope and make it to be.