Currently Watching Freaks and Geeks - The Complete Series By Freaks & Geeks: The Complete Series see related

so a lot has happened since the last time i wrote.  first i got a job at borders bookstore in arlington.  it's a brand new store in a cute little shopping complex built with old style architecture.  check.  then i bought a  car, a very important and vital thing.  check.  and finally after lots of drama and indecision i moved into an apartment with two friends last week.  check.  i am also going to start teaching piano once a week come july.  so things are coming together and i am moving forward with life in america.  i really like my living situation,  it takes me five minutes to get to work, twenty minutes to visit my family and i live with two really cool girls.  sometimes it feels like i'm back in college, just without the homework.  i think that's a good thing : )  the only bad thing is i won't have internet for a while, so who knows when the next update will be...

Currently Listening Dog Problems By The Format see related

I've been working on job applications all night and I'm tired.  Yes it's true, I am attempting to move forward because standing still has become no fun and somewhat paralyzing.  The other day I restrung my guitar all by myself, it took me an hour and a half but I was really proud of myself.  I was also really proud of the delicious tortilla soup I made for the first time last week.  It was deeeelicious!

You know how some songs are really catchy and then they get old really fast?  Well here are three songs that I just can't seem to tire of:

Annie Waits by Ben Folds

Snails (EP Version) by The Format

Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's

Hope you have a glorious Easter!

おやすみ～

It's raining outside, hard.  I like the rain and especially the sound of thunder.  I missed the thunder while I was in Japan, you don't hear it a lot and I'm not sure why.  I went to the library today and it had been a really long time.   Unfortunately they still had me in the system so I had to pay the $3 replacement fee to get a new card.  The cool part was the lady checking me out lived in Japan for a year and her name was Mary Elizabeth.  She asked me if I was a lefty too but I had to disappoint her on that one.  

I've had the same dream three times since I've been home.  It's the day I'm suppose to leave Japan but my apartment is a mess and I'm not packed.  I keep looking around finding things I want to take with me but I'm running out of time.  Anyone want to take a stab at the meaning?

In the next month I'm going to have to make some sort of decision about my future and it's starting to stress me out.  I've been coasting for the past three months and it's been good but I need to do something of significance now.  Do I just get a fulltime job to pay the bills until I figure something else out or do I pursue some kind of ministry or higher education?  Am I ready for that or do I still need more time?  Or am I just scared of moving forward?  Too many questions...

These past few weeks have been pretty busy and I've gotten to hangout and reconnect with some good friends.  Meeting new people is fun but it's nice to be with people who already know you.  So instead of boring you with more ramblings, here are some pics.

Lois, my adoptive mother/friend, from Japan was in Austin visiting family.  I drove down and we spent the day together.  It was interesting because I've only known Lois in Japan so my mind kept playing tricks on me.  One time I almost drove on the left side of the road.

On the way back I stopped by the beautiful new home Stacie's family just built.  Notice the elementary school trays we're eating on : )

Some of us went out to Joe Pool Lake for a picnic and hike.

soooo cute!

My brother came home for a couple of weeks on leave.  We stopped by Cracker Barrell on the way to the airport.

My grandma hates it when I take a picture while she's not looking.  But I think it's pretty funny...

Well that's all for now.  My life isn't very exciting at the moment so we'll see when the next update is.

I never realized that Texas was so country or that I lived in a small town until recently.  From the moment I stepped off the plane the wide open spaces, big trucks and southern hospitality struck me.  Yesterday I was helping out at my parent's thrift shop and my fourth grade teacher's husband came in and provided us with updates on other students we know.  Then my sister and I headed over to the Chinese restaurant where the owners know us by name.  But I think today topped it off, my mom, my sister and I all went to get our haircut at the salon we've been going to for years (which is incidentally right by the thrift shop and the Chinese restaurant).  Also hanging out there was one of the high school football coaches.  As we took turns in the chair, we discussed high school sports, football strategy and happenings around town.  It felt like something straight out of Steel Magnolias or Radio.  I guess when you grow up with something it seems normal but when you've been away for a few years you see things differently.