There are those moments, when the sun sets and the sky is temporarily red...moments of nostalgia. Natsukashi... The crazy intricacies of every day life in a place where you feel lost most days...and completely at home others. Where one minute your emotions are soaring high as you're dancing all night with your best friend...only to crash the next day as you ride the train home, weary, tired and still possibly drunk at 6am. I've often wondered how it was that one could feel so alone when surrounded by people that love them, in a place so polite and interesting. It is now as it was then. A romanticized notion, certain memories have been discarded in exchange for the good. The lows have all but been forgotten as the highs overwhelm the senses, flood the emotions and bring about that warm fuzzy feeling inside. There are times when I forget about the first month in Japan. When I forget that I spent that entire month crying, in my bed or at work choking back tears. Or that night in Tokyo where I passed out in the bathroom on the toilet because I was upset about something and Jenny had to crawl under and pull up my pants and unlock the door. The Christmas I spent in my apartment with my friends around me...crying because it was the first Christmas ever that I wasn't home with my family and it just didn't feel right. These moments, to be worn as a badge of honour for the small fact that I survived them? To be forgotten as they show signs of weakness? To be forgiven as they show signs of humanness.

 

I've been trying to figure out the next step in my life from this point forward. In search of some sort of small success or at least something that allows me to stand on my own. But struggling with the idea of more school. Would it be worth it in the end? I'd be a doctor... which has a nice ring to it. Dr. Shannon Okada. School is one thing that I seem to be good at with little or no effort. But the clock ticks, the years pass by so quickly. Is it worth it?

 

How many degrees does one person need in the end?

 

 

 

 

Travy poo and I have a little competition going on these days.

 

It all started the other day when I stayed at his house and the next day he made me pancakes and eggs for breakfast. Then he stayed over here and I made him an omlette and hash browns for breakfast.

 

Yesterday he made some cheese things with tortilla shells and a wad of nachos.. ha ha... and now he says it's my turn.

 

SO.. I have to make something awesome so that I win.

This dude comes into the optical department today and starts to walk behind the counter. Stands there and stares at all the glasses for all the members and asks to buy some glasses cases.

 

He leaves and I'm talking to Dennis and he walks over to me carrying a three pack of eyeglass cleaner (this is Costco remember)...and the following conversation occurs:

 

Him: How long will these last me for?

Me: Depends on how much you use them, and what you use them for.

Him: (pointing at one bottle) this would probably last me a year.

Me: Then it'll last you for three years

Him: (screaming) are you serious?

Dennis: Well you said one bottle would last a year and there are three, so three years

Him: it doesn't go bad?

Me: Not unless you drink it