Hindsight

This is it. In two days I will be leaving for Japan. First Tokyo, and then Fukuoka prefecture…

I haven’t had any time do sit down and twiddle my thumbs. I’m surprised the family Corolla hasn’t died yet (actually it wouldn’t start up yesterday, Wednesday, because the battery might have finally given out)…. okay, at least not completely.

It made me think on the rest of the way home…. Albeit trivial, I still thought about the concept of just “not understanding”, and how much more pronounced it will be when I’m overseas in just a few days. Then again, that’s fine by me – I don’t mind new situations. I just hope to have some guidance along the way without looking completely naive….

I’m going to miss everyone I chat with online who I know locally, who I call on the phone. I’m going to miss “Zoey” who called me when I was in tech support for two months, that hellish (but educational) job. The secretary from my former workplace. My coworkers. My friends by college who brought out my sense of humor in addition to my angst.

It’s 3:30am now at this point of writing.

My throat is bad – it was a dry cough last week, now its a sore throat. Or it stings a little when I swallow. I’m worried, but it’s not like I have time to say “hey, doc, take a look at what’s wrong?”. It’s more like “okay, final packing begins, screw my health”. Scary.

I tell myself I won’t get a decent nights sleep until Japan, which is probably true. Anyone who tells me to “get some rest” now is giving me great advice, but under the circumstances, I’m just too busy to. I hope to hit supersleep on the flight to Narita.

Well, to all of you, I am off to Japan. Until next time.

It’s breezy, but hot out here in what I think is considered “The Basin”. The mountains stop the smog from moving onward and it just bakes everything around here.

Packing stuff for shipping is wrapping up… I think. Some books, a video game console or two, and winter clothes are pretty much ready to go. I’m bringing with me my camcorder. Am rather excited at what new things I’ll be seeing.

Drank a bit of sojoo and beer last night in Koreatown with L and friend. Had a good time, but am going to miss her of course. She made me a scrapbook and got me shorts. I was happy.

Eight days.

Road to Perdition = beautiful. I watched it with my father today. I don’t remember the last movie we went out to see together. Am glad to have broken that hiatus, finally.

Had a great last night sharing war stories with a friend about our love lives and learned more about other friends than I’ll ever need to know. Insightful. Dinner was “center cut peppercorn steak” with a June Bug. After-dinner was a Malibu Coke and about four or five “Aqua Chill” servings, which led to a near disaster but levelled off very well after a Coca Cola. Done and done.

Staying home today. Close friend is coming over to hang out today, which has been the repeated list item as of late (many goodbyes, it’s been a little sad – but all my friends are excited about my trip abroad).

I’m an Old Navy whore – went shopping again yesterday (I only had one pair of jeans!). Spent a bit but I just want to make sure I actually have clothes that look okay, plus Old Navy is cheap compared.

Ten days. This is getting really scary.

Woke up today to drive to visit some high school friends for a BBQ of sorts. Ended up taking lots of video of just some buddies shooting hoops and being silly.

Tonight at a local fireworks festival I’ll be videotaping the pyro so I can bring it with me to Japan. I doubt the cam will take any satisfactory MPEGs so I might as well capture straight video through my camcorder first and work from there. I need to visit Third Street in Santa Monica to take some fun footage there too.

Saw “Battle Royale” last night. Sensational? What’s the right word…. Extreme?