I'm Alive

Sorry for the dearth of posting/information/interesting and hilarious tidbits.

Here's a glimpse of what I've done since my last posting, in list form:
-Mommy came to visit. Did loads of touristy stuff including the Japanese Garden (biggest one outside of Nihon), the International Rose Test Garden, happy hour at Portland City Grill, a trip out to the coast, a trip inland to Hood River and Multnomah Falls, ate loads of good food. Excellent. If I ever get internet at my place, I'll post pictures. You want to see these. Trust me.
-Saw Wolf Parade for $15 with SJ and Jared downtown. Fucking brilliant.
-Snagged a free bike. Gotta get the back tire fixed and get a helmet and light. Scary.
-Met a dude (Dony?). Hung out with him a couple times. Sarah had to drive me to his place. Awesome squared.
-Survived a nasty bout of something with flu-like symptoms that forced me to leave the boys' BBQ at 10pm. Nasty.
-Swam in a river with SJ and Cory one steamy day.
-Watched Empire Records and Reality Bites for a sickly 90s throwback night.
-Laughed and laughed and laughed more than I have in a long time with SJ and the boys.

Still don't have a job. Fingers crossed much?

Anyone still reading this??

Adjusting

In the last 10 days, I have:

-packed up 2 years worth of stuff
-sent another box to Portland
-cleaned, cleaned and cleaned that apartment for my successor
-tossed about 15 bags of trash
-searched through 4 of them in a last minute fit of paranoia that I'd lost my ever-important hanko (it was in my car)
-received an official looking document officially releasing me from my job as an ALT
-said goodbye to the BOE people
-ate yakiniku with Phil, Kayvohn and Makiko
-cried in the parking lot while saying goodbye to the boys
-stayed up all night talking to Makiko, true slumber party style
-cried at the train station saying goodbye to Makiko and my beloved Honma-san who came to see me off
-carried way too many carry-ons between Ueno Station and Ueno-Keisei Station. Considered dropping the stuff on the ground and giving up
-got charged 6000yen for overweight bags
-survived a 9-hour flight with bad movies and no sleep
-met Sarah at PDX
-got a new cell phone
-opened a bank account
-applied for 3 jobs
-changed over the rest of my yen (not enough money)
-went to a bbq on a roof
-drank way too many beers
-pushed Cory down the road in an acquired chair and ottoman
-bought a dress for $15
-met Kristi at Powell's for a 30 minute, Stateside pow-wow
-woke up at 3:30am then slept til 2:30pm in the same day
-unpacked my bags and started to decorate my room/apartment
-eaten 5 fresh, amazing West coast avocadoes
-played Battleship
-played "Who would you do: high school edition" with Sarah and the boys
-watched a movie at a $3 theatre
-started re-learning English
etc, etc, etc.

Mommy's coming next week. I need a job next month. But for now, everything is awesomeness.

Woo!

I'm in Portland.