On my break...

I think 2008 has been, while difficult, one of my best. I hope I'm not jinxing it by writing about it here...

This morning I left to go to work a bit early, and when I reached my bike, I realized I had a flat front tire. So I walked to work. I wasn't late and I got a nice walk in and I got to appreciate the singing cicadas and Utsubo park.

After work, I asked the girl who runs the bar on the corner for help, and she told me. After a bit of not-so-nice customer service (I got ignored o_O), I ended up getting an entirely new front tire for my bike, a bike pump, and a tune-up. Chari has never felt so good.

Then, I stopped into a random store and found exactly what I needed to make soap in my class. And a friendly English-speaker. And then I got a text message asking me to hang out (which I declined because... too fast! but maybe later tonight after I make dhal and clean my apartment for visitors tomorrow).

Life is damn good right now. I had trouble sleeping last night but the moon shone onto my veranda and told me it'll all be okay.

I haven't said a thing about work. All I will say is that I breathe. I breathe, I breathe, and I breathe. And I haven't cried.

This week's questions were suggested by frieliegh.

1. If you could change one life-changing event in the life of someone important to you, would you?
2. Which do you think is easier to do, being friends for many years, or being life partners for many years?
3. Have you ever walked away from someone you considered a friend?
4. If you had to choose between telling the truth and hurting a friend or lying and making them happy, which would you choose?
5. Which would you rather hear--the truth which will hurt, or the comforting lie?


Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers.

If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/thefridayfive/1466.html

Old sets that were used have been deleted, so please feel free to suggest some more! Remember that we rely on you, our members, to help keep the community going.

http://www.drhorrible.com/

If you haven't seen this...

( My reactions. )

Am facing dilemma with work. Will see how things work out.

so things havent been all sunshine and rainbows in bearland lately. in case you didnt know, for the last 4 and 1/2 years i've been working for a certain customize-your-own teddy bear company...the one that advertises on the disney channel relentlessly. it used to be a straight job...light and happy, easy going, and your co workers really treat you like family. WELL.. that all changed about a year ago when they relocated our manager and brought in some douchebag from new york.. we also got a new district manager. these 2 boss people suck ass. theyre greedy, money driven, weasely snakes. what this all really (eventually) boils down to is that recently 2 of other managers were fired, as our cheif manager and district manager had been conspiring to do so, and that it take place while the cheif was away on vacation. way to man up, no really. SO, .....i cant work for these people anymore. i was going to put in my 2 weeks notice yesterday but i decided to wait until the cheif is back from vacation on monday so i can properly explain that its essentially HIS fault that one of his best employees (i.e ME) is leaving. i would LOVE to just quit and storm out in the middle of a busy shift and leave his ass high and dry.. but i do need them as a good reference, since ive been with this company for almost 5 years. So, im gonna put in my 2 weeks. i went ahead and applied at Lightyears YESTERDAY, which is a really cool shop that sells random neat stuff... ill go into more detail later.. but they called me THIS MORNING! wow, i didnt think it would work that quickly... something about working in the mall gives other mall businesses the idea that you'd probably be good for them, too, i guess. they love stealing employees. so i have an interview at 2 today, before i go into work at 3. im thinkin all will go well, and then ill have to explain to them, that, well, i havent actually quit the bear yet, and there may be some scheduling issues, but hopefully they think im valuable enough that they'll work around that.
so, finally, i get to move on from that wretched place. ive never developed such hatred for a job before in my life. in just feel bad for some of the really good people who are still stuck in that place and hate it too.

so, new job! yay!
of course i am still keeping my job at hot topic.. im a keyholder now, which is the lowest rung of management.. movin on up.. lol
and OMG now ill get to go back to dying my hair and wearing body jewelry! thats really exciting. ooh i cant wait.

Translations are in [brackets]

Me: "When are you free? I can take off time next month and I want to go to your city in Kyushu!" [I really like you and I really like Kyushu and so I want to do both for my vacation!]
Friend: "I can take off time in August, too! Yay!" [I have days off! But I'm going to be vague about them.]
Me: "I'm going to Kyushu next month. Your city. When are you free?" [I am coming to visit you. When is best?]
Friend: "I have days off next month but they're not decided yet. You're coming *here*? Really? Wow! I'll show you around!" [You're coming *here* to visit *me*? WTF? Oh god, oh god! Not you!]
Me: "Yeah, I'm psyched! When is the best to come for your schedule?!" [Are you having second thoughts? I like Kyushu too, not just you!]
Friend: "Sorry for the late reply. Looks like I can't spend but one day with you. Sorry! I don't know when my holidays are, so anyway, tell me when you'll come." [NOT INTERESTED KTHXBAI]
Me: "Ok, I'll be here from Monday morning to Saturday evening. If you're free, let me know." [I give up; am going for watermelon and yoga and if I don't see you, whatever.]
Friend: "I work on weekdays... So I can only see you after work, I guess. By the way, are you coming here alone?" [This is a guess: Wait, *you*'re coming *here*? By *yourself*?]
Me: FACEPALM "No, I'm coming with my bicycle." [you translate yourself]

I'm glad that going to Brazil is at least done in a language where we understand each other.
OMG I don't understand him. I don't understand Japanese, I don't understand MEN, I don't understand.

and now I am not going to be able to get back to sleep.

This week's set, "Charity," was suggested by losseloth.

1. Do you have a favourite cause that you support?
2. If so, how do you support it?
3. Have you been an active member of an organization (attending meetings, volunteering etc)?
4. Have you ever led any group?
5. If so, how was your experience with it?
OR: 5. If not, why, is it a conscious choice, of lack of opportunity?




Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers.

If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/thefridayfive/1466.html

Old sets that were used have been deleted, so please feel free to suggest some more! Remember that we rely on you, our members, to help keep the community going.

1. I like going to libraries, book stores, etc. and browsing through books. I usually like the self-help book section (for ideas), craftiness things, and blank books. I bought one today for writings stories.

2. I have stopped washing my hair every day. This is crazy because I used to need to wash my hair within 24 hours or less or it'd get greasy... Now, it doesn't get greasy and gross until 4 to 6 days. And, in the humidity, the natural oils actually make my hair look NICE.

3. I am going to dye my hair purple probably within the next two weeks. (By 'dye' I mean streaks that I can hide in a ponytail.)

4. I am doing the Artist's Way for real this time. I found my blocks and I'm working through them.

5. I have decided to go to Kyushu for about a week. Have an idea about pet-sitting, ferry-taking, bike routes, places to stay. Any advice at all about Miyazaki prefecture is welcome.

6. I actually don't want to be in a relationship, for the first time in my life.

7. I read a book on cat psychology and Cricket seems to be much happier. Guess he really is a cat after all.

8. I realized I've had Amos, the fish that I thought was going to die within weeks of having him, for about two years.

9. The mantis is missing, but I hope wherever Sami is, s/he is happy.

10. I'm getting into LoM, Janni!