Tokyo Week One: The Move

Today marks my one week anniversary being back in Japan. I'd like to say I did something cool to celebrate, like wear a festive hat or make a yummy dinner. But alas, there were no festive hats or creative meals today... because when I'm not at work MOVING is consuming my little life.

Way back in August, while I was home in America and Winston was on his summer bike tour of Japan, our landlord decided to inform us that he wouldn't be renewing our lease (which was up in October) because he'd decided to turn our apartments into dorms. Fabulous, eh? So Winston did a lot of shuffling and apartment hunting, and found us a new apartment, pronto. While I'm thankful that we're not homeless, apartment jumping inherently involves MOVING. Arg.

As anyone close to me knows, I organization is a big thing for me. In fact, I rank organizational skills right up there with sainthood. That said, there is nothing organized about moving. All my stuff is useful, there's no convenient time to shove it in a box for a couple days. I always end up losing something vital, like a pasta strainer or my deodorant. This is how I envision hell- me stuck in a box cluttered apartment with watery pasta and armpits that reek like carnival midgets.

seriously, carnival pits.... be afraid

Boxes and boxes and boxes galore:

Look! More boxes!

Lucky for me. Winston is a seasoned mover, and none of this phases him. Mostly he just laughs at me. It looks something like this:

It's a good thing we like each other....

Alrighty Cats and Kittens, that's all for now. TTFN, ta-ta til the move on October 1st....

blogger re-kindled

Wow, after a summer long hiatus in America (away from my beloved blog) it's finally time to resume pounding away at the keys of my Mac again to tell you all about my misadventures here in Japan. A summer at home is just what I needed. While I knew how much I missed my family and friends, I'd forgotten how much I missed FM radio, pancakes, and eclectic stamps. Here are some snapshots of an American summer:

There was Mexican food galore:

Seattle Sunsets:

Cupcakes:

Mariner's Games:

Paparazzi dance shots:

video game mishaps:

ex-roomie bonding:

An afternoon "Riding the Ducks" with my girls:

A skipper and a fisheries major on Lake Washington:

A garter toss in Minnesota:

My dear Betsy and Darin deciding to dance the night way on their wedding night:

friends from Japan re-united in their natural American habitat:

A reminder of many mis-spent childhood allowances:

Spelling errors at the Lewis County fair:

Creative taxidermy:

A sample of the "Fish and Wildlife" section of the Lewis County fair:

The Fair:

Sandcastles:

Family:

Trampolines:

Cousins:

Cousin Brian:

Beautiful welcome home signs:

sewing lessons with Grandma:

Dinner with the Brother:

Quality time with my cousin Jaclyn:

Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents:

California fruit stands:

California Peaches:

My gorgeous California Mom:

Remember the scene from Dirty Harry, where Harry chases the guy through the stadium? Behold, THAT STADIUM. I call this my Dirty Harry homage:

San Francisco bridge:

R2, my astro-droid life partner in crime:

Bubba Gump's with Momma-san:

Pier 39:

Seatbelt sharing:

German beer and college buddies:

Old friends:

German beer:

Avocados and hummus:

Hiking:

Nature:

Bestie love:

Girl camping:

reading in Lake Kachess:

Fruit salad:

greasy girls camping:

sleeping in the sun:

Unicorn themed strip tease at the Can-Can for our dear Bachelorette, Nicole:

A Can-can employee who fell victim to a party dare:

Nicole's bachelorette party dinner:

besties from Vienna re-united:

Nicole and Greg tied the knot:

Their Arctic club ballroom reception:

Wedding cake:

The cutting of the cake:

Line Dancing:

I think it's pretty clear that this summer's activities left little time for blogging. However, now that I've moved back to Japan and started getting settled in Tokyo, the blog will be getting much more attention.

Cheers!