Memorial Day Weekend

I feel like I’ve been busy, but I guess that tells you how often I get out. Since Friday I’ve:

Had lunch at Umezono’s with Chris on Saturday. I had lovely shrimp and veggie tempura, which is awesome for Atlanta, but pales in comparison to the light and fluffy tempura they had in Kyoto. We also went to the new location of Book’s Japan, right next to Umezono’s and the Tomato Japanese Grocery (go figure). I bought an entirely too expensive book about learning Kanji, but it had *exercises*! And it starts you off with learning the radicals, because even if you don’t know what the kanji says, about 75% of the time, if you know the components, you can usually hazard a guess at what it means. I’m trying to do about 10 a day (to give time for soakage) and have gotten about ¾ through the “hen” radicals (the radicals on the right side of the kanji). I also picked up a really cute book that may or may not be a gift. I haven’t decided yet.

Had dinner with Ryam and Jeanelle on Saturday. We grilled out and I ate waaaaaay too many oatmeal cookies. So worth it. And Maedoc looks so good with her new hair cut. Australian Shepards may not be traditionally shaved, but in this heat, I totally understand it. Good time spent, must do it more often before I leave.

Cleaned my house on Saturday. Or at least started. Cleaning includes my new found purging of stuff I really shouldn’t hold on to anymore. Seeing how I won’t be here to horde all of the junk, I really should decide what is worth going in storage and what just isn’t. Also, yard sale equals extra funds.

Meant to get together with Rosie, but it just didn’t happen. I hope you get better soon!!

Watched Flags of Our Fathers. Cried. Later this week we’re planning to watch Letters from Iwajima. I’m sure I’ll cry through that one, too.

Woke up and walked Kennesaw on Monday. The normal mile up mile down route. However, it usually took me about 1 hour 10 to do it before. I pushed myself a little hard (cuz it was sooooo much easier than Friday’s climb of doom), and had to sit down on a big rock for a minute about half way up, but made the hike in 40 minutes. I kid you not. I was amazed. I’m going again on Wednesday afternoon, if people are interested in joining me. About 2 o’clock, I think.

Went to Wild Wing with Leo on Monday. Tasty, as always.

Went to Kay and Charlie’s cookout on Monday. Excellent puppy, child and onion rings, but we only ate the last one :)

Went to Patrick and Jeanelle’s cookout on Monday. More oatmeal cookies. People I hadn’t seen in far too long.

Went to Annie’s last night in Atlanta celebration on Monday. Pool. Fun to be had. Nearly empty bar (which was odd, I’d expected more people there, but *shrug* it made for a nice quiet time).

Woke up and had an doctor's appt. on Tuesday. Really sleepy. I took a nap while waiting in my room.

Went and helped Mom clean out her classroom and move to another one on Tuesday. It was really disorganized so I couldn’t do much beyond some heavy lifting and helping place bookshelves in better, more space efficient places.

Went to lunch with Mom and Natalie on Tuesday. Felinni’s has good pizza. Also accompanied Nat to her oral surgeon. One of her molars didn’t have an adult tooth (*shrug* genetics), so she’s going through the process of having a permanent replacement hardwired into her jaw. Right now she has a screw sticking out of her gum line, and now that that’s healed, they can make an appt. to have the finished tooth put in. Good for her!

Went home and rested for a bit on Tuesday before . . .

Went to the Dentist on Tuesday. Was told I have a cavity. Dear God, is my jaw strong and I’m going to need the much more expensive “hard” mouth guard so I don’t chew through my teeth in the middle of the night. It’s going to take my insurance about a month to get back to me on prices, so I can’t get any of that dealt with until next month (grrr).

Went to the comic store. Picked up more Klingon comic for Leo (ah, my cute little nerd). Also got rid of New X-men and Teen Titans. Along with that whole purging thing. Those two are comics I like to read, but after I’ve read them are basically trash to my mind. No re-read value, so not worth the space. I did try out a new Joss Weedon series, though. Apparently he’s writing for something called “The Runaways.” Was highly recommended by Shelly, my comic sales-goddess.

Went to Barnes and Nobel (although I prefer Borders) to use $40 gift certificate that Sheri gave me. Bought $60 worth of stuff that I’m telling myself I can’t read until I get to Japan. That way, I have 5 books that I know will be good (from authors I like, continuing series, or recommended by authors I like) that I can fall back on when that inevitable culture shock comes in and I desperately need some English. I’ll have more if more people give me $$ or gift certs before I go, but I’m really hoping that people will help me pay for my new computer for my birthday before I leave so . . .

And finally came home to relax with my kitties. Ferris, touchy, touchy Ferris is right now sitting on my lap begging for The Loving. I love how sweet he can be! I’m really worried about them more than anyone else, because they (unlike the people I know and love) won’t understand the logical reasons on why leaving is a really good thing for me right now. All they’ll understand is that I’m gone. I know they won’t forget me. I just hope they forgive me when I come back. Knowing Luce, it will probably take at least a month.