Holiday Weekend #2

I'm really trying to improve my communication. Work and personal communication... more frequency, more details... alas, it is still such a struggle!
Tokyo, Japan was an amazing surprise of a city. I had imagined glass, high-rises, traffic, danger, but instead, was greeted with a bus ride through the country (from Narita to Tokyo), and a city with a European feel. The buildings were ornate and 6 inches apart from one another. The taxis were immaculate, doors which automatically opened and shut. There was bowing out of respect, bowing as a farewell or greeting and bowing as appreciation. The city was clean, safe, and the sushi was amazing. I was especially glad that I finally went to a sushi restaurant with a revolving belt which carried a crop row of sushi around the diner-like seating arrangement at the bar. Hot green tea and color coded plates made this restaurant a quick dining delight. I got to see the Prada store, the Chloe store and bought a lot of "pasalubongs" - (pinoy, for gifts) to take home for friends and family. It would be hard to just "go out exploring" due to the language challenges, but if you can decide where you're going, the hotel will write the directions in Japanese, so you can communicate with the taxi drivers. I would go back in a minute.
After a few more weeks in Foldertown, I went home for the family reunion and time at home. It was a new holiday experience for me, as I made plans without knowing what any of my family members were going to be doing. As it turns out, I had good time with family, and alone time for 2 days after they left. The reunion was fantastic... very well organized, and the typical cast. This year seemed more "spread-out", more contemplative, and I knew that we desperately wanted to connect with each other, but we weren't sure how. There wasn't the impetus, the starter, the match.. I don't know how else to describe it. I did get to see my favorite cousin, drink beer and sing karaoke, so who am I to complain? :)
Every time I'm home at my house, I love dreaming and planning things I want to do to improve my house. I feel desperate to nest when I'm home, which makes sense given that in 07, I will actually be at home for approximately 10 weeks out of the whole year. I'm not sure how much I should invest in my little house. I really don't need a bigger one, but I would like a garage. I would also love to be able to host parties and have guests stay over. I also need to think about how I want to plan my finances moving forward. Having accomplished my 12 year goal of paying off my debt, I am really looking forward to actually buying with cash. This will be a bit of a switch for me. I'm thrilled to think about buying a car with 1/2 cash, or a house with a sizable down payment. Good thinks to be able to think about, I think.
I bought a guitar. I saw Rush Hour 3 and Bourne Ultimatum. I'm going to see Evan Almighty tonight. I watched all of Prison Break Season 1, and am 1/2 way into a short book called, The Dip. I have gone to church this Sunday and last, and have made Sundays my manicure/pedicure and laundry day, as well. I feel much better about the week when I have taken time to do these things for me. The busier I am, the less I feel lonely. Logical.
There are some things I should be doing, that I just don't have any desire to do. I would really like to find a counselor/coach here in Foldertown. I wonder if the pastor at church would have any recommendations. I signed up for small groups last week, but I haven't heard from anyone yet. Maybe they'll start that this week...??
There are very exciting things happening at work, but to stay up on my email and meetings, I realize I need to work 16 hours a day. I just had an assistant start for me this past week, and I am hoping and praying that this will take some of the load off for me. Now that we have her email and computer and workspace, it's just a matter of her attending orientation, and she'll be 100% operational.
It's 5:19am on Sunday morning at home right now.
I dropped a quick email to Kip last Monday night. He happened to be on-line. He responded right away. I responded back, and then he never replied. Weird. I don't think I'll ever get him out of my head. I know I'll never get him out of my heart. He's the closest thing I've ever seen to someone being a real match for me, and he's someone else's. I hope I meet someone half the man he is or was or is or was... oh crap, who knows... I have a very random fantasy everytime I get off the plane at any airport, that he will be waiting for his flight (just by coincidence at that very airport), watch me walk off the plane, shout out my name, and we will run to each other, bear-hug and both start crying. Isn't that hilarious...
Well, enough for now... Signing off these random thoughts on the 2nd Holiday weekend in a row here in Foldertown. Love, asiL