If you shoot an arrow...

The move is finally done with. Today was the 2nd day that the packers came by to take everything away for shipping. I had three days of appointment, yesterday was when they picked up my unaccompanied baggage. Those are pretty much the essentials such as kitchenware, seasonal clothing, stuff that you would need when you move to a new location. Television, dvd player, all those stayed behind but the computer :D It better be in Virginia when I get there.. if not, heh I'll live. I was a bit freaked to be honest considering this will be the first time where I PCS'ed (permanent change of station). So really wasn't sure how to go about at doing things. I ended up being awake all night Sunday, then pretty much all day Monday. My sleep's been messed up after getting off of the nightshift. I've been trying to stay awake all day, but still fell asleep in the afternoon and waking up around midnight, then repeat.

It felt weird seeing all my stuff packed away. It didn't hit me until the second day they came back to pack everything else. Most I could really do was stand around, since they do everything for you. So I stood back at the porch as I watch them work. I got teary-eyed just looking since that was the first time where it struck me that this is it, I'm finally gonnabe leaving. It felt good too, well seeing all of these things I'd been able to have over the years. I'm really thankful for the opportunity of being able to just buy something I liked or wanted. I came to Japan with only two suitcase and nothing else. Finally getting to be able to actually own things, it felt real good. It could have been something like a magazine, a pair of shoes, or even my computer, getting to finally afford them psyches me out from time to time. It really isn't much when you think about it, but it really means a lot to me. To a child who's never had the chance to actually have something he wanted, this was a giant leap. I'm real thankful to my family though, since they provided me with everything I needed. Well not my mom and dad, but my mom's side of the family who were working abroad. They pretty much helped us out from the time I was a baby, until I was 16 after which I moved to the States. It's different when things are given to you, and getting to pick something that you actually wanted. Once in a while, being a kid, you really can't help not to comment about how you'd rather have something else. And being told to just shut up, and be grateful for what you get does something to a kid. It sorta made me lose my wishing and wanting sense, that after I moved in with my dad, and him telling me to just say so if I wanted something, that was a major leap which I just didn't know how to take. It was even scary, that I just didn't know what to with this power, so to speak, that it kinda ruined my living with him and his family. I just smile about it now when I look back, but I wonder at times what it could have been like if I ended up just staying with them until I finished university and everything. Hee hee. Good ole sunny Californ-I-A.

But going back, lol, I have about 10 days left in Japan. I'm staying in the hotel at the moment (billeting, as we call it) and pretty much just doing nothing. I gotta go back to the apartment tomorrow so they can pick up the furnitures they lent me, and see the landlord later that day to get my lease terminated. Air Force is awesome, lol, giving you rent money and even letting you borrow furnitures. But really, I can't wait to get out! It's been really great, but I wanna see what the "real world" is really like. Maybe I can get on the show, hmmmmmm...

Perhaps, I'll make that Sanrio Land trip and take some pictures for this one person. Maybe that might really do it and get him to visit Japan :D Japan's a really great place to see, the clash with the ancient and the modern times is just amazing. Temples right in the heart of the city, traditional outfits in between the suits and the sub-cultures is just wowww. Maybe I can write more about it, I shouldn't promise though. It'll be better for it to just show up than me talking about doing it. Japan will always have a special place in my heart. I had most of my firsts happen here. First time to the beach (despite of living in the islands this whole time growing up) Nooo, not the Bahamas or any of the Caribbean Islands. First time I got wined and dined. Got wasted for the first time. Even get my heart broken. Broke some afterwards because of it which I'm not too proud about. Get close to getting laid, but not knowing the "signals" lol. Mann, if I could go back to that day... :D

Heh, it's been good. Friday was great too. Got to speak to my ex-boss which I rarely spoke with when I was running around to get some paper signed. Let's just say I blushed like crazy, for a good 5 minutes which seemed was taking forever! But it was great. I'll elaborate more later. At least, it was a good blush. Not the type where you get called down to an office and get asked about pictures (the type you really wouldn't want anyone to see, not naked ones either!) that you forgot that you placed on the network drive two years earlier. Talk about the past biting you in the butt.

Trip to London has been finalized so that's a trip I'm looking forward to as well. Because of time restraints with my cousin's schedule, I'm flying to London right after I land in the States. I really can't take a direct flight from London coz the mil just wouldn't let me. So will land in Seattle at 9 am, then catch a plane at 6 pm bound for London. Will be seeing my old friend Jim that lives there now, though the trip was mainly to see a guy that I met online, Niel. We spoke right on a perfect timing, with me leaving Japan and everything.

Maybe I can talk about him a bit. We briefly spoke Aug 2004, then nothing else. It wasn't until about four weeks ago, that he IM'ed me out of the blue. Didn't realize I gave him my new ID. And we got to talking for a good three hours during which I got to see him on cam, and hear him talk. He talked about meeting, though I really didn't give it much of a thought, with being in a different country and all. We've spoken a few more times after that, and he was really adamant about doing so. That if he wasn't in some language courses in London, he would have flown already to see me. So I figured, what's there to lose really. I'll get to see London at least, and visit my friend Jim so why not. Niel has offered to pay for half of my trip, though I'm debating whether to take him up on his offer. He mentioned about flying out to the States after I've been living there so will see how it all goes. I've had my friend Jim speak to him on the phone as well, and Jim said that Niel was a really nice guy. They might go meet up over the weekend, after much persuasion with telling Jim to do so. He's freaking out that Niel might hit on him. Sheeeshh, typical straight man. Hahaha

Well it's close to 5 am so will probably just go back up to my room and watch a movie perhaps. I have 48 hrs to knock out: Kiki's Delivery Service, A Castle in the Sky, Constantine, and Happy Endings. All of the shoppette's DVD has disappeared somehow. They had a great collection before they were renovated, I think they might have sold almost all of it, but they barely had any stuff to choose from when I came tonight. Didn't want to leave empty-handed so will see how the viewing goes.

Saw the documentary "Paris Is Burning" and it was a good watch. It was pretty much about "Vogue" which was popularized by Madonna in the early 90's, from what I've read somewhere. I can vaguely recall her music video for it, but it was nice to see where it all started. The topic didn't really interest me too much before I got it, it was simply these lines that prompted me to check it out:

"Everybody wants to leave something behind them, some impression, some mark upon the world. And then you think, you've left a mark on the world if you just get through it and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the world. I think it's better just to enjoy it. Pay your dues and enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you."

Said Hey! What's going on...

Wowww, it's been almost two weeks since I last wrote something.. Talk about discipline! Working the 12-hr shifts really made the time go by, it seems. One more week and I'm off! Suweeeeet. Hmm, can't really remember much what happened the past 14 days. But pretty much, waking up, watch a tv show or something, work 12 hrs, go home, sleep, repeat.

I've pretty much just been doing some outprocessing any chance I get. Pretty much means I have a checklist that I'm gonna need to get completed, or can't leave this base. Got everything set up as for dates that my stuff are gonna get packed and picked up, personal items, household goods, and the furniture they let me borrow during my stay. I've gotten a fly out date though I might shift my vacation a bit and stop by London right after landing in the states. The said person who resurfaced two weeks ago has asked me to stop by London, and I'm actually considering it, crazy as that might be. I've only spoken to him twice since then, and yet he's real adamant about getting to meet up. Umm, I guess I can say I fancy him a bit *blushes*
It's real silly when I think about it really, but he has his way of words as for getting me to visit. Name is Daniel and he's Italian going to some sort of aircraft school in London at the moment.
I've got a good friend that lives there now anywho, so I will go visit him as well. Haven't seen him close to a year, but pretty much talked to him through email or on the phone, daily. I get bored at work, and so does he so it works out both ways. I'm still giving it some thought considering I could only stay there for less than a week since I'm gonna spend some time with my cousin who I haven't seen in two years.
We're both doing time...errrr.. serving with the military ehe. Last time I saw her was here in Japan when she visited Jun 03 which ended up becoming a 90-day vacation.
Really looking forward to seeing her, and getting to do stuff with her. Go clubbing, go on a long drives with, or just having her near and just talking about things. Drive down all the way to Cali which should be a blast. LA, maybe even San Diego if it's not too far. I've heard it's pretty nice out.

So yeah, that's about what's been going on really. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll write about Kyoto while the trip is still fresh in my mind.