No I'm not dead. But I am basically dead to LJ, as you've probably surmised.
I have been figuring out SO MANY of my issues. One of them is that I need to get out in the world more. Friends online are one thing, but they need to take a backseat to RL friends. Spending a lot of time on here wasn't doing anything for me, and for my life, in the long run.
But I do owe you one last update, don't I?
I'm back in CA after the time in Japan, which, by the way, was spectacular. I hated most of the other exchange students, but that country was so amazing it made up for it.
While I was there, I changed. I saw what living apart from my father could do to me. I was the happiest I'd ever been, on the most basic level.
Sam, my boyfriend, and I, kept in contact. And you know how I used to angrily complain about fights and misunderstandings and all kinds of issues we had?
While I was in Japan we didn't have a single disagreement. Not one. And since I've been back? Well, we're both philosophers, so we argue all the time. But no fights, nothing close it it. Everything is going so well. The key? I never contact my father (who I've discovered is a Narcissist with a capital N) unless literally absolutely necessary. If I can do that, I'll be OK.
And, let's see. I graduated with university honors. I'm making all sorts of wonderful crafty stuff. Sam and I have been playing with polymer clay, and it's great fun.
I am looking into grad schools, hopefully U Manoa or maybe Columbia. We'll see.
For now... be well, everyone! I love all my LJ friends, and it's hard for me to go, but I have to. I'm not deleting this account, just don't expect to see activity here again.
Japan is treating me better nowadays. The social crap is mostly worked out (though Elmer is still a dumbass, I doubt anything will ever change that), which is very nice.
I've been exploring the local temples and shrines with a vengeance, and I've been particularly focusing on the komainu, the shishi guardian statues that appear in pairs before many Japanese religious structures. They're kinda adorable, in a fiercesome kind of way. Some of them remind me of Stitch-- I wonder if that's why he's so popular here?
Last weekend I went to Kashima Jingu, a major shrine. We saw a traditional wedding party going through the gate, we bought omikuji (fortunes), and we fed the deer.
I also went to my friend's house, and experienced Japanese family life for a couple of hours. Her mom brought us SO MUCH FOOD.
And also last weekend, I took part in an archaeological dig where we worked at unearthing part of a Heian-era storehouse. That was really, really cool.
So... yeah! Japan is awesome! It's autumn, and cold, and I can watch the leaves changing and falling all around me.
Well, I'm leaving tomorrow morning, so this'll be my last LJ-entry from the States for a while. I'll post when I can from Japan, and I'll be sure to get you guys some pictures uploaded as soon as I can.
I just received a package from caitirin and elaby! In it were yummy-smelling spices and herbs and soup mix, catnip to entice the kitties who hang out in my apartment complex, a wonderful, inspirational little bracelet, and some herbs to help me settle in once I move off to Japan.
While online the other day, I discovered livelongnmarry. Even though I'm not on the computer and making graphics much right now, I had to make an exception for this cause. Here's my auction-- bid if you want and can afford to, don't if you don't want to or you can't. ^_^
May as well update everyone briefly while I'm online, right? Life is a little difficult, but good. My dad is still a problem (but less so as time goes on), my boyfriend's still wonderful, and our apartment is looking better and better. I've discovered marinating artichokes, crafts, and Jimmy Buffett.
Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been around online too much. I'd like to formalize that.
For now (at least the next few weeks), you're not going to see me online much at all. I'll still be coming on to post contest reminders, voting posts, etcetera, but other than that? I'm going to be avoiding LJ and the internet. Every day I check my f-list, and various bad things have happened to people, and I just can't take it. Or someone dislikes something I've done, or there's some negative feedback somewhere that hits me too hard... I'm in a very positive physical space right now, and I need to remove myself from this problematic virtual space until I can handle it again.
loved