I stopped making serious New Year's Resolutions around 7th grade, but I have set some small goals for myself this year. One of them: COOK MOAR! I'm making the effort to prepare HEALTHY, BALANCED MEALS for myself instead of just eating conbini crap out of conveience like I did most of last year.

( fruits of my labor )

Back

On a plane at 9:10am. Arriving back in Japan at 3:10 pm on Wednesday.

Pray that everything goes okay, guys!

And good luck to Jen and Anne, who are heading to Spain tomorrow.

Spam me with love and messages, guys. I'll respond once I'm on the shinkansen headed home. <333

Ugh I hate travel! XD

OH YEAH TOTALLY DID NOT GET ALL THE RECIPES COPIED. Is anyone surprised? NO? I didn't think so. XD

I totally cried on my mom's shoulder tonight. BAWWWW but I am kinda glad that I got the chance too. I love my parents, they are really freaking awesome.

I'm going to make this year worth all the heartache.

Well, tomorrow is my last day in the US, before I get on planes and head back to Japan and work. Boo. I've really enjoyed being home, even if there have been some low notes. Some lower than others. But there have been some really wonderful things too.

Also I've found out too late that my Mom would have wanted to see Sherlock Holmes. Boo! Now I will have to wait (forever) to see it in Japan.

Parents are both working tomorrow, so I will be spending a day with my doggies and writing up recipes from my mother's recipe box. SERIOUSLY that will take ALL day, I think. Because I have a HUGE pile of them. XD

I have really enjoyed watching American TV and commercials--SO MUCH FUN. I LOVE watching the cooking shows, the eating shows, and yes--DIY shows. I'm never in the US to watch actual shows (and this year, I just haven't had a lot of time to search out any House or CSI marathons), so I just watch the one offs on DIY channel, Travel (there are food shows on the Travel Channel), and Food Network.

And then there's been snow. There was a snowstorm the first day I was home, and I had a white Christmas. Then it rained, and I went out to Pittsburgh, where it snowed again. The Pittsburgh trip was too quick, but it was so nice. If the Hykes' and Tina and Katherine still live out there when I come back, I think I want to live in Pittsburgh again. I miss the area, I miss the people. But I have things that I want to do in this upcoming year, and if they don't pan out, well . . . I know I have a place to return to.

I really wish that the US and Japan were closer. Or at least the places that I lived in the US were closer to Japan (like, if Pennsylvania could be on the West Coast, that would be nice).

I should be back in August. I'll be pretty pissed off with my new job is I don't get to be home in August. I have no idea what said new job will be yet, however I am looking forward to ANYTHING BUT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. Elementary school work, COME TO MEEEEEE! Or maybe college work that will put me in a language school during August. Hey, if we are all making wishes, that's my greatest wish and desire. Along with getting my comic off the ground. And getting a date

I'm going to enjoy tomorrow. Gonna laze around with dogs, watch a cheesy musical version of Sleeping Beauty that has FANTASTIC costuming and sets. And hopefully Taco Bell for lunch. With sausage for dinner, yum.

AND THEN WHEN I GET BACK TO JAPAN I am never eating again. XDDD So much GOOD food while I was home!

Okay. Stuff to do. Or at least, I am done with this entry.

gnight.

I PROPOSE A POLL!!!


Poll #1506463 FFXIII
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 16

Should I but Final Fantasy XIII in English or Japanese?

I do have a lot of games to play until then, so . . . thoughts, people?

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! :D Thanks for the cards and well-wishes and everything!

( Here's what I've been up to: )

All for now! Sleeping til next week!

It's kinda sad that I am spending my New Year's eve by myself at home. Sad and a little depressing in it's way--single and lonely. If I'd wanted, I could have spent NYE in Pittsburgh, but I had family that I wanted to go out with yesterday, so that was important. I dunno if I'll see my Aunt tomorrow, so that was probably the last time I'd see her until this summer. If I get the chance to come home that I want. I'm counting my chickens before the hatch, but I really want to come hoe between jobs. Smart? Not entirely, but I want to be home in the summer for a change.

I bought new clothes today, AHAHAHA. There was *some* fail, but there was some GREAT WIN and OMFG, I wish I would have scored some navy blue pants so I can look like you know who because that would have been awesome to go with my blue sweater coat. I have a REALLY odd love of sweater jackets. I think I want to live in them during the winter.

Watching Dick Clark on TV is making me all sorts of weepy. That man has rung in so many of my New Years! I'm glad he's still able to do some of the show, but it's still a little sad. I know he's had a stroke which is the reason, but it's still heartbreaking. And holy crap the man is 80?! Yeah, thank you google, I did NOT know that! He doesn't really look it.

Also I am TOTALLY pumped to do some writing. WHY IS IT SO LATE AT NIGHT? My mind is full of fluff.

Okay, counting down to 2010. What does it hold? I've got no idea. But I'm hopeful that it holds good things.

At the very least, it holds the future.

I love you guys. Happy New Year.

GUYS THE NEW YEARS BALL IN NEW YORK IS COVERED IN TRIFORCES!!!!!

I beat Narutamite Accel 3 today. Obito is unlocked, and I am pretty much SUPER happy about that. Because he is ADORABLE to play as. And I totally had him kick child Kakashi's butt.

Home has been ABSOLUTELY wonderful. I love being here. I wish that I had more time to spend with people in Pittsburgh (especially Katherine and the Hykes'), but home and family are pretty important too, even if I just sit here with my parents and watch tv and pet dogs. It's nice and relaxing, I love home.

Of course, loving home makes it even HARDER to remember that I have to go back to Japan (boo) and go back to work. My future, at the moment, lies with Japan. So I will be there. But I have a place to come back to. I have home. Somehow, that makes everything all right.

Also: posted a bunch of new pictures to flickr. GO LOOK AT THEM:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/taralovec/

Tomorrow I have to do some cleaning and some shopping. There are a few things that I need for work cause most of my clothes are too big for me, now. XD HAHAHA.

As always, I'm always a little sad to know that my time at home is coming to a close. Stuff is going on here that I feel ill at ease with, but I'll be okay.

I also read my Christmas fic and OMG. Whoever wrote it needs to be my new BFF. Because that story was adorable! I need to save it to my hard drive later, so I can reread it on the way home.

And yeah, I need to STOP EATING because OMFG, I have eaten SO MUCH CRAP since I have been home. *bloats* I am not entirely sure that I will be able to FIT into lolita when I return. XDDD Ohh shinenkai and event, I will manage. Somehow.


BOOO THIS TIME NEXT WEEK I'LL BE BACK IN JAPAN. D: Back to a cold and empty house. Boo.

Resolutions GOALS for the New Year:

GET A NEW JOB

1) Read Tale of Heike and Genji. RESEARCHRESEARCHRESEARCH. Also Tales of Times Past and Ghost stories.
2) Plot out Onmyouji story. Not chapter by chapter, but the overall main plot.
3) PASS CELTA COURSE FOR GREAT ENGLISH TEACHING JUSTICE!!!!
4) Save more money for Europe and Hawaii.
5) By August, have a plan for the Hykes' Japan visit.

Going to Latrobe tomorrow.

Pittsburgh on Monday.

Back home Tuesday.

SOMEHOW this will work out. No, REALLY. It will.

OH LOOK IT JUST DID SWEET. 8DDDDD

Christmas day two was pretty awesome. And I have a picture with the entirty of my Mom's side of the family.

Might post pictures later. :3

Also Happy Birthday to murasaki_kaze and Brigid. <3 Christmas babies!

The day was rather lovely, presents at home with the parents. I got a bunch of kitchen things (ARE ANY OF YOU SURPRISED? BE HONEST), and a new digicam. I'll be playing with that tomorrow at "second Christmas" with my Mom's side of the family.

Christmas with my Dad's side of the family went really well, I got some nice things (video game, the Kakashi Gaiden in English, yes Celeste I hear you laughing please SHUT UP NOW), and money. Got so see my cousin that I haven't seen in like, two years and he looks good.


( boys and lack thereof )

I have spent the evening watching food Network. I am tired now. XD And Iron Chef America? Is pretty cool you guys. EGG NOG BATTLE. THAT IS AWESOME. Morimoto<333 Alton Brown I LOVE YOU but please learn to pronounce Okamoto. *cries*

Okay bedtime! I will cuddle with a dog now. And then tomorrow I will be with my Mom's family all day, and internetless. MEANING--PSP times when I get bored. XD

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Or, if you don't Celebrate Christmas . . .

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!


I hope your day, no matter what or where you are, is good. In my heart, I'm with all of you. I love you all so much, thanks for being SO awesome, guys.

Love you all!