*Tis the season...*

Before I begin my ranting... Happy Halloween!
So here's what's on my mind today: Is there a "break-up" season? It seems to me that there's a lot of breaking up happening right about now, and it's all really bitter. But here's the thing - with divorce rates so high, should people be as shocked as they are when their partner decides to call it quits?
I'm not pessimistic about relationships. I firmly believe that like everything else in life, a relationship is hard work. If you want it to work, you have to work at it. Just like going to the gym, if you don't go religiously, you can't complain that it's not working... Marriages DO work, but both people have to be dedicated to making it work. Relationships aren't magical things that just happen.
It's all depressing me just a tad. It's not just romantic relationships that are breaking up... it's friendships too. I've noticed friendships falling apart due to short-sightedness. I was really really upset a couple days ago because of something like that... How self-centred can one get? Apparently... REALLY self-centred.
Sorry about the cryptic post. I'll probably post more when I'm more awake.
Happy Halloween!~

*Happiness*

I LOVE my job.
I've had the last couple days off. Yesterday in a nutshell: I biked, I sweat, I ate.
Biked again today.
Pumpkin carving tomorrow.
Shopping the day after.
Golfing the day after that.
Work 3 days...
Trip to Fukuoka for 3 days.
Please allow me to say this again...
I LOVE my job.~

*Articulateness*

I love good O-Toro.
I love petrichor.
I love how Lola used to run around my apartment.
I love first kisses.
I love The Amazing Race.
I love snuggling under a heavy down comforter in winter.
I love long showers.
I love watching children learn.
I love candy-coloured shoes.
I LOVE lists!~

*Love Shanghai*

The mix of Old Shanghai and Modern Shanghai is really quite endearing. For a city so developed in the middle of China... I'm so glad it's kept its roots in mind while the city's developing at such a rapid pace. Some of the people are still rude as hell, but I love the mix of old and new. It reminds me of NYC and parts of Tokyo.~

*Six-Nineteen*

Just noticed that I haven't blogged in 6 months... But I've been in Japan for 19 months!
I've stuck to my goal of caring less. After a HORRIBLE first semester (it was just a disaster), I returned from my summer hols to a much nicer and much more considerate environment at work. The change is unbelievable. Much of it has to do with a bunch of new people joining us... and a lot of it is just being in a much happier place with these new colleagues. We're able to hang out after work and not talk about work. We're all around the same age and we can joke about almost anything. It's such a healthy environment now... I think we all help each other cope better with the stress from work.
Work's still busy as hell, but as some people keep reminding me - what's the worst thing that could happen if it's not done? I have to keep this in mind when I'm stressing about trying to finish up stuff that I'm doing for other people. I have to keep my sanity in mind.
Loads has happened in the past 6 months. I vowed to visit more new places this year, and I have already! I went to Nikko in May, Vietnam in August and Shanghai a couple weeks ago! Shanghai was awesome! It doesn't even look like China! I'm definitely going to go again... but as much as I love that city... I don't think I could live there.
Busy planning my hols for the next year already! I've got 2 weddings to go to... and a bridesmaid for one of them. The great thing is that the 2nd wedding's in Italy! I'm really excited about that one. I'll be heading there with some really good friends, so it looks like we're going to have a lot of fun there. I'm dying to see the countryside there!
I've screwed up my sleep schedule. I've been passing out at 7pm these past few days and waking up at 3am. Could be a problem tomorrow since I teach a late class tomorrow evening. I think I may conk out during the last 30 minutes of class...
Maybe I'll blog more later. Need inspiration...~