*Life*

I've slept 2 hours a day on average for the past week...
I'm sleep deprived and just flat out emotionally exhausted.
This next week is going to be a massive test of emotional resilience and stamina...
Onto other things...
We covet the things we cannot have, and when we can have it... we don't want it. Why is that?
There's something I realise that I want badly, but I gave it up when I had the chance to take it.
Grrr....
This is going to be one helluva week.~

*T minus 2*

2 days left in the semester.

This is what we do to fight stress in our office...

We're not crazy... really...~

*Tanabata*

The 7th day of the 7th month is what Tanabata is.
Traditionally, it's celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month following the lunar calendar, but in some parts of Japan it's observed according to the Gregorian calendar.

S and I went to the biggest Tanabata festival in Kanto this past weekend. It was really nice to get out of our neck of the woods and see a little more of Japan and experience the joy the people here feel whenever there's a big festival in town.

The little city of Hiratsuka was completely festooned with decorations. Tanabata is a time for people to make wishes, write them on a slip of paper and tie them up on a bamboo tree... in the absence of a bamboo tree, it's just tied up somewhere high. S and I both wrote our wishes and tied them up.

It was a lot of fun, and I'm really glad we were motivated enough to trek (train) 2 hours west to get there. I should've pulled on a yukata though.

In continuing with the summer celebrations, I'll be wearing my yukata pretty much this whole weekend! On Friday at work and on Sunday at the Yokohama Fireworks! Yay!

4 more days until we break for the summer - YAY!~

*Modernity*

I am modern woman - hear me roar...

As we all know, humility often escapes me...

I spent the better part of the day yesterday cleaning. I'm a tad obsessive when it comes to cleaning. I first put stuff away, then vacuum, then dry static mop, then wipe down all surfaces and finally wet mop. Yesterday was no different - but I added bleach to the mix.

I'm terrified of the stuff, but after hearing that my lovely neighbour uses it... I was tempted to try it out... I ended up using half the bottle. That can't be good, can it?

So my apartment is now a sterile environment...

Apres cleaning, I turned to grocery shopping and baking. I went exploring and found a new, foreign-products free supermarket, got home and baked 3 dozen of my famous "Choc-choc chips cookies".

Woke up this morning and made the O-bento of all o-bentos...

I clean, I bake, I cook and I work.

Maybe that's what's wrong with me.~

*Stolen*

My heart.
Would like it back. Reward for he who returns it to me.~

*Of sauce and sheets*

I thought it would be a brilliant idea to have dinner in bed tonight...
It wasn't so brilliant afterall...
I have white sheets and white comforters and white pillows...
I had sushi for dinner...~

*O Canada*

On this Canada Day, I have never been more glad to be Canadian...

Yes, we're taxed pretty heavily, but:

• We have free health care.


• We have an environmentally conscious population.


• We have beautiful trees everywhere on the West Coast.


• We have the notion of consideration for others.


• We embrace diversity.


• We value education - hence lower tuitions.


• We're the 8th most peaceful country in the world (ranking).

And so, on this day, I salute the country that granted me citizenship and invited me in without judgement or prejudice.

I miss home - LOTS~