Aiko

Aiko is such a funny rat. our newest thing to do for at least 30 minutes a day is to run up and down the stairs. usually it's just her, with me sitting on a landing. regularly she comes to check in. climbs up to my shoulders and grinds her teeth (typically means a rat is happy), then gets back to business.

she also appears to be madly in love with Akira. if she's anywhere near level with him (while on my shoulders), she'll rush to him anyway she can and jump onto his back. it's pretty funny to watch. the dogs seem to be learning that she's off limits, they've never made a single attempt to attack and she doesn't seem to be afraid of them. of course, we keep a close eye when she's out and about.

more than this

hm. so, the most new news I have is that I got accepted into PSU. just waiting for orientation information and to figure out financial aid stuff. plus, that Japan is pretty much a sure thing. unless we can't find a place for the dogs. I would rather not go to Japan than put them in a kennel, for sure.

there's so much to talk about, but it's so personal, I don't even know how I feel about speaking it. it's just weird, I remember a time when I used to have to talk about everything, everything. now...what is there to say, really.

bento, glasses / contacts, and flowers

hmm. lately I have been incredibly emotional. I feel like some sort of trapped substance ready to burst out. which is when needing new things, like glasses, becomes so handy.

I wish I had a photo of my glasses, but they're new from the company and purple. purple being the important part. what is funny though, is that I have two pairs of glasses...for two different things. my new purple ones are for distances. my old brown & blue ones are now for reading. technically I could have purchased bifocals, but I'm not yet at the point where they are absolutely needed. my eyes are getting bad enough that I may need them soon enough.

the fun part is that I am testing out contacts for sports. they are weird!

I also have purchased this. it's a Totoro bento box. if you can't enjoy food, at least shove it into a cute box and have fun. bento boxes hold a special spot in my heart.

I'm also trying to load up on perfumes and flowers. somehow I can't keep them alive in the Fall/Winter when I really need them, but flowers thrive around me in Spring/Summer. so now the house needs a bunch of bright colors to cheer the place up for Spring. I can't decide on what kinds though.

tomorrow is my second observation before I start actually taking part in presentations. I am admittedly terribly nervous. it's not an easy topic to discuss (Sexual Assault)! my first observation was just in training, so it wasn't at an actual school. it'll be different, that's for sure.

- my application to PSU is in, as is the order form for an official copy of my GED. all I have to do is pick up my HS transcript on Monday and mail it in.

- I am so going to the Studio Ghibli museum when I go to Japan. Totoro!!

- diets are evil...especially when you gain weight from them.

- Jevin, if you read this at all. my cellphone died and I couldn't call you back. 12:48am? dude, I was asleep.

gahhh

when I am on overdrive, it is completely visible when I begin to wear down. hah. things that are driving me mad:

- waiting for a transcript from AIPD so I can send in my GED copy order and my application to PSU. I am still 5 at heart, with no patience.

- my passport. seriously, online it said that I had everything I needed. a state ID was supposed to be enough, when I got there it wasn't enough and I only had one of the four other IDs I could pick from. which would have been okay if they only needed one, but you need two other IDs if you are not using a drivers license. those being: debit card, credit card, student ID, or work ID. I only have a debit card. so the lady tells me I'll get more paperwork in 4 weeks or so. I've never heard of this paperwork, so I ask her what it's about, etc. I get "I don't know, they don't write to me". so now I am confused! good times. it'll get sorted out, but man, I didn't think it'd end up being so confusing.

- the bogus calls at the Super Bowl yesterday. that one Steelers touchdown was not a touchdown. bah.

tennis

I still need to sign up for classes. for some reason, I cannot remember and this despite how excited I am. there's some courts walking distance from my house, so once I get educated I need to find some people to play with!

mochi owns me

it really does. I'm sitting here munching on a piece of strawberry mochi and attempting to make a list of the cities I want to go to in Japan.

Tokyo
Sapporo
Kyoto
Osaka
and I know there was a city on Kyushu that I wanted to visit, but I can't remember. augh.

the most realistic is only Tokyo or Tokyo and another city. Sapporo is on a whole different island than Tokyo, though. Tokyo is on the main island of Honshu and Sapporo is on the northern island of Hokkaido.

I am crossing my fingers that this happens this summer. tomorrow I go to get at least my passport photos dealt with!