Landed in Japan
So fucking tired right now
Ugh ugh ugh ugh yay

Final Day At Home

Final day at home
River walk, zoo time, with mom
Had a great last day

Sad to be leaving
But I won't think of it much
Not right now at least

Koi in the river
I don't think you belong here
Good luck sign perhaps?

Things will be hectic
And I might not have free time
To write a haiku

But I will haiku
Throughout my time in Japan
When I am able

This time tomorrow
I will be on a jet plane
Headed for Japan

TIGF:
-Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon
-Kindle!
-Postcard from my brother
-River walk with mom
-Zoo with mom
-Slurpee with mom
-Last home cooked dinner
-Don saying goodbye
-Finished packing
-All the love and support I've received
-Pocahontas
-Goodbye letter and necklace from mom

The Suitcase Has Closed

The suitcase has closed
With only one more day left
Till my departure

Spaced out and tired
Why has it gotten so cold?
I'm such a weakling

Checking off my list
Still can't believe I'm going
And for so long too

Last dinner with dad
Good food, and conversation
I will miss you dad!

Throughout the whole day
Full of anxious energy
Not much else to say

TIGF:
-Blankets
-Wonderful neighbors
-Painting my nails
-Mom cutting my bangs
-Getting traveler's checks
-Last dinner with dad
-Ice cream
-Getting snacks for the plane ride
-Anthony Bourdain
-One more day!
-New music

Sometimes I feel like
I don't know enough about
The people I love

It makes me really sad. And I know I can actively change that. But I haven't yet.

Almost Ready Now

Only three days left
Anxious, freaked out, excited
Hoping for the best

Visit from family
And dinner with my neighbor
Time to say goodbye

September roses
Continue to bloom with ease
Simply beautiful

Piles of clothing
Are now packed in a suitcase
Almost ready now

So very tiny
Smallest, cutest, little mouse
SO PRECIOUS AND CUTE

TIGF:
-Family members coming to say goodbye
-Almost finishing packing!
-My neighbor taking me and my mom out to eat
-So much support
-Seeing the cutest tiniest mouse ever today (which is living in my garage?)
-Being sad to leave but excited to go

Red Little Fungus

Skyped with my brother
And though it wasn't for that long
Good to see his face

Next couple of days
Are going to be hectic
And will go by fast!

One last U.S. hike
Wetlands, forest, and lakes too
Truly beautiful

Red little fungus
So small and so very cute!
Otherworldlyish

I've had the hiccups
Like four different times today
So this is a first

So fucking restless
I just want to get started
On my next journey

Something is moving
From the corner of my eye
Hallucination

TIGF:
-Amazing hikes
-Having an amazing dad
-Warm showers
-Home made lasagna
-Scrabble time with mom
-Downloading ebooks
-Skyping with brother
-Four more days!

So Ready To Go!

Only five more days
So much to do, where to start?
Running with no head

So ready to go!
Just anxious sitting around
Not much else to say

Eating with Nicole
When we spot some specimens
Nice armpit-less shirt

From out of nowhere
I have a Sweeney Todd song
Stuck in my head

TIGF:
-Some rain
-Being somewhat productive?
-Hanging with Nicole
-Five more days

Feeling So Grateful

Feeling so grateful

I have received so so much

Can only say thanks

Becoming restless

Organizing and packing

Little by little

Oh, can't wait to dance

At downtown Tokyo clubs

Already grooving 

Distant relatives

Distant as in small contact

Still good to see them

Wind through my fingers

And rays penetrating skin

Rejuvenating

Next Project Runway

Will not be watched with my mom

I'll be in Japan

Time seemed to speed up

Suddenly the week went by

Last U.S. weekend

TIGF:

-Getting slightly more organized

-Feeling better

-Lovely day

-Reading

-Yummy cupcakes

-Dinner with my dad and aunts

-Receiving gifts

-Getting a Kindle 

-Being grateful

-Having so much support 

Only One Week Left!

Only one week left!
Time to let go of this stress
And have a great time

I'm no stranger to
Being so super tired
For no reason no

Was walking that path
Into that deep, dark forest
It's time to get out

Hanging with a friend
It will be awhile till
I see him again

TIGF:
-Friends near and far
-One week left
-My mom for always trying
-Chocolate cupcakes
-Finishing that evaluation letter
-Jogging a mile
-I'M GOING TO JAPAN IN ONE WEEK

No Matter Today

What am I feeling?
At this moment I'm not sure
Scales easily tip

Am not quite there yet
The person I want to be
I hope I'll get there

It is funny how
It only takes one small thing
To screw up a day

No matter today
At least there is tomorrow
I'll keep thinking that

Quietly crying
Equally quiet escape
Moments of sadness

Feel and then let go
Can't let these things keep me down
Or I'll become lost

TIGF:
-Yummy yummy fruit
-Some contact with my sister
-Sitting outside reading in the sun
-Finishing a book
-Having a great neighbor

BBQ Hungry

Just another day
Studied Kanji for a bit
Did some laundry too

BBQ Hungry
Brisket, pulled pork, and much more
Bourdain I'm jealous

Trying to control
Irrational emotions
Time to meditate

A sip of brandy
That burn, it's been awhile
Build up tolerance

TIGF:
-Nice walks
-Nice showers
-Nice trail mix
-Doing some things
-Music
-Food
-Etc.

Fall's Whispering Winds

Fall's whispering winds
What stories are they telling
We may never know

Indian pow-wow
Full of history and yet
It's a little sad

A certain smell and
The crunch of leaves that signals
Summer's end begins

Before I know it
I begin to lose myself
Hiking the forest

Why do you say things
That are so ridiculous
Really, you think that?

TIGF:
-Cute dogs
-Pow-wows
-Hiking
-The beginning of fall
-And that certain fall smell
-Buying my host family gifts
-Getting to eat Vietnamese food before I go

A Mood Swinging Day

I wish I could see
Both my siblings one more time
Before I'm abroad

Going through old things
Brings up memories that have
Been long forgotten

A mood swinging day
A mixture of many things
Just makes me tired

Mac n Cheese dinner
Oh that processed cheese flavor
Really hit the spot

TIGF:
-Jogging farthest I have
-Getting some things done
-Leftovers
-Old pictures
-Discovering things I forgot I had
-Watching Rushmore

Cheesecake for Dessert

At last, left my house
Lunch with my aunt and uncle
Cheesecake for dessert

Humid and hot days
Make me tired and lazy
Didn't do that much

Chance to go party
Just wasn't up for it though
A hermit at heart

Astrology signs
Trying to figure out moon
Two different answers

 Time's ticking away
And there are things I should do
That aren't getting done

This is becoming
A blog about food I eat
It is good food though

TIGF:
-Lunch with my aunt and uncle
-Card and money from my aunt and uncle
-Learning things about family I didn't know
-Looking at my baby book
-Rocky Road cheesecake
-Hummus and pita
-My chipmunk pal
-Air conditioning
-Getting a foot massage