Its New Years Eve!!!! Yippe! Well, today was rather relaxing. BB and I woke up, did a little cleaning around the house, made some phone calls back home, talked with Erica and caught up on the Chicago drama, cooked us some lunch, watched a little soccer and took a nap. I just woke up and showered and now its time to get into my "get cute" ritual before we head out to Ginza for a night out on the town.

BB and I, along with about 6 other folks we know are headed up to Ginza, Tokyo for this New Year's Eve "dress up" party that should be a blast. It costs like 4,500yen to get in but that's about the same price as I'd pay at home to party so...there it is. I don't really like being big party co-ordinator on nights like this when I know its about to be ON (in capital letters on purpose) but folks were looking for something to do and my boy told me about this, so...I think it will be alright. Its every man for themselves. Hopefully no one will have to babysit me and I won't be doing any babysitting. So that's that. I've been using that term a lot lately "that's that", I'll have to keep that on the watch because I'm not such a big fan of that phrase.

Last year this time I was home, actually at Lessie's house getting dressed up to go out with her and some of her friends. We went to this New Year's party at the Sheraton in Durham and all I was thinking about was leaving the club to go be with Ryan. A year later, I sit here at the foot of BB's bed as he sleeps and thoughts of being with Ryan are the farthest things from my mind. Funny how things change.

New Years Resolutions: I haven't really made many. Its also not a good idea to make too many because it will be almost impossible to keep them all. So I'll go with three all starting with the phrase "GET IT TOGETHER".
#1. GET IT TOGETHER financially. In 2004, I will pay all of my loan payments on time if not early. I will also keep a budget of my spending (starting with my first paycheck in Jan), my estimated costs, and my actual amount spent.

#2 GET IT TOGETHER emotionally. In 2004 I will not accept anyone else's personal baggage and continue working on cleaning out my own closet and making myself a emotionally stable, personally whole being. I will make goals for my future relationships, not necessarily strict inflexible ones, but ones that don't leave me hanging on a string and insecure. I will also seriously evaluate the situations I am currently in and commit to sweeping around my own front door.

#3 GET IT TOGETHER spiritually. In 2004 I will read more and mediate more and truly work on making a stronger spiritual connection between myself and God. I will study more to find out what I really stand for and be more grounded in my beliefs.

Three fairly attainable, yet highly common goals I'm sure. I hope next year this time I'll be able to read this blog and confirm that I have achieved all if not most of these goals.

Today I pray: Smiling and being thankful for being able to see the beginning of yet another calendar year. Being able to spend time with people I care about is important to me and I'm thanking you Lord for that as well. You have been better to me than I feel I deserve and I thank you for being great and powerful and for looking out for me. Amen.

Brief Hiatus.

I'm here!!! So, I'm staying with BB for the next two weeks up in Chiba. I'll leave from his place and head off to Singapore and Malaysia after the New Year. We'll spend Christmas and New Year's together. I'm excited. I was worried at first because his sister is getting married in May and she wanted him to come home at the last minute to meet her fiance. He was considering it but really didn't want to go home in addition to the fact that we'd made all these plans including Japanese Language School and a Stevie Wonder Concert 2 days after Christmas. So...yeah. I'm here now.

Its going to be different. We've got a lot of straightening up to do in order for me to have space. His apt is much smaller than mine. I guess its like a typical Japanese spot though. One main room, that triples and quadruples for anything you need to do: bedroom, dressing room, tv room, study hall, closet. Its really an all in one. Then he has a long hallway sort of kitchen, a bathroom (which is really just a toilet with no windows) and a shower room. There is no sink other than the one in the shower room and the kitchen sink. So, after using the bathroom or when brushing your teeth you either have to get your feet wet and go into the shower or use the kitchen sink. Choose your poison. It may just be me, but I have a thing about using kitchen sinks for anything other than washing dishes and kitchen related things.

I shipped my bags from my house to his because I didn't want to worry about lugging them around, but now I have to worry about waiting for them to arrive. The delivery guy said "morning-ish" but its damn near 1pm and they still haven't arrived. Its actually a nice day out, not too cold and I want to get going with my day, but instead I'm stuck here waiting on these freakin' bags! Piss.

Okay, so since this is MY blog I guess I can just go ahead and put this out that there I think a girl I just met and Jody have been initimate. Either they have or one of them/both of them wanted to be. I'm not certain...but its just a feeling I have. I need to keep my eye on the situation.

Today I pray: for wisdom. I feel very close to BB Lord and I don't know where our roads are leading too. I'm so connected to him at times. And others I feel kind of cautious and weary. I guess that's only normal, but Lord please guide my mouth, my words, and my actions. I also pray that all wicked energy that would cause us to fuss or fight be far far away from this apartment. In your name I pray. Amen.

Tonight I went to my JTE's wedding. It was my first time going to a wedding here and Japan and boy was it memorable. First, the way they had theirs, I didn't go to the actual wedding ceremony. I went to the reception. But apparently the reception is bigger than the wedding.

Okay, so I arrive at this big wedding plaza, running late because there was so much traffic on the highway leading up to the place. Instead of it being a church, its just a huge wedding plaza. Very hard to describe. Anyway, i go up to the information desk and ask about for "Harada Chizuko's Wedding" at this point, its 4:54 and the wedding stuff begins at 5. I have to run in my heels and dress behind this bellboy who is running top speed into a totally different building. When I reach, I give the ladies at the door my envelope (you give money to the bride and groom here) sign my name on the register, recieve a seating chart and follow behind the bellboy who has once again taken off running as I hear him say "It starts at 5 right?" As I run through the door of the building of our final destination I see Ms. Harada in her kimono. Breathtaking!!! She looks so beautiful, but I can't pause to stare as the staff is fussing with me to get me into my seat in the dining room before the bride and groom walk in.

So, shortly after I'm seatin and say my hello's to my co-workers and former Vice Principal, the wedding planner (or whoever she was) announced the entrance of the bride and groom. Lots of bowing from the staff, and the couple walks in dressed in what look like VERY expensive kimono. Although it looks very difficult to walk, Harada is doing her best to walk w/all those heavy layers of kimono on and her hair all slicked up with dangly moving things in it. They both looked great though.

There were toasts and stuff like a usual western wedding but then as the meal is being served, the couple goes out again and comes in a few moments later changed into western style clothing. Him in a grey shiny, silky looking suit and her in a really nice white weddingd dress. During this change of clothes, they go around to all of the tables and take pictures with the people at the table. That was kinda nice because people got to take good up close pictures of the couple.

There was a bit of a break between the last change of clothes and this is where my Vice Prinicipal and Principal have had enough to drink so that they can become "themselves" again. I just witness this event a few nights ago at our End of the year Teachers party, and could sense the signs. They were so funny. Coming around pouring me wine and in turn I would go to their tables and pour them beer and wine. Then a random table full of men called me over to their table because they wanted to take a picture with me. The guy sitting next to me was the groom's cousin and he was flirting in his own little was most of the evening. Funny stuff. But I think the best was that the teachers at the table, Principal and VP told me that when I get married to please invite them. They really want to come. And that if I have my wedding in America, we should have the 'second party' in Japan! Hilarious group of folks.

So, then the couple come back in...well, first the groom. This time he has a Santa hat on and strapped to his bag a keg! He's going around pouring beer and such for about 20 minutes and then the bride comes back in wearing this weird Minnie Mouse looking thing. It was strange, but...not my wedding right? It wasn't an ugly dress, just looked liked something...hmmm...well just not something for a wedding is all.

At the end we got a take home copy of the photo taken with the bride and groom at our table, which was nice and a bag full of goodies. Two bottles of wine (small ones) red and white with "Just Married: Yuichi and Chizuko" on them. Then I got two bowls, not mixing bowls but glass like that. Nice ones though. Also some cakes and flowers from the table and a real wreath that was the center piece. The table stuff and flowers they told us to take. I didn't just lift the mess!

I love weddings. They are fun. Everyone seems so happy. The weird thing about all of this is...now I'm going to have to call her ". Sakai" and all I've ever know her as is Ms. Harada. I mean, with my friends who are married, I call them by their first names and always have, but I've always called her Harada. That is going to be very strange. Oh well, I'll get used to it.

Today I pray: that you will bless the union of Chizuko and Yuichi. They have the possibility to bring forth great children and much happiness. Keep them in your care I pray Lord. Amen

Have you ever had someone ask you for advice but then they really don't want advice but keep asking you questions and asking for answers? Gosh that bothers me!