Moving

It's officially unofficial that we will be moving to Georgia this summer.  We haven't gotten all the paperwork, yet, but Husband is expected to be at his new job by August 22nd.  And since Jude's school starts on August 1st, we hope to be there and settled before school starts. We hope to leave Japan the first week of July or so.

Keep in mind, these dates could change.

So we have about 5 months left in the Land of the Rising Sun!  I  can't believe it.  I wish time would pass a little slower, so I can take it all in just a little more!

4 EARTHQUAKES BACK TO BACK

Within the span of about 20 minutes, we have had 4 FUCKING EARTHQUAKES this morning--the largest was a 5.5 magnitude in Yamanashi prefecture.  What the fuck?!  I'm seriously on edge right now!  Our building swayed and our glass cabinets rattled and shook, nothing broke.  We are fine, but I think I'll be spending the day outside!  WHAT THE FUCK?!

1st one of the morning at 7:44 AM Tokyo time.  Our windows shook and cabinets rattled!

Four minutes later, another one!  A 5.5 magnitude, but we felt it as a 2 here.  Our building seriously swayed!

Six minutes later, another one!  I nearly shit my pants!

And another one!  

SHIT!

Imminent

"TOKYO (AP) — A new study is warning that Tokyo has a 70 percent chance of being hit by a powerful magnitude-7 earthquake within four years.

The study published Monday by University of Tokyo seismologist based the warning on an increase in  seismic activity in the region since last year's March 11 disaster, when a magnitude-9 quake and subsequent tsunami along Japan's northern coast left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing.

The group said the number of moderate earthquakes in Tokyo increased sevenfold in the six-month period after March 11 compared with the previous six months, leading to the prediction.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Tokyo's last major quake was the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake that killed 140,000 people."

The article can be found here.

Cover up

I read this article today about Japan and its nuclear disaster.  You can read it here.

I'm trying not to focus on the fact that my family could have possibly been contaiminated by radiation following the massive March 11th quake.  I try not to think about what that radiation could possibly be doing to my body or my son's body.  I try not to focus on the fact that the situation at the Fukushima-Dai-ichi plant is still dangerous.  I try not to worry about the Japanese food we eat and whether or not it will be discovered to contain radiation.  I try to ignore the reports of future radiation possibly becoming air born in pollen this spring.  I try not to worry about any of it.  I just try to keep thinking about effing unicorns and effing rainbows, praying we are fine.  That's right.   Rainbows and unicorns.

Just breathe

24 hours

Husband will be back in my arms in 24 hours, but who's counting?  Oh, did I forget to tell you?  Husband has been gone for about a week.  We was on a business trip and will be returning tomorrow.

Even after almost 9 years of marriage, I still miss him when he's gone.  Even though I have a 7 year old, spastic monkey sleeping in my bed, it's not the same.  I miss the warmth and comfort only his daddy can provide.

Thankfully, I only have 24 more hours to go.

Go with the flow

Recently I've been feeling overwhelmed with all that's about to change.  But I'm trying to stay positive--for Jude's sake.  I'm trying to focus on all the great things and not dwell on the negative.  I know that no matter what happens, everything will work out for the best, because that's what always happens.

Saturday Sushi

Yesterday Jude and I had lunch at our favorite sushi restaurant (Husband is out of town for work).  We couldn't help but take advantage of the photo op.

(Photos taken with my iPhone.)

Drowning

With the upcoming move back to the U.S., I'll be faced with tons of daunting choices to make: where to live, to work or not to work, where to send Jude to school, what kind of car to buy, what kind of washer and dryer do we need, what new furniture do we need, what can we do without, what church to join, what activities will Jude continue, etc.

All of these choices are overwhelming me, and I feel like I've been thrown into the deep end, unable to swim.

The journey back to me

I used to be wild and crazy, full of passion and curiosity, but most of all, just so completely full of passion.  But it seems lately I've taken on the role of mother and wife, forgetting who I am--forgetting what I need and want.  

I haven't thought about who I am in a long time.  I usually don't have the time to sit around and think about myself, but a recent conversation with a friend brought me back into focus-- into perspective.  It seems I have been lost, hidden under those labels I have created for myself.  I've pushed aside all my needs and desires, never taking the time to consider what I need or want.  I guess as mothers and wives we often do this-- placing all the emphasis on the external (our children, our husbands, our jobs), and we neglect the internal, until it erupts and grabs hold of us by the throat, refusing to let go until we examine it closely.  Then we realize just how far we've fallen and wonder if we can ever return to who we were, wondering if we are too far gone to make that journey back, wondering if the journey is even still worth it anymore-- to become who we used to be, wondering if it's even possible to find what once existed.