On your wedding day

Congratulations to Azul and his wife. I wish you both all the happiness in the world.

I'm glad we will share the same anniversary.

Congratulations and may all your days together be full of love and passion.

Blue Wedding

Three of my friends are getting married this month, and because I live in Japan, I will not be attending their weddings.

I'm excited for them to begin their new lives with their mates, but there's a little bit of sadness that goes along with my happiness.

One wedding in particular has my mind swirling with emotions, and I'm not sure why.

But to my friends, I wish you all the happiness in the world. I wish you continued understanding, patience, love, honor, and respect. I hope your partner treats you with dignity, and that you have ever lasting love for one another until the day you die and beyond. I hope your life is filled with happiness and wonderful, tender moments you can cherish together. I hope the love that fills your heart grows and becomes deeper and more intense with each year that passes.

This journey you are about to take isn't always easy, but the love you share for one another will help you to overcome whatever is thrown your way. Your love for one another truly can conquer it all, if you let it.

So, may all your days be filled with love, passion, understanding, smiles and all the happiness you truly deserve.

Congratulations on your wedding day!

7 years ago

On President's Day, February 17, 2003, Husband and I took the plunge.

Seven years later, I'm still happy and totally and completely in love with him. I never knew I could love someone for this long, and I never thought marriage life could be this good or this amazing. I'm not saying we don't have our issues, because Lord knows we do. But, thankfully, we've been able to work through our difficulties and come out on the other side happy, thankful, and still in love. Actually, I think our love has grown deeper and more intense in the last 7 years.

Each day brings a new and exciting adventure, and I'm so glad I get to experience that adventure with Husband.

Happy Anniversary, Husband! I love you.

Back from paradise

Sorry for the recent radio silence, but I was basking in the sun in Guam. That's right, I was in island paradise snorkeling, sailing, relaxing, and playing on the beach. It was an amazing trip, and I can't wait to go back.

When our plane landed yesterday, we were welcomed back to Tokyo with cold weather and snow. The sky was gray and everything seemed somber and dismal. It was quite a contrast from Guam. In Guam, the Bougainvilleas were blooming and the Hibiscuses had luscious red and pink flowers. I already miss Guam!

I have so much to tell you about our trip, but first I must get things organized and flowing again. I've got tons of laundry to do, food to buy, and lessons to plan. I've got a class today and a meeting later this afternoon. Phew!

Guam, how I miss thee!

But then I just smile

Some people make me smile. (The word smile should be said slowly with a deep, Southern accent, with an emphasis on the i.) Seeing their bright eyes or hearing their jokes or a short story about nothing important just makes me smile. There's something about them, some perfect quality in their soul that shines through and permeates in me.

These people are quite rare, but when you find them, you have to surround yourself with them, and doing so creates a world of happiness and smiles.

Technically today is her birthday

Happy Birthday, Sister!

So, you're like 40 now, right? Just kidding! You don't look a day over 35! Just kidding! Just kidding!

I don't do well with drama

If you know me, you know that I'm a very simple person. Things are either black or white, good or bad, and I don't do well when things are somewhere in between. I like to live a very uncomplicated life. Each day, I want my most difficult decision to be: what's for dinner. Seriously.

I hate drama. I hate drama more than I hate thong underwear. I hate drama more than I hate going to the toilet and falling in and getting splashed with toilet water on my ass because Husband or Jude has forgotten to put the toilet seat down. I H-A-T-E, hate drama.

And if you make my life complicated, you're out. It's that simple. My life is very sacred to me. I know that at any given moment an asthma attack can take my breath away and that's it. That's all she wrote. Therefore, I refuse to spend one, single moment of my life unhappy or in a situation I don't enjoy. I know that makes me sound selfish, and, frankly, I don't give a shit. Life's too short to think about insignificant people, and I refuse to cater my life to the likes and dislikes of others. I ain't got time for that shit. No one does. My moments are too precious for that.

With that said, I spent this week un-complicating my life. And, boy, does it feel good to be back into the world of the mundane and boring. I'm good at boring. I like boring. Boring makes me happy!

Paradise awaits

In a few short days, we will be vacationing here. Jealous, aren't you?!

That's right, we are going on vacation again. This time we've decided to visit Guam. It's closer than Hawaii and much cheaper.

I can't wait to relax on the beach and go snorkeling!

This will be our agenda while we're in Guam: wake up, eat breakfast, go to the beach, eat lunch, go to the pool, go to the beach, eat dinner, sleep, and repeat.

Confusion

Imagine trying to find your bike in that mess!

Welcome to my world!

(I took this picture at my local train stop bike parking area.)

Connected

Woohoo! I got an iPhone this weekend. I need it, really, I did. Since most of my students can't speak English very well, they refuse to call me on the phone. Instead, they send me e-mails. And, I always hate coming home to a computer with 36 new e-mails. It takes time away from my family to respond. So, now with my new gadget, I can check my e-mail when I'm standing around waiting at the bus stop, waiting for Jude to come home, or I can check my e-mail while I'm sitting around waiting for Jude at swim lessons. I'm so excited!

The only problem is the phone knows I'm in Japan. No matter how many times I change the setting and default language to American English, it keeps changing back to Japanese. It's quite aggravating, but I'm slowly learning written Japanese, with much frustration, I might add!

(Yes, there's a difference between American English and British English! I know because I'm always arguing with my British friends about the spelling of certain words! Damn Brits can't spell correctly, in my opinion!)