aloha means love
It's been awhile since I updated but I figured now was the best time as any as I sit and wait to go to work. (disclaimer: I don't feel like doing a cut, sorry for the long entry)
So, first order of business, Hawaii! I have to say that is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The sky was beautiful, the Pacific marvelous, the mountains amazing, the food spectacular. The first two days I was there I got to say at the 5 star Hyatt with Mari. These were probably the two worse days. Don't get me wrong, it was AWESOME, but I felt so alone and distant. I sat next to the fake lagoon for 8 hours and watched families, and couples, and realized how much it means to share an experience with someone. Doing it alone is great, but to have someone with you...it makes it seem more real or something. The second day I broke my camera...and my ipod BUT I got to drive Mari's truck around. Josh found out where he was going to then, so then it seemed to me that everything was settled. He knew place and date and I was in the middle of the Pacific. That probably made me not enjoy the state as much as I could. The next 4 days or so were much nicer. Mari and her friend Nani took me sightseeing. It was really nice to have them welcome me in like that day. I went to barbecues, and block parties, and played Super Smash Brothers. The sky is so clear at night. I saw stars I didn't even realize existed. I learned to surf. I rode 3 waves. Yes, me with absolutely zero coordination stood on a surf board and rode 3 waves into shore. I got to drive a truck down the highway as two guys through coconuts out of it at signs. I saw so many chickens it's not even funny. And I grew accustomed to rice and macaroni salad with every meal. Would I go back to Hawaii? Most def! I really hope I can go back. I hope other people can experience what aloha really means.
After Hawaii nothing really remarkable happened. My ride home was miserable. I left at 9 pm on Monday night and arrived in LA at 5 am. The plane to Chicago was running an hour late. No one was at the little ticket counters so I could ask them what to do because I only had an hour layover to get to my connecting flight. I finally found some lady. She told me I would have to wait until 7 when the person assigned to my flight showed up. So I waited....and waited. He finally got there and he booked me on a flight to Louisville that left an hour later but was full...and there were 30 people in front of me. I finally landed in Chicago. We landed with enough time for me to get to the connecting flight, but I was in the very back of the plane. No one would let me off. I ran to the next gate. I was 5 minutes late. I couldn't stop crying. I just wanted to get home. I wanted to see Josh. The lady at the gate I just missed a plane at put me on a plane to Detroit. From there I would transfer over to Northwest instead of American Airways and I finally landed in Louisville...5 hours after I was supposed. I hate American. Northwest was nice; they gave food and drinks for free and I had the entire back of the plane to myself. Pretty soon I'll get sick of United flights as mock trial claims my soul again.
I worked a lot the next few weeks. On the 31st Josh took me with him down to Nashville for his pre-departure orientation. There was a reception that night. I got to eat and talk with diplomats. The best way I can describe that experience was overwhelming. People kept asking me if I was going with Josh to Japan. I think I was still in disbelief that he was even going. The whole situation seemed so surreal. Here I was in the this huge house with the Consul General to Japan and everyone around me was leaving. For a year, at least. All of the alums of the program mentioned how one year wasn't enough. And I'm not sure what emotion I felt as we drove back. It wasn't that I cried, but I felt tears rolling down my cheek. Bittersweet maybe. Josh loves that country, that culture. And, I think he would be happiest there. How long he will stay, I don't know. All I know is that at the expense of me not seeing him he'll probably have the best experience of his life. And...I feel so selfish for wanting to be with him and experience that too. I know one thing though. I will wait. I'll keep living while he's away, 'cause I know he will, but I want to make things work. I won't let 13 hours break me. I want to share his happiness even though an ocean will separate us.
Um, LibraryCon was canceled because the library was crazy flooded and most of the manga was ruined. Not going this year seems odd but I think my hatred I was wishing upon it because the schedule looked so lame might have cause the cancellation. Yes, I caused flooding. :P
And finally, on a happier note, I went to the Killers concert at Horseshoes, IN. It's been a while since I went to a real concert. It was hot. I really couldn't see much except half the stage. But it was amazing. Not only do I love the Killers, but the performance was just top-notch. They sounded great, played all of the songs I wanted to hear (except for like 4, but that's okay), incorporated the audience nicely, which kept your interest, there was a crazy light show thing, and pyrotechnics. Josh came. It was kinda my way of sending him off. I loved the concert. Period. I wish it could have lasted longer.
And so I have yet another semester starting next week. This will be strange. I'm so close to graduation, I technically only have 3 more semesters left, and I'm still no closer to figuring out what I want to do with my life. I know one thing, I'm going to make the most of the time in front of me. Oh, and I will fall madly in love with the powers that are the world-wide web.
Keep on truckin'
<3 Air
So, first order of business, Hawaii! I have to say that is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The sky was beautiful, the Pacific marvelous, the mountains amazing, the food spectacular. The first two days I was there I got to say at the 5 star Hyatt with Mari. These were probably the two worse days. Don't get me wrong, it was AWESOME, but I felt so alone and distant. I sat next to the fake lagoon for 8 hours and watched families, and couples, and realized how much it means to share an experience with someone. Doing it alone is great, but to have someone with you...it makes it seem more real or something. The second day I broke my camera...and my ipod BUT I got to drive Mari's truck around. Josh found out where he was going to then, so then it seemed to me that everything was settled. He knew place and date and I was in the middle of the Pacific. That probably made me not enjoy the state as much as I could. The next 4 days or so were much nicer. Mari and her friend Nani took me sightseeing. It was really nice to have them welcome me in like that day. I went to barbecues, and block parties, and played Super Smash Brothers. The sky is so clear at night. I saw stars I didn't even realize existed. I learned to surf. I rode 3 waves. Yes, me with absolutely zero coordination stood on a surf board and rode 3 waves into shore. I got to drive a truck down the highway as two guys through coconuts out of it at signs. I saw so many chickens it's not even funny. And I grew accustomed to rice and macaroni salad with every meal. Would I go back to Hawaii? Most def! I really hope I can go back. I hope other people can experience what aloha really means.
After Hawaii nothing really remarkable happened. My ride home was miserable. I left at 9 pm on Monday night and arrived in LA at 5 am. The plane to Chicago was running an hour late. No one was at the little ticket counters so I could ask them what to do because I only had an hour layover to get to my connecting flight. I finally found some lady. She told me I would have to wait until 7 when the person assigned to my flight showed up. So I waited....and waited. He finally got there and he booked me on a flight to Louisville that left an hour later but was full...and there were 30 people in front of me. I finally landed in Chicago. We landed with enough time for me to get to the connecting flight, but I was in the very back of the plane. No one would let me off. I ran to the next gate. I was 5 minutes late. I couldn't stop crying. I just wanted to get home. I wanted to see Josh. The lady at the gate I just missed a plane at put me on a plane to Detroit. From there I would transfer over to Northwest instead of American Airways and I finally landed in Louisville...5 hours after I was supposed. I hate American. Northwest was nice; they gave food and drinks for free and I had the entire back of the plane to myself. Pretty soon I'll get sick of United flights as mock trial claims my soul again.
I worked a lot the next few weeks. On the 31st Josh took me with him down to Nashville for his pre-departure orientation. There was a reception that night. I got to eat and talk with diplomats. The best way I can describe that experience was overwhelming. People kept asking me if I was going with Josh to Japan. I think I was still in disbelief that he was even going. The whole situation seemed so surreal. Here I was in the this huge house with the Consul General to Japan and everyone around me was leaving. For a year, at least. All of the alums of the program mentioned how one year wasn't enough. And I'm not sure what emotion I felt as we drove back. It wasn't that I cried, but I felt tears rolling down my cheek. Bittersweet maybe. Josh loves that country, that culture. And, I think he would be happiest there. How long he will stay, I don't know. All I know is that at the expense of me not seeing him he'll probably have the best experience of his life. And...I feel so selfish for wanting to be with him and experience that too. I know one thing though. I will wait. I'll keep living while he's away, 'cause I know he will, but I want to make things work. I won't let 13 hours break me. I want to share his happiness even though an ocean will separate us.
Um, LibraryCon was canceled because the library was crazy flooded and most of the manga was ruined. Not going this year seems odd but I think my hatred I was wishing upon it because the schedule looked so lame might have cause the cancellation. Yes, I caused flooding. :P
And finally, on a happier note, I went to the Killers concert at Horseshoes, IN. It's been a while since I went to a real concert. It was hot. I really couldn't see much except half the stage. But it was amazing. Not only do I love the Killers, but the performance was just top-notch. They sounded great, played all of the songs I wanted to hear (except for like 4, but that's okay), incorporated the audience nicely, which kept your interest, there was a crazy light show thing, and pyrotechnics. Josh came. It was kinda my way of sending him off. I loved the concert. Period. I wish it could have lasted longer.
And so I have yet another semester starting next week. This will be strange. I'm so close to graduation, I technically only have 3 more semesters left, and I'm still no closer to figuring out what I want to do with my life. I know one thing, I'm going to make the most of the time in front of me. Oh, and I will fall madly in love with the powers that are the world-wide web.
Keep on truckin'
<3 Air