Rambling

Alright I've been silent for a while...but I suppose I should go on and break that.

Since things have calmed down a bit and we filed for the greencard...my contentment level has gone up.  Usually I write only when I'm upset or ranting...as I'm sure all of you can tell.  My Muse doesn't work up great topics to write about unless my head feels like it's going to explode.

My dad...we're having some major issues...mainly with how he's handling money...and how he's handling it in regards to me.  Anyhow...It's caused me to really lose respect for him because I just think what he did all the way around is wrong.  I don't exactly understand it, but I know if it were right it would be easy to understand what he did and why.

He is trying to woo me to stay...and it's hard not to stay...at the same time...I think I can find something better...

SO that's depressing.

Other than that...Akira's family is doing alright...the rest of my family is doing alright.  My girls are constantly on the hunt for a husband and since I can't really join in the activities I find it a little boring to talk about this guy or that guy.  In fact...I'm finding most gossip pretty dull.

I'm dying for a camping trip.  I really wanted us to go to the desert hot springs...but since Akira and I don't have the same days off as Akira does...our trips are lacking.

Alaska is soon though...but again...it's more like a visit, not a trip where we go off exploring and hiking and hot springing it...

I'm at a freeze on my diet.  I can't seem to lose any more.  I'm going to have to start adding weights.  I was dreading this part.  At least I can get some strap weights and wear them at work since my pants are loose.

I'm going to dye my hair.  That's not exactly exciting but my 27 year old ass is greying...so I gotten fix that asap.  Just shows how stressed out I've been in my 20s.

Akira got another promotion.  I guess he's has seniority status now or something like that...I'm not sure how Japanese companies run...but he was head of junior and now he's mid senior.  So if anyone has any clue how to explain that to me that would be helpful because when people ask me what Akira does for a living I'm like...Well he works 120 hours a week and then sleeps the rest.  People just look at me strange, but I don't know how else to explain it.  He does everything, constantly, mulitasking, all the freaking time.

That's why I miss our trips where his emails couldn't reach him.

Even his off days he spends half of them answering emails and doing spread sheets.

Did you guys know that the Japanese salary people working themselves to death is the fault of this idealist American prick who went around Japan lecturing to companies on how they should run????

BAM!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming

So their entire over working and constant improving is post WWII...at least to this extent.  I think this model of company management works so well with the Japanese because of the constant submissiveness in the culture as well and the back and forth seasaw process of carrying out any kind of action with in a group.

I still think this whole thing is horrible and that the Japanese should really scrap this form of working their life away...but...it's probably me just being American and thinking there are more important things in life other then work.  Something that most Japanese would strongly disagree with me on...so what the hell do I know.

I just think it's interesting that the USA imposed so much on Japan, and instead of Japan kicking and screaming over it...they just went with the flow.  That's culture right there.

Still....still.

So again...not much to report...

I've been in shock I think...because I keep finding out more and more on how much my father stole from me and how much he's lied to me and about me.

So...I've been looking for new jobs...but it still doesn't change the fact that my own father betrayed me.

Now I have both parents who ended up doing something messed up...

Disappointing.

Anyhow...in other news...everything is pretty quiet.

I saw my first cherry blossoms today.  They weren't pink.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.

Still on a diet.  Still trying to quit smoking.  Still stressed out.

Nothing exciting to report

Well my lack of posting is due to the fact that not much has been going on.  We filled out the green card paperwork.  On my side it required five years of my information like where I've lived, worked and taxes.  It was pretty straight forward.  We have to take pictures for the submission and akira has to under go another medical exam.  So far the cost is $1500, which is a shock to me...but I've heard that once its all done and over with the cost will go up to about $7000.  Luckily akira's company is taking care of the rest.  We are lucky in that respect, they also hired a lawyer for us to speed up the process.

Still trying to lose weight..the first few pounds came off easy but now it's slow going but still going.  Akira has lost weight too because our dinners are extremely healthy now.  I'm sure his family will be pleased :).

I have also decided to stop working for my father soon.  I had a major fight with him Friday because I found out he stole money from me...and akira says he's the reason why my self esteem is so low and that while he's still my father it's best to put space between us because he's been hurting me so much. That's very true and very sad...but typical of a middle eastern man sadly.  Women aren't worth much in my Father's world and I just have to come to peace with that.

My mother got a new job and is doing well, I'm so happy for her <3.  My little brother also had money stolen from my father and is moving and leaving the company as well.  I've been working for the company for seven years now and it's sad that I'll have to start all over but akira is so supportive <3.

I really haven't had much support from my girls...but I also understand everyone is busy with their own lives and now that I'm the only married one in the group my interest have changed a little bit.  It's kind of sad but I guess that's what happens.

I decided against plastic surgery.  I'm harassed enough as it is...

Other than that..my Japanese classes start march 2.  So... That's about it.

Treading Water

So nothing has been really going on.  Everything seems to be going well.  Akira and I haven't had any major upsets since the wedding ordeal...and my emotions have been pretty much in check except for the one day I flipped out (in all fairness I was on my period).

I'm a size 2 now (in JEANS which makes me thrilled)  So I've got ten more pounds until I'm done with the diet and then it's just toning up from there on out.

Akira has befriended the other American guy from Japan sent here to work...so that's nice.  I haven't met the guy, but I've seen a picture and he seems nice.

Yeah...boring lately.

Better this way.

False Alarm

No baby...but I do have an amazing dose of uncontrollable emotions today followed by feeling like a balloon.

.....joy.

I had an outburst on Akira today...mainly cause I saw where he was looking up a cute coworker and well...pms and jealousy just don't mix well...and I tore into him, but later felt stupid and apologized.

It's rainy today, and there's an ex cop shooting up people for the past few days that have caused a few freeways to constantly shut down in random areas.

So that's annoying.

I'm off to a vender now...and guessing on the weather and the shut downs...it could take a while.

I wish I had updated my playlist cause days like this the last thing I want to listen to is the radio with their random emergency warnings.

I think the shooter is going to get away with it because he's pretty smart and very motivated...so...

But what do I know...I study criminals...I'm not a criminal so my guess may as well come straight from my ass.

Now to go sit in traffic.

Well...

I guess my wedding belle blues are over because it's become our honeymoon phase finally....and I think I might have good news soon... Though I need another week until I'm sure ;).

Quick recap

Well my inlaws went back to Japan... And I've been pretty bummed out since they left because we just had a grand time!  We went shopping, tourist hopping, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm...you name it and we did it.  It made me appreciate A- that I married into such a loving family and B- that California is a pretty amazing place and that I should stop complaining about living here as oppose to Alabama.

Akira's mom and I cried when we said good bye at the airport... And by the end of the trip the no hugging rule disappeared cause we spent a good few parts of the day just hugging each other.  I think they are more relaxed here in the States then in Japan...less worried over social stigma I guess.  It was great to see them...and it was also great to learn that while my verbal skills in Japanese is still shit my listening skills are MUCH better then they were in Japan.  I was able to actually understand most of the conversations going on and Akira caught that a few times cause I'd respond in English half the time instead of keeping my mouth shut cause I was so excited.

I think he was pretty happy about it actually.  I'm sure I'd be a lot better if I actually studied... I'm kinda of half assing it the way I learned Farsi and Arabic... But since the grammar of all three is so close (must be an Eastern thing to talk like yoda) it's a little easier then I thought.  I still think Arabic is the hardest... Only because they have so many words for the same shit and then so many detailed words (for instance... There are hundreds of words for 'sand' which I find pretty funny but I'm sure they don't lol).

Anyhow.... We are going to be in Japan during Golden Week this time... So I need to brace myself for crowds of people because it looks like we will be spending most our trip in the Tokyo area.  I'm not exactly thrilled by that... I was kind of hoping to finally go to Sopporro to see where Akira studied and hopefully some cherry blossoms... But I will be seeing something I've been dying to see since I've heard of it.  A Japanese mock Christian wedding!!!!  I find it extremely entertaining a that they find religion so playful and it's one of the few things they put zero seriousness to.  Now coming from the south I was raised in the Bible belt where just saying 'oh my God' would make my Mama's belt swing so quick on my ass it would truly make my head spin.  As a result I've longed disliked such strict organized religions (I'm a Sufi) so when I heard the Japanese made a pretty much stage mockery of Christianity... Well... That just topped my bucket list so to say.

However....I was also told pretty strictly not to laugh or make fun of it....which I won't I mean it's my sister in law's wedding....but I sure as hell will find it entertaining!

Other than that... I will be going back to Alaska this coming march... Akira and I will be roaring tripping across the icy state to see our family near the north pole (nope I'm not joking they are an hour away from the north pole).  So I'm excited about that.  Alaska is like a cold version of Alabama and California rolled into one massive state.  

So... This spring will be full of traveling.

We have started as well our green card process.  I will go into that detail in the next post.