I think I have a mostly clear history of drifting along through life. And I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. More of in a rolling with the punches, going with whatever comes your way type of life. It has it's frustrating points, but I could probably say that I've been lucky. Thus far.

It has recently come to my subconscious' attention, however, that I should probably get on with it already. Drifting along works fine while under the roof of another, seeing as you ultimately don't have control over a number of things, but I've been on my own (i.e. parents-nashi) for the better part of... a few years ;) And I've stayed in that drift mode. And that's no good.. Change is good.

So I'm changing, many mostly inconsequential things, lifestyle choices, mentalities, outlooks, bit by bit. Results aren't always immediately available, but when they show up, I can't help listening to 'Booyah Achieved' by Minus the Bear. Booyah Achieved INDEED.

A change worth mentioning is that I dropped my job at the bar. What started out as a truly exciting and unique experience had turned into some misunderstood vendetta against my unwillingness to fall in line with my fellow gold-diggers (I've never had much of an attachment to gold anyway). Basically, I didn't want to conform the way the owner wanted me to, and that created a huge rift between that was ultimately filled with passive aggressive remarks and, needless to say, awkward conversations around customers.

So I gave my month (?? two weeks is too short? really??) notice and stuck it out until another girl was able to join the staff full-time. And I even cried on my last day. Like a punk :<

I did get this fantastic parfait-shaped candle from a customer who I only met once, but was just a genuine sweetheart. I'm torn between lighting it, or just letting it collect dust. I already threw away the plastic bag. Oops.

I don't mean to seem horrendously cheesy, but spring is perfect for fresh starts. I'll be starting a new, much more exciting, gig from April (I can't really talk about it much because of NDA's, but it deals in translation), but in order to grab this opportunity, I had to leave behind much more certain and stable, options like teaching on a more full-time basis. That decision was HARD (the money is always tempting), but ultimately, teaching English has nothing to do with what I want to do once I go back to the States (whenever that may be), and we can only waste so much time before there's none left.

So I'm going out on a bit of a limb. We'll see if it pays off by summer or autumn I suppose. I better strike that balance between decision-making and drifting, because I feel like relying on either for too long may take me places I'm not sure I want to go. Just yet. I guess.



Oh! I finally made the jump to the next generation of Windows. I've been running XP since Vista came out, and definitely been object to changing my OS's, but the portability of the Surface has had me in it's clutches since I first saw it last year. I was a little patient, and waited around for the Pro version, so that it's more an ultrabook than a tablet. I'm glad I finally made the jump, but I'm not getting rid of this Alienware either. Besides the fact that it's still in working condition (Firefox tends to give it the lags).. the memories..! Man, I really am a sucker :>

Sorry if most of that seemed inexplicably cryptic LOL
Anyway!! I'll be having a post about the Nipponbashi Street Festa that went on last week coming up this week (I get a small vacation before the new gig), and that'll have some video too, so that's exciting :3 And hopefully I'll get some cherry blossom viewing/midday drinking done as well, and I might make something for that. Though honestly, sakura don't change much year to year. :)

Hope your spring is going well!
Take Care!!
★Peaces★

Also, just cause. Memories and my dreams, all in one lol

I don't know if you've heard.. but I tots have a cat. Whom I love to little furry pieces.He is the best thing in my life right now (sorry husby。 sorta ಠ_ಠ).



I got him when he was 3-months-old, and though we've had our ups and downs, I don't think I could quite imagine my world without him now.


And really, who am I kidding. I'm only writing this to give a bit more meaning to all the photos I have of him saved on my hard-drive. I can't bring myself to delete them :<


Most of them I've already scattered throughout my tumblr, but... now I'm going to do it again. Brace yourself for the cute.

Everytime I try to take a picture while he's looking, he does this. Full-frontal face action.

Then proceeds to knock the camera out of my hand. Doh.












Since he doesn't have one of those kitty houses to climb into and be happy, he makes temporary homes out other containers around the house. Like this tiny trash can..! Needless to say, we can't use the tiny trash can anymore. He'll just tear everything out and sleep in it. :<

A picture from summer. I think he was trying to keep his belly cool. Or maybe he just enjoyed sleeping on his back. Only the kitty gods know~

Sitting on the couch like a bawse. I like to think that he enjoys superhero flicks since he likes doing the superman jump when we play. :>

Back when he was tiny and fit neatly behind my laptop on my computer desk. This was also before he could jump up to the desk on his own. A much simpler time really. No berating him about trampling all over my PC.. Poor PC :< *pat pat*

Bingley, thinking about the worlds he could destroy and lives he could ruin if he were as big as Godzilla. This is all supposition of course. ;]












This is the last one I swear, otherwise we'll all be here 'til the cows come home. :3 Bingley, as any modern cat would be, enjoying the PS3. I would prefer he not use it as a headrest.. but he's so cuuuute~

Off to bed now, since I'm supposed to be going to a 7-hr band practice this evening. Looking forward to it. Yes, yes, I think so.. Urgh.

★Peaces★

A few weeks back, I got a flyer in my post box for a local matsuri called Bucchigiri Matsuri.

Actually, the flyer appeared on my refrigerator one day, but I assume it came through the post box :0 Either way, I decided to check it out seeing as it was only a 6 or 7 minute walk from the apartment. Hence the 'super local' title. :D





 The festival was held at Horikoshi Shrine, in the Tennoji district of Osaka. It's a really small local spot, just a block north of the Tennoji Station.

From what I read on the official website, they've got a pretty long history, dating back to the 6th century CE. I think it was established by Japan's first empress regent Empress Suiko at the same time as Shitennoji (temple) which is right across the street (but the article was a bit difficult to read, so I could have gotten some bits wrong D:).  You can read it here.

I don't think this festival is to commemorate any particular Japanese holiday. Just a nice summer gathering of people in the area, which is a nice break from all the huge summer festival going on everywhere.

There were a couple local artisans selling shirts and crafts, then this guy ←←. I don't think he's selling those blocks, just playing with them. I wanted to play too, but I felt weird asking :<



They also had some performance arts..! :) This guy did some sumi-e, while his son preformed some songs from a CD he released last year.

There was also a magic/acrobat show, but I missed most of that. D:







Previously mentioned son, singing his songs. :3












And dancing girls! A local Japanese dancing school (I guess) doing traditional Indian dances. The little girl was super cute. :D










The following day, I headed out to Takatsuki City (still in Osaka)to visit the Osaka Prefecture Short-term Animal Shelter (大阪府動物一時保護センター).

From here, you can adopt rabbits, ferrets, cats and dogs. You do have to make an appointment in order to see any of the animals though. And you have to take a bus from Takatuki Station for about 40 minutes into the mountains.
It is located next to an onsen though, so you could make a nice day trip out of it :)

We were in the market for adopting a nice cat to live with us and keep me company as I start looking for more work from home (and also because Shota really wanted a pet, but a rabbit was out of the question).

Unfortunately for Shota, he had a severe allergic reaction to the cats there. I mean super itchy, rashy, red-eyed reaction. We couldn't stay in the room for more than 30 minutes. And so I knew a cat from the shelter might be out of the question, though I don't think they were particularly dirty or anything. They weren't quite as friendly but it's very likely they've been a little traumatized. They were all kittens though, none older than 6 months I think.

So after a long and sad ride back to the station, I tried to make peace with the fact that I wouldn't have a furry little friend to take home :(

But we decided to inquire about cat allergies at one of the pet shops near the station, and what do ya know.




We walked out with this little guy. He's a type of short-haired cat (an Ocicat, a breed from America :3) so Shota has an almost minimal reaction to him.

I still wish I could've adopted one though, because usually if they don't get adopted, they get put down. But it does make me wonder what happens to the cats in pet shops since they always seem to be under 6 months old, and I can't imagine they sell that quickly. But perhaps they do.. I really hope they do. And I really hope the cats from the center don't get put down too. They were uber cute ;3; Kitteh...

So now we sit at home together, entertaining one another when we're not dying from heat, watching episodes of The Big Bang Theory or The Universe.

He so cute :DD

I actually have a few more things and photos I'd like to share, but I'll have to save that for another post. Also, we're almost upon mid-summer (or a little past it), and I still haven't seen a beach. I'm getting antsy :< *random admission*

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!★





And I leave you with this video of Bingley jumping around to some Charlotte playing in the background~

Wow, talk about late. Lol I was late actually going cherry blossom viewing too. Most of the blossoms had fallen from the rain the previous week, but I still think the photos and video turned out well. :)

This outing was around mid-late April (the 15th I think), and started out with rain, but ended in a temperate evening stroll. Pretty good for on the fly planning for the most part lol




Since the weather had been so mild, I was able to go from 2 or 3 pairs of tights to one..! I will relish in this all the way until next winter.

I threw one of my lucky bag sweaters over a tank and was ready. So much love for anything but winter right now.




 I met up with my friends around 6pm, but I got there a little early to take some video and wander. When we finally sat down for some drinks, this cat was lounging right next to the eating area.

Completely at home around people. This cat didn't run or jump when we went to pet him, but he wasn't about to get up and play with the cat toys my friend brought. Lol



Everything else isn't really new. Just photo snapping and video taking, so if you'd like to gander at more sakura photos (like you haven't had enough already lol), then check out the We♥Kansai tumblr.

Or check this video. All the music is from one of my Top 10 movie list :)


After this post, I'm going to work on a video for USJ because.. I really want to make one, for some reason. I plan on going back to do another one toooo... This might turn into a problem lol
Take care everyone!

★Peaces★