wind storm

There's supposed to be a wind storm tonight due to high-speed winds coming off the ocean. The wind has been blowing hard for a couple of days now. Oscar doesn't really understand the concept of wind - he can see things moving and hear the blowing sound and feel the air swirling around him but he still hasn't put it all together, so he's concerned and barking a lot more than he has been. It reminds me of the typhoon in Nagoya but without the rain. My host mom and I went somewhere a few days after I'd gotten there, and it was extremely windy, and she said to watch out for things falling from the sky. We tried not to go anywhere during the typhoon if we could help it. Last year the wind storms that blew through Washington took out a lot of visitor center stuff and ruined trails on Mt. Rainier, and a lot of the city's power was out, some people's for up to a week. They're taking precautions this time to reduce damage. Thankfully my brother's house doesn't have any huge trees in the yard. I've been told to charge my phone now just in case.

I had a dream last night that I think I've dreamed before. It was strangely familiar. Since I have pretty much nothing else to do, I'm going to see if I can't write a story or draw a picture or do something creative. I miss doing those kinds of things.

well, I was right about the dog

Oscar, that is. Sure, he can be a little annoying sometimes (particularly when he just barks and whines at cats and people and things he sees or thinks he sees from the front door) and he does leave around a lot more hair than I thought (I should talk...), but for the most part he's just fine to have around, and provides entertainment. Plus, I feel good helping take care of him. :)

I haven't heard too much about my parents' new puppy yet, but my dad took some pictures of him yesterday and he is still the cutest little thing I've ever seen. Too bad they can't agree on a name for him, though. I got to hear some funny puppy stories about Oscar, like the time they took him over to one of Zach's friend's houses when he was about 16 weeks old (about a month older than the one in the picture), and Oscar was persistently trying all night to get their friend's Bernese mountain dog (who was about 10 times the size of him) to play, and she just wasn't having it. Then finally, she bounded, all 80 pounds of her, over to where Oscar stood and let out this thundering playful bark, and Oscar shrank down into their carpet...and peed himself. Kind of a weird story, but still very funny.

I woke up to my phone ringing this morning (and earlier to my brother coming in and out and rummaging in the ONE closet in the house for his nice clothes, and to a dream that ended with my failed attempt to commit suicide and realizing I didn't really want to die anyway, and another strange dream I can't quite remember). I got to talk to a nice man who called me Heidi-san and is attempting to get me a job. I never actually spoke with a recruiter before, but I like to think it'll get me somewhere. I spent the next few hours throwing together a cover letter. My original plan today was to go to Uwajimaya Village and Kinokuniya and look for the JLPT grammar prep book, but it's already getting to be late afternoon and I just kind of wanted to bum around there for a while, but not spend too much money. I guess with my security deposit money coming soon (I got the joint check in the mail from Di-chan yesterday) I can afford a little something, like あんぱん or nice ingredients for a good Japanese meal...but I still think I should save my pennies until after I have some income. Maybe I'll take some pictures of the house and around the neighborhood or go for a walk instead (but I'll probably save that because Jenny is coming home early, and Oscar hasn't gotten to go outside today). There's still that tree that fell down and blocked the road. And the invisible roundabouts that people just barrel straight through anyway. XD not to mention the fall colors are beautiful in this neighborhood.

It's settled. Picture time.

ハッピーバースデー to マイボーイフレンド. ユーアーマイラブだよ。
I wish I could be there, but what I sent will have to do. And I already gave you my present :)

i made it

I'm at my brother's house and just unpacked my things this morning. As may be expected from Seattle, it is raining, or at least it was. It looks nice enough to go explore the neighborhood now. I forgot a toothbrush, so my mission for the day is to go and buy one.

I woke up to Oscar licking my face at 6:30 AM today (which isn't as bad as it sounds since my alarm at my parents' house rang at 8:30 most mornings and at any given time it's two hours earlier here than there). As much as I thought living with a dog was going to be a little annoying, Oscar is extremely well trained, doesn't leave TOO much dog hair on things, and I think as long as I understand how to help take care of him, we'll get along great. Zach and Jenny are at work now and I decided to give this computer a try. (it's on the floor in a closet for the time being. they're getting a new computer soon.) So far things are going fine, and they're nice and encouraging. I just hope that feeling kind of continues as I'm here longer. What I want to do the most is be able to help them get all these home improvement/maintenance projects done, and they said it would help the most if I helped keep them on top of daily cleaning and such so that they have time to think about the bigger stuff. Maybe I could even gather some information for them later today :) I don't know if it'll help at all, but I can try. I really don't have that much else to do besides look for a job, and let's face it, nobody could look ALL DAY nonstop for a job. I feel motivated, though, seeing higher prices for just about everything. I'm going to run out of money sooner than I think, I just know it. o_o;;

My last source of income, the security deposit check my bumbling idiot landlord sent to the freakin apartment I just moved out of, is finally on its way, but with one more catch: it was made out in both mine and my old roommate's names, so we BOTH have to sign it, which wouldn't be a problem, except now we're living across the country from each other. Thankfully, though, I get almost all of it back so I'll have a few hundred more dollars. yay.

I was thinking, despite the unglamorous sound of it, I think I'd like to work at a grocery store. I'd be near food but not necessarily have to do too much with it, and I can definitely run a cash register. There are a lot of restaurants in this area, so maybe I could work at those places too. My biggest concern with a job is that I'm able to get there easily. I would just love it if I got a job where I could walk to work...and not have to work too late at night so that I wouldn't be walking home in the dark by myself.

time to go on Operation Toothbrush. until next time.