01-10

I decided that the previous entries were, at the inconvenience of using an internet cafe, too lengthy to summarize for re-entry here.

Things here are going well, I had a good Christmas and a good New Year`s as well. I went to the Yebise Garden Palace with Greg and company for New Year`s, which is a brewery, and good times were had by all. Christmas was nice, and I must admit I`ve been sleeping better at night now that i have my fantastic lime green (?) minky pillowcase. Work is going well, I have been moving around a bit to different branches for cover shifts, and enjoying meeting some new teachers.

It`s cold here. Dry, but cold. I spent most of the days of my 10 off for the holidays inside watching movies and the like, I was sick a little while back so it kind of interfered with my going out and having a good time, which is good because having ten days off is expensive, and I`ve found myself impatiently waiting for payday. Greg helped me out a little bit, remembering his times after first arriving and how tight money can be, but, I`ve found a solution which will help a great deal, aside from not living like a rockstar like I have a tendency to.

I`m moving. I`m writing this after having checked out the apartment of my friends Ty and Dave, whose roommate is moving out at the end of the month. Their apartment is off the Nagareyama Line at a stop called Hiregasaki. It`s another small train line, which may very well add transit time to going to work and all, but the walk is shorter, and the neighborhood is actually much nicer. Nicer in the sense that the street they live on is a row of houses, rather than apartment buildings and Karaoke parlors. I kind of like the idea of being a bit removed, especially because it makes it less tempting to go out and be crazy, i.e. throw money around. Rent there is right around 30,000yen a month, which, compared to my current 59,000 is fantastic, especially considering that`s after utilities cable TV and broadband internet. Yes, that`s right, broadband internet, which means that I won`t be such a stranger come February.

What that also means is that money will be tight for the next two months or so until the startup costs for this move fade away, and the savings start to show themselves. I figure by March or April I should be in the clear, and living like a pauper towards the end of the pay period is nothing exactly new to me either. All in all though, I`m excited about this move, especially because, no offense really to my current roommates, it wil feel like I am really here for myself, given that I am living in a place of my own chosing, with amenities which suit my every day needs.

Oh, and I will have the tatami room, which means not only is it big, but it also has ample closet space, something which my current room is lacking in all departments.

Life is ok, I`m happy and humble, and best of all, the new apartment has a kittie. Named Hershel. As in Hershel Walker. Dave and Ty are big sports fans. Orange cat with white paws and tummy. About a year old. Little hellion. I love it.

I will provide my new address shortly once I have it, and post pics when I move in.