Dreams Crushed

So my idol fave Scott MacIntyre, got kicked off last week. WHATEV. This was the one season where I got into the whole idol hoopla, getting a favorite, voting... blah blah blah. Get my hopes up to bring it down, I'm never going to American Idol this much again. I'm going to go back to waiting to find out who the winner is and then deciding whether or not I like them or not. I'm so bitter.

You know those weeks...

Where it's in between pay checks and you've just paid rent and a couple of bills. Those weeks pretty much suck. It's sad to see almost an entire pay check go to rent alone. And then it just so happens that in the middle of the week you have fill up your car with gas too. 

I can't wait for pay day. I can go out and get food again! And by food I mean I can stop making pb & j and turkey (not together, I swear) sandwiches and actually go buy plate lunch. 

ahhhh I don't know why I am complaining, it's not that I'm completely BROKE, I have money, it's just that I feel like I don't have the money to buy all those unnecessary things (my japanese coach for nintendo ds, rock band 2 for nintendo wii, multiple drinks and shots at bars, more clothes) that I just want. It really is a never ending battle for me, the whole spending dilemma.

On a happier note, my wonderful bf bought me Professor Layton and the Curious Village for Nintendo DS. We were searching for it for WEEEEEEEKs. Ever since that DS commercial with Phoebe (yes I call her Phoebe, sorry Lisa Kudrow, you will forever be known as Phoebe Buffay) playing PL and the CV, it's been so hard to find. Those puzzles sure gets you thinking, maybe it'll help my brain cells get back into the thinking/analyzing mode and prepare me for the GRE.

ALSO I'm so amped on American Idol this season. Vote for Scott MacIntyre!! I really hope he makes it into the top 5 at least. 

Sleepless Nights

Lately I have been using my noise cancelation head phones to go to sleep. My neighborhood is SO noisey it's ridiculous. There's crazy ducks, horny cats, my crazy neighbor who decides to do handy work in his garage at 12 a.m. listening to KSSK AM radio, and don't get me started on the people across the stream... the couple that always locks each other out, the teenagers who like hang outside talk story and listen to music LOUDLY, the baby crying ALL night and playing the recorder early in the morning, the neighbor with car that makes lots of noise when it is starting up in the morning. Last night it was a croaking toad outside. THE one night people aren't making noise... it's a freakin toad. 

Don't get me wrong, I love where I live (minus the bitchy and fighting neighbors). I'm 10 min. away from everything I need. And before the only noise that really bothered me was the occasional siren along Kalakaua. But now this noise is getting out of hand!!!!

Back from Japan

Konnichi wa!! I had an amazing time with family in Tokyo over the past week. I twas sad to come back home, a week is definitely NOT enough time to visit Japan. We stayed in the Tokyo area and did not get the chance to venture off to other cities like Kyoto, Osaka, or Hiroshima, but one day, one day. I don't like saying this was a once in a lifetime trip, because that's like implying that you're never going to go back. And I can tell you, this is definitely NOT my last trip to Japan, this is only the beginning.

My dad saved up ALLLLL his miles to take us on this trip, isn't he the greatest. One day I'd like to do the same, after I win the megabucks in Vegas this coming July. :) Actually I am really considering living in Japan, teaching english through either JET or another good program. It's hard to get in but I'm going to try and apply this coming fall. My nihongo is a little bit rusty, but I'm pretty sure I can get by. A lot of people we talked to said that my nihongo was very joozu (skillful). Arigatoo gozaimashita Wong sensei.

I think I gained some weight from eating all the ono food; tempura, omurice, Japanese style hamburger steak, donburi, and don't forget Mister Donut....AHHHHH I was in food heaven. Here's some pics:

Above: Eating at Mister Donut, my Kid's Set.

Above: My family and I atop the Tokyo Tower.

Above: In Asakusa.

Above: YAY Tokyo!

Above: Shaka with Stitch at DisneySea.

Above: With the beloved Hachiko!

♥ ♥ ♥

Went to Maui for Valentine's Day to visit Mike. He got me a rose and took me to the Maui Ocean Center. That place kick's Waikiki Aquarium's ass. We try to keep vday low key under these harsh economic times, so we didn't go out to eat. And why go eat when you have a boyfriend that graduated from culinary school right? Fun times on Maui as always.

Doggy Style

I want a dog. Let me be specific I want a purebred red or sesame red Shiba Inu. According to wikipedia the shiba inu is the smallest of the six original and distincet breeds of dog from Japan. Isn't it fitting, a Japanesey dog for a Japanesey girl. I'm waiting for Jamie's dogs to breed (she has two Shiba Inus). Sometimes when I am having a bad day and I need a little cuteness in my life, I watch videos of Shiba Inus on youtube, sad I know but what's a girl to do when she 1) can't afford a dog right now and 2) can't have a dog in the house.

And so far I've decided to name my dog Hachiko, after the famous Akita from Shibuya in the 1920s. Read about Hachiko it's SOOOOOOO touching (gosh I sound like Kay). And if I get another dog I'm going to name it Wickett W. Warrwick (after the ewok).

Hard Times

I was reading "The Ultimate Guide to Shopping on Oahu" (which is a great book for those who have been living under a rock and don't know where to shop on Oahu), and it is sad how many stores are closing because of these harsh economic times.

Stores that are now closed: 

Koko Cabana at Koko Marina Shopping Center

Luxi

Misfortune

Le Lotus Bleu at Ward

Steve and Barry's

Soliel

The Place

Island Snow

Others not mentioned in the book:

Arden B.

Theory

...who will be next? On a positivie note: less places to spend money at = me hopefully saving money.