Kinda Sorta Back

Eek. I'm such a slacker. I'm still not quite back on track. I haven't cracked open any of the textbooks yet, and my desk is still sheer essense of chaos. Because my coworker Shane insisted so much that we do a little shopping yesterday, my blisters are in a rage today. We did a little shopping where I bought absolutely nothing as usual and he bought a bunch of clothing, and since we didn't celebrate my birthday much due to the fact that he was holding down two jobs, we went to a restaurant of my choice (finally! Shane never lets me choose!).

As you know, there is just one man to whom I pledge my unconditional everlasting love, and that's Tony Romas. May god bless his delicious soul! So I had ribs, and it was about 9PM, so I was ravenous, and I scarfed down those ribs like there'd be no tomorrow. I had a cosmo which was also very sweet, but very weak (tasted like a fruity sprite), but the ribs -- my oh my. Mmmm. Mmmm. Tony sure knows ribs. Mmmmm.

When I got home, I was full, I was semi-sleepy, I didn't want to start on a large project that wouldn't be finished in one sitting (i.e. cleaning desk) so I did only what a sane (or rather insane) person would do. Watched the two final episodes of Sex in the City while inhaling a tub of ice cream (chocolate chip). And sniffled. Those two episodes are just so moving. I will continue to mourn for that show. The first of its kind, you know. But I'm digressing.

So you realize that I am completely ignoring the task at hand, which is to do something about my recent trip. So far, all I've done is to upload the photos onto my computer and look through them. I only have a couple of myself (you know, camera shy), and a plethora of just things. I even have a shot of the Pentagon, taken from the plane (aerial view!). I have multiple photos of a few Monet's -- I love Monet. I couldn't believe that I was standing in front of an actual Monet. I even touched one. I know. BAD. But I just had to physically feel that it existed before my eyes, and that it wasn't some hologram of sorts. And it's not like I slobbered over the painting. I respectfully pressed my finger, ever so lightly, at the bottom corner of the painting. And I just touched one -- which is my favorite Monet painting, and one of the more famous ones.

I think once I get my desk cleaned and cleared and squared away, I'll be ready. I'll spend Sunday getting caught up and cleaning the monstrous desk (unlike most people, I don't have an actual desk -- it's more like a large dinner table for a family of 8 which is enormous -- nearly the length of one wall of my room). I'll try to read most of the Taming of the Shrew (Shakespearean assignment) and start on some studying, then I can organize my thoughts on the trip and so forth.

It has been a special trip for me, probably a bit different from the other millions of tourists. It was visiting the headquarter of America as a foreigner who's in the inside but outside the loop -- someone who longs to be an American. It made my patriotism stronger, and renewed my vows to be a good American. A good citizen. To love and honor and respect my home. This is home. It's good to be back.

Oy. Oooooy.

I haven't been able to write anything since I came back, because I am just having the darnest time trying to adjust! It's one thing to return to work after vacation, but plunging, literally (I mean, come on -- I was in class less than 4 hours after I got off the plane!), into school, into massive piles of work, and into a room that looks like Hurricane Frances dropped by, is difficult, to say the least.

I haven't been even writing e-mails yet -- sorry if you wrote me and I haven't replied. I am reading them, but not quite getting around to responding. It's crazy. At some point, I have put too much stress on my ankles/feet, and my left leg especially, is just miserable. My ankles are swollen -- it seems that my leg just transitions into my feet without my ankles. And my feet are just aching and nothing can relieve it. My big toe is in so much pain that I have to wince to move it. And the blisters are healing, but slowly, and they are really a pain in the ass to walk on.

So last night, I slapped on an icy-hot patch, and decided that it is imperative that I clean up the mess I had left last week before the trip. I even vacuumed! After being at such a clean place (my cousin's place) for a week, I am just appalled at my pig-sty, albeit my pig-sty. I got around to cleaning most of my room, but the bathroom is still gross, and my desk is so cluttered, I can't find my mouse. It's buried under college applications, transcripts, Washington DC paraphernelia (sp?), new textbooks (which cost a bundle), phone bills, credit card bills, half-read LA Times, various articles of clothing, crumbled up fashion magazines, and so on and so forth. You can't even look at the piles of mess without muttering "yikes" or "wow" or "holy shit."

But I am making progress -- perhaps all I really need is a Sunday to sleep it off a bit. I am currently at school, between classes. After my morning classes, I will do some shopping (need windex, beverages, paper, etc.) run some errands, and hopefully tackle cleaning my desk and my bathroom. Hey, has The Apprentice started? I am just so disappointed that I have class on Thursday nights and will have to miss it. I will also be suffering from TV withdrawl in the next three to four weeks -- which follows a week of cable withdrawl. My cousin had cable with oodles of channels, which I miss dearly.

Last night, I did manage to watch the remaining half of The Green Mile with a glass of Pinot Grigio, and relax. So I should be business as usual hopefully soon. I'm guessing that I'll need a good week to get adjusted. I mean, my body's still on EST! I'm up by 5AM and snoring before 11PM. Geez. Gotta get me-self to class now. Buh-bye.

I'm Baaaaaaack~

Yes. It is true what you've heard. I am back, in the flesh, home sweet home in SoCal. I'm physically here, but mentally speaking, I haven't quite arrived, so give me a few hours to compose myself, go to my night class (Shakespearean English!), return home, unpack, and let reality settle. My hiatus will not continue much longer, I promise.