yes, an actual post.

remember when i used to actually blog?


yeah, me neither.



but i love looking back at my archives from years past sometimes, so just for record:


work.
i've been interviewing candidate after candidate in attempts to build a team from zero for a new location. after 3 weeks of phone call screenings, resume scannings, interviews and numerous emails, i think we're settling into the homestretch. fingers crossed. while i'm not making the hiring decision by myself, it's weird to think i'm the person picking people to come in for interviews. how did i get here? it's only been 3 and a half years. welcome to company's with less than 20 staff and a farily high turn over. 3 years in and you're OLD.

despite doing all that, my work schedule actually just got manageable in that i'm not working unpaid overtime anymore. er, what i mean is, i used to stay late to get everything done, but was only getting paid some percentage of those hours. now i come in about 2 hours later (no more rush hour sardine express and it makes me so much less angry!) and still work until 8 or so, but just having 2 less hours makes all the difference in the world. i don't leave work a zombie anymore, as i used to. in general, i would rather go in early and leave early, but the nature of my job responsibilities right now doesn't lend itself to that kind of a schedule. so for now, i come in late(r) and stay late(r). now that we've got our team forming up pretty well, it's onto training everyone. shoot me now.


the boy.
things with #5 are still great. without going on far too long or talking about gag-inducing-sweetness, things are really great. he makes me laugh, inspires me to be a better person, is my biggest cheerleader and defender, still sings to me and dances with me in my living room, and i see him making choices that are very much based on a future that includes me. switch "marriage" to "relationship" and anne lamott's quote is exactly how we feel; "a good [relationship] is where both people feel like they're getting the better end of the deal." may we always be so lucky. timing is not on our side, not to mention military rules, and for as much as i love my job, saying bye on sunday mornings makes work a bit of a struggle.


other things.
a group of 4 of us walked in the yamathon last weekend. 29 stations of the yamanote, on foot, photo proof at every station. took us 12 hours and 38 minutes, with lots of breaks and even more beer. it was rainy and cold by the end, and we were miserable, but in hindsight, it was so much fun. we got some great photos and are probably crazy enough to do it next time too. over a week later and my knee still hates me. same 4 of us, plus more i'm sure, are looking into running in this. yes, we are gluttons for punishment. but bound to be a blast.

#5's best girl friend hosted a bbq at her place on saturday. beer, burgers on the grill, beer pong (how long has THAT been?!), more beer, delicious guacamole, fun people, drinking on the train (and being "that" obnoxious group of gaijin), going out for yakitori with a handful of those fun people, and passing out on the train home. yeah, keeping it classy. #5 and his friends party hard. period.

i've got an actual, full week off for golden week vacation. today until next sunday. not much in the way of plans. #5 took the week off so we could spend time together. i may or may not have enlisted him in helping me clean out my apartment. he loves organizing and cleaning and was actually really excited when i asked. funny guy, but may actually mean my closest gets purged of the millions of stuff i don't wear. otherwise, relaxing and trying not to think about work (unsuccessfully, so far). bring on vacation...!