back in NJ, raving about my laptop

Picture aken at Venice Beach. I only half meant it --------->

So I am back in New Jersey, the astonishing reality being that I am actually glad to be back in New Jersey, after what was a minor hiccup in my return (flight cancellation thanks to the sweet winter stormage going on). My little psuedo vacation time/purgatory in LA had serious ups and downs, to be sure, and I'll get around to talking about that for my 2 loyal subscribers, ahahah.

I mean, mostly I'm glad to be back for two highly important reasons, the first being sleeping in actual bed, not a couch, sweet Jesus, and the second, because I am reunited with my dear sweet baby Toshi, i.e. my dearly missed, not-cleverly nicknamed Toshiba laptop. Like really, my baby. When I pulled it out of the box for the first time, there was a tender embrace, and a quiet understanding between us that we'd be traveling the world together.

Ordinarily I'm not gung-ho about new technological things. Because if something is perfectly functioning I just don't see a need to replace it, plus I am extremely picky about what I want. If I'm getting something new, it has to be perfect. I mean, I was the proud owner of an iPod mini years past the point of it being socially acceptable to still have a mini. And let's not get started on the cell phone I've had for the past two and a half years; it only rarely makes any noise and it is very apparent that a piece of it broke off and was lost forever (despite my genius method of taping it back on). So when I finally am psychologically prepared to buy new technological stuff I get really intense and focused about it, going to cnet.com for reviews first and foremost, and then finding peripheral sources.

I was pretty jazzed about finding Toshi. Its battery lasts something like 6 hours, plus it makes my previous laptop, which was already 14'', look like a behemoth. Toshi's screen is just a skosh smaller (13.3), but it's so much more slender and lightweight, at less than 3 pounds. Which is awesome, because I can just move it here and there, one-handed if I desire, effortlessly. So not only is Toshi kind of adorable, it's all sleek and black, which makes you take it seriously... refined but dangerous, like James Bond drinking a martini.

I sound insane right now but I like it. Anyway, I got Toshi a couple months ago, the interesting bit is that after a couple weeks there was a a hilarious but stupid incident involving salad dressing, and I had to send Toshi away to be fixed... aheh... But that's why I pay extra for insurance from Best Buy! To help prevent further damage to my child, I bought this Built laptop sleeve for $20 off of amazon. If there's one thing I love, it's bold, punchy bursts of color, like so.

This post has actually nothing to do with LA, does it.

la vie, japan v. jersey

My place of residency in 日本 is secured, whadduppp. Oh, what a relief. And I'm just over the moon about the fact that in my search I was able to find the aforementioned 'Expo House.' Some young Japanese dude name Yusuke (nickname "boss"? Do I pronounce that a la the Japanese--bosu?) runs a number of apartments for youngins' in Kyoto, catering to a sizable number of international students. The result is this adorb little family that takes side trips and throws super Japanese tradition-y parties. I did my little creeping on their photo albums and there's this one picture of errybody having a raucous time doing karaoke--specifically, Gaga karaoke. I was all Yes. I will fit in. In fact, you shouldn't even let me near karaoke because I will sing. For hours. Shamelessly. I do that obligatory "What? Me, sing? Nonono" (pushes mic away) bit the first time and then I seize the microphone and bite off anyone's head if they come to close to the glittering strobe-light-pulsating diva bubble that encases me.

I didn't learn to perform. No. I was simply born half-Filipina.

**There are roughly 3874837 shows dedicated to letting dirt-poor, often toothless Filipinos belt/screech/strain out 'Party in the USA' and other such lasting musical works, in order to maybe win some pesos and bring home some tinapay to their starving family. Meanwhile the hosts of these programs are far too tall, leggy, and suspiciously pale (in the fashion of Spanish telenovela actors) to be Filipino, which makes for an extra-jarring viewing experience, but that's another rant.

Oh no, what was my point? ......... KARAOKE. God, I love it. I'm going to get to that sweet, sweet archipelago they call Japan and go the full Whitney Houston all in it. Bobbayyy. Bobbayyy.

Second point was, place to live! Yes! This means this Japan trip is actually happening, I will be in Japan, I will consume mad amounts of rice and love it, and I'll see temples and shrines every day (probably). I remember the nervous Schmetterlinge in my stomach, felt not too long ago when I was getting ready for Germany. And here they are again. Hallo! Shit. Konnichiwa. Meanwhile I am working on a love letter to Jersey. So far it goes

"Jersey-- "


Someday, Jersey, I will stop being so bitter about the fact that you, of all states, of all countries, were the one to nurture me during my formative years. I will stop being bitter about not having a posh accent. I will forget that Jersey Shore exists, ditto the shame. I will embrace you. But I will have learned to appreciate you in this someday distant future because I will have moved as far, far away as possible. I say this out of love, Jersey, but if I'm still here in ten years it means I have failed miserably as a human being.