So I went to the gym for eight consecutive days and on the ninth day, I rested. Here I sit at work now, bouncing along on my big orange ball. I think my butt still needs to get used to this, but it’s better than the chair. On the ball, sitting becomes an active behavior rather than passive, and I can bounce around to use my back muscles. Whee!

I made breakfast this morning at home. Strawberry banana smoothie and some Niman Ranch bacon. I really need protein powder though. Dinner last night was a hummus plate with whole wheat pitas and a salad of radishes, cucumbers, tomato, and avocado. Mmm good food. Tonight I’m going to stir fry some chicken and veggies.

I’m trying to avoid the latest news, but it filters in through reading online discussions… It’s just too depressing. How can people support this president, this administration? Are they truly dead inside? Are they so filled with hatred and so ignorant that this really seems just to them? What a brutal and awful thing our so-called leaders have unleashed on the entire world. Then again, totally unsurprising to me that the American military would stoop to torture. Not a bit surprised. I’m sure it has been happening all over the world for decades — why wouldn’t it, when we torture our own prisoners?

Yuck. Another reason to emigrate. A thousand reasons to vote out Bush. I don’t think this nation has ever, EVER seen a more evil, greedy, selfish, and destructive administration.

So while I try not to think about that, and live here, in the moment… I am excited for summer. I keep thinking about moving and I wish it was now already. Life will be nicer when I live with Brian. Food will taste better. Colors will look prettier. Teeth with be whiter.

When we move we are making a couple big purchases — a sofa and a tv cabinet. We have already found both. The TV cabinet is at Valencia Interiors, where they sell quality furniture for literally half what you would pay at a place like Pottery Barn. Which is insane.

There’s a store down the block from Valencia Interiors that sells nothing but “antique” furniture of the 60s and 70s. In other words, crappy ugly junk that you could barely sell at a yard sale in the 80s. Horrible uncomfortable sofas. Ugly tables. Lots of pea green. And SO hellaciously overpriced. We saw used plastic trays that you might find at a mall foodcourt: $22 each. Used! Whatev.

Two more Japanese classes until the final. I am the type of student whose singular goal is to get an A, so of course I am nervous about the exam. Japanese is difficult and easy all at once. It’s not illogical like English, but it is in a completely unique language family with its own three alphabets. I’m amazed I have made it this far.