yay!

takeshi and i had our first meeting tonight! i received a meishi (!) and the realization that my nihongo is horrrible. will keep you all posted.

i am sick as a dog. at least was, i think i'm turning the corner today... we shall see - i thought the same yesterday. i believe its the flu: chills, fever, GI symptoms you wouldn't believe if i told you - and would scold me if i did. it all seems to add up to the flu. i've already missed 3 days of class which is unfortunate.

but there is some good that has come of this week. i've found a japanese speaking partner! i was lead to an announcement from my sensei and was the first to respond (probably the only who would have anyway, to be honest). we meet up tomorrow and will see how things go from there. his name is takeshi and he's 35, and his conversational english is much better than my japanese, so we'll see how it turns out.

more movies!

trainspotting

syriana

casino

Less Than Zero
(for those that may remember, i read the book in the fall, and i highly discourage
the watching of this movie -- it's terrible and completely rewritten)

spring break = movie watching!

here's a list of what we've watched again and some for the first time:

cape fear

memoirs of a geisha

brokeback mountain

swing kids

taxi driver

gangs of new york

yojimbo

annie hall
juno

blood diamond
rescue dawn

finsihed! [finally]

definitely worth the time it took to read.

ejercicio tiempo!

in light of spring fast approaching, i'm gaining the motivation i was lacking during the winter months.

i've decided to be more focused on a healthier-self. i'm trying to put together an exercise routine consisting of yoga, pilates, and the elliptical-trainer we have. (i also would like to lift weights like i vowed to do in the fall... but first, baby steps.) hassell and i made tentative plans to run together this spring, so that is basically what i'm conditioning myself for on the elliptical. i miss running so much and i'm glad to have a partner finally!