Charmed existence.

been a while. usually is between posts.
been home from japan nearly two months.
while i was in japan, i knew i wanted to live in riverside when i got home. had even been shopping around on craigslist. prices seemed a little high, but i love the neighborhood and the people here. a few weeks later a friend of mine sends me a message that says, "i dont know when you are coming home, but we need a roommate at the end of august."
as it just so happens, i was coming home at the end of august.
i love my roommates. i love this place. and we even have a great cat named Victor.
just last week we all ended up sitting on the kitchen floor playing with the cat.

had spent some time pining for a girl who was possibly more aloof than anyone i'd ever met. got to be friends. got to be friends with her friends. then a Target B shows up on radar. i get confused. after only minimal effort, she's responsive and fun seems to be interested. at this point we are a few dates in, let's see where this goes. did i mention that she's really pretty too?

a UNF alum sent an email to the physics department asking for a recent graduate to come work for her for a space of about 6 months. without hesitation he gives her my name. she and i exchange a few emails and i start working for her about 2 weeks ago. i tear down lithium ion cells, looking for the root cause of failure.

Went to see TMBG friday. great show. celebrated a friend's birthday afterward. woke up with a serious pain in my throat. feels like something is out of place. ive given it two days now. some progression, but im going to the doctor after work tomorrow. it's odd and concerning.

too much for facebook...

it seems today, that the internet is full of awesome and wonder.

we'll start here on the topic of the pain of loss and saying goodbye.

even with the new opportunities ahead, it is still difficult to say goodbye to those places, things and people that have been good to us.

up next is an impressive act of nerdery.
http://www.toplessrobot.com/2013/08/nintendo_64_transformer_made_of_lego.php
just... wow...
the artist http://baronvonbrunk.com/ is pretty amazing and has been commissioned by Nintendo for a few projects.

Then, this caught my attention. not much to say.

and finally. because i love these guys and they helped me waste over an hour this morning.

it's a magical world

to possibilities,
thank you for reminding me to be magical. some things can be so mundane. we truly must shift our perpective. there is wonder all around us. i break hearts. i break molds. i divide by zero.
i belong to an adventuring guild that is frequently called on to clear out local ruins. i cast spells of light set on contingency triggers. i wrestle hydras of copper and steel.
i am a member of a group of powerful clerics. science and magic and religion really can coexist.
i have studied the inner workings of the universe that i might be able to better understand how to break them.
i dream of worlds unknown.
i work to become strong that i might endure to see the future of brighter, more magnificent and more beautiful truths.

invincidwarf

3 birthdays, a going away party and a day at the beach.
Andrey, Ieva and Riccardo, cheers!. Hitomi, farewell.
Beaches in japan are kinda worthless. Maybe i just hadnt realized how spoiled ive been having grown up in florida. i am not even an especially big fan of the whole beach experience, but i will certainly be taking a trip to the beach when i get home just to show appreciation.
the following day, after perhaps 12 hours of sleep (it was late when i got in, never bothered to check the time) i woke up a little bit groggy but was generally feeling okay. i supposed i didnt realize how dehydrated i was after a long day and playing in the sun. i got some 'breakfast' which included some sushi... some of which must have been off because a bit later it came back. a few hours later i tried a banana and nearly as soon as it hit my stomach, it came back. sushi coming back is a terrible experience. and it came with a vengeance. cthuluhu is not my friend. anyway. i suffered thru the day trying to get a little liquid in me. it was difficult to get the correct flow, but i managed and i even got a little bread in me and tried to pass out. Special thanks to Dylan Moran for keeping me entertained.
any time i closed my eyes, i started seeing things in the empty blackness. people. in varying degrees of clarity. never anyone i recognized.
finally got to sleep. doing much better now.

graphene mobius strips...

i had a goal of posting a pic to fb every day while i was here. that fell by the wayside pretty quick. my scenery just doesnt change very much. rolled my ankle again on friday, so took the rest of the weekend easy. i feel like we have so much to do and there is only a month left. ive applied for a couple of jobs. hoping to hear something next week. made arrangements for living space upon my return. quite excited about being back in riverside. it means ill need to get some real lights for my bike. when it comes down to it i really can live a spartan lifestyle. i think as much will be thrown away as moved with me to the new place. definitely time to clean out.
no, the post has nothing to do with the title, but that's what our current goal is.

once more, in the land of the rising sun

so, its been a few months since i posted last... im great at this.
im back in japan. same research. graduated at the end of april.
a lot more gaikokujin around this year. easier to be social. feels a bit slower on the research end, but we are making progress.
fortunately, part of what i have to get done, and what helps fill the down time is finding a job. lots of options, just not a lot in jacksonville. mildly disappointing doesnt quite cover it.
somehow, i made a pile of new friends while reconnecting with some old ones just before i left. almost seems a tragedy, but... i will return.