(Pause).

I made plans a few months ago to visit my friend Megan in Oakland. Little did I know then that 1) Reno would be seriously sucking this month and I would really, really need the trip, and 2) this would be the last trip to visit before I move East. It was awesome. I only spent one night, but that was all that was needed. Got a haircut from Megan and ate the MOST AWESOME vegan sushi/japanese food at this restaurant in Berkeley called Cha-Ya. We had to wait like an hour to get in the place, but if you are ever in Berkeley, it is worth the wait. I had one of their dinner specials with miso soup, cucumber salad, rice, veggie tempura (which was awesome) and this vegetable sukiyaki thing that was incredible. I kept watching them bring out sushi rolls for everyone in the restaurant (which can only fit about 20 people) and everything looked amazing and fresh. I can't wait to go back.

Getting my feet wet

I packed the first boxes today. The kitties thought that I had brought them home some new toys to play with--how sad they'll be when they find out that they will be stuck in a car for a week while we drive across country. When I was trying to decide whether I should move or not, I had so much anxiety that I didn't know what to do. Do I stay? Do I go? I should stay. I should go. No, maybe now is not the right time and I should stay. But no, thats just a cop out. I should go. And so on... There were too many factors to weigh in. In the end, I stopped stressing and started listening to the clues I was being given. And, the Universe told me that it was definitely time to go. So I am, and I don't feel bad about it in the slightest. Its funny how it only takes an actual commitment for the rest to fall into place. There are a lot of things that I am going to miss about Reno, and a lot of people. But I know that this is not an ending. My wise friend Carolyn (who is currently traipsing about in South America) once told me, "Always remember--the train is the same, on the same tracks. You are just changing stations." And she is right. I'll see you at the next stop. -e

My Civic Duty.

I voted today. This will probably be the last time for a while that the Great State of Nevada will have the pleasure of counting my vote. That is, if they count it...

I was listening to this a while ago and found it incredibly interesting. Its not anything that is really new, but is something to consider.

Happy voting, and may your favorite candidate win (unless it is a different candidate than the one I voted for. Then you can go to hell.). :)

You shall have no pictures.

Or, at least until I can either 1) get my camera fixed, or 2) find another camera. I was really excited to post some pictures on my snazzy new blog thing, so I went home and charged up the 'ol digital camera. Except that when I went to turn it on, it failed. Damn.

Happy November 1st...

I spent 45 minutes writing my first post on this blog. It was a cursory account of what this past year has been like for me. And, like an idiot, I didn't save it before I tried to post. Something went wrong. Very wrong. Lets just say it was a lesson in ephemerality.

In short:

2006 = very good/very bad

Aikido = the new love of my life.

Goodbye Reno.

Look out Boston, here I come.