The move is on...

Well, today the movers came and picked up all our stuff to bring to the warehouse. After measured and fitted, it will be put on its sea route back home. So, it's full on now!

I realized that I only have 3 more weeks at one school and 2 more weeks at the other school, before I'm done...hopefully for good!! Yes, I really want/need that break from teaching.

Now, we are focusing on the last things to dispose of from the house...most in the garbage and the rest in recycle shops.

I haven't had a workout since x-mas when I got sick...my body has been aching to get a good one in, but with being sick, then busy packing and finally once packed, no room to move, I've neglected my body.

I was so excited to see the floor of my house again today I swore I'd be working out tonight, but alas, am so exhausted from the day that I will have to start tomorrow. I see Terry's pictures and she's always so active, it make me miss my exercise even more.

But no complaints this week as things are coming together. As the days get closer, it gets more exciting and more tense as we don't know what the future holds. Praying to God I am...every day.

And now that that part of the moving process is done with, I spent the rest of the day planning out some of our future goals and projects to work towards, which will all have to start once we're back home.

I made a business proposal to the owner of the mag I've written for, unfortunately the woman does not and seems to have no intention of paying the people that work for her. I assumed that it went only for contributing writers, but it looks like it's for everyone...Hmmm...got me thinking. I'll keep my public comments to myself on this one, though.

Checked out some nature photographers in the area, hoping that once we're back we may find someone who would be willing to work with my husband to help him hone his craft as well, which will help us aim toward our goal of publishing together.

Also, once we are back from visiting my husband's family, I will be dedicating all my free time to getting my ESL business in order. I would like to see it up and running within the first 3 months of being back in Canada, so it will be alot of work.

In terms of writing, I had to pack up all my writing stuff, so with the rejection of the literary agent, my Canadian writer's market out of reach, I will have to wait until I'm back home and unpacked before sending out another query.

I am still waiting on the other two queries I sent out, for my short story compilation and my children's book.

I also began to draft another children's story. I've got about 8 characters and the first story written, in first draft. Once back home, will look it over again, and probably send that one out to an agent or another publishing house.

I have exactly 3 weeks to meet the quota for an online mag I write for, or I will have to cancel the contract...with everything that has taken my time, I haven't been able to give proper attention to that.

All in all, we are happy that things are moving along...time is passing pretty quickly and we are excited about that. We are both excited, happy, anxious and a little tense, but convinced that this will be a good move and is the right decision.

But, as my sweet husband says, whatever happens, as long as we stick together and deal with things as a couple, discussing things thoroughly and honestly, we'll handle whatever comes our way.

Can you say C R A Z Y???

Okay, so I haven't been on here or anyone else's blog in a while.

Things have been quite busy as we are getting ready for the move. I realize it's not until February, but we must prepare to send our things over early, which is what we've been doing.

I've been on holidays from work since the 23rd of December. From the 24th of December I was feeling sick and by the 26th I was downright out of commission. Battling tonsilitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and every other 'itis' one could imagine. I actually began to feel better this past Sunday. So more than an entire week of my holidays I spent in the house and in bed.

Now we are short on time, as you could imagine. We have done loads of re-distributing, organizing and packing. The boxes are almost done and ready to be sent. I am hoping to be able to call the moving company this week to come and get our stuff next week.

At times, I wonder if it's even worth paying the money to send over all this stuff, but my husband brought up a really good point.

We are not rich and with him having been unemployed an entire year, we haven't been able to save what we could have saved. I am still not debt-free and apparently, according to Canadian financial advisors, 2010 is NOT the year to be in debt and are suggesting one do whatever they can within their means to reduce and get rid of debts this year.

I was looking over apartment prices and HOLY COW!! The cost of living in Ontario has increased DRASTICALLY since the last time I lived there.

So, with all this financial strain yet to come, my hubby said that it doesn't make sense to give away or sell everything we have here, for $50, if we are LUCKY to get that, when we've spent thousands of dollars on this stuff. Only to go to Canada and have to pay thousands to get it all again over there, on top of a new apartment, a new car and everything else we will need to live.
Since we've already spent the money and have the stuff, we might as well just keep it. This way, our 'start-up' expenses will be cheaper.

I suppose he's right. But I still wish things were easier.

You'd think after being away for so long I'd have more to show for it, financially. But I was never good at saving. I made stupid decisions on how to get my education and have been paying my college fees multiplied by 10 now, and I'm still not free. It's not smart to pay for college on a credit card, but it was the only option left for me with the circumstances I was in.

Living abroad, my country refused to help me with student loans. Living abroad, my bank refused to help with a loan. So if I wanted a degree, I'd have to pay for it with plastic. Which I did. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I've paid my university fees off years ago but have been paying interest fees ever since. It just doesn't stop.

*sigh*

On another note, while I was under the weather, I finally had the time to finish my cross-stitch embroidered pillow. It only took 6 months! LOL

But here is the final product. It is a little off as it should have been square and not rectangle, but that was my misjudgement. Nevertheless, I am very proud of myself. And that little pillow is coming back home with me.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just wish I had more time to dedicate to learn more crafts and to learn how to do them better. It's such a peaceful and satisfying way to pass time.

I've been writing articles but haven't heard anything yet on my submissions for my books. Still crossing my fingers. I SO want to write for a living.

That would be a true blessing. To be able to go back home and begin a writing career. I could finally stop teaching.


Well, it's 1:30 in the morning here and I'm not tired in the least, but I will sign off.

Have missed my TWF friends and everyone else. Hanging on with happy thoughts, okay a bit mixed, but trying to focus on the 'adventure' of it all!

Profiled in the magazine

Well, here is a scanned copy of the profile they did on me, as the magazine rep for my prefecture.

It's strange to see myself in the mag ;)

Now I must work on being profiled AS A WRITER!! ;) lol

Lindsay Ann Hawker's killer caught

Well, it looks like Tatsuya Ichihashi either turned himself in, or had no choice to.

He is being held in Osaka, Japan.

Here is the link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/8352230.stm

It appears he had a bit of reconstructive surgery to his face and it seems that info has leaked that his mom is apparently a dentist!

I am just so relieved that he is now in police custody. Ever since I wrote the memoriam article about Lindsay, I have kept thinking of her and her killer...

I imagine the Hawker family is very relieved, but I am sure now they will have to face more ugly details to finally get closure.

But perhaps now, whatever ghosts haunt them can finally be put to rest and they can move on.

New energy

My poor husband :)

I've been on such a high since we received the news! lol

I took out all my Canada pictures and showed him the places I want to take him to. It gave me such a feeling of pride and homesickness.

It's funny. Up until the moment we received the initial rejection for my husband to come into the country, I was never homesick. And to be honest, I wasn't sure when I'd return.

But the moment I knew I couldn't, the urge was just so strong. On top of the fact that we lost a favourite uncle and almost lost my father, the desire to return consumed me.

Now that we can, I just can't wait! Spring feels like a lifetime away!

I know it will pass fast, but I'm just so happy and relieved and all warm and fuzzy inside, I am like a little child. lol


At the risk of sounding like a geeky Laura Ingalls, I must say: Home is the best word I know!

Happy thoughts, everyone!! :) Because mine are ecstatic!

Another published article of mine

Well, I just got another article published. It went up today.

This one is for Avenues Magazine, here in Japan.

Here is the link:

http://www.centraljapan.jp/history_details.php?id=93


Things are coming together :)

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

We received my husband's ACCEPTANCE into Canada today!!!!

I cannot believe it! They advised it would take 6 months and we received it after a month from the first letter from Tokyo.

It arrived by registered mail today. I signed for it and while praying fervently to God, opened it up. The first line says: You will find your VISA affixed to your passport.

I must have read that line about 15 times before I could move forward. I had to keep rubbing my eyes to make sure it was right. I skimmed through the rest and then picked up his passport and opened it.

The moment I saw that BEAUUUUTIFUL red stamp, my hands started shaking and the tears came...and boy did they come!

I went to the bedroom to wake up my husband, but by the time I got there, the tears were flowing full-force I could barely breathe.

So he woke up thinking someone had died. I flashed his passport in his face because I couldn't talk. Then he thought he was rejected. Still not speaking because of the tears I opened it to the VISA stamp.

When he saw it, then he knew. And all I could do was nod my head up and down like a dummy, because I still couldn't talk. lolol

So now we know: WE ARE COMING HOME!!

God, it feels so good to say that :)

I'm crying while typing this by the way...lol

I could have never gotten through this with a solid thought if it hadn't been for my dear friends Mike and Heather. You guys are completely awesome and gave me such a stronghold. Thank you for everything.

Now, we are thinking about the best route to consider with timelines as well.

He has another month and a half to finish his photography course, then it will be Christmas, which will be too expensive to fly as well as the dead of winter. So we are going to wait until after Christmas and the New Year and send over stuff by crate.

We are thinking to stick to March as the time to come. That will be when the freezing cold is over and perfect timing to arrive, find a place to settle in, then fly to Brazil to meet his family for a month then come back.

We'll be back in Canada by April or May, which is the right time to start interviewing for teaching jobs.

Things all worked out and I am just overwhelmingly grateful.

I can't wait to step foot on Canada soil, see my country's flag, my people, my family. I can't wait to introduce my special husband to my amazing family.

I can't wait to drink Tim Horton's coffee, to have dinner at Swiss Chalet, to see the snow, to speak English, to watch English TV, to visit Canada's Wonderland, Niagara Falls, to drive up to Barrie, Ontario and make maple syrup (which I hate, but will eat when I come!!) and to be among my fellow Canadians.


Canada...my home.

I'm coming home, guys.

Signing off with tears and happy thoughts.

xo