I'm looking forward to the end of the semester for once. It'll mean more time to deal with other things, that's for sure.

( Private Thoughts )

( Private to Momo )

I overheard something funny over in NYC this past week.

"I'm going to live in San Francisco because they don't have fat people!"

That's certainly not why I'm living there, but it's an amusing thought. Valid?

Well, I'm back from NYC and yes, back, meaning I never had the intention to leave it forever in the first place like some people are panicking about. It's good to be back actually, less NYC chaos. San Fran's has it's own chaos but it's tolerable.

( [Private] )

( Sent in a simple brown envelope addressed to 'Sabaku Gaara' )

If it's not one Sabaku, it's the other.

I feel like I should have that on a plaque in my apartment somewhere.

House arrest sounds like a nice remedy and punishment for someone who obviously doesn't know how to count and overdoses that way.

( Note on the kitchen counter to Shikamaru )

Finally made through the day without a glitch, despite all those dozens of red roses littering the campus and also those hand-holding couples crowding the sidewalks. I don't find myself longing this year or wishing for anything more, just a nice bottle of rose wine suits me fine right now, in bed.

Haven't heard from Shikamaru whether or not, but I'm proud of him to make the choice of not getting me roses or chocolates. Roses, I have already, not surprisingly enough, from an ex, but it's more like a joke than anything. After I broke up with him in my freshman year in NYU because of "lacking attention" he's done the opposite ever since. I think he's actually engaged now, so I wouldn't be looking towards another bouquet of white roses next year.

I hope his fiancee receives something much better, I think I've taught him better than just flowers.

Dear Temari,

Let's not do this whole topsy turvy "getting to know you" and sentiments for another good couple of months, alright? I'm already behind bills and also preparing for the upcoming tax season. This means no surprises until Valentine's Day is over.

I'd greatly appreciate it. But thank you for making the effort in trying to hold things together and realizing that some people really are worth keeping.

Sincerly,

Temari

( Voicemail to Kankuro )

Haven't gotten around to update thing as much as I'd like. Mainly because I wouldn't know what to put here. Not to mention I've hidden my laptop away from myself during my random drunken spells. But it actually was refreshing to do something else than work today. I walked around campus even when there was no class, revisiting familiar spots. Nostalgic classrooms.

Needless to say, I was fired from my job at the radio station for excessive absences. It wasn't as bad as I thought, since I've been focusing more time on my other job at the moment. It really does feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders.

Headaches. More and more often than usual.

They say that Kankuro's in the hospital. Exactly where Gaara is, I am completely clueless about.

I don't regularly not lose track of them so much, but just this much happening as I focus a bit more on my life? Apparently this is what happens when I let things "breathe".

( Private )

Here's a reminder to self to get more ibuprofen. For the headaches, and for the possibility that it might actually do me some good in my hour of dire need of peace and quiet. These days, it's nothing but noise, noise, noise.

If the cancer in the apartment wants a bottle, he'll just have to buy one for himself.

Who wants to go out for drinks? It's on me.

I almost did a doubletake when I saw a woman smiling today on the bus. Not that it's strange to see someone smile, just that it's been some while since I saw anyone truly happy.

Halloween is coming up, and I am dreading to see what Kankuro has planned for this year. Although this Halloween party I heard coming up is pretty interesting, might even take off my mind on worrying about if I'll find my apartment TP-ed or not. Even dressing up the reluctant zombie who resides in my bed 24/7 sounds interesting.

At this point, I think maybe I should even take a leaf out of the Chinese and wear a face mask over my mouth before I step out of the apartment. Probably couple of days ago, I wouldn't think this as serious as it was, but there's so many people being affected, its hard not to be wary.

If this is because no one's bothered to take flu vaccine shots, I'll personally bring this up to the next city meeting.

( Text sent to Shikamaru around 9AM )

( Text to both Gaara and Kankurou )

Irony is such a bitch.

A stray comment some days ago and surprise, surprise--earthquake.

Thankfully, there isn't a mass wide panic over this and things were relatively calm in most places. My apartment's still standing, there's still running water, and I won't have to house my brothers after this event. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Gaara around.

As for the other, for his sake, I'm going to tattoo a reminder in my mind to never let him, alcohol, and Shikamaru mix ever again.

( Screened to Shikamaru )

I always come to a simple conclusion when comparing summer and winter sessions to fall and spring sessions. Less classes, less stress, more time to do whatever I want.

At work, I've finally become something a bit more than an intern, which means more on-hands broadcast. I just hope that the weather and traffic department doesn't start handing me jobs soon. They never get it right and I don't think I would make it any more correct.

There is one song that's been plaguing the station like mosquitos, and oddly enough I like it. It's not traditional rock, but it's better than Miley Cyrus.

Makes me feel a little better about my record of kissing girls.

Well, I'm glad things came out alright in the end.  It only took about an ounce of pride and a couple of hours.  Though it was worth it in the end, I'd like to think.

I thought I'd get tired of running back and forth between the coasts, but apparently if you've got initiative to try not to stay in one place for long, I think I can get used to it.

Belated birthday wishes to Mr. Sousuke, and I haven't forgotten yours, Kankurou.

Now hopefully I can trust Baki to keep his mouth shut for a couple of months before I have to go back again. In the meanwhile, I'm not really in the mood for explanations, so those who have to ask, save it for a sunny day.

If I was to have disappeared off the face of the earth, life would be so much simpler that way wouldn't it?

Sorry to trash anyone's hopes, but things just don't work that way.

Got called back to New York again, this time signing off several mountains of paperwork that I never knew was lying around. Father struck me as a guy who got things done than leaving "sloppy leftovers" for the next. Then again, the man didn't see his death lying around the corner either.

I'm stumped on how to celebrate the end of the school year though. Suggestions? I'm pretty much up for anything at this point.

..unless I'm ruining a somber mood all around. Too much to hope that SF didn't get hit with anything dirty again these past weeks?

Tagged by my brother who probably knows that I have heaps of healing time to do this.

A) List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B) Tag seven people to do the same.
C) Do not tag the person who tagged you or tag "whoever wants to do it."

1. I have a tattoo of the Chinese character for "wind" on my right shoulder blade.
2. I am half-Japanese, but I don't speak the language.
3. Even if I like to listen to a lot of rock music, I love to listen to blues during rainy days.
4. I've made most of my own pocket spending money through waitressing and art class modeling in my undergrad years.
5. Sunday morning is my favorite time of the week.
6. When I was small, I had a little garden of my own and I loved growing flowers. I remembered the statistics for every single one.
7. When I'm thinking, I like to flip a pen around my fingers to help the process.

Everyone I know have pretty much done this, so I'm not sure if there's anyone else to tag. I know Gaara hasn't, but I'd rather let him post something to say what the hell he has been doing for the past few days that caused him to get knocked out.

And Shikamaru, stop apologizing. You make it sound like I've just died and you were sorry that you didn't come to the funeral. I'm very much alive and I'll live through this.

I'm not quite sure where in the job application it said "ability to dodge bullets", but I sure as hell didn't anticipate being shot at at work by any chance.

It's not serious, the bullet just skimmed across my skin and took a mild slice off of my leg, but it's not anything I can't cope with. I'm thankful it really is nothing serious, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to still walk around and go back to normal day things.

The doctor that I met with at the brief hospital stay only told me to use my other leg as much as possible or to stay off my feet for the next week or so. Impossible to do, if you ask me, but I'll try. Two hours a night is better than none, anyways.

I've received your flowers, Mr. Sousuke, thank you.

It's been a while, and it's sad to say that a while has been too long.

The media are having a field day at work, whether it's us broadcasting the news or it's keeping back those annoying gossip columns from barging into Aizen's office. Some of those catty girls are cheeky and I know Aizen probably would just smile at them, but those that received bruises deserved it.

It's been some time since I've seen a girl use a high-heeled shoe as arsenal, but it isn't unfamiliar.

For one thing, I am glad that Yachiru's guardian got her back. I haven't been to the hospital to visit, and I wish I did. Maybe if I play a few Miley Cyrus songs next to RHCP, they'll deem it fit to kick me out for the day. If that doesn't work, I'll have to resort to playing that mummer's nonsense that Justin Timberlake and Madonna cranked out.

God, what happened to good music these days?

( Private; Hackable )