Today has been good. I got up and went running, then I came home and chatted with my roommate for a while. It was nice. Then I leisurely got ready for work because I didn't have to be there until 10am. Work was good, I organized the health section some more. It is looking very nice and is almost done. Also friendly coworker was there, so that was nice, short but good conversation with him. Then I went and volunteered at the blood drive on campus. My first experience with that. My job was simple - I gave food and drink to the people who donated. Then I came home and made spaghetti for dinner group. It was delicious. We also had cut up celery, cucumber and apples on the side. Very nice. Then I talked on skype with my good friend from Japan - Tomoko. My first time talking with her since before the mission. That was fantastic. And now I am listening to music and organizing my magnet making stuff so that I can get back into making them. I am still not sure what I will do with them - if I will pursue a venue where I can sell them. We'll see. I am just happy to be getting back into it.

Here is to good days!

Also - I was contacted by the Provo Library about my application to volunteer there and I will be starting on Thursday in the mending department!

Asian Night!

We are having a party tonight and the theme is Asia. I have been making sushi rice. And pulling out all of my Japanese things. I didn't bring a lot here, but more than I thought I did. I am excited!

Good Friends

There have been some unfortunate obstacles in the way of talking with a good friend from the mission on the phone. But finally tonight we were able to get it together and talk and it was very good. He is one of my favorite people, it was great to catch up a bit.

Also, tonight I went with my roommate Martusha to her friend Jessica's house. Jessica and I are just getting to know each other, and I am hoping to develop our friendship, she is a very neat person. We made homemade bread. It was fantastic. And delicious.

And, while on the subject of friends, I am enjoying working with one of my coworkers, he's a cool kid. It is good to talk with him, I enjoy our conversations. I am thankful for the forums in my life that are helping me develop friendships with some worthwhile people.

Life is good.

Bookstores and Plasma Centers

Here is an update - I got a job recently at a used bookstore. It is on Center Street. Pioneer Book. I really like it. It has tons, tons of books. It is amazing. And I am realizing just how narrow my book knowledge is. I am pretty good with American literature until the 1950s and British literature from the 1600s to about the 1920s, but after that my knowledge is here and there. I am learning a lot. It is giving me motivation to read a lot more and to expand my genre choices. In other words it is inspiring me to do one of my favorite things.

Also, we get to listen to music at work, and since I am a fan of the mixed CD, mixed tapes being a little old fashioned, I made a special mix on 2 CDs for work! I brought them in and we listened to them yesterday. Well, one of them anyway. The second CD was scratched, so it would not play about half of the CD. But I enjoyed everything that we were able to hear. I hope my coworkers and customers did too.

Another update - I have started selling plasma to supplement my used bookstore income. I have done it 2 times. I ride my bike there and back. The ride home I go at a more relaxed and easy going pace, since I leave the plasma center lightheaded, weird - a little out of body. But the plasma center workers give me red powerade every time as I am leaving to get my electrolites up. And they give me money. The hardest part, though, is when I get home because I live on the third floor of my apartment building and I have to carry my bike up those steps, which I should not really be doing that soon after donating. Today when I got to the top of the stairs I was dizzy and sweating and I stumbled to my room and laid on the floor until I got the strength to pick myself up off of the floor. New plan - leave the bike on the ground floor until I have enough strength and stamina to bring it up the 3 flights of stairs. Okay.

back.

Hey. I am back from Estonia now. I have been for almost 3 months, but I haven't been back to my blog. Actually I forgot about it until I saw it linked to my sister's a while back. I thought I would just pop in and say hello to my readers...