Hello all...it has been quite a while since we last spoke.

What have I done over the last 2 months? Well I'm glad you asked...

I am in Japan now. More specifically, I am now living in Hamamatsu. My girlfriend and I are currently staying together in the living space above the office until we save up a bit more yen for a new place (we just left the last place we were at because the neighbor was racist and terrified of me, the white devil). She complained and it became a mess so we said "f*** you, goodbye." I am working full-time now, both at the family's snack bar and main company (which makes sushi lunches for funerals). Those that haven't been to Japan will not likely know what a snack bar is...it's nothing horrible, just not for me. Mixing drinks is one thing, but actually having to hang out with customers at their table and whatnot and listen to the drunks hit on my girlfriend is a bit too much for me. Typically guys don't often work at these places, but I guess I am a pretty hot commodity since most of them have never had the chance to speak to a foreigner and jump at the opportunity. The other half jump at the opportunity to talk to my girlfriend...which I am not too pleased about. Luckily the two of us only work there once a week. The sushi is the job I really like. Eventually her mom will pass the company down to us, but right now we are still learning all the ropes. I haven't had a position of power in any of my previous lines of work and I kind of enjoy running people into the ground :-P

Anyhoo...we're officially getting married at the end of this month--->and I have to go all the way to the American Embassy in Tokyo next week (I just found out today), the closer consulate in Nagoya doesn't accept people from this prefecture...sigh...

In the meantime, I played through what I think in most of FFT (though haven't finished) and am currently playing Brave Story, which I actually really like. I saw all the less than stellar reviews and sort of wrote it off as a side project, but I am having quite a bit of fun with it, though it's quite simple really. I think I am near half-way at about 8 hours...and I've never been in danger of dying once yet so I guess it's on the short and easy side of things.

I went the whole of February and most of March without playing anything...and then one day my girlfriend was bored and asked about my DS (she hates video games). Well, she hasn't put it down since...she beat New Super Mario Bros. inside and out, ran Mario Kart into the ground, and is now destroying Phantom Hourglass. I have the JPN version of PH so she has no problem with the dialogue but I don't think she'll be able to do much with any of the other games I have for PSP or DS. She doesn't like music games so that takes care of Elite Beat Agents. It's cool now that I have an excuse to go look at games but she has yet to play an RPG and I wonder what she'll make of them. Anyway, that's how it is...

And I think I will leave it at that for today...it's 4:16am...I just got done with work...now time for some Brave Story...

So here I am...totally stressed out on the eve of my great migration across the United States and the Pacific Ocean. Will my voyage end happily ever after or am I destined for failure and depression? Only time will tell.

To those unfamiliar with my situation, I have a girlfriend in Japan (she's Japanese of course). I met her when I was living in Nagasaki after I graduated high school in Portland, Oregon. It's been 3.5 long years since we met and 3 since I returned to the U.S. for visa related issues (I didn't have one; not the credit card. ). Anyway, I've been traveling back and forth between Cleveland and Hamamatsu since then (she came here for 2 months in '06) and neither of us can get a visa for the other country unless we finished school or are married. I am still 2 years out from finishing college and she stopped after 2 years...so that wasn't working.

This summer when I was over there for a few months, I propsed without a ring (a sort of spur of the moment thing) and she enthusiastically said yes. When I got back to the U.S. we started planning and looking for apartments, etc, but a number of events (including the present distance) acted to help her lose faith in herself and our chances in general. Her passion is salsa, and she's had some issues with her foot over the last half a year. I am still unsure of what the situation really is, but I know the doctors told her not to wear heels when she dances...anyway the pain in her foot and lack of dance time has been really depressing for her...and her parents' recent divorce has been even more stressful for her and the family.

As a result we've lost touch a bit...Her depression has led to my own and we have been stuck in a rut for months. And then a few days before Christmas, her mom and sister called me and told me the only way I can try and fix anything is to just go there. It is really the only option (other than breaking up) and so I agreed and began planning the big trip. I quit both of my jobs on Friday, I got rid of my car, and I gave more than half of my clothes away to charity as I packed up the essentials and ditched the rest.

Those unfamiliar with Japanese immigration: a tourist visa allows for foreigners to stay in Japan for 90 days. Most everyone can get into Japan on a tourist visa and that's what I've used everytime I went except for my yearlong exchange in high school. At the end of the 90 days I must leave the country unless I get a different visa before then...and that is exactly the plan. Pending progess in restoring the glory our relationship once had, I will propose again (maybe on White Day 3/14) with the diamond ring I bought a few months back. I can only hope things go well between us. One way or the other I will be employed full-time when I am there by her mother (the plan is to eventually take over the family businesses).

Anyway...a classic case of butterflies in the stomach I've been panicking lately about everything. I've never been nervous about going to Japan (rather I am usually ecstatic)...but this time...it's not the proposal...it's that I can't be sure what I am walking into. Has she already made up her mind about our chances? Is it hopeless? Things always seem to get rocky when we are apart for too long, but everything is amazing after we've been together again for a few weeks. This time I don't know if it will be that simple...

On top of all that, I feel bad about leaving my mom this time around. Maybe it's that I've matured a bit since the last time I planned to leave home for good...but I am really feeling bad about leaving her alone like that. At least there is quite a bit of my family in NE Ohio so she has plenty of sisters around to keep her busy...

So I guess I've rambled on quite long enough. Anyway wish me luck, I'll need it. If I am forced to leave Japan who knows where my next stop will be. One way or the other this is the eve of a brand new life.

Just weeks ago I was vehemently protesting this year's presidential primary race because none of the democratic candidates garnered my respect. Tonight, I sit in front of my television, glued to CNN and Barack Obama's speech in front of supporters in Chicago, Illinois. Barack Obama is the best hope this damaged nation has and for once I am hanging on a politician's words like dear life…

But Mike, what could possibly have quashed your voter's apathy? Well I am glad you asked. Quite simply Obama's words have captured my attention. He speaks with a certain eloquence and sincerity far too rare in today's political world…the Kennedy's describe Barack as today's John Fitzgerald; others have compared him to Martin Luther King Jr. I was not alive to witness the rise and fall of either of those great men so I cannot comment either way, but Obama truly gives me hope for the future.

At one time I had great respect for Hillary Clinton (save for her unwarranted attention to the video game industry) but the more research I do the less pleased I am with her stance on key issues. I am a staunch opponent of war and Hillary's vote of support for military force in Iraq is inexcusable. She claims she would have voted differently "if we knew then what we knew now." That is all good and well, but supporting a war in the first place is nothing short of disgraceful. The war turned out to be a sham and a turned Iraq into a mass grave of Allied forces and Iraqi civilians. I am ashamed to be a citizen of a country that so arrogantly charges into any situation unprepared and unconcerned for human life…On the topic of Iran, Hillary "advocates diplomacy" but refuses to meet with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and states that "no option can be taken off the table."

Call me a peacenik if you desire, it bothers me not. I support the lives of our troops and the civilians caught in the middle, not faulty missions without positive outcomes. Barack Obama voted against the use of military force in Iraq and says he will meet with the leaders of the countries that fool Bush blacklisted and placed in his "Axis of Evil". Amen man, that's exactly what I want. North Korea terrifies me…like the abused kid that knows where his father keeps a loaded gun. Nothing will happen on a massive scale, but the neighbors might get shot in the process. Japan's proximity to North Korea is the source of my fears…and until we can find a way to make real progress with Pyongyang it's a very scary situation in East Asia…

You may have noticed that foreign policy is my biggest concern going into the presidential elections…but that is not all of course. The economy is another chief concern of mine, but I feel it's also tied closely to the war in Iraq right now. The war is a financial sinkhole, sucking up funding that could go towards fixing our schools or the environment. As they say, improvement starts from within…

Yes, the environment…practically destroyed by humankind. Capping emissions, raising vehicle emissions regulations, and penalizing heavy polluters are good places to start, but that cannot be the end. Clean energy is our only hope for a clean tomorrow...

But wait a minute Mike, isn't there another major party besides the Democratic Party? Yes, there is…and it is the party of non-secularism, the party of rewarding the rich with lower taxes, the party of ignorance, etc. The front-runner from the Republican Party is the ancient and ever idiotic John McCain. B-B-B-But he's a war hero! Replace the word 'hero' with 'hawk' and you are closer to the truth. John McCain voted to support the use of military force in Iraq, supported Bush's veto on a bill to withdraw troops by 2008, and was an early proponent of sending additional troops. He also pledges to increase the numbers in the army and marines and spend more on the defense budget. So it sounds like he is big on defending Americans from the dangers outside the borders…what about the dangers within? McCain voted against a 10 year extension of the assault weapons ban and opposes legislation requiring trigger locks. At the same time he is against allowing women to choose whether or not they get abortions. Hypocrisy in action! Still not convinced? The balding senator calls himself "the biggest free marketer and free trader that you will ever see." NAFTA is so…15 years ago. Fair Trade is what we really need…

The one issue that I lean towards Clinton is healthcare. She supports a national healthcare system like Canada's and frankly this country desperately needs it. But because of her stances on other major issues I will not support her run for the presidency. If, unfortunately, she wins the democratic nomination I will not cast an absentee ballot in the presidential election. I cannot be bothered to choose between her and McCain even though she would be a much better choice for this country that that old b******.

Super Tuesday is basically over now, and Clinton and Obama are virtually in a dead heat. I am disappointed Obama couldn't win California, but his numerous victories across the US are very important. He clearly holds the African-American vote (as he proved by wins across the south) but he also won in some very white states (UT, MN, ID, AK, CO, CT, KS, etc). It will be interesting to see what happens next…though I fear Clinton's iron fist will stamp out Obama's glorious campaign in the end…but all is not lost. Barack Obama has taught me that there is still hope for this country. I am alive and closely watching this race...and I've finally found a politician I can rally behind.