Transient Dreams

It was my mom’s birthday yesterday — well, technically it was the day before yesterday because they’re 13 hours ahead. I felt really sad because it’s the first time I’ve ever been away from her on her birthday. We really need to start looking for affordable calling cards so we can talk more often. Video calls on the internet are free but it’s so hard to talk on the computer because there’s always a lag. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to write my mom more. I’ve been able to catch her online for the past two days and we chatted for a few hours. It really makes me miss her more. I’m glad I can cheer her up though. It’s going to be a while before we can come and visit them so I try my best to keep in touch. Hopefully we’ll make it in time for my brother’s wedding. I really want to be there. I still can’t say that being away from my family is getting easier but I’m learning to live with it. I know that no matter what, I’ll always have my mom…and the rest of my family. I just have to make sure to keep them a part of my life in some way.

I’ve always been a good student. I really enjoyed going to school and doing homework. I loved reading and doing research which was always a big part — especially when I took up Psychology. I didn’t mind pulling all-nighters or getting up early in the morning for classes. I loved being busy. I thought that after finishing a Bachelor’s degree then taking up a second degree I was finally done with school but now, I’m starting to think about studying again. I get really bored at home, not having much to do…and I don’t really have anyone to talk to. Anyway, I’ve been looking into it and I found some accredited online universities that offer really great programs. I’m particularly interested in information technology online degrees. Right now I’m more inclined to just try and find a job but along the way, I definitely want to see if I can finish an online degree related to Multimedia Arts (the second degree I took up). My husband also needs to get an Associate’s Degree for work so it might be fun if we do it at the same time (he’ll be doing it online too). He hated going to school but maybe studying together will help. ^_^

I absolutely love getting mail and last Christmas, I exchanged a few cards with online friends. I’ve been thinking of joining a website that allows you to exchange letters or postcards with people from all over the world. A regular letter (international) costs at least 98 cents (44 cents for domestic letters) but postcards are a lot cheaper. I’m also thinking of using postcard mailing services so I can have my own postcard design printed and then mailed all at the same time since I can’t go to the post office.

I heard about Postcrossing a while back — you can exchange real postcards (not e-cards) with other people from random places around the world by registering on the website, requesting an address and a Postcard ID. I’m not too keen on putting my address up on a public site (even though it requires registration) so I might just exchange postcards with people I actually know in real life (or online friends that I’ve known for a while). We’ll see.

I might see about getting a P.O. box too — if my husband won’t mind picking up mail at the Post Office (the nearest one is only about a mile and a half away).

I finally found a great Valentine’s Day gift for my husband! I already got him a card early this month (January) but I was having a hard time deciding on a gift. I got him a collector’s edition of a classic movie that he loves and the other night, he mentioned how we’re probably missing out on a lot because we don’t really have any classics in our movie collection (aside from the one I got him for Christmas). Anyway, I finally found a copy of a true classic — a black and white movie that had the highest budget of its time. I just ordered it today so I hope it’ll be delivered in time for Valentine’s Day.

Now, I know a lot of men who stick to flowers and candy but you can find a lot of other Valentine’s Day ideas for girls and women online — you can also just ask what that special someone wants. Don’t be afraid to be creative! Put a little more effort into your gift-giving. As for me, I still love getting flowers and chocolate but even if I don’t get any this year, I’d still be happy. It’s going to be the first Valentine’s Day that Jim and I will be together instead of thousands of miles away from each other!

I’ve never gone camping in my life. My mom and my sister told me that I was a girl scout but I have no memory of ever being one. There are times when I feel like I should try camping at least once but most times, I just know that it’s not for me. The part of camping that really draws me in is the opportunity to sit in outdoor chairs or set up a blanket or sleeping bag on the ground, just staring at the sky. I LOVE stargazing and moon watching.

Maybe one day my husband and I will have the opportunity to camp outdoors and just fall asleep under the open sky. We might even do it out in our own backyard! :D We have a pretty good view of the sky right in the comfort of our home.

I can’t remember the last time I really spent time outdoors. I would love to go on a nature hike (not sure how I’ll do on a hiking trail but I’m starting to get in good shape again) and start taking pictures again like I used to. Everything’s so beautiful in the fall. ^_^ I need to start putting an album together for my family.