.*☆Reiko's Tumblr☆*.

Hey everyone, I’m back!

It really has been a long and stressful holiday season, but am so relieved that it is finally over!

Over the last few weeks it has been nothing but:

-picking up shifts in the Catering department (and racking up a crapload of hours on overtime)

-baking…baking…and did I forget to mention BAKING. O___O

- …neverending stress from the family in general. But what else is new in that department?

…all which leads to an extremely tired (and frustrated) Reiko x____x

…

…thank goodness that that has come to a close.

I know it has been a while since I’ve last updated but to bring you guys back up to speed to what has been happening to me in the last month:

As aforementioned, I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress from my family. As many of you guys know in real life, my parents and I don’t get along very well and within one month it has gone to the point where now my parents and I are treating each other like strangers. It’s a shame… Mom and I see each other at work but barely exchange words or looks as we past each other in the hall… And my dad… In many ways, I respect my dad for many things that he does but… for the sides of him that I do know… *shakes head* It’s a touchy and sad subject if I continue to say this but what I will say is that… I want to get away from it all. Just pack my bags and move out of that house…

…which led me to pick up a lot of shifts at work. I haven’t heard anything yet from any of the places where I’ve applied to. I’m really not that surprised since it’s still the holiday season and the competition is tight… In the meantime I have to do what I can right? In the last month I’ve been able to rack my hours to where I’ve been able to reach overtime… and then some.

…despite the stress and the hard work, what seems to keep me hanging on from not losing sanity is from the help and support from (surprisingly enough) my friends and my co-workers. Perhaps it’s because the residents of the retirement have family who came to visit them and I enjoy seeing their smiling faces. Perhaps it’s the drive to make sure that the residents have a good holiday season as it may be their last… Perhaps it’s the drive of getting things done as I work. Perhaps it’s the thought of being with my co-workers and working together with them. Perhaps it’s seeing and being with my close friends and even seeing Mihoki at the end of the day or when I am able to have a day off from work. Perhaps it’s all of these that keep me from crying from having a bad day and somehow keeping the light of the Christmas spirit aglow.

…Christmas and New Year’s had always been an annual tradition for me to be with my family. Opening presents on Christmas Day after eating breakfast, eating a heapful of food at the dinner table (including Dad’s brined turkey and mom’s green bean casserole), and spending the rest of the day eating more food and enjoying our gifts. On New Year’s, I usually stayed up with my parents for the count-down at midnight with noisemakers for shaking with my brothers and a glass of champagne with mom and dad. Every year it had always been about family but after what I have been dealing with all month… I’m not sure about all of it anymore.

A couple of days before Christmas I had a lot to do, including baking cookies. Unbeknownst to me my parents were also going to use the kitchen, and since our kitchen isn’t exactly big (and terribly cluttered with my mom’s plants and a lovely array of clutter all over the place), it was a bit of a squeeze. My dad had been very rude to me while I baked, almost as though he didn’t want me cooking in the kitchen much at all. He even shoved me aside a couple of times. …oh and how hard is it to say “Excuse me”? Instead, he tells me in a very condescending tone “Move.” and then shoves me aside as he says it. On Christmas Day, the family had already had breakfast and opened their gifts by the time I had gotten up. Mom makes this rude remark about not wanting to wait for my sorry ass, which that alone nearly ruined my Christmas Day altogether even though the day had barely begun.

…I don’t want to think nor talk about New Year’s with them.

…when I think back on it, I had always turned down the offers from my friends to come celebrate New Year’s with them. My excuse? “I wanted to be with my family.” …this will not be the case this weekend. Instead, I will be spending the end and the beginning of the year with the people who have been there for me the most: my friends. My biggest supporter has been Mihoki, and it makes me smile thinking that I will be able to spend my first New Year’s with him.

Christmas Eve with Mihoki and Christmas Day at work kept me in even higher spirits this season… I thank him and the many friends who have stuck by me through this tough time.

…2011 has been an interesting ride… Not the kind of ride that I asked for but sometimes you have no choice but to take whatever life throws your way right?

…*sigh*

Tonight was a bit of a mixup since my friends, Mihoki and I were supposed to go to dinner together. I was a bit upset about it at first but it all worked out with a night in with Mihoki and James… and Chinese for dinner.

…and did I mention that we’re watching Excel Saga? :p Thank God for Netflix!

…

…I can smell the Catalyst cologne from where I’m sitting… It’s a strong scent but comforting…

…

…I think I was able to vent a lot of what’s been weighing on me in the last month, but I think you guys are able to read what I’m going through. Sorry if things seem choppy here and there but… Well, you know.

I’m going to nibble on some rice like a good Asian girl so until later on…

…

…ah and one more thing:

I love my Marine :) xoxo