Birthday

Dear Journal, 

I feel like it's been ages since we last talked. These past few days have been either physically or emotionally taxing for me, as all birthdays are.

I have already moved to my new dorm, so now I'm living alone (and I love it). I got my documents officially changed, notified my bank and phone company, and unpacked everything in one day somehow. 

And before you nag me about self-care, I'm doing very well in that department. My university just had to ask me to go to orientation on my birthday, so I guess their birthday present was my fall schedule. But to make up for that, I got the biggest cup of bubble tea the best place in town could offer and gave myself one whole afternoon of just staying home and editing my current book.

This book is getting along quite finely, with the help of two writers I admire and one thing I could savage from a determined-to-be-negative review on my previous book. Writing The Presence of a Problem really felt like it wrote itself. I found myself screaming over what my characters just decided to do. Ah, the wonders of using the flashlight method.

However, it's been a little hard to start my next book (I sometimes can't help but multitask) which I'm still deciding between The Presence of an Emotion and The Presence of a Disability. I like the second one better, but I wonder if I'll be asked, "But wasn't your second book already about problems?" It'd be awkward for me to explain--to someone that asks such a question in the first place--that disability does not equal problem or vice versa. 

With that being said, it would depend on how the person asks it. If it's from a curious and open-minded point, I'd answer in a heartbeat. If not, well, it'd be awkward. Ah, the wonders of writing fiction partly to educate.

Today I'm going to my last birthday party this year. I don't like mixing groups of friends, so I hold like four parties each year. I made a huge mistake by inviting "anyone interested" in the student org, because this guy--who's pushy as hell and not the most pleasant person to be around--is also coming. Fingers crossed I don't perish at the sight of his cigarette in the restaurant. Why on earth in Japan does the government still allow smoking in restaurants anyway?

My free-book promotion ran quite finely, albeit with decreased traffic in the last couple of days due to a sickening birthday present from who is very possibly my ex's long term partner. The first time I saw the 'present' was right before my birthday, and I could finally(?) cry after three months or so; but that's a story I don't want to remember, and I'm considering it Life's birthday gift and weird sense of humor. Back to the promotion, I don't see any new reviews as of now, but knowing that it's out there and available for people alone makes me happy. I might run one for TPoaP on New Year's or something if it's out by then.

Talking about my book, one of the people from the student org saw my post and was thrilled that someone from our country wrote a whole book. Ah, the perks of living in a country that had a 99% illiteracy rate only a few decades ago. Word soon got to the leader, and he bought a paperback(!), asked if I could translate it into our language and sell it back home (I can't; Amazon doesn't support out language), and advertised it to other members of the student association (Jesus; they're all gonna read my adult scenes!).

The next morning, one of the people that downloaded my book sent me a PM telling how much he enjoyed it and couldn't stop reading till the end in one sitting. With that--and the wisdom and encouragement of my editor--I'm feeling much better about my writing skills and might start TPoaD this afternoon. I'll buy myself a cup of bubble tea on my way back home, of course!

About other things, I already told my family about my newly informed disability. Sister didn't comment on it (just said she'd support me no matter what); Brother asked if I could help with his homework (I did); Dad tried his best to show that he supports me...in his own way (I'm taking the I-can-feel-your-love route); and Mom...well, Mom's still trying to get me to accept her money (I told her to keep it and buy me a round-trip plane ticket back home next spring instead and she finally accepted her 'defeat').

I had school all day yesterday, but ended it with a birthday dinner with a Chinese friend who bought me dinner on her birthday. She bought me a delicious-looking cake which I'll devour this afternoon with my bubble tea. 

In short, it had been hectic and kind of an emotional roller coaster, but I'm doing well and getting back up on my feet. 

P.S. I have grown to like this new font, so let's use it from now on.

Love,

Wathanya