Imagine "Pirates of the Caribbean", that's where I was!!! It was so beautiful.

I stayed at a resort on the island. This resort was all inclusive. That means I paid one price and everything is included, the flight, the hotel, all the meals and all the drinks. So you didn't have to worry at all about money while you were there. If you wanted to do extra things like scuba diving or island tours, then you need extra money. It is such a good deal.

I stayed there for 7 days. The wedding was on a beautiful clifftop gazebo

We all had a wonderful time. I hope I can go back next year!!!

Here is my list of 10 in '10

1. Have half of my credit card paid off by the end of the year.

2. Fit into a size 14 dress by the end of the year.

3. Learn how to do make-up properly and find out what colors suit me best.

4. Learn to ski

5. Have 1000 dollars saved in my bank account

6. Go to church

7. Upgrade my computer skills

8. Travel to a new place I've never been

9. Stop biting my nails

10. Get a cat

So that's my list. I will try to finish everything by the end of 2010. And I will keep everyone updated about my progress when I finish a task. I hope everyone makes a list of there own.

Oh, one more thing, the list has no rules, so if you want to add something or delete, then feel free. The point is just to try 10 challenges this year. So good luck everyone

Yesterday, my friend and I spent a really nice day in TokyoWe had afternoon tea at the Manderin Oriental Hotel and then later had some drinks at a jazz bar in Shinjuku. We spent all day together but somehow we never ran out of topics to talk about.We talked about many things, men, life, and one topic I want to mention in this blog: train manners

I am so tired of "manner campaigns"I see many signs at the train station telling me what I shouldn't do on the train, for example:

"No talking on your cell phone"

"please put your cell phone to manner mode"

"Don't put your make-up on on the train"

"Don't turn your music up too loud"

"Don't open your newspaper too wide"

"Don't use the hand holds as gym equipement"

I know that many people have bad manners, but what I want to say to people is .....

DEAL WITH IT!!!

You chose to take a train. The train is a public place. It would be nice if everyone had good manners, but the fact is, they don't. So if you don't want to deal with those people, don't take the train.

There are many things people do on the train that bother me, like falling asleep on my shoulder, letting their kids jump on the seats, picking their nose. But I don't see any manner campaigns for these things.

What I'm saying is, we can't have a campaign for every bad behavior that people do in public.

Last night, as I was going to sleep, I heard the rain outside. It was pouring and the rain was quite loud. It brought back a memory from my childhood

The Cabin

My best friends grandparents owned a cabin out in the country. In the summertime, I would go out there with my best friend, Amy. It was a small cabin but very cozy and Amy's grandparents made a room for her in the attic. There were bunkbeds in the attic and I used to sleep on the top bunk. I can remember laying in the top bunk and listening to the summer rain on the roof.

It was a comforting sound, sometimes a light tapping, or other times like loud drums and sometimes like buckets and buckets of water were being constantly dropped on us. In the early morning, or late at night when I was laying in the comfort of the bed, I liked to listen to the rain.

Isn't it interesting how sounds and smells and sights can bring back memories.

Last night I had a strange dreamI was there but I wasn't me. I was younger. I was about 19 years old. I had a friend, she was young. We were in her bedroom watching TV. She had an older brother. He was very good-looking . I felt very attracted to him and every time I met him, I felt butterflies in my stomach

He was very flirtateous with me and I was excited because he seemed to be attracted to me too. But then, the dream changed and the cute boy had a new girlfriend. I was upset. My aunts took me to a restaurant to cheer me up . It was a busy place and we had to wait in line. The cute boy was there waiting behind us. My aunt said loudly that I had a date last night with a math teacher. She was talking about what a handsome voice the math teacher has. I was very embarassed by her talk. I looked at the cute boy. He had tears in his eyes. He reached over and took my hand. He held my hand and I felt very excited and happy. My heart beat fast............

And then I woke up

Aren't dreams strange?? I woke up with butterflies in my stomach and I felt really happy. Because in the end, he chose me. I often have very vivid dreams. And sometimes I am a different person in my dream. I wonder what this means? Am I having memories of a past life? Or am I just influenced by watching tv or reading books (I do like romance novels) Whatever is happening, it just makes me realize what a mystery the mind is.

Well, Good night everyone and I hope you all have sweet dreams

Today, Moonbeam (that's me) had a big fight with her boyfriend. UghIt was very frustrating. Here's what happened;

Moonbeam: Can you help me call the internet company. I have to cancel my service because I am moving.

Boyfriend: Sure, no problem

He calls, so far everything is going well. Moonbeam doesn't speak Japanese so her boyfriend is always helping her kindly

But the phone call isn't going well. The internet company is very stubborn and Moonbeam is getting upset. Her boyfriend seems to be caught in the middle. At the end of the call Moonbeam vents her frustration.

Moonbeam: Ugh!! That stupid company I can't believe them... (she also said some things I can't write here)

Boyfriend: Hey, don't yell at me! It's not my fault.

Moonbeam: I'm not yelling at you. I'm mad at the company.

At this point everything is still fine, until Moonbeam's boyfriend's next words.

Boyfriend: I knew that they were going to say that.

Ugh!! Moonbeam freaked out. Maybe you wonder why? It's because her boyfriend is such a know-it-all. Instead of supporting his girlfriend and letting her vent her frustration, he basically said "I told you so..." When someone is already upset, that is the LAST thing they want to hear

Why can't KNOW-IT-ALL's KNOW when to SHUT IT

When I heard the sad news that Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette's mother died suddenly last week, I had tears in my eyes and when I heard she was going to skate, more tears fell You see, my own mother is right now battling cancer. She is having a tough time but she is fighting hard I can't imagine how I would feel if I lost my mother. I'm sure it would be devestating. But despite being in the midst of terrible grief, Joannie Rochette skated her short program beautifully and I cried the whole way through.

I don't know how she did it. She ended up winning the bronze medal in the end. But to me, she is a true champion. I really respect her bravery and grace during an incredibly tragic time.

So to all the athletes, thank you for touching our hearts and inspiring us. You don't have to win gold to be a champion, Joannie showed us that.

Kawaii!!! Cute!!! Pretty!!!

I never cared about these words before I came to Japan. In Canada I was a simple girl. Jeans and t-shirts and sneakers were good enough for me. I hardly wore make-up. I grew up in the "grunge" era when Doc Martens and plaid were "cool". I didn't care about brand names so my bags and shoes were always something you could find at Daiei or Wal-mart. I wasn't a "girly girl" and I didn't want to be.

Then I moved to Japan when I was 22. Suddenly, everywhere around me was cute. Girls dressed up in cute clothes and accessories I started to use the word "kawaii!!" all the time. I became interested in make-up and clothes and accessories. When I would go back to Canada, I realized I missed the cuteness of Japan. I suddenly realized, "I want to be a girly girl" although I'm a little late to be called a "girl" so maybe "lovely lady"??

As of right now, I am still far from being a girly girl but I am trying. I recently discovered Jill Stuart make-up. The packaging is soooooo cute I also am loving Samantha Thavasa and Vega bags. If you want a cute and girly bag you will definitely find some cute ones there.

So girls out there, if you have any good advice for me, or cute places to shop, or cute ideas to make my life more girly and kawaii, I would love to hear them

But the one medal Canadians want more than anything is Hockey gold. And we won't settle for less!In Torino Canada came in 7th place!!It's the worst that we have ever done in hockey. Those were dark days in Canada. So there is a lot of pressure on the team in Vancouver to win the gold and make up for the tragedy in Torino.

Well, today was a big game. Canada vs USA. Canada lost 5-3Even though Canada still has a chance for a gold medal, they are going to have a difficult road. It's not looking good right now. But they still have a chance and Canada has a lot of heart. So I'm going to keep the faith and support our guys till the end!

Go Canada Go!!