Projects and Projection

Let's start with the good news: I've figured out how to jam/record music with my friend in Canada while I'm here in Nippon. It's a work in progress, but I'm psyched about it.

Next, the not so great, but not so bad news: I went to the doctor to have my stomach checked. Any problems? Yes, but they're minor. Basically, I have some small ulcers in my stomach. I'm taking some special medicine now to remedy my situation (yes, I just used "remedy" as a verb!) and it seems to be helping a lot. My stomach condition is substantially better. I mean, it hasn't bothered me for the last week or so.

There was on more thing they had to check: my blood. What did that mean for me? A needle!!!!!! Up until now, I couldn't even write that word because my phobia runs deep. I don't know the reason, but it's one of the scariest things in the world for me. That is, it WAS the scariest thing in the world. I mean, I'm still not so comfortable with it, but thanks to Alexis's support, I'm slowly adapting to it.

 Even now, I'm a little cringy from saying that word. But it's part of my therapy, just to get over the fear of it. And it helps that in the last two weeks, I've had to have two. The second time was much easier than the first. Slowly, the fear is fading, and I can just think of it as a little pinch. But considering that I said "chotto matte" (just a minute) to the nurse three times, I obviously have a bit of a way to go to full recovery from my psychosematic response to...those objects with pointy tips. Anyway, they needed a sample of my blood to check if it's clean and all that jazz. Thank God we're done with the tough part. Oh! Did I mention how uncool it was to have a little camera stuck down my nostril? All I can say is that I'm grateful for anesthetics.

Final thought for the day: I will lift up my eyes and see things I don't usually notice. I'll remember how clouds ignite imagination and how the sun moves and how trees blow in the wind. I will re-visit childlike faith and awe and wonder at the simple things around me. The simple things that inspire, and give my soul peace.